Based on a personal recommend, I chose APA to do a power steering pump replacement for me. Sadly, my experience with them was not a pleasant one in the least. I share my situation with others not to say this will be your experience, but just to give you a heads up and encourage caution.
Having worked in the customer service arena for several years, I have a good understanding of what excellent customer service should look like. Communication is key to great customer service. During my experience with using APA, I felt they were not very pro-active about contacting me and providing a status update on my repairs. About 9 times out of 10, I called them after they hadn't reached out long past time I'd expect them to.
After they replaced my power steering pump, I began hearing a squeaking noise that progressively got worse over the next few months. They initially said it was just due to some power steering fluid they spilled on my serpentine belt (srsly?) and promised it would go away after cleaning it with Simple Green a few times.
When this didn't stop the issue after about a week, I took my car back in and they replaced the serpentine belt (hesitantly), hoping that would take care of it. After about a day or two, the noise came back. After my next visit, they told me the belt tensioner and harmonic balancer needed replacing, and that they were the cause of the squeaking. I asked if it was my power steering pump, since that's what was changed prior to the noise, but they were adamant it was NOT. So I opted to replace the belt tensioner myself due to cost and deal with the harmonic balancer later.
Even after replacing the belt tensioner, the noise persisted, and only grew worse over the next couple months. I ended up taking it in to get a second opinion by another mechanic who informed me the power steering pump was faulty and causing the noise. *sigh*
When I called APA and gave them this information, they did not sound pleased at all and told me they could replace it under warranty (along with my serpentine belt), but that it was **the last thing they'd do for my car.** because they felt I was just accusing them of doing a bad job. How is this good customer service?!
After I took it in, and called them the next day, they said the *water pump* needed replacing because it was leaking antifreeze on the belt. When I asked what it would cost, their response was: "I wouldn't be interested in doing that." *sigh*
So yes, I had to take my car back home and replace the water pump before they would fix the power steering pump and belt. I work full time and because they close at 6pm and don't work weekends, I always had to have a friend or family member help take my car in, so this was very frustrating and time consuming.
By the end of it, I asked their opinion again on what the cause of the squeaking was, and they said it was the harmonic balancer and........my alternator clutch pulley had seized. "It's what we've said all along."
#facepalm
The good news is, that after a couple weeks of driving with a new power steering pump, I haven't heard one squeak. Problem solved.
Are there other issues with my car? Sure. But I don't trust their diagnostic skills. That, or they were attempting to up-sell me. Who knows? read more