La Mesa Automotive & Alignment

Review: In December 2013 my truck was towed to La Mesa Automotive as my alternator went out and needed repair/replacement. The repair was made and within the week the truck had difficulty starting and it had to be towed to another automotive service that was in Los Angeles. [redacted] Automotive in LA informed me that the alternator that was replaced was grossly faulty and had been replaced with faulty parts. I went back to La Mesa Automotive with the list of faulty parts and requested that they refund the $449.15 that I paid as the document from [redacted] Auto clearly stated the faulty equipment that La Mesa had provided. La Mesa refused to make the correction and said that the service was provided and it was not their responsibility.Desired Settlement: Refund the $449.15 I paid for the repair that they failed to do and caused additional damage to other equipment.

Business

Response:

If the part was due to a faulty part all the customer has to do is bring us the part for warranty issues or have the garage that replaced the faulty part fax us a copy of repairs and we will submit it to the vendor where the part came from for warranty issues. We can not warranty a part that does not come back to us without knowing what happened to the part. If the garage that he took it to warranties their parts they would know that they would have to have the part or something from the other garage stating that the part was faulty so we can take care of this issue. I do not know who the customer spoke with when he called to our shop. He is more that welcomed to fax us a copy of the repairs that were completed along with having the garage put the faulty part to the side so we may contact the vendor. We always stand behind our work and our parts are always warrantied if we have the faulty part. I can not warranty a part just because another garage says it is bad as the garage would not accept something from someone else saying there parts and workmanship was not what was suppose to be either without having some type of proof. Thanks La Mesa Automotive & Alignment

Consumer

Response:

I presented the repair that was necessary which identified what was wrong with the distributor and what was replaced. La Mesa Auto refused to accept it. The distributor went dead when I was in Los Angeles so I could not take the vehicle back to La Mesa as it would not run so I went to a reliable and trustworthy repair business in Los Angeles County. La Mesa is not telling the truth just as it did when I returned for an adjustment.

I have reviewed the response 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.

Regards,

Review: Prior to leaving San Diego for an extended vacation, I brought my car to La Mesa Automotive for a maintenance checkup. I was leaving the car for my daughter to drive to and from work. The checkup was completed prior to my leaving at the cost of $500. One week after the checkup, I noticed the brake light was still on. I got in my car with my grandson to run errands and stop by the auto shop when half-way there my brakes went out about 90%. I was able to get the car to the auto shop. I told them my problem. The owner checked the car and later told me everything is ok now. I asked him what happened since I just got my car checked, and he looked at me sheepishly and said "he missed it". I didn't know what he meant, but since the car was running ok, I left the shop. About one week later, my daughter calls me on vacation and says the car stopped. She had it towed to La mesa Auto and they said that I would need a new engine $1900, no explanation. I immediately told her to tow it back home and I would take care of it when I got home. I returned home and took it to a mechanic recommended by a friend. The mechanic asked me on the phone if I ever put oil in the car. I explained to him that I was meticulous about my checkups and oil changes. He said that whoever serviced my car last did not know what he was doing. He explained in technical terms that what happened to my engine was caused by poor service from the last mechanic.Desired Settlement: I am sure that I cannot prove who did what to my car, but I do know one thing. The comprehensive checkup that they charged me $500 for should have revealed something about the engine. an engine just does not look and run perfectly one week and need replacement the next week without something specific happening. also, whoever "missed" something with my brakes was probably the same one who fouled up my engine. I think they hired someone or had someone in their shop that did not know what he was doing. I want my $500 back and I do not plan on obtaining their services ever again.

I would like to file a review on La Mesa Automotive & Alignments behalf. First of all the Revdex.com is not telling the truth to any of these complaints. They are just doing this becuase they want all the small businesses money when this service is free regardless. All these complaints were taken care of and because they did not follow the warranty for their jobs, they are dissatisfied. And furthermore, I am a secret shopper and they do not have any signs up that state they are currently a member of the Revdex.com. They were in the past. thank you

Review: I got my brakes done at La Mesa Automotive starting in February 2013. It was a complete brake job. For the next two months I have had to go back every other Saturday because the brakes make a loud squealing noise when I apply the brakes. I have been told it was the material and not the actual repair job. As of May 2013 I still have the noise coming from the front brakes. The work is guaranteed, but I cannot keep coming back every other weekend to get the brakes fixed. They should have been done correct the first time. I have never had this issue before when getting my brakes done. The company seems to be good and the people are nice, but I have not received a response from a letter I wrote over two weeks ago, just asking for my money back so I can get the brakes down elsewhere. I can provide a bank statement with the cost. I am trying to currently find original receipt. It was 480.57 for the complete job. The alignment has also been out of place since the job, but I can overlook this. I just want my money back so I can get the brakes redone with another mechanic. I cab't keep relying on my parents to watch my children as I keep coming back to fix it.Desired Settlement: I want a full refund of the 480.57 cost for brakes

They used my car while it was there for service. Driving it 65 miles to La Jolla to assist another customer. Only admitted it when confronted with mileage readings and gas consumption.

On another occasion the work they did failed after 450 miles and had to be redone while car

was in Santa Cruz, Ca. Owner Mark offered a partial refund after saying they should have caught the bad work during their test drive but he later reneged on the refund. Just shrugged his shoulders when questioned as to why.

In checking on other complaints I discovered his state license had expired and not been renewed. So fold complaint with Bureau of Automotive Repair.