Complaint Review: Pep Boys

On July 15,2002 my brother (he lives with my family) bought a new fan clutch from Pep Boys. A friend of ours, is a certified mechanic working for the county we live in, he installed the part for my brother.

On Fri. Oct.18,2002 while driving home from work on the 5 freeway the fan clutch snapped in off and flew into my brothers radiator causing him to loose all his fluid and stalling the engine. He was luck to have been able to glide to the shoulder and get off the freeway when he did. The tow bill to have it towed home was 180.00.

Pep Boys replaced the fan clutch and were going to refund us the raditor. When the 2 parts were replaced the truck still had no compression and would not start.

At that time we called Pep Boys. They wanted the truck towed to them so they could inspect it. So I had it towed. After having the truck all day long they told us the head was warped and the head gasket needed to be replaced. At that time we told them they should be liable for the damage. They told us since they didn't install the part they were not liable. THey said Hayden the manufacturer of the part was responciable and that we needed to contact them.

At this same time they told us that someone claiming to be our relative called their corp. offices and claimed that our uncle installed the part, my brother continued to drive the truck after the part broke, purposely racing it up and down the street until the engine blew.

They said this no named person used the exact words, "Tim is out to srew over Pep Boys" Well when I called them on this story they couldn't back themselves up.
We told Pep Boys to just fix the truck because Hayden told us they would reimburse us part of the money and we would dispute the rest.The following day when they were suppose to start work on the truck the called and told us that the engine was completely blown and it would cost 3600.00 to repair it. Pep Boys is telling us it's the manufactures responcibility to pay for it and the manufacture is saying there is no way there was that much damage.

I then called Pep Boys corp. offices because I feel that they sold the part they are responcible for the damage this product caused. Their regional manager Paul Daluna called me Sat. Oct. 26, 2002 and told me he would look into the situation.

We have not heard back from him. Now the Pep Boys who has the truck called and wants the truck removed or they will start charging a 10.00 a day storage fee. I called them to tell them I would have the truck towed tomorrow. At this time they informed me there was a 300.00 bill due for the removel of the head. So we can't even get the truck back without paying them. They wanted to diagnose the truck themselves and now that they misdiagnosed they want us to pay for it.

Pep Boys is just out to screw over their customers. They do not stand by their products and they figured since I 'm a woman that I'm ignorant about vehicles. Pep Boys does not stand by the products and parts they sell. (Believe it or not this isn't the whole story either. There is more and it gets worse.)

Sandy
Hemet, California