D & R Automotive

The mechanic put a new fuel pump into a gas tank that was rusty and full of trash, which destroyed the new pump.
I purchased a toyota altima through a friend, but it need a lot of repairs before it was driveable. The owner of the car took it to D & R and was told when it would be fixed. There were issues about that also. Finally, [redacted] and I agreed on the repairs/price. He was told the car had been sitting for more than a year. I was called later and told the car wouldn't start, so it needed a fuel pump, and I agreed for the services. My wife and I picked the car up and noticed the gas hand not working, we notified D & R. The car was not driven until February 21, 2014, due to title issues with the owner of said car. Our mechanic was aware of the situation with the title since his repair work. The weekend of February 21-23 the car stopped and a engine light came on of which when we left the shop it was on. We were told to drive it and hopefully the computer would reset. We did but it kept sputtering and was cranking over too many times. It passed emissions on 21 and on the 24 wouldn't start in my driveway. A friend came over and tested it and said it wasn't getting gas. So he removed the back seat thinking that the new fuel pump that D & R installed was bad, which these things happen, but when he opened the fuel tank cover and looked in he saw rust and trash floating in the fuel. He then proceeded to take the fuel pump out and it was covered in rust and so was the fuel gauge that was inside. We had previously called D&R expecting that the pump was bad, so once we saw this my wife decided to go in and talk with [redacted] about the fuel tank. Her words: I called [redacted] and told him that I was coming and was right up the street, when I got there he was getting in his vehicle leaving. [redacted], I believe he's an owner, and another mechanic ( the 1 who installed the pump) said that the gas tank wasn't like that when HE installed the fuel pump and if it was he wouldn't have installed it. As if it rusted between December -February. They also told me that when I put the gas in the tank and driving the car that's what caused the rust/trash to be disturbed. WOW...I wasn't supposed to put gas in it or drive it. They didn't offer any assistance of any way accept passing me the new fuel pump. I asked how much a new tank would cost and [redacted] said "I don't know i've never had to replace one on a car like that". So, I left and was very hurt because we have done business with them all my life. My family has taken their business to them for more than 40 plus years. It was a very displeasing situation.

I called D & R after my wife told me everything and I complained about being cheated. This is principle, their is no way we could have known it need a new tank unless the mechanic tells us. They are the professionals and I paid them to do a complete job not one to get the car off the lot and stop running once it's parked at my house.

I called another mechanic as soon as I got off the phone with D & R and the gentlemen gave me a estimate and told me what needed to be done. I paid to haul the car to his shop and we are getting the repairs needed. I am repaying him to do half of the job D & R said they did. I am also stuck with a new fuel pump that this mechanic says is a low quality fuel pump, because D & R has the warranty or I will have to pay out of pocket AGAIN.

We have been told by two different mechanics, that there was now way any mechanic/person could not have seen the trash and rust in the tank.

I was of the impression that the part used on my vehicle was either new or rebuilt like a part from Auto Zone etc. D& R
D & R had my car for a week, when it should only have taken 2 hours to complete. About a week after I my car was returned to me, I took it to Goodyear for an Oil Change and Tire Rotation. The mechanic asked me to step into the area where my car was and he showed me that the Inner Tie Rod on the passenger's side was loose and would need replaced. And, that I would need an Alignment.I explained that I had the Rack & Pinion just replaced and also had an Alignment. He told me that it would be impossible to do an Alignment with a broken Tie Rod. Then he showed me the Rack & Pinion was a used part and pulled the tag off the part showing that it was purchased at LKQ Salvage Yard. I looked up the part onlin