If I could give them zero stars, I would! They take advantage of female customers, give you the "run around/shut down" routine, and they put inferior parts on your car!
Check engine light comes on. I have it diagnosed at Auto Zone. Code P0128: replace thermostat or Engine Coolant Temp Sensor. Next day, on my way to work, car steams and I pull over. Coolant sprayed out of recovery tank all over engine and then leaked out onto the ground, ALL OF IT. I get Brake Masters #147 to put a thermostat on my car. They charged me $240 for this. The very next day, on my way to work again, my car does the EXACT SAME THING in the EXACT SAME PLACE in my commute to work with the new thermostat; temp gauge dropped down to COLD after driving 40 min. I'm shocked, take it back to them and even ask them if they actually put a new thermostat in it like they said they did. They run a test and tell me, "it's some resistance problem." So I look for someone with electrical knowledge of cars to diagnose this problem. I replace the ECT sensor with a new one from Sanderson Ford. Problems continue to occur, can't drive my car often.
I tell another mechanic about the problems with the coolant backing up into the recovery tank and then spewing out when the temp gauge drops down to COLD and hangs there. He believes the thermostat Brake Masters #147 put in is inferior, defective, and STICKS OPEN causing my car's engine to run cold. I agree! I've never seen a car do this: drive it for 40 min., temp gauge goes up to WARM and then dances back and forth between COLD and WARM, but never HOT, then suddenly drop to COLD, hangs there for 15min and out spews all of the coolant!
I'm livid at this point! I've been back to Brake Masters #147 and Ken keeps interupting me when I'm telling him what's happening with my car, saying, "I'll do a pressure test for leaks." Leaks? I didn't say it was leaking! This is what I mean, the "run around/shut down" game. I literally have to talk over Ken to get him to listen, show him video of my car spewing coolant, and pics of it as well. He finally listens and decides to honor the warranty, but I decide to take it to another Brake Masters. They, too, don't listen to me and try to sell me a $500 radiator! The thermostat is still under a 90-day warranty. My question to Brake Masters Corporate is this, when a customer keeps coming into your shop complaining of a part you put on their car, AT WHAT POINT do you go ahead and HONOR THE WARRANTY? WHY is that so difficult?! I will never, ever bring my car to Brake Masters, ever again, not even to change a light bulb!!!! They are the car dealerships of car service and maintenance; putting CRAP PARTS on your car, overcharging you, not listening to you, and trying to sell you services your car DOES NOT NEED!
Oh, and P.S.: I forgot one important detail about Brake Masters #147's wonderful, caring customer service. At one point, I did ask Ken for my $240 back. He flat out told me, "you're not getting your money back." So, for any of you thinking of taking your car to Brake Masters #147 for ANY kind of service and it goes horribly wrong (i.e. you come in for a simple oil change and they forget to put oil in your car's engine, letting you drive off and your engine seizes), remember, "YOU'RE NOT GETTING YOUR MONEY BACK!" Let that sink in.
They allegedly replaced the thermostat in September. I've been back 3-4 times since, different answer each time (electrical problem, pressure test, air bubble in system or need a new radiator). It is now November and my car's cooling system is still not working properly. You will have to fight "tooth and nail" just to get them to honor the warranty! I'm out $240, got a few weeks left in the warranty. I'll try again at the other Brake Masters and let you know how that goes. To be honest, I'm totally disgusted and don't even want them to touch my car anymore!!! I could do a better job of fixing it myself!!! read more