Sams Complete Auto Repair & Smog

Review: sold me engine that was not right engine for car

lied about engine being put in my car

sold me one engine put another in my car and lied about it

On October 19 2013 I spoke to a sales person and California auto repair Inc. about purchasing a used 5.9 dodge engine for my 2000 dodge Durango I was told over the phone that he had 4- 5.9 engine in his lot for sale I then asked him how the engines were tested i.e. ( compression and leak test ) he then informed me that they test compression and do a leak down test and that the engine would be a good running engine , he also quoted me over the phone 1150.oo for engine and installation of the engine 500.00 for the used 5.9 engine and 650.00 for labor installation of used engine . Under this assumption I took my car to California auto parts Inc. they asked for a 500 .00 deposit and was given a receipt for 500.00 deposit and a remainder balance of 650.00 for labor. I then ask the sales person how long it would take to finish the work on the car and he told me it would be ready for pick up on Thursday October 24. 2013. I waited for then to contact, I then waited till the end of the day on Thursday to hear from them and I got no phone call so I decided that I would call first thing in the morning to see if it would be done. I called California auto parts Inc. Friday morning to speak to the sales associate I was then told that they didn't know anything about my car and that I would have to call a personal cell phone to speak to the person who was taking car of my car, I was then given to [redacted] the supposed owner and he told me that the torque converter that we supplied for the engine was the wrong one and that he needed to get one rebuilt and he would have the car ready at the end of the day on Friday October 25. 2013 , we then waited till the end of the day and then called [redacted] and he very rudely rushed me off the phone and told me it was not ready and he wasn't going to rush his mechanic and that the car would be done Monday October 28. 2013. I preceded to go to californina auto parts inc. on Monday October 28. 2013 to pick up my car I was then notified that California auto parts was not handling the work of my car and that sam's complete auto repair and smog was handling it down the street so I preceded to this building to pick up my car I was then notified by the mechanic (Mauricio) that the engine I originally purchased was not right for my car he and Sam then decided on their own without notifying me or my husband of finding a different engine to put in my car Mauricio then installed this engine without my consent and then let me know that he didn't find the engine till Friday October 25. 2013 and that his mechanic (Mauricio) didn't start working on my car till Friday October 25 2013 so now as of Monday October 25 2013 I am still without a car and now , the mechanic (Mauricio) then told me that it will be done tomorrow Tuesday October 29 2013 I reluctantly leave and return home . On Tuesday October 29 2013 my husband and I return to [redacted]'s auto repair and smog Inc. to pick up the car at 8 am we then were told by the mechanic Mauricio that he could not finish the work the night before and we would have to wait till 2pm Tuesday October 29 2013 to pick up the car. So I and my husband reluctantly left once more and returned home. We then waited till 3pm to make sure the car would be finished and returned to [redacted]'s auto repair and smog Inc. to pick up my car the car was now at California auto parts waiting for us to test drive under the assumption everything was done right. We then took car for test drive and immediately noticed that the engine had no power it was unable to hit overdrive we then continued to test drive car with mechanic we then returned to California auto parts Inc. to pick up [redacted] and take him on test drive to show engine had no power. After driving car [redacted] then assumed that our over drive cable was either to tight or to lose and was causing loss of power he then took our car with us to a transmission shop down the street and had an employee adjusted the cable because his mechanic did not know how to do it. The transDesired Settlement: would like sams complete auto repair to have to pay for a new engine .

Business

Response:

Initial Business Response

customer has the wrong business California auto parts uses the name sams complete auto repair also ran from 618 s9th st our business is sams complete autocare they are owned by a different person

Final Consumer Response

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)

I do not except this response because he is telling lies he had my car for over 3 1/2 weeks he lied about putting a 5.9 engine in my car I recently just put a new engine in my car and had to send the motor that was in the Durango and was charged 150 extra because it wasn't a 5.9 which [redacted] said he put in my car ... everything he said is not the truth we were not notified till a week later that he didn't have an engine for our car, and when he test drove the car he admitted that the car had no power and that's why he kept the car for another two days to try to fix it I never got a ticket in San Luis obisbo I told [redacted] we had a trip planned and he said that the car runs good and it was no problem. Me and my husband both has medical marijuana cards. But the biggest factor in this situation is that [redacted] lied about putting a 5.9 used engine in my car when in fact he put a 5.2 used engine in the car which is y the car had no power u couldn't go over 45 miles an hour and it wouldn't run right

Final Business Response

Customer dropped off vehicle at my place of business California Auto Parts left it with my sales associate [redacted] to have a used engine replaced They left a deposit of $500. was away at a church function.

Unfortunetly we were shorthanded and was not able to get the engine swapped out on time. Per my employees they call to update customer on the status, but they did not answer we did leave a message to please call us back.

The day I returned from my church function. I was not even aware that the car was even dropped off. The customer came by yelling and threatening everybody that they would beat them up. They were very disrespectful not to only us but our other customers there as well. I told them I would figure it al out and get this issue resolved.

On Oct 25, 2013 we called and informed them the car was done. They came by and test drove the car, they complained it had not power. I myself test drove it and could not find anything wrong. I also took them to another transmission shop (Precious Motor) and the tech could not find anything wrong. If anything he suggested to have his catalytic converter checked.

As a courtesy I let them use a loaner car in the meantime until we resolved this issue.

Since we just changed out engine we came to an agreement for us to pull his old cylinder heads off his motor and get it rebuilt. The head was sent to Carlos's Machine Shop. They found that the valves were bad and the guides were cracked. They had to be replaced. The cost for a new set of heads was $600 plus the cost of shipping.

Mike & [redacted] (customers) were very upset when they heard this extra cost. I offered to take the heads off one of my engines in my wrecking yard lot for him, but I could not find a good set. I called Mike to inform him and even then offered that if he found a good set else were we would install it for him for free. Since we could not resolve the issue we suggested we put back his old engine but would not allow us to. Even after we refunded the customers their deposit of $500.

Mike & [redacted] put over 1000 miles on the 2000 Toyota Camry I loaned to them. They were very rough on the vehicle as it came back with barely any water or oil. It is has a broken transmission. I know they drove it to San Luis Obispo because I received a parking ticket for $35.00. The car also smelled strongly of marijuana. We also found a marijuana left behind in the car.

I feel we tried our best in trying to correct the issue to the best of our ability. As of now I am at a complete loss on this issue. They kept my engine, even though we refunded his deposit. All the time and labor went into this that was a loss. I feel Mike and [redacted] at least should pay us for the following:

1. Engine they kept $1150.00

2. Cost to detail/clean and get rid of the marijuana smell in the car I loaned them $150.0

3. Parking Ticket $35.00

4. Broken transmission on loaned car $1400.00

I think [redacted] and Mark are used to bulling there way around, and very disrespectful. They didn't even have enough respect to take their own dope out of the car. What if one of my other customers found it in the car.

Lastly I am the owner of both Sam's Complete Auto Shop & California Auto Parts. I recently leased out the Sam's Complete Auto Shop but still use it as a repair shop and storage in the back.

Review: On or about 6/10/2015 I Contacted this place of business while looking around for a mechanic. I spoke with [redacted] the owner of this place and explained to him that I had a car that needed a motor, and giving him the information of the vehicle, he said yes he was able to fix it. I told him I had found a motor already but [redacted] said if he installed a motor not purchased by him, he would not guarantee the work and would charge for labor only but not being responsible for the motor. So I told him I would rather buy the motor from him. [redacted] agreed. [redacted] said it would take a week to fix. I then called him and asked him that if he accepted a check because I had read signs in the shop saying no checks accepted and explained to him that it was a loan check. I applied for a loan to fix the car and made it to the price he gave me in writing and a print out for that amount. A week later I called [redacted] and told him I was going to tow the car to his shop, This was memorial day (Monday). He said he was there till 12/1pm. The car was towed. Two weeks later I called to check on the car and AL the supervisor in charge of the mechanics told me that I had given him the wrong information about the motor and this caused them buying a car from and auction that was no use to them. The motors did not match. I never told them the wrong information and with the fact that the car was already at the shop they should of confirmed the motor size. I suspected they tried to fit another type of engine in it. But was not sure. I then contacted them a week or so later and [redacted] sends me to talk to AL and Al sends me to [redacted] so a little of cat and mouse game was happening. Al then tells me another motor didn't fit. So I ask him if he was going by the VIN number and he says yes. So finally on July 6th,2015 I spoke with AL and let him know It was taking too long. A week was way past. Al's response was that they have put too much money into the car. I suggested picking up the car cause I did not know what was taking so long. So Finally he saysDesired Settlement: I want this shop to finish the job. I obtained a loan with the amount of what [redacted] will charge me. Plus they have already took the engine out and where is the guarantee all the parts are there. Its going to take more money to take it to another shop and I have been borrowing cars from friends and family members. They should of let me knoe what was happening from the start. Please Help me.