Behanna Auto Service

Mr*** came in for PA State Emission and Inspection for his wife’s carDuring the Inspection part, we advised him that the car needed ball joints replacedHe mention prior that inspection if anything needed replaced/repaired that he does his own work on the carWe told him that he had 30days
to change the ball joints and bring back down for a free re-inspection (for the sticker). He actually came down the very next dayHe told us he was ready for his sticker (the Inspection Sticker)We pulled his car inside to re-check it, even though he did not have any appointment scheduledThat’s when both our state licensed mechanics saw that only ball joint was changed and not the other (all needed changed/replaced) When we told Mr***, he said that he “didn’t feel that they were that bad”So we had him come look so that we could show him that they had enough play in them that made them un-passable. Mr*** is not a state licensed mechanic so his opinion is just that, an opinion. We will not jeopardize Mr***’s family or any other family by passing an unsafe/un-passable carUnfortunately, some garages doSome places will trust a person that says they will go home and replace something, we do not, because that is completely illegal(We still have no proof as of today if he ever did change them or not) That day since we would still not put an inspection sticker on his car, since repairs not done, he became upset since we would not “let it slide” and sticker that carWe told him again, we legally can’t but told him to fix the other ball joints over the weekend and came back Monday and we will pull the car in and check them and then finish up the inspection for him. He leftOn Monday he never came that day nor any other day. We do not feel we should return any money, since all signs posted in our garage (per state requirement) says that Pass or Fail inspection must be paid., but you have 30days for date of inspection for the garage to re-inspect you time for freeWe performed the work of the inspectionMr***, did not perform that work he told us he would doWe should not have someone try to bully us into putting a state inspection safety sticker on an unsafe/un-passable carIts not like we failed a car to get the repair workHe ready told us he does all his own repair work prior to the inspectionWe had nothing to gain, by failing his carWe even told the time to show him so he could see the play in all the ball jointsPlain and Simple the car was not safe, not passableWe will never put a sticker on an unsafe/un-passable car, and put people on the roads at risk, and us at risk. I am sorry that Mr*** is upset and feels entitled to his money back, but our job was performed, and he car was not able to receive a PA State Inspection Sticker due to his ball joints, at the times that it was in our garageWe did nothing wrong, only tried to protect Mr*** and his family and any other people on the roads if something would happen. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ###-###-####, or email at ***Thank you very much for the chance to respond to Mr.***’s complaint.Debbie B***Owner

I have never spoken to a *** *** so all of her information is at least 2nd handI was told by the shop manager that my car needed all ball jointsI paid my bill and purchased ball joints on my way home so I could replace themUpon disassembling the right hand upper control arm, I could not see nor feel ANY play in the upper ball jointI checked the lower ball joint on the right hand side and did not see or feel any play in the lower ball jointI reassembled the car and went to Behanna's for them to show me where the ball joints were bad.
They jacked up the driver's side and showed me play in the left hand lower ball jointI agreed there was movement in the jointThey could not show me any noticeable play in the left hand upper joint, the right hand upper joint or the right hand lower jointI told the shop manager I would replace the bad ball joint and not replace the good ball joints I never said " didn't feel they were that bad"I said " I refuse to change a perfectly good part on a car"
I asked for specific measurements of the play they claimed were in the ball joints and they could not provide that informationPer the Pennsylvania vehicle equipment and inspection regulations: 175.80(e)(3)(i)
(3) Inspect suspension system and REJECT IF
one or more of the following apply:
(i) The ball joint movement is in excess
of the manufacturer’s specificationsIf Behanna's cannot provide measurements of the play in the ball joint, how can they compare the movement against manufacturer's specifications?
Here is a link to the Pennsylvania code on vehicle inspection procedures: http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter175/s175.80.html
I returned to the shop and they said since I did not replace both lower joints, they would not pass the inspectionThey told me if I only replaced the lower joints, I did not need to replace the upper joints for them to pass the inspectionIn response to Ms B***'s arrogant statement about Mr*** not being a State licensed mechanic: I am a Federally certified aircraft mechanicI am pretty confident that if I can return an aircraft to airworthy condition after maintenance or inspections I can certainly check to see if automotive ball joints are either good or bad.
I brought my wife's vehicle to an honest inspection station where the owner has over years experience as an inspection mechanic to have him specifically check the ball joints to see if I could be missing somethingHe said he did not see any reason to fail a safety inspection because of the ball joints.
As I told my wife;
If it were someone who wasn't a mechanic that took their car to Behanna's and was told they needed ball joints, they would pay Behanna somewhere in the neighborhood of $to $dollars for them to have the ball joints replaced even though they were not bad.
I would consider this fraudulent business practices
Regards,
*** ***

I have never spoken to a [redacted] so all of her information is at least 2nd hand.I was told by the shop manager that my car needed all 4 ball joints. I paid my bill and purchased 4 ball joints on my way home so I could replace them. Upon disassembling the right hand upper control arm, I could not see nor feel ANY play in the upper ball joint. I checked the lower ball joint on the right hand side and did not see or feel any play in the lower ball joint. I reassembled the car and went to Behanna's for them to show me where the ball joints were bad. They jacked up the driver's side and showed me play in the left hand lower ball joint. I agreed there was movement in the joint. They could not show me any noticeable play in the left hand upper joint, the right hand upper joint or the right hand lower joint. I told the shop manager I would replace the bad ball joint and not replace the good ball joints. I never said " didn't feel they were that bad". I said " I refuse to change a perfectly good part on a car"I asked for specific measurements of the play they claimed were in the ball joints and they could not provide that information.Per the Pennsylvania vehicle equipment and inspection regulations: 175.80(e)(3)(i)(3) Inspect suspension system and REJECT IF
one or more of the following apply:
(i) The ball joint movement is in excess
of the manufacturer’s specifications.If Behanna's cannot provide measurements of the play in the ball joint, how can they compare the movement against manufacturer's specifications? Here is a link to the Pennsylvania code on vehicle inspection procedures:  http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter175/s175.80.htmlI returned to the shop and they said since I did not replace both lower joints, they would not pass the inspection. They told me if I only replaced the lower joints, I did not need to replace the upper joints for them to pass the inspection.In response to Ms B[redacted]'s arrogant statement about Mr. [redacted] not being a State licensed mechanic: I am a Federally certified aircraft mechanic. I am pretty confident that if I can return an aircraft to airworthy condition after maintenance or inspections I can certainly check to see if automotive ball joints are either good or bad. I brought my wife's vehicle to an honest inspection station where the owner has over 30 years experience as an inspection mechanic to have him specifically check the ball joints to see if I could be missing something. He said he did not see any reason to fail a safety inspection because of the ball joints. As I told my wife; If it were someone who wasn't a mechanic that took their car to Behanna's and was told they needed ball joints, they would pay Behanna somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 to $1000 dollars for them to have the ball joints replaced even though they were not bad. I would consider this fraudulent business practices.
Regards,
[redacted]

Review: I took my wife's car in for an annual inspection. I was told the vehicle needed 4 ball joints, both sides upper and lower. I purchased the parts to fix the car and started to change the ball joints and I discovered the passenger side ball joints were in good condition and didn't need replaced. I returned to the shop and asked them to show me the bad ball joints. They jacked up the car and showed me one ball joint that had visible play in it. I could not see play in the other 3 nor feel any play in the other 3. I told them I was going to change only the bad ball joint and return for the inspection sticker. I returned the next day and they refused to pass the car for inspection because I did not change both lower ball joints ( which they would have passed it if I changed only the 2 lower joints not all 4 like they told me originally) I took my car to another garage to perform a safety inspection of the vehicle and to especially check the ball joints. The mechanic told me there was nothing wrong with the ball joints and my vehicle passed the safety inspection.Desired Settlement: I would like reimbursed for the cost of the safety inspection ($26.50) that I paid to a different mechanic due to the incorrect assessment of my vehicle.

Business

Response:

Mr. [redacted] came in for PA State Emission and Inspection for his wife’s car. During the Inspection part, we advised him that the car needed 4 ball joints replaced. He mention prior that inspection if anything needed replaced/repaired that he does his own work on the car. We told him that he had 30days to change the ball joints and bring back down for a free re-inspection (for the sticker). He actually came down the very next day. He told us he was ready for his sticker (the Inspection Sticker). We pulled his car inside to re-check it, even though he did not have any appointment scheduled. That’s when both our state licensed mechanics saw that only 1 ball joint was changed and not the other 3. (all 4 needed changed/replaced). When we told Mr. [redacted], he said that he “didn’t feel that they were that bad”. So we had him come look so that we could show him that they had enough play in them that made them un-passable. Mr. [redacted] is not a state licensed mechanic so his opinion is just that, an opinion. We will not jeopardize Mr. [redacted]’s family or any other family by passing an unsafe/un-passable car. Unfortunately, some garages do. Some places will trust a person that says they will go home and replace something, we do not, because that is completely illegal. (We still have no proof as of today if he ever did change them or not) That day since we would still not put an inspection sticker on his car, since repairs not done, he became upset since we would not “let it slide” and sticker that car. We told him again, we legally can’t but told him to fix the other 3 ball joints over the weekend and came back Monday and we will pull the car in and check them and then finish up the inspection for him. He left. On Monday he never came that day nor any other day. We do not feel we should return any money, since all signs posted in our garage (per state requirement) says that Pass or Fail inspection must be paid., but you have 30days for date of inspection for the garage to re-inspect you 1 time for free. We performed the work of the inspection. Mr. [redacted], did not perform that work he told us he would do. We should not have someone try to bully us into putting a state inspection safety sticker on an unsafe/un-passable car. Its not like we failed a car to get the repair work. He ready told us he does all his own repair work prior to the inspection. We had nothing to gain, by failing his car. We even told the time to show him so he could see the play in all the ball joints. Plain and Simple the car was not safe, not passable. We will never put a sticker on an unsafe/un-passable car, and put people on the roads at risk, and us at risk. I am sorry that Mr. [redacted] is upset and feels entitled to his money back, but our job was performed, and he car was not able to receive a PA State Inspection Sticker due to his ball joints, at the times that it was in our garage. We did nothing wrong, only tried to protect Mr. [redacted] and his family and any other people on the roads if something would happen. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at ###-###-####, or email at [redacted]Thank you very much for the chance to respond to Mr.[redacted]’s complaint.Debbie B[redacted]Owner

Consumer

Response:

I have never spoken to a [redacted] so all of her information is at least 2nd hand.I was told by the shop manager that my car needed all 4 ball joints. I paid my bill and purchased 4 ball joints on my way home so I could replace them. Upon disassembling the right hand upper control arm, I could not see nor feel ANY play in the upper ball joint. I checked the lower ball joint on the right hand side and did not see or feel any play in the lower ball joint. I reassembled the car and went to Behanna's for them to show me where the ball joints were bad.