I brought my van to Always Automotive this fall because it developed a misfire over 60 mph. I left…read moreit that day with a 100% smooth idle, no other symptoms. They replaced coil pack #5 (the misfire), installed all-new spark plugs -- I had said yes, but asked them to check first because I was almost sure they had been done the previous summer. That's on me for not calling my ex-husband (a mechanic who had done all previous work on my van) to confirm. He had replaced them with platinum Champions, but they still swapped them for cheap ones. They also found a leaky transmission line and a few other small things -- total was $1,200.
When I picked it up the next day, it immediately started shuddering while stopped, RPMs shooting up with my foot on the brake. I called and was told that was normal after a computer reset and to wait 30-50 miles. But it continued the whole time -- hesitations, no acceleration, gas mileage dropped from 20+ MPG to 14. When I brought it back the first time, I asked if it could be an air leak. They said no, they tested for that after finishing. They just reset the computer again.
Still no improvement. It got worse. I called my mechanic ex-husband to listen -- he said it sounded like an air leak. I brought it back a second time and left it for a few hours. They "tested vacuum lines again" and rechecked their work. Told me nothing was wrong. I was then told I was "overly sensitive," or it was because I used the A/C in the cold... I was told over and over that I must've broken something else -- a secondary issue they couldn't find. Shane told me to "drive it until it breaks" and "call if it got worse." It only got worse.
I called, they said drop it off. I brought a 15-second video. Shane glanced at it and refused to watch it, raised his voice, said he knew exactly what was wrong with that vehicle. I started crying at some point. He said, "I'm not trying to be an asshole"--but if you have to say that, maybe you are. He then insisted I take the courtesy car even though I said no multiple times, and told me he'd call in a few hours. I didn't hear from him the rest of the day, or the next day. On day 3 around 1pm, he called saying he needed the courtesy car "now." ASAP
I was so uncomfortable to go back I got a guy friend to go with and recorded the conversation. Shane was magically polite. Said he rechecked all of his shops work -- except opening the intake again. Told me that if the next shop found the problem and it was his fault, he'd gladly pay the bill. (I have this recorded.) But it drove exactly the same. My friend and I called again -- his wife said they "wiped their hands of me and my vehicle," and again said they'd pay the bill if it turned out to be something caused by them -- but they were confident it wasn't. Mind you, they Did not answer my calls, I had to use another phone to call.
So I took my car to Langness Ent. They called laughing Within 20 minutes, they found the issue: a damaged vacuum line with 3 out of 4 internal wires broken -- one wide open. It was clearly damaged during dis and/or reassembly.I understand and expect things to break on an older car I don't care and wouldn't have-- but it was obviously caused during the repair. They had claimed to test it multiple times. I would've gladly paid to fix it if they had found it.
The damage was there the moment I left their lot and just got worse. My car has never driven the same -- months of poor air/fuel ratio did a number on it and caused a tick. **I called nobody answered and I left a voicemail. Asking them to call me before I made a review.. Shane called. I didn't ask them to pay the $130 I simply told him what the problem had been-- I just wanted acknowledgment and basic respect. Instead, Shane got pissy and claimed he "went above and beyond" by checking it three times and loaning me a car (That I tried to refuse multiple times) He asked if I was threatening his business, then said he didn't care if I left a bad review because "people know him," and that he wasn't going to "kiss my ass." (Thats recorded) I do not recommend
