Debbra G. post 2 of 2
In April 2017, still unaware of the "lean and exhaust leak" issue with the Pantera...I brought him my 2014 Chev Cruze to diagnose and repair an issue that I suggested was the Steering. I also requested new tires, a brake check/repair and a detail. Total bill was $2,916.81.
I explained the condition in which the problem happened to the secretary, his mechanic and to him directly. The car had 35681 miles on it. I was called and told what they believed the problem to be and I argued immediately, I did not believe their assessment of the problem. It was condescendingly insisted that they were right and the suggested repair was what was needed. It was the opinion of the mechanic and Steve, that I needed new shocks and struts. I insisted that the condition was in the steering assembly, they both insisted that it was not a steering issue.
So, assuming they had 1. Driven the car in the conditions I had explained to them, 2. they had ruled out my suspicion of steering by some form of inspection and 3. that they had my best interest in mind with their recommendations. My assumption cost me $1053.02 in unnecessary replacement of parts that have a "Chev replacement advised around 80k miles". To further add insult to injury, I found out a month later, from the dealership, that that repair would have been free to me under my 36k mile warranty, IF in fact it was somehow warranted, which they strongly disbelieved.
So, back to the repair experience of the Cruze, I called them immediately the day I picked the car up and on the drive home, it was clear that ZERO change had been made to my steering problem. I told them many times how unstable and scary it was to drive, yet after having the car a week and me paying for a rental, no change had occurred to the problem. This was a friday and when I called, while driving home, they had already left for the day and I asked for someone to call me back. I waited and waited and finally called them on wed or thur of the following week, I spoke with the mechanic and asked him what was happening, was I bringing the car back for further investigation into the problem? He said they were looking for a better strut to re-install. I was very insistent that this was not the solution and I pressed him regarding the steering mechanics. I asked him if he had driven the car in the specific conditions that I had explained the problem happens in, he said NO. I was furious. I had explained to him that I had told them before they got the car that it was my opinion it was a steering problem, I reminded him that I also resisted the repair advice of shocks and struts, and I insisted, that if their recommended repair did not solve my problem, WHY should putting different struts have any effect on the issue at all?! Steve called me and Insisted that the decision to replace the new struts was the only solution to the mechanical issue, there was no reason to suspect the steering. I brought the car back and rented a car again. I insisted they drive the car in the conditions I explained, PRIOR to any new work. The mechanic did drive it and guess what, the mechanic told me over the phone that the handling was in fact scary and unstable.
I told the mechanic that IF he had driven the car in the condition I explained PRIOR to giving/insisting on their professional opinion of the shocks and struts being replaced...they would have known that it was not a problem with the shocks and struts.
They sent the car out to a "sublet" to have the steering module reprogrammed (5/16/17). They notate on my bill that a bulletin was posted regarding the steering having my condition, and the bulletin #PI1239 advised reprogramming. Why was my concern of steering not investigated in the beginning. I am not ignorant about auto mechanics. I KNOW what bad shocks and struts feel like, I told them that. I told Steve that I was very upset that I had paid for unnecessary repairs solely based on the fact that no one drove the car in the condition I had thoroughly explained to them from the start. He was extremely arrogant and rude and felt they had done nothing wrong in the situation, he also claimed that "I had asked for the shocks and strut repair" myself, I emphatically did not. I have the email that numbers 5 items I requested, none of which are shocks and struts. He tried to put the responsibility of the error on me. I reminded him of the several phone calls between myself, him and his mechanic, wherein I emphatically argued against the shocks and struts having anything to do with the problem. I asked him if he expected me to pay for the sublet reprogramming bill, he did. I paid an additional $175 for that repair.
I thought I could trust the advice I would receive, I thought my opinion regarding my mechanical concerns would have been taken seriously, I thought I could trust my acquaintance of 4yrs, to treat me honorably. I no longer believe any of these things. read more
