Business responded via phone as follows: Company feels they've done all they can. The consumer's clutch is bad, that is the reason why it's stalling. The carburetor has nothing to do with the stalling. Consumer never gave the company a chance to address any potential carburetor problems after they performed the overhaul.The car didn't even run when it first came in. Consumer admitted there were prior repairs done in her driveway. The company doesn't what those specific repairs were. The company last saw the car on June 30.
Mr. [redacted] came to our shop on April 9, 2015 to have a [redacted] device installed in his vehicle.This was required due to an earlier DUI in Florida. When the vehicle came into the shop for the installation, I noted that it had an aftermarket remote start in it. I did not check to see if...
the remote start worked before beginning the installation. The remote start must be disabled while the [redacted] is in the vehicle, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines for installing ignition interlocks in a motor vehicle.Because of the location of the relay box for the remote start, I had to remove it to install the [redacted] relay box. About a month later, when it came to be time to remove the [redacted], l reconnected the remote start after removing the [redacted].At that time the customer tried to operate the remote start, which did not work. I am sure that the remote start was plugged back in correctly, you can't do it wrong, due to the color coded wiring harnesses.At the time of installation of the [redacted], the customer signed a contract with [redacted] that says they are not responsible for aftermarket electronics in the vehicle, which would include his unit.The customer also complained that his radio went out due to the presence of the [redacted] in his vehicle. He was in two times before the radio began acting up for "Lock Outs." This is due to a failure of the person trying to start the vehicle to do it properly, or alcohol was detected preventing the vehicle from starting.When the vehicle was in for these "Lock Outs" we did hear the radio playing, but about a week after the last "Lock Out," he called that the radio quit working. We checked the radio and found the unit was turning on, volume control worked and it changed stations, but no sound was coming out of the speakers. This would indicate a problem with the amplifier section of the radio system, not something that installing an interlock device into the start circuit would cause. The customer was advised of this and went on his way. We have since found out that the remote start unit that the customer has needs to be reprogrammed when it is disconnected or looses power. How this is done, I am not sure. We found an electronics shop in the area that is a factory authorized service center for the brand of remote start that is in the vehicle. We made an appointment with the them for Monday May 11, 2015 to have them look at the unit in the customers vehicle. Which the customer refused to show up for. Respectfully[redacted], President, Al's Auto Service inc.
This letter is in regards to the [redacted] driven by [redacted]. We agreed to work on the vehicle because she is a friend of a good customer. We also stated that we would work on it as we had time....
We were very busy at the shop and were working her in around a lot of other vehicles that
were in for repairs.
The vehicle had some repairs performed prior to arrival at our shop. We know that they were done in her driveway and cost her $800.00. What repairs were performed was never made clear. One time she stated “the engine was replaced ." The next time we asked she said “the engine was overhauled.
The [redacted] was towed in by AAA about the 15th of May. It was not running at this time. Customer stated at this time that “it just needs a fuel pump.”
Our initial inspection of the [redacted] found that something had indeed been done to the engine. Numerous electrical wires and vacuum lines were cut o?‘ and laying disconnected in the engine compartment.
We checked out the no start condition and found there was no fuel getting to the carburetor. We checked for fuel at the fuel pump and found none.
The next step is to blow air into the gas tank and see if any fuel comes out at the fuel pump inlet side. There was no gas present at the fuel pump after blowing air into the gas tank. We added about 6 gallons, $25.00 worth of gas, and got the vehicle started. The fuel pressure was tested after putting gas into the [redacted], and it was within specification.
Ms. [redacted] was adamant that the [redacted] was not out of gas. “The tank is full.” If it was, how did we fit 6 gallons of gas into it‘?
The vehicle was not running well at this time, missing on two cylinders, due to overdue maintenance items and a carburetor that was badly in need of an overhaul due to blocked internal passageways.
We worked up an estimate for the needed repairs, a tune up (spark plugs, distributor rotor, fuel filter, air filter, pcv valve, distributor cap and ignition wires, etc.) and carburetor overhaul, along with the removal of an electric fuel pump that had been added to the fuel system, in case this add-on pump was impeding the flow of fuel to the mechanical fuel pump, if the vehicle had gas in it as Ms. [redacted] stated. (This pump was added to some [redacted] vehicles near the gas tank to eliminate a vapor lock problem.)
We also checked and attached repaired as many of the vacuum lines and wires that were hanging in the engine compartment as we could. Some of which we never did determine where they go. They were not shown on the vehicle's vacuum diagram or wiring diagrams.
The above repairs were authorized by Ms. [redacted] on Monday May 19, at which time she added an oil change to the repair.
We proceeded to make the repairs and the vehicle was completed for pick up on Friday May 23. While extensively test driving the [redacted], we did not experience any stalling, the technician made note that the clutch was not feeling quite right and might be getting worn out.
[redacted] picked up the [redacted] on Saturday May 24, at which time we verbally made note that there could be clutch problem starting to occur, to which she stated, “the clutch is fine.” Ms. [redacted] after picking up the vehicle began complaining about a stalling problem.
The [redacted] was towed back to the shop on May 29 after she stalled out while driving. At this time we added more gas to the vehicle to get it started, and repaired a bad electrical connection at the ignition coil. We charged her an additional fee for the wiring harness on the coil feeling it was not caused by something we had done during the previous repair, but we did not charge for the tow, gas, or any labor incurred during this repair.
Due to her insistence, we reinstalled a new electric fuel pump at no charge to her to replace the pump we took off five days earlier.
Total estimated cost of the repairs that were provided at no cost to her were about $473.50 before tax.
We again noted that the clutch was not quite right, this time adding it to the invoice under ‘Recommendations; because it was harder to get into gear than during the previous visit.
[redacted] still complained about a stalling problem and we attempted to get the [redacted] back in on June 17, but she missed this appointment. The [redacted] finally came back in during the last days of June, it had a new exhaust system on it, not installed by us.
At this time we reset the idle speeds and changed the fast idle screw with a new unit. This repair was done as a warranty. The clutch was now VERY hard to push and get the [redacted] into gear. [redacted] said that she was going to Cedar Point the next day, July l. We advised her against driving the [redacted] that far with a. suspect clutch, but she stated, “I've used up my [redacted] funds for the year at this point. It will have to wait until next year.”
This is the last time we saw or heard ?om Ms. [redacted] until the letter from the Revdex.com arrived.
Our questions to Ms. [redacted] are:
What repairs were done before the [redacted] came in to our shop‘? Why were so many wires and vacuum lines cut and hanging in the engine compartment? If the engine was replaced, was it from the same year and model vehicle‘? If the engine was overhauled, what exactly was replaced or serviced? It would have
been nice to know ahead of time before we started the repair.
Could the clutch material have gotten oil soaked during an engine swap? It is possible. Could the clutch material gotten oil soaked during the overhaul, especially if the crankshaft was replaced? It is possible. WE DON'T KNOW, WE DID NOT DO THE WORK!
The only way to determine the reason for a clutch failure, the transmission and transfer case would have to be removed and the clutch inspected for oil soaking or just normal wear and tear.
We were instructed to get the [redacted] running, which we did. It was running when it left the shop.
The fuel pump(s) are not bad, the fuel pressure is withing specification when the vehicle is running, so how can we return it to the way it ran before the pump(s) went bad?
She was advised about the clutch problems during each visit to the shop, and she declined any repairs to the clutch and denied that there was a clutch problem.
Now the [redacted] is not drivable due to a bad clutch, how is it our fault?
Ms. [redacted] spent a total of $1063.16 on repairs, not the $1200.00 stated in her letter.
Business responded via phone as follows: Company feels they've done all they can. The consumer's clutch is bad, that is the reason why it's stalling. The carburetor has nothing to do with the stalling. Consumer never gave the company a chance to address any potential carburetor problems after they performed the overhaul.The car didn't even run when it first came in. Consumer admitted there were prior repairs done in her driveway. The company doesn't what those specific repairs were. The company last saw the car on June 30.
Mr. [redacted] came to our shop on April 9, 2015 to have a [redacted] device installed in his vehicle.This was required due to an earlier DUI in Florida. When the vehicle came into the shop for the installation, I noted that it had an aftermarket remote start in it. I did not check to see if...
the remote start worked before beginning the installation. The remote start must be disabled while the [redacted] is in the vehicle, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines for installing ignition interlocks in a motor vehicle.Because of the location of the relay box for the remote start, I had to remove it to install the [redacted] relay box. About a month later, when it came to be time to remove the [redacted], l reconnected the remote start after removing the [redacted].At that time the customer tried to operate the remote start, which did not work. I am sure that the remote start was plugged back in correctly, you can't do it wrong, due to the color coded wiring harnesses.At the time of installation of the [redacted], the customer signed a contract with [redacted] that says they are not responsible for aftermarket electronics in the vehicle, which would include his unit.The customer also complained that his radio went out due to the presence of the [redacted] in his vehicle. He was in two times before the radio began acting up for "Lock Outs." This is due to a failure of the person trying to start the vehicle to do it properly, or alcohol was detected preventing the vehicle from starting.When the vehicle was in for these "Lock Outs" we did hear the radio playing, but about a week after the last "Lock Out," he called that the radio quit working. We checked the radio and found the unit was turning on, volume control worked and it changed stations, but no sound was coming out of the speakers. This would indicate a problem with the amplifier section of the radio system, not something that installing an interlock device into the start circuit would cause. The customer was advised of this and went on his way. We have since found out that the remote start unit that the customer has needs to be reprogrammed when it is disconnected or looses power. How this is done, I am not sure. We found an electronics shop in the area that is a factory authorized service center for the brand of remote start that is in the vehicle. We made an appointment with the them for Monday May 11, 2015 to have them look at the unit in the customers vehicle. Which the customer refused to show up for. Respectfully[redacted], President, Al's Auto Service inc.
Revdex.com I.D. [redacted]
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is in regards to the [redacted] driven by [redacted]. We agreed to work on the vehicle because she is a friend of a good customer. We also stated that we would work on it as we had time....
We were very busy at the shop and were working her in around a lot of other vehicles that
were in for repairs.
The vehicle had some repairs performed prior to arrival at our shop. We know that they were done in her driveway and cost her $800.00. What repairs were performed was never made clear. One time she stated “the engine was replaced ." The next time we asked she said “the engine was overhauled.
The [redacted] was towed in by AAA about the 15th of May. It was not running at this time. Customer stated at this time that “it just needs a fuel pump.”
Our initial inspection of the [redacted] found that something had indeed been done to the engine. Numerous electrical wires and vacuum lines were cut o?‘ and laying disconnected in the engine compartment.
We checked out the no start condition and found there was no fuel getting to the carburetor. We checked for fuel at the fuel pump and found none.
The next step is to blow air into the gas tank and see if any fuel comes out at the fuel pump inlet side. There was no gas present at the fuel pump after blowing air into the gas tank. We added about 6 gallons, $25.00 worth of gas, and got the vehicle started. The fuel pressure was tested after putting gas into the [redacted], and it was within specification.
Ms. [redacted] was adamant that the [redacted] was not out of gas. “The tank is full.” If it was, how did we fit 6 gallons of gas into it‘?
The vehicle was not running well at this time, missing on two cylinders, due to overdue maintenance items and a carburetor that was badly in need of an overhaul due to blocked internal passageways.
We worked up an estimate for the needed repairs, a tune up (spark plugs, distributor rotor, fuel filter, air filter, pcv valve, distributor cap and ignition wires, etc.) and carburetor overhaul, along with the removal of an electric fuel pump that had been added to the fuel system, in case this add-on pump was impeding the flow of fuel to the mechanical fuel pump, if the vehicle had gas in it as Ms. [redacted] stated. (This pump was added to some [redacted] vehicles near the gas tank to eliminate a vapor lock problem.)
We also checked and attached repaired as many of the vacuum lines and wires that were hanging in the engine compartment as we could. Some of which we never did determine where they go. They were not shown on the vehicle's vacuum diagram or wiring diagrams.
The above repairs were authorized by Ms. [redacted] on Monday May 19, at which time she added an oil change to the repair.
We proceeded to make the repairs and the vehicle was completed for pick up on Friday May 23. While extensively test driving the [redacted], we did not experience any stalling, the technician made note that the clutch was not feeling quite right and might be getting worn out.
[redacted] picked up the [redacted] on Saturday May 24, at which time we verbally made note that there could be clutch problem starting to occur, to which she stated, “the clutch is fine.” Ms. [redacted] after picking up the vehicle began complaining about a stalling problem.
The [redacted] was towed back to the shop on May 29 after she stalled out while driving. At this time we added more gas to the vehicle to get it started, and repaired a bad electrical connection at the ignition coil. We charged her an additional fee for the wiring harness on the coil feeling it was not caused by something we had done during the previous repair, but we did not charge for the tow, gas, or any labor incurred during this repair.
Due to her insistence, we reinstalled a new electric fuel pump at no charge to her to replace the pump we took off five days earlier.
Total estimated cost of the repairs that were provided at no cost to her were about $473.50 before tax.
We again noted that the clutch was not quite right, this time adding it to the invoice under ‘Recommendations; because it was harder to get into gear than during the previous visit.
[redacted] still complained about a stalling problem and we attempted to get the [redacted] back in on June 17, but she missed this appointment. The [redacted] finally came back in during the last days of June, it had a new exhaust system on it, not installed by us.
At this time we reset the idle speeds and changed the fast idle screw with a new unit. This repair was done as a warranty. The clutch was now VERY hard to push and get the [redacted] into gear. [redacted] said that she was going to Cedar Point the next day, July l. We advised her against driving the [redacted] that far with a. suspect clutch, but she stated, “I've used up my [redacted] funds for the year at this point. It will have to wait until next year.”
This is the last time we saw or heard ?om Ms. [redacted] until the letter from the Revdex.com arrived.
Our questions to Ms. [redacted] are:
What repairs were done before the [redacted] came in to our shop‘? Why were so many wires and vacuum lines cut and hanging in the engine compartment? If the engine was replaced, was it from the same year and model vehicle‘? If the engine was overhauled, what exactly was replaced or serviced? It would have
been nice to know ahead of time before we started the repair.
Could the clutch material have gotten oil soaked during an engine swap? It is possible. Could the clutch material gotten oil soaked during the overhaul, especially if the crankshaft was replaced? It is possible. WE DON'T KNOW, WE DID NOT DO THE WORK!
The only way to determine the reason for a clutch failure, the transmission and transfer case would have to be removed and the clutch inspected for oil soaking or just normal wear and tear.
We were instructed to get the [redacted] running, which we did. It was running when it left the shop.
The fuel pump(s) are not bad, the fuel pressure is withing specification when the vehicle is running, so how can we return it to the way it ran before the pump(s) went bad?
She was advised about the clutch problems during each visit to the shop, and she declined any repairs to the clutch and denied that there was a clutch problem.
Now the [redacted] is not drivable due to a bad clutch, how is it our fault?
Ms. [redacted] spent a total of $1063.16 on repairs, not the $1200.00 stated in her letter.
[redacted], President
Al's Auto Service