During a recent trip from Cape Cod to New York city, my Subaru broke down in Guilford where it…read moreremained with a local mechanic for three days before it was "repaired" - only to break down again not an hour after I drove off from the repair facility.
Now in Shelton and with the "check engine" light flashing, I pulled over and a google search on my phone showed the Huntington Center Gulf was less than a mile ahead. I chanced the short drive and coasted up to their service bay doors where I was met by Donald, who I took for the head mechanic. While the station seemed somewhat busy, Donald directed his attention to me and my vehicle. He took a short history and then asked to see both the Guilford repair invoice and one or two previous work orders. Over the next fifteen minutes, he and his assistant began diagnostics on my engine. In short order, they opened my radiator and began to check for the pressure drop/differential which would confirm a far more serious engine problem than that identified - and "repaired" - by both the Guilford repair facility - and before them, a Subaru dealer back on Cape Cod (Buzzard's Bay). I was now looking at a $ 3,500. head gasket repair!! This was on top of the $ 1,500. I spent in Guilford & Buzzard's Bay replacing thermostats!!
Donald then helped me find a nearby hotel to which he would himself dri've me. He explained that he was backlogged with work - little wonder - and couldn't possibly get to my Subaru for a couple of weeks. As good a mechanic as Donald is, he was also a good samaritan. "Call me in the morning after you get some rest .." he said before pulling away from the hotel. I decided to have my car towed the next morning to our long-standing mechanic in Norwalk and when I called Donald at Huntington Gulf the next morning to let him know and to settle my bill, he advised that there was no charge for his diagnosis and to give his name to the tow operator as a point-of-contact.
Car's break down, life happens. I'm convinced that had I broken down somewhere other than near the Huntington Gulf in Shelton, a lesser mechanic might well have ordered additional, and purposeless, replacement of the thermostat, hoses etc. and this saga might have continued. Instead, I now know of two great mechanics: Donald at the Huntington Gulf in Shelton
(and so too, Angelo at Angelo's Foreign Car Service in Norwalk).
PS: Three weeks after the above event, I took the bus, Amtrak and Ubers from the Cape to Angelo's in Norwalk from where I retrieved my now repaired Subaru, complete with "a new engine". . Angelo also effected repairs which the Subaru dealership back on the Cape had overlooked. The takeaway from this nightmare: 1. We bought a 2012 Subaru Outback only after our due diligence indicated that Subaru had, by 2010, resolved the head gasket problems which were plaguing their vehicles. I no longer believe that's true and called the company to report this experience. 2. You can't get through life without a good doctor ... and mechanic!! so take pains to seek out such people; they're invaluable.
