I don't normally write reviews this long, but my experience with Rich and his team deserves every…read moreword.
This past Monday morning, I was driving back to New Jersey from Pennsylvania with my family after three days of torrential rain, when the Brake System Warning Light and ABS Warning Light suddenly came on my dashboard.
This wasn't the first time it had happened during extremely heavy rain, so I started Googling what could be causing it.
Unfortunately, what I read said the vehicle could eventually go into limp mode to protect the transmission, and that is exactly what happened.
I found myself stranded on the shoulder lane with my family, not knowing what to do.
I turned the car off and searched for the nearest mechanic on my GPS. That search led me to Portland Auto Repair.
I had never heard of the shop before. I had no idea whether it was good, honest, or trustworthy. I simply had to take a chance.
When I arrived, I was greeted by the owner, Rich with a welcoming smile that put me at ease. I explained everything that had happened and how the problem seemed to occur whenever the vehicle experienced extremely heavy rainfall. Rich listened carefully and immediately went into action.
He ran multiple tests, scanned the vehicle, and personally got underneath the car to investigate. What impressed me most was that Rich never once made me feel like I was an inconvenience. He could have easily told me that he was too busy or that the shop had other vehicles to work on, but instead, he saw a family in an emergency and stepped up to help.
My stepson has down syndrome and is OCD with his laptop. Rich's shop set him up with a generator and allowed him to sit down and relax and play with his laptop connected to their generator to put him at ease.
Rich
eventually discovered that my sunroof drains were clogged, causing water to leak into the vehicle and reach the electrical components, creating the malfunction.
He and his staff went above and beyond.
They cleared the clogged drains, removed the necessary panels and carpet, accessed the electrical components, dried everything out, disinfected the affected areas, and applied electrical contact cleaner to a component that appeared to have mold contamination. They carefully put everything back together and got me back on the road so I could safely make it home.
But Rich didn't just send me on my way.
He explained that there was still water underneath the driver side chair/ carpet and that it would need to be removed to prevent additional electrical problems down the road. He recommended that I bring the vehicle to his other shop in Englewood, New Jersey which is closer to my residence so he could properly finish the job.
I followed his advice, and when I arrived in Englewood, Rich was there and once again greeted me with that radiant welcoming smile and kindness he showed me when I first met him during an emergency.
He kept my vehicle for 24 hours to dry the car correctly, removed the driver's seat and carpet, located and removed the remaining water, and made sure the job was done the right way not the quick way.
And he did all of this for a very reasonable price.
Rich is honestly one of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever encountered in the automotive business. I truly believe he was Heaven sent that morning.
When I was stranded with my family and didn't know where to turn, my GPS somehow led me directly to the right person.
What could have been a frightening and stressful situation turned into a reminder that there are still honest, compassionate people who genuinely care about helping others.
Rich has three locations: Portland Auto Repairs in Pennsylvania, Wagon Works in Englewood, and RJ ONE Auto Repair in Union City, and based on my experience, I would not hesitate to trust him or his staff with my vehicle.
His entire staff was welcoming, professional, and respectful. Customer service clearly matters to them, and that is something you don't always find at automotive repair shops who seem to often guess and replace parts without thoroughly diagnosing the issue and listening to the customers concerns.
If you are looking for an honest mechanic who will treat you like a person rather than just another customer, I highly recommend Rich and his team.
Rich, thank you again for helping me and my family when I needed it most. You didn't just repair my car, you helped my family get home safely.
For that, I will always be grateful.
Thank you, Rich. You truly were Heaven sent.