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Alexander's Diagnostic Complete Auto Repair Put a new timing Belt on my car, broke a part attached to it and wouldn't fix it. Austintown, Ohio
The check engine light came on in my 2000 Mercury Mystique and my husband took the car to Alexander's Diagnostic to get a diagnostic done. Test said the timing belt needed replaced so my husband said go ahead and we gave them a check for $1250 which included the timing belt kit, new spark plugs, ignition coil, water pump, serpentine belt, antifreeze and labor. They had the car for a week and a half, but refunded me the money for the serpentine belt because they claim they couldn't find me a new one.
When I picked up the car, 2 minutes after I pulled out of the parking lot, my check engine light came on and I drove home (approximately 3 miles), and called Alexander's and asked if it was normal for my check engine light to come on. They said "I don't think so, but can you bring the car in the beginning of next week and we will look at it". When I took it back in, they said they took it apart and looked but the timing belt was fine and nothing was wrong, but to take it to a dealership to have the VT system reprogrammed and the check engine light will shut off.
I took the car to a dealership and they reprogrammed it (for $100) and the check engine light came on the minute I started it, so I went back in the dealership and the mechanic said it was probably something to do with the timing belt repair job, but he wouldn't know unless I had them tear it back down to the timing belt (which would of cost me $450.00!) I said I would let them know and drove the car home.
Took it to another mechanic who tore it back down to the timing belt. He said the timing belt had jumped two teeth and the spring in the one part was tightened too much and broke and that was why the check engine light was on, and that if Alexanders had in deed torn it back down the second time they would of seen that! I called Alexander's and they said they would refund me the money to get it repaired a second time ($280) plus the cost of the reprogramming ($100) and gave them copies of receipts, and they keep putting me off.
I did file a complaint with the BBB but they told me it could take up to 3 weeks for results. If I don't get any results from them, I will go to small claims court! Alexander's is a rip off, they overcharged me way to much in the first place (dealership told me they would of charged me $600 to do the same thing), then they broke the part they replaced !