City Garage , Euless Texas, Automotive Repair

City Garage, Euless Texas, Automotive Repair

My vehicle became disabled about 100 miles south of Dallas. I determined

that the cause of my problem was a broken timing belt. I made arrangements

to have my car towed to the City Garage in Euless based on their affiliation

with AAA Texas as an Approved Automotive Repair facility. The vehicle was

dropped off in the evening, after normal business hours. I called early the

next morning and advised that I wanted to have the timing belt replaced and

suggested that they also replace the water pump as a preventative measure. I

explained that I would be attending a meeting and then traveling home and

would need the repairs completed the same day. The service writer indicated

that he would prepare an estimate and promised to call me back. I did not

share the fact that I had some mechanical background and worked in the

industry.

True to his word the service writer called me (around 1000) and quoted a

price of $1100.00 to repair the vehicle. Having had the timing belt and

water pump replaced approximately 2 years earlier for less than $500.00, I

questioned the estimate. The service writer then began an effort to explain

the quote, but could not detail specific charges that would total anywhere

near $1100.00 After talking in circles, I advised him that the dollar

amounts he was quoting, considering the worst case scenarios, only came to

$800.00 (all expenses associated with the timing belt and water pump). He

could never explain how he arrived at the original $1100.00 estimate. Almost

as quickly as I questioned the estimate, the service writer advised that he

could do the job for $800.00 and possibly cheaper, depending on what they

found. Alarms went off in my head at this point, and I knew that I had just

thwarted his attempt to rip me off for over $500.00. Unfortunately, I was

anxious to get back on the road that afternoon and I advised that I would

accept the $800.00 estimate based on my need to travel back home that

evening.

Around 4:00 PM that afternoon my meeting ended and I called the service

writer and asked when I could pick the vehicle up. To my surprise he

indicated that they had run into a problem in getting the parts and would

not be able to finish the job by their 7:00 PM closing. He indicated that he

was just planning to call me when I called him.

Needless to say I was not impressed with this business at this point. I

politely asked what it would cost to remove my car without the work being

completed. The service writer explained that he would have to charge me the

same labor amount $300.00, as they had already tore down the engine and were

just awaiting the parts to finish. I advised him that I would be checking

into some other options and advised I would call him back to let him know

what I decided. I then traveled immediately to the facility. It took me

approximately 25 minutes to make the drive. I went into the facility and

advised the service writer that I needed to get belongings out of the car.

As I expected, the shop had not begun the work. They had removed a brace

held on with approximately 6 nuts and which probably took all of 5 minutes

to remove. Oh, let me be fair ... they had also removed the oil filler cap.

Upon seeing me inspecting the engine, the service writer knew that they had

been caught in a fabrication. The service writer then advised that they had

reinstalled all the parts in the belief "that I would be pulling the car

out". I never advised this ... it only took me 25 minutes to get there ...

all the parts were back on and no one was working on the car. The one part

that was removed, the brace, was laying beside the car. Wonder why this

wasn't replaced since they thought I would be pulling the car out? There was

still dust on the timing belt cover ... no fingerprints or cleaned areas.

All drive belts back on the car. What if I did not decide to remove the car?

... all work to be redone at their expense? Unlikely. Funny that they

expected me to believe this.

The service writer then advised me that he was waving the $300.00 labor

charges and the $47.50 diagnostic charge and advised me that I could remove

my car. It was fine with me in that they were waiving it, but funny that

they would be even considering a diagnostic fee when I advised them

specifically what was needed and there was evidence that they had not even

begun tearing down the engine, much less diagnosing what was wrong.

Unfortunately, after conferring with the mechanic, the service writer came

back in and advised me that he was going to have to charge me the diagnostic

fee after all.

At this point, I gladly paid the fee to ensure that I could remove my

vehicle from this place of repair.

The above outlines a real concern with some automotive repair businesses and

their practices but let me point out that I had the car pulled out of City

Garage and towed to the Toyota dealer in Irving. They did the work for less

than $500.00 and even provided a loaner car! Great customer service and

integrity. They have made a repeat customer.

Word to the Wise ... learn from my experience.

Paul Gregory