So i took my family to the Great Sand Dunes on vacation in the summer of 2018, we soon ran into vehicle troubles leaving us stranded in the San Luis Valley, Co. so with little to no options in that particular demographics i had to take my 1997 Dodge Laramie SLT V-10 Ext. Cab Dually to Automotive Concepts to have the necessary repairs completed. Upon inspection of my vehicle by myself of the repairs/parts needed to accomplish the repairs. I purchased the parts after conferring with their mechanic and discovered the planned purposed estimate in the amount of approx.$1400.00 just for the parts.
I purchased the necessary parts and purchased the top of the line High Performance parts for a Grand Total of $528.85 and that was w/taxes & S/H from Licensed Moog, Energy Suspension, QA1, Proforged & Hotchkis Dealers/Distributors.
The parts i purchased are as follows:
Upper & Lower Ball Joints, Front 4x4 Driveline U-Joints, Both Front Wheel Rotors, Both Front Disc Brake Pads w/Wear Sensor, Steering Idler Arm, Both Front Inner & Outer Tie Rods/Tie Rod Ends, Sway Bar, Track Bar, Adjustable Steering Center Linkage, & Steering Pittman Arm.
I personally installed the both front end center links, both front inner and outer tierods, steering idler arm, both front wheel rotors, both front wheel brake pads, steering track bar, and the steering sway bar.
After i install the above said parts and had the vehicle towed for the remainder of the repairs to be done that i could not do on the side of Hwy 17 i was told at that time that their would be additional costs for front 4x4 axle seals, front differential cover gasket, 6 quarts of 80w90 differential gear oil, a completely different Pittman arm(distributor sent wrong part, NOT automotive concepts fault), & a 4-wheel alignment when it was all said and done.
I agreed to the additional repairs and at that time was NOT given a estimate of any kind, not in writing not verbal not even a friendly hand gesture to make me aware of the cost....at least a ball park estimate would of sufficed but i was told to call in 5 days due to the management was either on their vacation or was getting ready to leave on it(cant remember that part exact of the time frame of when they would return).
The remainder of the parts that were not installed were damaged by one of their "ASE mechanics", for example front brake pads were installed improperly resulting in a caliper compression on the brake pad which can only be caused one way installing the front brake pads backwards which is something a "ASE mechanic" def. should know not to do, brand new gaskets left in back bed of truck subjected to the weather that ended up ruining all the weather sensitive installation parts to name just a couple examples of their incompetence and lack of work ethics!
I have documented proof of their insubordination, they also fraudulently claimed the installation labor for the following parts that i installed prior to towing the vehicle to their shop: both front center links, track bar, both front inner and outer tie rod ends, idler arm, both front wheel rotors, & both front brake pads.
Out of all that is listed in the repairs claimed by automotive concepts that WAS NOT fraudulent were as follows:
1)They DID install both front 4x4 axle seals(should not have been needed if installed correctly by a ASE certified mechanic), 2)Added new differential fluid 80w90, 3) front differential cover gasket, 4) ordered & installed correct pittman arm(shipper supplied wrong part when i ordered the parts) and was told that i was purchasing a brand new part Moog Racing Pittman Arm(part#K7238) when in fact it turned out to be a sand blasted then repainted remanufactured part that was somehow covered in rust, 5) both front 4x4 driveline u-joints, and 6) both front uppers & lower ball joints which were installed w/o the supplied greasable fittings (which was spot tig welded in place without getting my consent and multiples future repairs exponentially rendering the vehicle repair costs to fix the unnecessary welds more expensive then the vehicle blue books out at!
Definitely would GREATLY WARN anyone trusting the work performed by Automotive Concepts to take your vehicle to a TRUE ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, do yourself a favor and keep your hard earned money with honest and forth coming mechanics, the amount of double talking that the owner Jeff did trying to convince me of the repairs he claimed was so outlandish, insulting to my intelligence & a plain out right Con-Artist that prays on the visiting tourist & stranded motorist to price gouge for his personal success....not sure how he managed to keep any customers let alone pay his overhead to keep his doors open with the quality of incompetent work preformed and fraudulent labor repair costs & claims made by Automotive Concepts
and Owner Jeff Escheman
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION IF YOU TAKE A VEHICLE YOU RELY ON FOR DAILY USE TO Automotive Concepts!
Con-Artist in ASE Mechanics clothes! read more