South Green Automotive Foreign & Domestic

The clutch failure is in no way a result of the previous repair [redacted] has shown no evidence that there was an issue with the clutch at time of repairNo warranty or refund will be issued in any wayThe failure of the clutch in no way reflects poor workmanship or defect upon South Green AutomotiveThis claim clearly has no merit

On June 18, 2012 [redacted] from [redacted] referred [redacted] to us as customer. [redacted] stated he Inspected [redacted] vehicle and detected a problem within the serpentine...

system based on smoke from the belt area.  Upon arrival of the vehicle I performed a diagnostic service on serpentine system. Once the serpentine belt was removed each pulley was hand turned in order to detect a resistance on belt which would have caused smoke from the belt area and squealing as [redacted] described.  The AC compressor was found to have locked up causing heavy resistance on belt and verifies customer complaint.  At this point I Called [redacted] stated what I found and gave her an estimate which she approved. After The AC compressor was replaced I test drove the vehicle twice. No further repair was recommended at this point. I did not detect any malfunction with the transmission or clutch operation before or after the AC compressor repair. Based on the [redacted]’s complaint about the smoke from the hood area and the state of the AC compressor, in my professional opinion this was the appropriate repair. My colleagues at [redacted] (Certified ASE General Repair Facility) agree this is the appropriate repair. During several test rides between [redacted] and South Green no transmission or clutch problem was ever detected. In my experience it is not uncommon to experience a clutch failure unexpectedly especially with a vehicle that has 187,638 miles. In no way does the later failure of the clutch have anything to do with previous repair. The repair was completed and the vehicle was driven several times with no fault detected by the customer. The attorney generals office and dmv has dismissed this claim.

The clutch failure is in no way a result of the previous repair. [redacted] has shown no evidence that there was an issue with the clutch at time of repair. No warranty or refund will be issued in any way. The failure of the clutch in no way reflects poor workmanship or defect upon South Green Automotive. This claim clearly has no merit.

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:
South Green is well aware that [redacted] had just installed a serpentine belt months before.  This is one of the very issues.  In addition to COMPLETELY failing to diagnose the clutch problem, they installed a TOTALLY unneeded serpentine belt.  The car had to be TOWED to Ellington for [redacted] to do the clutch job.  It was NOT drivable. South Green refused to answer the CT attorney general regarding even the serpentine belt, even with receipts from [redacted] proving they had recently installed one!  And, further, they DO NOT speak for [redacted]. South Green has provided nothing to show [redacted] opinion.  The diagnosis and responsiblity for such was South Green's alone.  They ripped me off, tried to instill the fear factor with "toxins" as previously described, and continue to show their lack of customer service by refusing to compensate me or reply to even the State of Connecticut attorney general.  CT residents and other potential customers should be able to be aware and forewarned. Thank you, Revdex.com.
Sincerely,
[redacted] [redacted]

Review: On 6/15/12, my '[redacted] suddenly started operating oddly, bumpy/shaking as I shifted to drive. After a short distance, as I stopped the vehicle, dark smoke came from under the hood & there was a burning smell. I shut the car off. When I turned it back on, there was no smoke UNTIL I put it in gear & drove a few feet. I had the car towed to a garage that I had brought it to a week earlier for intermittent squealing under the hood DIRECTLY in front of the driver/steering wheel area. I was asked if I had problems with the air conditioner (they thought maybe it was bearings), but I said "no." This garage suggested that South Green Automotive on [redacted], a few blocks away, diagnose it. [redacted] from South Green diagnosed it as an AC problem & quoted $900 for an AC compressor clutch, serpentine belt & a filter to clear out "TOXINS." Again, this was June. I'd already been using the AC & it worked fine---made the car perfectly cool---but here was the mechanic giving me the diagnosis about a compressor (I later learned the compressor isn't in the area the squealing was in), belt and, even worse, a filter needed for "TOXINS." When I picked up the car a few days later (after paying $746.11---NOT including the filter---when I asked [redacted] what he meant by "toxins" & said he was scaring me (son has asthma), he backed down, saying he meant metal "micro-particles" from the AC & that a filter wasn't an absolute necessity), the car would barely shift/drive, but I got it to the first garage, they drove it & said it was a faulty clutch! I had another garage fix it. My credit card company & CT Attorney General's office have been trying since '12 to obtain a refund from South Green (I have provided photos of the bad clutch, a letter from the garage that did the repair, and proof that I'd even already had a serpentine belt installed a short time prior to the one South Green installed---it wasn't needed), but South Green has refused to cooperate and is now not responding to the Attorney General.Desired Settlement: I request a full refund of the $746.11 for the wrong diagnosis and unneeded repairs.

Business

Response:

On June 18, 2012 [redacted] from [redacted] referred [redacted] to us as customer. [redacted] stated he Inspected [redacted] vehicle and detected a problem within the serpentine system based on smoke from the belt area. Upon arrival of the vehicle I performed a diagnostic service on serpentine system. Once the serpentine belt was removed each pulley was hand turned in order to detect a resistance on belt which would have caused smoke from the belt area and squealing as [redacted] described. The AC compressor was found to have locked up causing heavy resistance on belt and verifies customer complaint. At this point I Called [redacted] stated what I found and gave her an estimate which she approved. After The AC compressor was replaced I test drove the vehicle twice. No further repair was recommended at this point. I did not detect any malfunction with the transmission or clutch operation before or after the AC compressor repair. Based on the [redacted]’s complaint about the smoke from the hood area and the state of the AC compressor, in my professional opinion this was the appropriate repair. My colleagues at [redacted] (Certified ASE General Repair Facility) agree this is the appropriate repair. During several test rides between [redacted] and South Green no transmission or clutch problem was ever detected. In my experience it is not uncommon to experience a clutch failure unexpectedly especially with a vehicle that has 187,638 miles. In no way does the later failure of the clutch have anything to do with previous repair. The repair was completed and the vehicle was driven several times with no fault detected by the customer. The attorney generals office and dmv has dismissed this claim.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

South Green is well aware that [redacted] had just installed a serpentine belt months before. This is one of the very issues. In addition to COMPLETELY failing to diagnose the clutch problem, they installed a TOTALLY unneeded serpentine belt. The car had to be TOWED to Ellington for [redacted] to do the clutch job. It was NOT drivable. South Green refused to answer the CT attorney general regarding even the serpentine belt, even with receipts from [redacted] proving they had recently installed one! And, further, they DO NOT speak for [redacted]. South Green has provided nothing to show [redacted] opinion. The diagnosis and responsiblity for such was South Green's alone. They ripped me off, tried to instill the fear factor with "toxins" as previously described, and continue to show their lack of customer service by refusing to compensate me or reply to even the State of Connecticut attorney general. CT residents and other potential customers should be able to be aware and forewarned. Thank you, Revdex.com.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

The clutch failure is in no way a result of the previous repair. [redacted] has shown no evidence that there was an issue with the clutch at time of repair. No warranty or refund will be issued in any way. The failure of the clutch in no way reflects poor workmanship or defect upon South Green Automotive. This claim clearly has no merit.