Auto Express Service

Review: I went into this location and specifically informed them what was wrong with my vehicle. Informed them of the noise it was making and that my car was smoking after 5 minutes of driving it. They found what they believed was the issue and repaired it. I picked up my vehicle and drove home and my car did the same exact thing. Took it back and they did more work. I picked it up once again and drove away and still had the same issue. This time the car left me stranded in the middle of a busy street. Cops came and stayed with me and my children until a tow truck was able to take it back to the shop. The next day the shop calls me and is confused as to why my car is there. So I told them that I am still having the same problem that I initally went in for. They fixed everything but the real problem. After $1100 they finally came to the conclusion that my radiator has a crack in it. Police officer statess that I shouldn't have to pay for the repair costs of the radiator. Argued with the shop all morning because this should have been initially taken care of the first time that I took my car in. The most that they were willing to work with me is to not charge me for labor. I feel that this is not right. They state that all of the other items needed to be fixed. I understand that but they could have been fixed at a later time when I was able to save funds for the other problems. I could have gotten the main cause of my vehicle not working taken care of first and proceeded with the other issues at a later time.Desired Settlement: I feel that I should be refunded. I spent over a $1000 on things that were not the cause of my initial problem. I could have gotten these things done at a later time and just paid the costs of what truely needed repaired. And the fact that it took them the 3rd time of working on my vehicle to find the real issue is concerning. This is something that should have been found during the first inspection of the vehicle.

Business

Response:

To whom it may concern ID # 9779632

I am answering to a customer [redacted] complaint about the repair that were performed on her 2004 Kia. The original complaint was that the car was smoking and then would stall. During the initial inspection was found that oil was leaking from many areas such as the oil pressure sending unit,oil pan , valve cover gasket and cam and crank seals.

So the oil on the exhaust was causing the smokeunder the hood complaint one. The second complaint of the car stalling was revealed when the timing belt cover was removed to inspect the oil seals this is when the second complaint was revealed several spots on the timing belt were missing teeth wich will cause the car to stall and or bend valves in this interference engine. No more leaks were found at this time fluids were all inspected and full.

The car returned the next day the radiator was empty due to a crack in the top of the radiator causing the car to overheat and blowing the head gasket.After explaining this to our customer and educating her on the repair needed and on the repairs that were performed she could not afford the new repairs and thought it to be unfair that this happened after spending 1100$. So [redacted] agreed to pay for the parts only and we took care of the labor.

Owner,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

The reason for my dispute is because I went in there with an initial issue and that issue was only partially solved after leaving the facility for the third time. The issue was that my car was smoking, making a loud noise when accelerating and the oil light coming one. I took it in to them day one and informed them of the issues. They called me back and said that the oil was leaking and that was causing the car to smoke. They stated that they needed to put on new cam seals and a crank seal. They also replaced the timing belt. They called me, I picked up my car. Drove home. While driving home my car started to heat up again, car was smoking, still making the same noise and my oil light came on. The next day I took it back in. They stated that they needed to complete the seals and they also replaced the oil pan or gasket, they placed the oil sending unit, the oil pressure sending unit and the power steering belt. After letting my car sit for a day or so to let the seals dry I went to pick up my car on a friday. Drove away thinking that my car has now been fixed to only have the same issues. But this time I had my kids with me and they car shut off because it was overheated. It shut off in the middle of a busy street. Cops came and wrote a report saying that my car was a hazard to the roadway. I told the police lady what has been happening with this shop and she informed me that they should fix my car for free and that this is a civil suit. Got a tow to come and tow my car to the shop. Saturday morning the shop calls me and says hey what is going on with your car? So I informed them that my car is still having the same issues as when I first took it in. They called me back later that day to inform me that there was a crack in the radiator. I felt that I should not have to pay for this service because I drove away from their shop 2 times and my initial problem was not fixed and I was out $1100. The shop stated that they would just charge me for the price of the radiator and I would not have to pay for the labor. I agreed. I just wanted this over with. The shop then calls me back and states that my head gasket also needs to be replaced. They state that the head gasket cracked due to all of the overheating. Since I left the shop 3 times and they drove the vehicle to find the cause of the problem they agreed to replace for free. They stated that I would not have my car for 2-3 business days. I went in to pick up my car Wednesday 10/30. They wanted to charge me for the head gasket and thermostat and for something else. I said no I am not paying for that because that wasn't part of the agreement. I walked out only paying what was agreed upon. They found everything else wrong with my car then fixing the initial problem which was the cracked radiator. This was the reason for my car overheating and therefore smoking. Not due to the oil. They fixed the noise and the smoking which was the radiator(which was finally fixed on the 3 time in the shop and after the car left me and my kids sit in the middle of a busy street) but the oil light is still not fixed. When the car has warmed up and I am idling the oil light come on. Also I now have to press on the gas pedal to make my car turn over. I never had to do this before. Also my car shakes like I am in an earth quake. Also never did this before. They have caused more problems and hardships then was needed.

Regards,