In February of 2017 I took my Chrysler 300M Special to Griffin's Auto for a transmission issue. When he determined I needed a rebuilt transmission, I explicitly asked if it came with 3-year warranty (which I had on a previous car through a different shop). Griffin's acknowledged the 3-year warranty, so I agreed to have Griffin's rebuilt my transmission, for which I paid him $3000.
Move forward to December 2018, my transmission failed again exactly the same way it had in 2017. I limped into Griffin's Auto and ask him to look at it, as I was under the impression the transmission was still under warranty (as he was). Going to cost $270 for diagnostics. However, if the problem was the transmission, there would be no charge. I agreed.
Next day he called and claimed it was not the transmission, but the speed sensor. To replace the sensor it was going to be $270 for the diagnosis plus $607 for actually replacing the speed sensor. I asked about the failures being exactly the same and Griffin's claimed the "sensation" may have seemed the same, but that they were not the same issues / trouble codes.
I asked him how he came to the conclusion that it was a speed sensor. He said he extracted the codes 1790 and 743, both generic codes. Then he stated he drove it with the scanner [connected] and there was no communications with the speed sensor. OK.
Then he told me he brought up my receipt and the transmission is not covered because I had a 90 day / one year warranty. Work was done Feb 2017 so warranty was up Feb 2018... he says
He asked me if I took a lot of short trips because my transmission fluid looked dark brown and it should be pinkish. I reminded him that he's the one who put the fluid in it. Was he clowning me?
I thought about it for a few days, called Griffin's back, and asked if he can guarantee the repair... and he told me that he can't guarantee the work will fix the problem. Hmmm....
I took my car less than a mile away where they changed the speed sensor identified by Griffin's for $330. When they were done I picked up my car, and once I got on the freeway I found the error still exists... which we knew was going to happen.
-There is no doubt there is a problem with the transmission. Also, properly identifying the speed sensor status requires the use of a multi-meter, not a scanner.
-I am absolutely positive it was a 3-year warranty. A 90-day/1-year warranty is for transmissions pulled from one car and mounted in another without being rebuilt, much cheaper, much less work, and a gamble on longevity.
- $3000 for a rebuilt(?) transmission that lasts 9000 miles, and then refusing to take responsibility for the work is both unethical and dishonest.
- While it may be my fault for not having the receipt, it was not a great concern considering the following is on the web site:
We are so confident in our highly trained mechanics that we GUARANTEE any repair for 36 months or 36,000 miles.
Back to 2017 when Griffin's returned my car I noticed it had started to get hot. About a month later(?) having not driven much further than the local store and back, I took my car to Griffin's and he said my water pump was bad, (which is inside the front cover of the motor), so I paid him over $1000 to change it.
I didn't drive it much [had 2 cars], and everything seemed OK. However, on July 1 I was going to Lathrop from the South Bay on the freeway when my temp needle suddenly pegged. Unfortunately, I heard rather than saw the problem. The car was towed to a shop in San Carlos where it was confirmed the motor was now a boat anchor. Stored it in his yard [friend of a friend] for over a year until I could afford a replacement motor. At that point I was already done with Griffin's. Then the transmission goes out again after being on the road for less than a year.
I deserve to have my $270 returned and a fully functional transmission in my car. read more