Central Equipment Dist.

Mrs*** brought her Dodge Ram to us and informed us it had an exhaust leak and the tag light assembly was broken, she said she had purchased the vehicle from *** *** several days before as is. We did the state inspection on the vehicle previously and the issues were addressed where a
muffler and tailpipe, fog light and tag light(the tag light assembly was in tact). All lights where working at the time the vehicle was inspected, all other repairs where done through *** at *** ***. We told her we would fix the exhaust free of charge and she recommended coming back the following day, however she never returned. She had a bill for repairs done at another garage and the amount for repairs where around $140.00, she never discussed getting reimbursed with anyone here. She is disputing a $amount which is about $more than the repairs would cost. We contacted Trooper *** and he told us she had no complaint with us that she has a issue with *** ***. We are not responsible for agreements between carlots and their customers so we feel this issue needs to be addressed with *** ***.Thank you for your time in this matter*** *** (Manager)

I have reviewed the response offer 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 inspection was done at Lifetime Muffler and should have failed inspection! The tie rod was required to be replaced before I was allowed to leave the garage and the total was $140 for just that one repair. There are numerous issues that should have caused this vehicle to fail the safety inspection. This vehicle also has a leak in the rack which is safety violation as well! The part itself is an $800 part not including labor. [redacted] was only in possesion of this vehicle for 5 days before I purchased it. None of these safety violations happened within a few days of it being inspected. Lifetime muffler was handed the safety violation paperwork from my mechanic. There is absolutely no way that [redacted] damaged the tie rod or busted a hole in the rack. The inspection sticker was put on this vehicle without anyone really inspecting it. 
Regards,
[redacted]

All of the paperwork of the safety violations was hand delivered to the lady at Lifetime Muffler within an hour of leaving my garage and meeting with the state trooper. It was also uploaded with this complaint. The leak issue with the rack did not happen within a matter of days and I do have my local mechanic to support that claim. If the vehicle would have been inspected properly then they would have seen it. They may have replaced the muffler, but they did not weld it together thus causing the exhaust leak. It is their own repair as far as the exhaust leak that should have failed inspection. I had to have the windshield wiper blades and the front headlight replaced the day that I got the vehicle due to the condition they were in. Lifetime Muffler is taking responsibility for the tag light repair but has failed to mention the large screws they used that are currently sticking out of the bumper. The screws are still there, but the light assembly is not. Due to the way that they repaired something as simple as a headlight, I do NOT want this garage doing anymore repairs on my vehicle. I can obtain a copy of the complaint filed by the state trooper along with the video that was taken of the "repairs" and violations noted on this truck from my garage if that would help resolve this issue faster.

I have passed on the report from the State Trooper which clearly states that in speaking with Ms. [redacted], the vehicle was rejected by Lifetime Muffler due to the rack and pinion leak. The management at this garage seem to have an issue with being truthful and do not feel that this issue is going to be resolved here.  I feel that this matter will be better handled through the courts.  Thank you. 
[redacted]

Mr.[redacted] brought his car to us on 09/06/17 for a State Inspection, once we pulled the car in forthe Inspection it quit running. We had completed the Inspection and rejected the car for a rightfront marker light, turn signal light, Broken rear engine mount and 2 front brake hoses thatappeared to be...

cut. (During the Inspection we found no signs of oil leaks and there was no oilindicator light on in the dash)We notified Mr. [redacted] of the reasons it was rejected for and alsothat the vehicle had quit running during the Inspection and Mr. [redacted] requested that wediagnose and fix the issues, we had originally quoted Mr. [redacted] $350.00 in labor and he wouldprovide his own parts. We diagnosed the vehicle and found it had a faulty Crankshaft sensor.Mr. [redacted] brought us the parts needed to repair the vehicle and pass inspection. Once weinstalled the Crankshaft sensor Mr. [redacted] provided the vehicle would still not start so werediagnosed the vehicle and found the part he provided was defective. We tried to call Mr.[redacted] and was unsuccesful so we ordered another sensor which we had to add to his bill andraised it to $385.00, after we installed it the car started perfectly. We reinspected the car on09/13/17 and contacted Mr. [redacted] to let him know his car was ready. When he came to pickup the vehicle we made Mr. [redacted] aware that he was almost out of gas, he took his car and ranout of gas several hours later. He informed us that he put about $2.00 in gas, he asked us tolook at his car again so he had it towed to us. We put several gallons of gas in Mr. [redacted]s carWe diagnosed the vehicle and found it had no fuel pressure and the fuel filter was completelyclogged up. We purchased and replaced the fuel filter for Mr. [redacted], however we did notcharge Mr. [redacted] since we knew he was low on funds. Mr [redacted] once again took his vehicleand several days later he called us saying the vehicle had quit running again. He also told us hetook it to another garage and they told him it needed a motor. He asked if we would look at itagain and we agreed so he had it towed to us and we diagnosed it and found that the motorhad locked up. The work we performed would in no way affect the internal performance orworkings of an engine. The vehicle is a 1988 Oldsmobile with very high milage and showedmultiple signs of neglect and upkeep.Shop Manager, [redacted]             State Inspector, [redacted]

WHEN VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN WE INSTALLED MUFFLER AND A TAG LIGHT BULB, , WHATVER HAPPENED TO THE TAG LIGHT AFTER IT LEFT HERE I WOULDNT KNOW, THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REJECTED FOR RAC AND PINION I OFFERED TO CHECK AND REPAIR ANY EXHAUST  LEAKS  BUT SHE DID NOT RETURN THE FOLLOWING DAY AS SHE SAID SHE WOULD, I WILL STILL STAND BEHIND MY OFFER TO RE PAY HER THE 140.00 FOR THE TIE ROD AND ILL PAY 15.00$ FOR THE HEAD LIGHT TO BE CLEANED, AIMED, THIS IS MY OFFER TO TRY AND SETTLE THIS AND MAKE IT RIGHT BUT THIS IS MY FINAL OFFER,  $155.00  THANK YOU, [redacted]

We will be glad to reimburse you for the $140.00 due to the tie rod end and are willing to stand by this as a mistake on our part, we did repair the tag lights when it was being inspected and installed a muffler. We also was willing to stand by the exhaust leak and repair that but you did not come back the following day as you said you would. We are also willing to stand by this as a mistake on our part. However we are not responsible for a rack because it was not damaged or leaking when it was here for inspection and it was not brought to our attention by Trooper [redacted] during his conversation with us over this incident. The only paperwork you had the day you came was for a tie rod end. This matter could have been resolved if you would have came back like you had agreed to the following day, however we heard no more about this incident until we was contacted by the Revdex.com with your complaint.                                                       Thank you, [redacted]