Service Center Radiator Works

Review: I am writing you with a complaint against a local business I dealt with here in Auburn California on March 24th, 2014

I brought in to him my 2003 Lincoln Tow Car Limousine on 3-24-14. I explained to his wife [redacted] what the problem was. I asked them if they could repair it and they said they were very qualified in A/C systems. I had another company in Sacramento that was going to repair the limo but I always try to do local business first and they did come to us as a referral form another local business.

I brought the parts in including a new A/C compressor, dryer unit, and all new rear valves. The owners wife [redacted] quoted US approx 5 hours on $400-450 to make these repairs. I explained to them that the main problem was that the air in the back was not blowing cold only in the drivers cab. Everything in the back section was working fine, lights, stereo, fans, etc except for the rear A/C was blowing vent air not cold.

When I left therm my vehicle they said it would be possibly a few days till I could pick it up. They did not have me sign anything. No invoice, no work order or anything. I called [redacted] the owners wife and she said that it was fine that no work order was signed.

After 3 days when I called to check in on the progress [redacted] informed me that they ran into some problems getting some of the parts out. She said some bolts had broke but for me not to worry as there would not be an additional change and that this sometimes happens with older pants. I then called on Friday March 28th to check on y vehicle as I do use this limousine for business and WE get most of our calls on the weekend. She said they were having trouble getting the air to blow cold in the back and were going to check into the wiring of the rear valves. They were waiting for more information on the vehicle from the company Executive Coach who built the limo.

Finally on Monday March 31st on week later they told me they could not fix my problem and that the mechanic trying to repair the back AC lost all power to the back of the limo. They said everything shorted out in the rear and tried to tell me it wasn't working right when I brought it in. Then they wanted $658 to release my limo back to me.

I told them I refused to pay and give me my limo back or would go to the local police station. The owner told me to got the police and he refused to give me my vehicle back. the police informed me that this is a civil matter and they couldn't assist me in getting my vehicle back.

After cooling down I called them back and said I need my vehicle and how much would they settle this for. [redacted] the owner said bring me $400 and come get your car.

I went back that afternoon and gave him a visa card for the $400 and he told me not to show up at his shop again and then presented me an invoice to sign which I dated March 31st not March 24th when I left him the vehicle.

Once I picked up the car after driving a few miles away to a mechanic in Orangevale the check engine light came on. The limo started to jerk and it felt like the transmission was slipping. Something new was wrong and I was sure they had either broke a wire or done something else as this never happened before.

I finally made it to another shop called the [redacted] in Orangevale at [redacted] The [redacted] at 916-[redacted] or 916-[redacted] specializes in Limousines.

He found that the shop in Auburn must have shorted out the entire rear circuit board due to reversed grounds. They must have jumped the wrong wires causing the rear to completely short out.

To repair the blown circuit board the change was $445.

Then he found the problem with the jerking and the check engine light was and the check engine light was a broken crank sensor located just under the new A/C compressor that service center radiator and A/C repair just installed. Apparently they broke this part while removing the old compressor. [redacted] also found that they stripped some threads while replacing the new compressor.

He had the remove the new compressor, replace the broken sensor and re-charge the system again. This cost another $260. The total spent was another $757. I also lost 1 ride on Tuesday April 1st which would of made us Approx 4450 because the car wasn't working.

I plan to stop payment on my credit card when the bill comes in later this month as well as file a complaint with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. We also plan to file a small claims for the $757 paid to correct their problems and the cost of the lost revenue on our 4450 lost business.

Please review this complaint as I to am a local business serving the Auburn area and we always try to please our customers and do business honestly and fair.

[redacted] of Service Center Radiator and Auto Air made it clear for me never to come back to his business. And I never plan to or refer him any local business.Desired Settlement: Refund

Business

Response:

Mr. [redacted] contacted this facility and stated he had purchased and a/c compressor, accumulator and expansion valves and wanted to know the cost of install his components. He also stated he received quotes of approximately $400.00 to $500.00 from other facilities to install his parts. We concurred that was an accurate amount of labor charge for the description of the scope of work he was requesting.