Didn't check their work on my van, didn't assemble the van for operation or safety, and were…read moredishonest along the way. I brought my 1983 Vanagon to TNT with a leaky transaxle and engine plus needing some front end work and a $1,710 / 4-day quote. I explained I was driving down from Central California and needed the timing locked in. I drove out 19 days and ~$3,000 later with a still-leaking transaxle and engine, plus new problems: an oil filter leak, two coolant leaks at hose clamps, a vacuum leak, a disconnected ground, and exhaust leaks everywhere.
On day 4, Nicholas (the owner) asked to extend the job to 6 days and $1,910. On day 5, the work still wasn't done and he said he needed more time and would re-quote. A few days later, he said the total would be around $3,000, forcing me to shuffle flights to retrieve the van.
Within a few miles of driving off, I noticed engine oil and transaxle fluid leaks, which told me the work was not checked or test-driven. I then inspected the exhaust and found major leaks. Old exhaust gaskets were reused, and one gasket was missing entirely. This should never be done, especially on ports sealed with RTV and exhaust. Nicholas claimed he reassembled what was there and that the missing gasket was never installed."Thats not true, I did the exhaust work myself before bringing the van in and confirmed all gaskets were present. I later found the old gasket wedged into the pushrod tube cover, apparently dropped and missed during reassembly.
I continued checking the vehicle and found a disconnected ground, a loose vacuum hose, and two coolant hoses either loosened or not tightened. There was also a new oil leak at the filter. Nicholas told me he removed the pushrod tube covers to inspect for leaks, but later said he did not remove the exhaust headers, which is not possible on this engine. On top of it all I supplied extra oil that wasnt returned haha.
Nicholas was polite over the phone, but the work was unacceptable and not checked. The van was returned unsafe to drive, and I regret bringing it in and am less confident in now observing this work and not knowing what I may have missed. After I pointed out the overcharges and issues, he refunded $500. Some work was completed successfully i think, but dont know how to check (brakes, ball joints, clutch, engine mounts). This was quoted by others around $1,600, meaning I still paid roughly $900 for failed leak repairs and multiple new problems. I get how quotes and timeframes rise, especially on old cars, but in the end they didn't check their work on my van, didn't assemble the van to standards required for operation or safety, and were dishonest along the way.
