Don't take your car to this place they are lying crooks. I took my car in yesterday to do an inspection. The first thing the guy did was raise my car up with the hydraulic lift and started inspecting the bottom of the car. I understand that they sometimes do this to inspect leaks in your exhaust or to inspect the catalytic converter, but he told me that my car needed components of the suspension replaced to pass inspection. Then he pointed out that I have an oil leak coming from the oil pan gasket. I know my car has a problem with the CV axles so I told him to go ahead and replace the CV axle along with the oil pan gaskets. He said OK oil pan gasket and CV axles, "Cheap cheap $300, take around two hour." I told him I can't for $300. Instead I asked him if he can do it for $250. Then I asked him what about the components for the suspension, he said no, "OK". Only oil pan gasket and CV axles $250. It was 2:00pm when I dropped my car off. I went back around 4:30pm assuming that they would be done. I saw that they started working on it and stop. I hung around for an hour before asking the guy I dropped my car off with what the problem was. He said, "We don't have part. Lady go get part." I hung around and I saw the lady come by dropped off some CV axles, I thought they were for my car, but they weren't. While waiting, another customer walks up, furious that his car is still not finished. I hung around the shop until 6:30pm. I asked the guy will the car be finished today. Not surprising, he said, "yes", he said, "lady have to go North to pick up part." I knew they weren't going to finish my car so I told him if you get finish go ahead and call me.
So right now it's the next morning, I'm still waiting for my car, good thing I didn't have to work today, because would have to rely on someone else for a ride. I'm just so bothered by mechanics who's not honest. They think that just because we take our cars to them that we don't know anything about cars and they can start lying and start price gouging.
I think that it should be by law that all mechanics take a class in ethics.
Here's the inspection requirements for passenger cars from the Texas Department of Public Safety website:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us
05.01 Inspect Every Passenger Car For: (Listed in suggested order of inspection)
* Check for evidence of Financial Responsibility
1. Horn
2. Windshield Wipers
3. Mirror
4. Steering
5. Seat Belts
6. Brakes (system) (Parking - beginning with 1960 models)
7. Tires
8. Wheel Assembly
9. Exhaust System
10. Exhaust Emission System (beginning with 1968 models)
11. Beam Indicator (beginning with 1948 models)
12. Tail Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
13. Stop Lamps (2); (1) if 1959 model or earlier
14. License Plate Lamp (1)
15. Rear Red Reflectors (2)
16. Turn Signal Lamps (beginning with 1960 models)
17. Head Lamps (2)
18. Motor, Serial, or Vehicle Identification Number
19. 1988 & newer - inspect for window tinting or coating
20. Gas caps on vehicles 2-24 model years old. read more