This review is in regards to my experience with Ken and the Muffler Man on Centre Street. I have taken my 2 vehicles to this shop for years and have always had good and what I considered honest service until recently. I have a Jeff Gordon Limited Monte Carlo that I only drive in the summer and store every winter. This is my baby and I know every little noise and sounds that may come from her of which there has been none.
I put around an average of 3,000 miles or less a year on it. Last summer 2015 I had a rack replaced which cost around $530.00 which should have fixed a power steering leak.
About a month later I noticed drops of power steering fluid on the ground so I took it back to Ken (owner) and told him about the issue. It was looked at by Floyd the mechanic and he said he could not find a problem and told me to monitor it. Well as time went on I started to notice that the drops of fluid was getting worst so, I took it back and got the same story...could not find a problem...well, obviously there is a problem..its still leaking. So, I put her up for the winter and when I brought her out in the spring of 2016 in saw more fluid on the ground and the power steering was whining from loss of fluid.
I took it back to them and yes it was whining and the power steering fluid was low...why?? what happened to the fluid...again they could not find anything wrong but, did put more fluid in it. I have always been nice and understanding but, I started having a bad feeling about this whole thing. Even though it was still leaking life happens and I like everyone else have things to do. I had a warranty recall and took my car to Cole's for the work and they told me that my rack was leaking...the same one that was replaced by Muffler Man and after bringing it back 3 times they could not find any problem. I then went back to Muffler Man and told them that the dealership said that the rack that was installed by them was leaking...so, they took a look at it and low and behold the rack was leaking...no shit!! So, they said they would replace it under warranty.
I had Floyd the mechanic drive with me in my car to drop me off at home which was about 2 miles away and he drove it back to the shop. My car had no noise or anything wrong with it other than the leak. They also wanted to replace the power steering pump which was $220.00....I told them to go ahead and do it. Later that day Ken called and said everything was all done so, I paid for the pump and drove home but, she was whining like crazy and I thought maybe it will go away after driving for a bit. The next day I had some errands to run and the noise did not go away. So, once again I took it back to Ken and told him that my car is whining like its low on fluid. He came back and told me that the fluid is fine and that the noise is coming from the transmission and that I needed to take it to a transmission shop.WHAT THE HELL!!!! How can I come in here for a warranty repair with no other problems and all of a sudden my transmission has problems. I looked over at Floyd and said hey you drove my car and you know I did not have any noise going on...and he just looked at me like a deer frozen by headlights and did not say a word. Ken then got really rude and yelled at me that I am a mechanic and its your transmission well, after that outburst I got mad and told him I do give a crap .I know my car and the condition I brought it in to you and I also had a transmission flush and filter last year and everything was just fine...as they both looked at me like I was crazy I could tell that they are pulling some B.S here and are not going to do the right thing so, instead of losing my cool and going to places that were not desirable ..I said ok...fine...and left.
As a retired Manager and General Manager for places like Mcdonald's, Fazoli's, Circuit City and now with my own marketing agency Unique Local Marketing I know what great customer service means to business and to its growth. So, now not only do I have to pay another $100.00 for a wheel alignment for the rack being replaced but, I also have a transmission issue now that I did not have before which is going to cost me again. My advice to you is to stay away from this place and tell your friends. This has been a costly and terrible experience and I will never return. So, let's see Muffler Man lost all of my future business, from friends and associates that I had given recommendations to and to the business that's going to be lost from my reviews. They get 1 star from me. I do not like to do anything that will hurt a business but, if they deserve a poor rating ..that's what they get. You do not treat long time good customers like that...I have never done anything like that and never would. What do you expect if you bring something in for repair and now you have a new problem that you did not have when you brought it in. Somebody messed up here big time and it will be a costly situation long term. read more