Tire Country U.S.A

Initial Business Response / [redacted] (1000, 5, 2014/01/29) */ The events leading up to starter Issue began on 01/06/when we replaced lower control Arm Bushings & Transmission mount [redacted] our alignment man noticed the starter had a problem and made noise when starting car [redacted] made statement to both [redacted] and myself [redacted] that the starter had a starting problem since the Chevrolet Dealer installed starter Mr [redacted] brought car back in on 01/10/because of squeaking in front end bushingsWe lubed bushings at N/C to customer [redacted] mentioned to Mr [redacted] that it might be possible to shim starter and help it to mesh with flywheel better Mr [redacted] brought car in on 01/13/to see if we could shim starter [redacted] removed and replaced starter, checking the condition of the teeth on flywheelHis inspection showed no damage to teeth on flywheel and that starter was not shim ableWe did hear noise coming from under car with engine running [redacted] recommended replacing starter to try to solve missing problem, do to the statement made by Mr [redacted] that noise started after Dealer installed starterWe also mentioned that the catalytic converter was making lots of noise from broken part inside Mr [redacted] brought car back on 01/15/reporting a clicking noise from under carHe had catalytic converter replaced and that noise was not thereUpon examination we found that noise was coming from bell housing areaThe starter flywheel has some run out and was cause of clicking [redacted] denies trying to turn flywheel at any timeHe dropped the starter down a few inches to check flywheel and found no damage at all to teeth on flywheel in the area he could seeHe made his recommendation to try replacing starter based on Mr [redacted] 's statement that problem started after Dealer replaced starterHe also denies removing any bolts from flywheel and it wasn't noticed that they were missing until the checking we did on the 15thThere is no reason to take both bolts from transmission to check starter have enclosed an estimate to install starter flex plateIt is the policy of Tire Country to handle customer complaintsI do feel that this was a preexisting starter problem I will replace starter flex plate in our shop at no charge to customerI can not guarantee this will solve starter miss alignment problem Sincerely [redacted] Initial Consumer Rebuttal / [redacted] (3000, 7, 2014/01/31) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I brought my car into Tire Country USA located at NBlackstone Avenue in Fresno, CA on 1-2-for a full inspection of the carThey found the driver's side lower control arm bushing and transmission mount needed to be replacedNo noise coming from the flywheel was noted On 1-6-Tire Country USA replaced my transmission mount and front lower control arm bushing, but again noted no noise coming from the flywheel On 1-10-I brought my car in to Tire Country USA to have the lower control arm bushing lubricated and asked ***, a mechanic that works at Tire Country USA, if anything was wrong with my starter since it has been starting loudly for several years [redacted] said I should bring my car in to have the starter shimmed because it could be damaging the flywheelI then made an appointment to have the starter shimmed and flywheel inspected on 1-13-Tire Country USA again noted no noise coming from the flywheel On 1-13-I brought my car in to Tire Country USA around to have the flywheel inspected and starter shimmedHours later, ***, the owner of Tire Country USA, called me and said there was no damaged to the flywheel and the starter could not be shimmed, but I could buy a new starter for $which would make the car start quieterI declined despite the loud noise, since the starter was not causing any damage to the flywheel as evidenced by [redacted] saying there was no damage done to the flywheel Around noon the same day, I picked the car up from Tire Country USAWhen I started the car up, I noticed a loud, continuous ticking noise at idle and a loud rattling from under the carI immediately notified [redacted] and had him listen to the sound [redacted] said the sound was coming from the back of the engine and attributed it to the catalytic converterThe mechanic who put the starter back on my car, ***, also said that sound was coming from the catalytic converterOn the drive home, I immediately noticed a loud grinding and vibrating sound as the RPM's would rise, but the sound would subside when the transmission shifted and the RPM's were reduced On 1-14-I took my car to Gary's Muffler Shop on [redacted] * [redacted] and had the catalytic converter replacedWhen I picked the car up, the rattling from the catalytic converter was gone, but the loud ticking at idle and loud grinding and vibrating sound as the RPM's rose remained On 1-15-I took my car back to Tire Country USA around Around [redacted] called me and said the flywheel was bent and said it would be $to replaceWhen I arrived to pick my car up, three mechanics were under my car to show me where the flywheel was bentIn addition, they noted there were two bolts missing off my transmission and could not find them and would not replace themThey said my car is making a constant ticking at idle and a loud grinding and vibrating sound as the RPM's rise due to the bent flywheel On 1-22-I dropped my car off at Hedrick's Chevrolet on West Shaw to have the ticking noise at idle and vibration when driving diagnosed On 1-24-Hedrick's notified me that the starter had been reattached using incorrect bolts, allowing the starter to move around and damage the ring gear on the flywheelUpon further inspection, the flywheel was found to have a second 1¼ inch crack through the ring gear and into the body of the flywheelAdditional damage was done to the teeth of the flywheel where the large 1¼ inch crack begins, despite [redacted] claiming that [redacted] inspection showed no damage to the teeth On 1-29-14, Hedrick's Chevrolet completed working on my car which included replacing the starter, flywheel, and missing transmission boltsNow, all adventitious noises have been eliminated My car was not experiencing any flywheel problems at all before 1-13-at as evidenced by Tire Country noting no noise coming from the flywheel on 1-2-14, 1-6-and 1-10-Only after Tire Country USA took the starter off (and never shimmed it despite saying they could) and reattaching it with incorrect bolts on 1-13-was there any damage to the flywheelIn addition, Tire Country lost and wouldn't replace two bolts off my transmission Only after filing a complaint with the Revdex.com did [redacted] offer to replace the flywheel at no costI cannot accept the response from the business since the repairs were completed at Hedrick's Chevrolet before the response was received