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  • Report:  #752837

Complaint Review: Apache Sands car care center

Apache Sands car care center After 30 minutes getting truck's radiator flushed & checked out, overheated to point of steam & water pump blew. Mesa, Arizona

  • Reported By:
    Larry — Mesa Arizona United States of America
  • Submitted:
    Thu, July 14, 2011
  • Updated:
    Fri, July 15, 2011

My truck has been taken into Apache Sands repeatedly for overheating problems, needle pegs hot & engine shuts down.  Apache Sands can never find problem, changed coolants, supposedly checked out everything, changed radiators, they said they test drive it and it won't overheat.  Thirty minutes after leaving Apache Sands from a radiator flush this week, overheated again to the point of just steam, water pump blown, & engine shuts down.  Apache Sands towed to shop, tow truck driver was told to bring the smaller tow truck having to disengage the drive train, tow truck driver said I need the bigger truck, Apache Sands told him "no!"  Found out about 2 weeks ago that a hose clamp for radiator had never been put in proper place & I had to move it into position & tightened it down, I am not a mechanic.  This clamp could have been in wrong spot for about a year.  I had to rent a van to continue my work, Apache Sands refused to pay for rental vehicle & charged me $650.00 stating that they couldn't be blamed for what happened 30 minutes after I left from a radiator flush & checking everything.  I have asked if the correct size radiator is in my truck & they claim it is.  Randy who works at Apache Sands did some research & found out that might not be the case & that was never corrected.  I have used this company for over 5 years now, spent close to $30,000 there & constantly argue with them.  Overheating, tires, now stating oil sending unit has started to leak but it not bad enough to worry about or change yet.  What?  I've always told them to fix whatever, use the best possible parts and they never do.  They are close to my house, have towing service & work on big trucks.  I am on the road half the time I'm working I need dependable repair service.

3 Updates & Rebuttals


mr rik

miami,
Florida,
USA

Also

#4Consumer Comment

Fri, July 15, 2011

You might try a fresh radiator cap.


mr rik

miami,
Florida,
USA

STAY AWAY!

#4Consumer Comment

Fri, July 15, 2011

from radiator "flushes".  Youre just askin for trouble with these.  

Just drain your radiator and refill every few years or so.  Run a couple minutes with the cap off to let out air, then put the cap on and check to see if the upper radiator hose gets hot. -If not you may have thermostat problems.

Also make sure your radiator fan is working properly and that you have heat.

Always do this procedure after the car has sat for a few hours or overnight.

Sounds like your car is already screwed though, so what Jim said.


Jim

Millbrook,
Alabama,
U.S.A.

Master Mechanic Jim here

#4Consumer Comment

Fri, July 15, 2011

You Probably have a blown head gasket, it was probably blown when the truck First overheated, Not their fault.
As well replace the water Pump, I've seen the Pump's vanes eaten away and useless. Especially when water and NOT antifreeze is used.
Replace the Pump first (Cheaper)

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