Thunderbird Automotive Specialists

Mr. [redacted] brought TAS a 2001 Chevrolet s10 for an engine replacement with the customers supplied parts. During installation and the transferring of the parts from one engine to the new one, TAS notified the customer that the distributor was oil soaked and should be replaced before any problems...

occur. Mr. [redacted] agreed and TAS installed a genuine OEM part. With the distributor being oil soaked the internal components could have been compromised, including the camshaft position sensor that is inside of the the distributor.Due to safety issues with the brakes and front suspension,TAS test drove the vehicle on a limited basis. A few weeks later Mr. [redacted] came back in with a check engine light on, TAS diagnosed the issue and invited the customer down to show him the issue with the vehicle. The fuel injector spider assembly is under the intake manifold and is complete with the fuel pressure regulator that was leaking causing the po300 check engine light code for the random misfire. Since the first time the truck was in the customer fixed the safety issues, and now TAS ran two long test drives on the vehicle to make sure the misfire was taken care of. Mr. [redacted] supplied the fuel injector spider assembly and most of the other parts that went into the new engine.From the beginning of working on this vehicle Mr. [redacted] was notified that any work performed using customer supplied parts was to come with no warranty. After hearing that the customer wanted a refund and that he had taken the vehicle to another shop, TAS management invited the customer down and talked over why each part was replaced and Mr. [redacted] and TAS management came to an agreement that TAS would refund $200.00- Mr. [redacted] said he would be happy with that. The reason for the refund was that TAS may not have taken the diag far enough, but would have liked the chance to make it right with the customer.

Mr. [redacted], We at Thunderbird Automotive Specialists, showed you the defective parts, the crankshaft position sensor was already installed when we got the motor you supplied from the dealer. T.A.S did not have to remove or reinstall that part. We believe this matter is handled and you agreed to the refund that was already given. The parts that we installed were in fact defective and in need of replacement- No further refund will be forthcoming.

[redacted]  AND THE MECHANICAL TEAM [redacted] SAID THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AND THUS CAUSING ALL THE DEFUNCT CODES... HAD THE SENSOR BEEN IN SINC WITH THE CRANKSHAFT, I FEEL ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECT. NEXT STEP IS SMALL CLAIMS IF THUNDERBIRD CONTINUES .

This was the worst experience I have had for some time. Was referred by a friend that had taken his old ford in here. [redacted] said is a gas station, this is not true. I had to have my car towed out of the shop and to the dealer. The dealer told me the problem was just a shorted battery and should have been a simple repair for anyone with some automotive experience.
After several days I was contacted by two different employees of Thunderbird automotive specialists. Just to note one of them is a poster on this review board Cynthia M.
I recommend no one ever have thier vehicles repaired here.

I took my truck in for a rough running engine and was quoted over $1100.00 for parts that "needed to be replaced to continue troubleshooting". When I voiced surprise over the quote I was Immediately told of their "easy financing" program. I paid them their standard diagnostic fee and took the truck home only to find the whole problem was a faulty ground on the ignition control module - I bought a manual and followed the troubleshooting steps. It took me 30 minutes. BEWARE of this shop.

I had a mechanic for years and he retired so it was hard to trust anyone else with the care of my truck. I had tried several places to find out they had over charged me and didn't do such a great job. I had come to the point where I was putting things off longer than I should have b/c of the bad experiences. I have been using Thunderbird Auto off and on for a few years but now that my truck is getting older there has been a need for more work to be done. I can't say enough good things about TA and my experience with them so far. They are very detailed, professional and go the extra mile for their customers. I feel they are honest and really care that your vehicle is safe to drive on the road and are very reasonable with their prices. John and Mike have been great to work with. They explain things to me when I have questions and have been patient with me when I have not always been the nicest. They have gone as far was provided me a ride to and from when I needed to drop off my truck. It is such a relief to be able to know that things are going to be done right the first time and that they guarantee their work to the fullest. I call and most of the time I get in on the same day with no problems. It has been so nice to finally find a reliable and honest place of business. I highly recommend TA for your automobile needs. They have definitely put my mind at ease with the care of my truck. Thank you TA!!

Review: On 09/17/2013 I took my 1996 ford f-150 to Thunderbird automotive to have a rough idle checked out. They said that would be $110.00. I said ok. 3 hours later I get a call telling me that my #3 cylinder has no compression and that I would need a new engine. Then [redacted](owner/manager) asked if I wanted to sell instead of putting money in it and offered me $500.00 for my truck. Itold hi,m no and I would there tomorrow to pick up. The next day after work I went and got my truck an drove home. On the way I rented a compression tester from [redacted] auto parts and went home and checked myself. All 8 cylinders were good (avg 151 psi). Also a vacumm line was still diconected from when they checked it . I called [redacted] at TAS and told him my results and I wanted my money back. He asked if I would bring back to re-check. I did. So took my truck to TAS to have it re-checked. they told me I could watch them check it. then they pulled my truck in and started working on it without me being there. I told him that I didn't trust him and that I wanted to see everything done to my truck. they checked the first cylinder an it read 60 psi. They checked again, this time letting the engine turn so that it would have compression like you should test it. This time it read 140 psi they did this 2 more times. themn said I had a bad value or spring in the heads on cylinder #1. All along I was told cylinder #3 was bad. From [redacted] (owner/manager). Needless to say they would give me a refund, they just said that it was my heads. I am not blowing any smoke out my tailpipe, (white or black0. I don't feel like I got very good service from them at all, I would like my money back! I went here thinking that I would get better service from a A.S.E., AAA,an Revdex.com certified mechanic and Repair Facility.Desired Settlement: Just reimburse my charge card $110.19

Business

Response:

Revdex.com, After reviewing Mr. [redacted]s complaint, I can understand his concern due to the fact that [redacted]TAS) mis-spoke about which cylinder had low compression. [redacted] told Mr. [redacted] it was #3 cylinder that had compression issues, when it was actually #1 cylinder. Because of this TAS will reimburse Mr. [redacted] $110.19,which he spent with TAS.

I have left a message for Mr. [redacted] on his ceel phone in regards to my ploan of action. I requested his address , so I can send him his refund.

Should you have any questions, please contact [redacted](owner) at ###-###-####