Engine & Transmission Exchange Inc.

This is for the Milwaukee location. They had a 94 dodge ram for sale out in their parking lot and my boyfriend and I went in to look at. I asked multiple times if there was anything wrong with it and the technician told me no, it runs just fine and there was nothing wrong with it at all except for the wear and tear on the outside,which is common for trucks. They said that they got it from a friend of a technicians or something and it was only used as a work truck. Assuming that this was the truth because it was at an auto place I bought the truck. The first time my boyfriend drove it to work it broke down on the freeway and wouldn't start. I called this place asking for any sort of help and the owner did not care at all. He raised his voice on the phone with me told me nothing could be done because I already bought the truck and he just did not care at all. I am now out $1,500. He told me I paid the cash and now nothing will be done. I was told I could bring it in and I would have to pay to fix it. Why would I pay them to fix a truck when it was their fault in the first place? The owner is so rude to me and didn't care about my experience with them at all. All I want is for this truck to run as well as the technician told me it does. I am so disappointed with this place.

I have had two dealings with the Engine Transmission Exchange. I had to have two exhaust headers replaced on my 2002 Dodge Dakota. Initially, they gave me an estimate which included contingencies of possibly grinding heads, possibly removing snapped off bolts, and the like. Midas Muffler wouldn't even give me an estimate. ETE estimated one week. They completed it in 5 days. Most striking was, the final invoice was for LESS than the estimate by about $500 dollars. They said they didn't need to do some of the contingency things they had included. They could have charged me for grinding the heads, and removing rusted bolts that had snapped off, and I wouldn't have known whether they had or hadn't done the extra things. So they did the job for less, and I had them spend the left over money to install all new shocks which my truck needed badly.

So about 5 months go buy, and my front end started banging away like it was literally going to fall off when I hit even the slightest bump in the road. There was a metal-metal hammering sound. I took it in to ETE, as a walkin, just to have them take a look-see, not knowing what it was. The manager checked things over while I waited. He came back, with a Loaner Key in his hand, and said it will be about three hours to get a replacement shock and install it. Through no fault of EXE, the bushing on the shock had failed causing the clammering, hammering noise. I took the loaner car, did some errands. They called after about three hours, and said it was finished. I picked up the truck, and, no noise! They covered everything at their expense, or under warranty - even though I was prepared to pay the full ticket because it had been over five months.

My experience leaves me with a very satisfied feeling about my EXE-Waukesha experience. They had two separate experiences to rip me off, and I wouldn't have known the difference. They have what most businesses -let alone auto repair shops- have, and that is INTEGRITY. A refreshing attribute. They do what the say, and say what they do. They come highly recommended, as I have shared this story with many of my associations since I met them.

Keep up the great work!

PS: I am not an employee, friend, or friend of any EXE employee/owner. I am someone who fortunately just ran into them by chance.

2/21/2014 I currently have my 93' Ford econoline van in the shop at Engine&Transmission Exchange, 2727 S 27th Street Milwaukee,Wisconsin.I paid a down payment of $1000 with a balance due of Approximately $1200 due upon completion.When I brought the vehicle in for diagnosis, they required a 4 hour period to do their inspection.A few days after signing a contract, I received a call demanding an additional $100 to replace a neutral switch located on the transmission body. This should not be an additionalcharge and I refuse to pay. Outcome pending!

Several years ago I was referred to ETE for service. Upon going there I quickly found out that they are not only interested in servicing your vehicle, they are interesting in making everything work with the vehicle and with the family. They are not your typical service center that just fixes your vehicle. ETE is refreshing because they are so flexible and understanding. They do whatever it takes to work with you and they treat you like your part of their family.
I just recently needed brake jobs to two vehicles and my wife and I have crazy schedules. ETE not only did a great job on the two brake jobs but they accommodated our crazy schedule. I cannot recommend ETE any higher than to say that I feel they are a part of my family. Great people. Great service.

Review: Engine blew in my car July 2013, scheduled engine replacement with ETE in September 2013,had issues with oil usage and leaking from the receipt of repaired vehicle. Spoke repeatedly to staff and manager of problem, short of calling me a liar the distributor of there engines told ETE to get me in and replace engine. Engine replaced May 2014 after much anxiety. Had the shop do a transmission tune up in April 2014. I had the oil change today July,19 2014, and the mechanic informed me I have an oil leak and transmission leak, all of which should not be happening AGAINDesired Settlement: I would like to have the repairs done by a different business, and have the bill covered by ETE. They continually want me to bring the car in, but don't get the problems resolved. Its a real struggle for me to be without a car and get to and from work, when the company expects I should disrupt my schedule over n over n over again, the problems aren't resolved!!!

Business

Response:

Mr. [redacted] is a very valued customer , we have and will continue to provide the best service possible for his vehicle. Every customer's experience is very important to our continued success. We sell over 3500 transmissions per month nationwide and have over 150,000 cars under warranty at any time. I, [redacted], would like Mr. [redacted] to call and set up a time that we can check his vehicle while he waits. Without checking the vehicle it's impossible to say if the problem is engine related.

On 9/4/2013 Mr. [redacted] had ETE install a remanufactured engine into his 1997 Monte Carlo the mileage at that time was 142,368 ETE invoice [redacted]. The service went without issues. ETE purchased the engine assembly from a national engine builder. The warranty was 3 years/36000 miles which ever came first.

Review: After getting a transmission fluid change at ETE, my transmission failed within approximately 5 miles after leaving the shop. I was able to get to the next exit from the freeway, which was in Mukwonago. I called the shop to explain the situation and they said they needed to see the vehicle. It was late Friday afternoon and it was not possible to get there before they closed for the weekend. I was forced to drive home to Milwaukee in second gear at 20 mph. The Waukesha ETE told me to go to the Milwaukee ETE on Monday. The Milwaukee ETE examined the car and confirmed that the third gear was gone. They proceeded to both deny and admit that the fluid change caused the failure. On one hand, they contended that the vehicle was old with many miles and “it was going to fail regardless of the fluid change”. On the other hand, they said that the change did not cause any damage but did change the “internal dynamics” of the transmission. I.e. washing away gunk that created friction that allowed internal parts to grab. In essence it made things too slippery to work on worn (but working) parts. Their position seems to be that they did and did not cause the problem. My position is that I had a working vehicle prior and a malfunctioning vehicle after. It is further my position, that this phenomenon of transmission failure after a fluid change is a common occurrence on older high mileage vehicles that have some wear on the parts. This is well known within the industry. I have confirmed this after the fact by research and speaking with mechanics. The scenario presented by the Milwaukee ETE is in fact correct. The fluid change did not “cause damage” but did “cause failure”. It is recommended by most reputable mechanics and businesses not to do fluid changes on older high mileage vehicles because of this. In fact, any businesses have waiver forms outlining these problems so that customers can be informed of the hazards. There was no such disclosure, either written or verbal prior to this fluid change. This vehicle is 13 years old with over 300,000 miles. I in the interest of disclosure and fair business practices, this danger to my “working” property should have been disclosed.Desired Settlement: a. return of $105.05 for the fluid change

b. return vehicle to working order as prior to service.

Business

Response:

Engine and Transmission Exchange Inc.