If you are ever stranded in the area around Mason City, Iowa, Auto ER is the place to call. Andrew…read moreanswers his phone at odd hours, and you don't find yourself leaving VoiceMails, wondering if anyone might actually call you back. He and his other mechanics each have a story of their own, about being in dire need of mechanical repair...outside of the banker's hours that most auto shops keep. Because I was stranded about 4 hours' drive from home, my Avalanche got first priority on the lift, and Andrew and Pat started calling around for the parts that I was going to need. In my case, the ring and pinion in the rear differential had essentially grenaded, blowing a hole through the rear diff cover, and filling the interior of the differential with large steel fragments from the broken ring and pinion. If you get a chance, watch the video, from when Andrew first opened it. These days, repair kits, rebuild kits, and even whole axle assemblies are more expensive than they ever have been, availability is poor, and lead times to get any of them have grown from a couple of days to five to fifteen (!) business days. I was able to locate a replacement used axle some distance away, and Auto ER wasted no time doing a thorough and professional axle swap. Andrew and his men were on deck at 0600 in the morning, to start the swap. The shop there ordinarily opens at 0800. What I am saying is that Auto ER, Andrew, and Pat went well above and beyond, delivering next-level service to this stranded motorist, and I appreciate it greatly. A "business as usual" shop could easily have kept me stuck in Mason City for seven to ten days. Auto ER made sure that I was able to get back on the road relatively quickly, so that I could return home. Thank you, Auto ER! You guys are outstanding!
