I was referred to Jimmie's Towing and Auto Repair by my employer. I'm a backyard mechanic that's always worked on my own vehicles. I just didn't have time myself to fix the erradic idle and surging my truck was experiencing. I figured this time I would pay to have it done, since I was supposed to start a large new construction project and needed my truck to work on it.
I took my truck in 8-3-2011 to diagnose this behavior and get my truck back running reliably. I had to call them 2 days later to find out if they had even looked at it. Craig told me that they would start with the spark plugs and wires to rule them out. I told him that the spark plugs/wires/cap/rotor, IAC sensor,and fuel filter had all been replaced within the last 1-1.5 years, so all I could think of was bad gas, TPS sensor, ecm, or clogged catalytic converter. Craig told me they would replace the plugs and wires for $520.00, so I asked if that wasn't the problem, then I wouldn't be able to afford to fix it if I pay for that and it's not the problem. I tell him I'll buy the parts and put them on myself, so I can still afford to fix it. I paid them $70 for telling me it might be plugs/wires. I replaced the spark plugs/wires/cap/and rotor(figured may as well do cap and rotor too) for under $100.. This was not the problem, so I call Jimmie's back and talk to Ed who tells me they'll work with me and apply the $70 I already spent towards what they find actually wrong with the truck. He was just glad that they didn't charge me $520. for nothing!
I take my Truck back to Jimmie's on Sat. 8-6-2011 explaining that I'm going to lose out on this job I'm supposed to be on if I can't get my truck fixed asap. I don't even care about the $170. I'm out now for nothing other than me putting new parts on the truck it didn't need. I don't hear anything from them, so I call Craig on Tues. 8-10-2011 and now tell him I lost out on my job, but still need my truck back asap, so I can go to work. He says they don't know anything yet, but will contact me as soon as they do. I hear from him on Thurs. 8-12-2011 and he tells me that while they had it a rear brake line broke while they were brake torquing the motor to check the alternator amps under load. I will have to pay for this? Then he tells me that they think they know what the problem is: The alternator and TPS sensor are both bad and they will replace them for $850.00!!! I'm in shock as I tell him that just last year the alternator was replaced and should be fine. Nope he is sure the alternator is bad, but not so sure about the TPS sensor. I asked about the $70 I already paid to which he replies that he can't apply that now and he's already given me a discount on the price. I tell him that I can't afford it and at this point all I want is my truck back, so I can either fix it myself or take it to someone else. He says well if you just want to come and pick it up then it will be $450. for the brake line and 10 hours diagnosing. Of course I'm not happy with it, but what can I do at this point....I've already lost $1500 in wages, and $170 for nothing, now $450 for ....nothing, oh that's right a brake line, that they broke.
I pick up my truck on 8-13-2011 and pay the tow truck drivers, since the auto shop doesn't open till 8:00am.. They ask me about the invoice and why it's so much for nothing done. I tell them and they let me know that they aren't a part of the auto repair and they're sorry Craig screwed me so bad. I left their shop and the first stop light I come to I can't stop. My brake pedal hit the floor, with very little resistance. I'm not sure how I avoided an accident. My invoice says they bled the brakes, but they either didn't or didn't do it right, so yeah I had to do that too. I ended up replacing the TPS sensor, which is what I had originally thought it could be and the truck now runs like new. The alternator they said I needed was fine and supposedly that's what they spent most of the time diagnosing. Almost forgot about the nice, new scratches on my doors from them working on it, werent' there before. What a nightmare.
The sad thing is I never authorized any work or signed anything. I only trusted what they told me, but whenever I called no one was ever able to work on my truck. I don't think my employer believed me that they had had it that long and couldn't figure out anything, cause he told me he drove by there numerous times and my vehicle never moved. Just think if I would have been as nieve as Craig thought I was and let them do everything they told me was wrong it would have cost me over $1000 to fix a $30 TPS sensor, but instead I just threw away $620. and my lost wages of $1500. I do believe had I taken it to someone that was an actual mechanic, they would have fixed it before Mon. 8-8-2011, so I could have worked that week. read more
