I paid Gerald Smith, the owner of SOS Tow and Auto, over $3000 in labor alone to install an engine…read more(plus $3200 for the engine itself), install a rebuilt transmission (plus $1300 to a rebuilder that he chose), and approximately $2000 in additional requested parts and fluids (injectors, starter, plugs, coils, radiator, fluids, etc). That is just short of $10k invested for the repair of an '01 truck.
Upon picking the truck up, I immediately noticed that the truck had a 'Service Engine Soon' light. I was very concerned, but Gerald said that this was likely due to the truck needing to be taken through driving cycles following the engine and transmission replacement. He also mentioned that he felt that the truck had a vacuum leak and that he had neglected to upgrade the hoses on the vehicle during the engine and transmission replacement. He hooked his computer up to it, and said that he had seen no codes, and claimed that the vacuum leak needed to be addressed, and the truck just needed to be driven.
I was not happy about the 'Service Engine Soon' light nor was I happy about the lack of common sense to replace bad hoses at the same time that you replace the engine, but I did understand the concept that with the major components being replaced, the truck did need to be taken through driving cycles to allow the truck's computer to be updated with the newly installed components. I decided that I could replace a few hoses, and drive the truck, and that everything might work out, right.
I could not have been anymore wrong about the job working out.
The same evening that I picked up the truck, I had an ODB computer placed on the truck, and there were multiple codes. Not only this, but the truck really was not driving well - there was clearly a misfire. When I contacted Gerald about the codes and the misfiring, he answered the call on speakerphone and said that the codes were "due to preexisting issues" - I could hear him discussing the issue with his wife in the background. Furthermore, he refused to give me my receipt or any of the paperwork that he had stated that his wife would be preparing for me. He said that any additional work that he did on the truck would be an additional cost; he did not honor his so-called warranty at all.
It was at that point that I knew that my truck was likely in far worse shape than I ever could imagine.
On May 15, 2025, I finally had a chance to have the truck looked at to address the alleged vacuum leak, the codes, and the 'Service Engine Soon' light. Their findings were very alarming; they found that Gerald had left the knock sensor unplugged during the installation of the new motor, of the new fuel injectors he had me purchased some were loose and/or improperly installed, and various other nuts and bolts were loose. The transmission was low on fluid and was not shifting properly. I paid $600 for the knock sensor, fuel injectors, loose nuts and bolts and the diagnosis, and elected to have the truck towed to a transmission shop the following day.
The findings at the transmission shop left me speechless. The very first thing they attempted after seeing the low fluid levels via the transmission dipstick was to add some fluid - the transmission fluid that they tried to add spilled on the ground as they tried to add it.
This was bad, but the findings only got worse. This is the short list of what I witnessed them encounter:
Loose/unbolted high pressure AC line
Loose/unbolted and unsecured fuel line under truck (this is severe fire hazard)
Fuel line stack bolts missing
Inoperable transmission bleeder
Missing transmission bleeder hoses
Missing transmission dust cover shield
Missing bolts on cross member
Exhaust mount nuts missing
Upon further tear-down, these additional issues were discovered:
The brand-new starter that I supplied Gerald with was only secured by one bolt - not the three that are required
The torque converter was improperly aligned during install
Missing bolts at transmission bell housing
Marred transmission casing due to the wrong bolt (too long) being forced into the wrong location
Various bolts cross-threaded and stripped due to improper placement
Missing transmission vent tubes
Missing transfer case vent tubes
Idle air control valve missing cap after install of replacement engine
After repair and correction of the neglect incurred by SOS Auto and Tow, I just paid an additional $3200 not including multiple tows and multiple Ubers due to my truck being inoperable.
At a minimum, Gerald Smith of SOS Auto and Tow is responsible for these most recent charges. I will be taking legal action due to this act of gross neglect and services left unrendered.
Potential Consumers: Do yourself a favor and do not entrust Gerald Smith, SOS Auto and Tow or any of its affiliates with the care of your vehicle, unless you enjoy burning your hard-earned money or potentially being burned alive by neglectful work such as leaving fuel lines exposed and unsecured beneath your vehicle.
