Pep Boys, Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH - trouble with fly wheel replacement on 1986 Ford F150

# 16 for June 17, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on June 16, 2003:

From: Email User

RE: Pep Boys, Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH - trouble with fly wheel replacement on 1986 Ford F150

This complaint is in regards to the Pep Boys on Wilmington Pike in the Dayton Ohio area.

I originally took my 86 Ford F150 into their shop to have the fly wheel replaced. They let me know I needed to change out the starter as and asked if I wanted them to do it. I told them no and ask them to leave the starter off the truck because I had a warrenty part and would change it myself. They asked if I wanted them to place the old starter in the seat and push it into a parking space where I could change it out.

I told them yes and left for the day. When I returned for the truck they had put the starter back on and suggested that I do not start it. Then they started it drove it into the parking lot and the mechanic who took it out said it should be ok to start but that starter needed to be changed soon. I confronted them about putting the starter back on and they said that they misunderstood what I wanted, even though the conversation was very clear and they had asked questions to make sure they did understand when the conversation occured. They then said they could take it back off but they would charge me for the labor.

The next day I attempted to take off the starter and found that the bolts were cinched so tight they would not budge. Later on I found out that the bolts were cinched so tight that they risked being broken during removal. If they were put back on using proper tools and proper torque this would not be the case. When Pep boys was confronted with this they said that the report on the computer would be interpreted in a way they were without fault and if they changed out the starter they would charge me more if the bolts broke. The manager I spoke to was rude and condesending.

I intend on contacting the BBB and other local consumer groups, will never use pep boys again, and will do all I can so that others avoid this shop and all others associated with the Pep Boys Corp. The Pep Boys I went to simply wrote things down in such a manner that they were not specific, led me to believe that they understood, then gave exuses trying to get more money. Repairs are expensive as it is, without being bilked for more. I just want those involved looked into and to own up to their wrong doing without excuses. Anthony Merris

Franklin OH

Comment On This

I THINK YOU JUST COULD NOT GET THE STARTER OFF BECUSE YOU ARE NOT A MECHANIC IF YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING YOU WOULD KNOW HOW TO REMOVE THE BOLTS COME ON WHY ARE YOU AT PEPBOYS IN THE FIRST PLACE THINK ABOUT IT YOU SHOULD HAD LET THEN REPLACE THAT STARTER YOU SHOULD HAD LET THEM FINISH THERE JOB