I took my Truck to Sparks Auto for a large anti-freeze leak on 1-16-2016. Little did I know that it would turn into a three month nightmare! 12 visits, $600.00, over 40 hours of my time, and a grand in lost wages. All for an anti-freeze leak that I was given a $140.00 estimate at another mechanic a couple months prior. I requested a pressure check to determine the source of the leaks. Gary showed me a hose that was cut by a moving belt. I was charged $102.76. I drove to the nearest gas station, and checked the anti-freeze, and it had all leaked out within five minutes! When I got home, I called Gary, and was told to come in again. I set up an appointment a few days later. He told me the hose his mechanic put on had a very large slit in it.: Why didn't they see this? Also, Why didn't they check their pavement, and the anti-freeze level, before I left? When I got home, all the anti-freeze was gone again! The same day, I called Gary and again set up another appointment. on January 27th. This time Gary, and his young mechanic, informed me that the reason for the very quick dumping of all the anti-freeze was a faulty water pump. The mechanic told me that it had a very slow leak that would take a couple of months to drain. I told him it was a very fast leak, but he assured me the water pump was the cause, so I agreed to have it replaced. Weeks prior, I had a full system check, and the water pump was never mentioned as a source of the leak. Gary, and his mechanic, told me I should get it done because my old 1996 Dodge truck was in great shape. I had them replace it assuming they were honest, as someone had recommended them to me. I paid a whopping $369.35, Gary even charged me another $10.59 for anti-freeze that had all leaked out because of their mistake! After I left, once again, all the anti-freeze leaked out within five minutes! I realized the water pump was not the problem, and I had been lied to! I called Gary, and he told me to come back the next morning. This time he told me that the hose, attached to the water pump, slipped off! He claimed to have repaired it once again, but when I left, all the anti-freeze again leaked out! Again, I called right back, and again set up another appointment. Gary was sounding more and more agitated every time I immediately called back to set up another appointment. I doubt there was even a problem with the water pump.because of the recent full system check. I requested the old water pump back and they told me it was already at the bottom of their dumpster. I continued requesting a pressure check to determine where the major leak was that they kept missing. Obviously, they don't have the device to pressure check a 1996 Dodge Truck, and should have just told me that upfront so I could have gone elsewhere. Finally, after spending all of February, with another four visits, the anti-freeze started to take one-two days before it would all leak out, but was still costing me a great deal of money constantly adding anti-freeze. I was tired of repeatedly going back, losing wages,and anti-freeze. I finally returned again on 3-7-2016, and Gary showed me two very uniform, side by side, holes in a hose that looked like someone had made them with a pitchfork. I told them I didn't have the money right now to repair more leaks. I knew these strange double side by side holes were very fishy! They assured me the final bill would be no more than $50.00. One hour later, they were done, and I went to pay a bill of $111.76! I knew I couldn't complain until the anti-freeze leak was finally fixed. I told Gary he just told me $50.00, as did his mechanic. Gary, told me that the additional $60+ dollars was all tax to insult my intelligence. What kind of nut-job would make such a crazy comment like that? He also told me to trash my truck! I went into my truck and looked at the bill. Gary charged me $21.18 for two gallons of anti-freeze, $12.70, for two quarts of oil, and an additional $26.00 for supplies. The price of $50.00 was given after they checked it over for a half hour. Before I left my house, I filled the anti-freeze tank with distilled water, since it was 70 degrees, to save money and was full when I arrived and checked it. When I left, I checked and there was only distilled water in the tank, and the oil I was charged for was not added either! Crooks! Also, in a couple of days, the distilled water all leaked out, so again a major leak was not fixed! At this point, I couldn't confront him about the bogus fuel charge because the leak still hadn't been fixed! I came back a few days later and once again they didn't fix the leak, and while driving home my power steering gave out as well my reverse! I went back on 4-6-2016 and Gary kept my truck for two days and the leak was finally fixed, but he wouldn't tell me what he finally figured out to stop the leak! Also, a quote of $850.00 to fix the power steering gear box and pump, and $1,750.00 to fix the transmission with no reverse! read more
