Kearney's Auto Sales And Service, Inc.

Complaint+My car had broke down within the city limits of [redacted] NC. The car was smoking started jerking, and the check engine light came on. There was a good enough smoke coming from the right side. My husband got in touch with the mechanic owner of the shop. Couple of hours later he came a towed my car. He was also given the registration for the car so it could also get inspected if possible. Few days went by, before we actually heard anything from him. He told my husband it was the crank system. So my husband went ahead and gave him permission to proceed with the car. Some how few days later my husband, and him got in touch, and he told him it was ready. It was after hours when we arrived.My husband got in touch with him, and he open his shop so we can get it. The total can up to a little over 300 dollars. He made us pay him before we was able to get the car. We paid him for towing, diagnostic testing, inspection, labor, and the part. We got the car he left we were still there and when we crank the car it sounded very sluggish. We didn't think nothing of it because we just paid this man all this money it should be running correctly. We left the shop went to the store, and every time we stop the car was smokingreallybad and it cuts of everytime we stopped. the car war running hot it wouldn't crank. It was smoking very bad. Started doing the same thing it was doing but worst before it got in the shop. I thought it was the gas, so went to the store to put gas in the vehicle, and it didn't solve my problem. Me and my kids were on them dark roads with no services on the cell phone. My car automatically shut down. steamed was coming from everywhere. We set on side of the road for house until helped arrived. The next day my husband got in contact with him, and he said he was going to come get it. He did and when I went to give him the key he was looking very stupid. His words were he was just worried about getting it started for us. He claim he see what was going on. He said my motor was gone. Full of itDesired SettlementI only willing to pay him for the cost of towing. He don't believe he diagnose my vehicle, because he would have saw the other problem. His words were We were only concerned about getting it started. That don't sit well with me. We paid him to do a job that wasn't performed. He got over on us. Far as the inspection my car should not have passed inspection. The way it was running, smoking and the check engine light was on it should not have passed it. I am just disgusted with the business.Business Response Kearney's Auto was contacted by customer Mr. [redacted] (there has been no contact with the person filing the complaint)to tow a 2004 Dodge Stratus from downtown [redacted] because according to the customer it would not start. Electronic diagnostic indicated the crank and cam sensors were malfunctioning. Mr. [redacted] was contacted and authorized replacement of these items. There was no mention of other concerns or prior problems unrelated to this issue. The customer was contacted again once the work was completed and tested and he came to retrieve the vehicle, driving it from the lot with no evidence of smoking and no complaint. When the customer called to request towing a few days later, it was apparent the car had been operated without sufficient water/coolant and the engine ran hot. This is an unrelated issue likely resulting from the customer's own oversight. No refund is warranted because the work performed successfully addressed the initial problemthe car started and was driven from the lot. In addition, after the second tow request, the customer subsequently removed the vehicle from the lot without notifying the business of any intent to do so. While it is the customer's right to do so, if an employee had not inadvertently seen them leaving the premises there would have been no way of knowing what had happened to the car. The key the customer left with us is still at the business.Kearney's Auto has been in business for more than 60 years. We have not sustained a loyal customer base for this length of time by providing poor service. It is regrettable that the customer experienced additional problems with the vehicle but the problems could not result from the service requested and that was performed.