Mel's Transmission Repair

Review: Hello,

I am writing to report Mel’s Transmission for their inability to fix my car but refusal to give me a refund. I first went to Mel’s Transmission over 6 months ago because my car would not reverse. When I took it in they told me that they knew what the problem was and that the Transmission needed to be replaced. I purchased a used Transmission with a warranty for almost $4,000. Since then my car is still not fixed and I have had to tow it back to their shop over 7 times each time costing me about $250. Each time [redacted] the repair man has told me that there is nothing he can do to fix it and that if my car doesn’t reverse to let it sit for an hour and then try it again. That is completely shocking as I have paid a lot of money to not have this problem which I originally came in for. In the time that I have been taking it in to this shop my right-side passenger window stopped working after they were working on it. They gave me the car back with the window completely rolled down and then it would not roll up by the time I got home. They gave me the car with all the windows down so that I wouldn’t notice. Then my heater stopped working and just last month in June my car blew up in smoke because one of the pieces to the Transmission went bad and the engine had a leak. He charged my over $500 to fix the engine when I was quoted at another facility for $298. I feel like I have been taken advantage of because I am a young female and I was being assisted by a Foster Care program.

Ever since I started going to Mel’s Transmission my car has been breaking down increasingly more. Please help me make sure that they don’t do this to anyone else. I am hoping to get a refund so I can take it to a real car repair place but if not I would still like to make sure that they don’t do this to someone else because it’s wrong. I have called them several times to ask for a refund but they have not returned my calls. (I have all the appropriate documentation to prove my claims as well.)

Thank you, TiffanyDesired Settlement: I would like a full refund because they never fixed the problem I originally came there for and my car is still breaking down. Also they told me to let my car sit for an hour if it doesn't reverse which is not what I paid over $4,000 to do.

Business

Response:

10/02/15-Vehicle came in with reverse problem. We OVERHAULED her transmission, it was not a used one. cost $3504.38. 10/28/15 vehicle was returned for a 2 week inspection, at which time everything on the transmission appeared to be working properly and had no leaks. 11/19/15 vehicle towed in after hours. we were told it quit. Replaced solenoid pack, no charge. 2/08/16 vehicle drove in, customer stated noise. Noise appeared to be heater gate. Topped off brake fluid. Customer advised to to seek repair at a general repair shop, no charge. 03/08/16 vehicle was towed in. complaint, no reverse. Upon inspection and testing, car had forwards and reverse, and seem to working properly, so pan was pulled and inspected. Pan was clean, we did add a transmission fluid treatment and gas, no charge. 06/06/16, vehicle drove in, was steaming and quit in the middle of the driveway. Thermostat housing was bad. Upper & lower housings replace along with o'ring, thermostat, gasket and anti-freeze. At this time we notice a leak at transmission at bellhouing, so transmission was removed, leak was the converter, converter was sent out for inspection, another converter (different brand) was purchased to replace it and transmission was repaired. There was no charge on the transmission repair, but we did charge for the thermostat repair $533.65 oem parts, labor & tax. I can not understand how a transmission overhaul or a thermostat repair has any connection to her window, engine leak, heater or now as she has stated her air conditioning not working. The last time [redacted] called to say her vehicle was not working in reverse again, which was left on the answering machine. We called [redacted] back and left a message on her answering machine, we told her we would like to have the vehicle and we have even told her to call the tow company and that we would take care of tow. What she has not told us is that she has moved to Roseville, CA. She has never talked to us, about a refund and she has never really talked to us. she leaves messages on the answering machine, after hours. We understand her frustration and have been trying to work with her to resolve this issue and still more than willing to work with her. Thank You, [redacted], Manager

Review: Slamming in the rear and or powertrain, no power when needed, not changing gears when it should, rearend leaking and fixed twice and now again,(possible rear-end gears damaged which was not original problem), Truck rans vetter with old tranny, which leads me to believe that a new one was not necessary. [redacted] (owner made comment on old fly-wheel wasa put aside because he felt the one put in might not be correct one. This tells me I did not need a new fly-wheel. [redacted] admitted that he use old part numbers (book) to order parts for truck, and that things were not matching up. This is why every time I take the truck back, they can't find the problems. The truck has been to the shop 6 times and each time I get it back, its worst. [redacted] will not admit he put in the wrong transmission,and is causing me great stress while taking back and forth while he searches for ways to avoid addressing this issue. More damage is being done to other areas of the truck, which is becoming extremly dangerous to drive, for me and othe on the road if that rear-end locks up. [redacted] has tine and time returned this truck back to me knowing that there was an issue and has stated that he can't figure out what is the cause. He has several times released the vehicle not taking the appropriate test drive which would clearly show problems. He has cost me all my money, my whole summer, now winter, any assistance from people, and stress to my current mental state which has deminished due to his lack of professionalism on this matter. I am near to being stranded, and close to a nervous breakdown. I relly want another shop to fix these issues at his cost.Desired Settlement: I would like to have this shop treat this vehicle like day one and have the correct transmission and any replacement parts put on, the rear-end check through-out and fix at his cost if damage done,and I'd like to be re-imbursed for the cost of taxi rides to and from his shop. I want a detailed discription on parts and work done for future references. I want [redacted] to test drive this vehicle up hills, on highway, and in a manner which living in the mountains would present actual driving condition.

Business

Response:

Vehicle was brought in for a service (08/14/13). The pan was full of excessive material, so after contacting customer, customer decided to go with a rebuilt transmission. After transmission was removed, some of the teeth were damaged on flywheel. Replaced flywheel with customer's permission. Customer recieved vehicle back with light vibration that was pointed out to us. After research, flywheel in box was wrong. Customer returned vehicle (08/29/13), we replaced flywheel with correct one at no charge. At the time of changing flywheel, converter was sent out at customers request and changed to a low stall to address the lack of power. At the time customer came to pick up vehicle, [redacted] & [redacted] went for a road test, customer drove the vehicle on the road test very aggressively, was going up the freeway at 80mph in wrong gear, when he was shown that the vehicle was in 2nd gear and that the vehicle will stay in manual 2nd gear when shifter is in manual 2nd gear, he appeared very aggravated. After work, customer has been to 2 other transmission shops in our area, both shop couldn't fine no fault with the transmission. Vehicle was brought back (12/13/13) after having some engine work done at another shop and a pinion seal changed at another shop. We have tried several adjustments to try to take care of Kevin"s complaint and replace the pinion seal at no charge. We feel we have gone out of our way to address Kevin's complaints. Customer has never once arrived in a taxi to pick up his vehicle. Customer was given a copies of repair orders for all work done on this vehicle. The only thing we ever did to the rear differential was replace the pinion seal that the customer was unhappy with from another shop. We are sorry for the late response, we just recieved your letter. If you have any more questions, please contact us.

Sent on: 3/31/2014