Complaint Review: Hi-Tech Automotive Inc. - Brandon Florida

Dear Mike and Nancy Gooding,

On November 29th after perusal of a local coupon book, I chose Hi-Tech Automotive to perform a tune-up on my 1998 Ford F150, at which time all spark plugs were to replaced. On December 24th, after having to have my truck inspected for another problem, the fact that the #4 spark plug was not replaced was discovered.

Due to the above referenced, I am requesting a full refund as well as compensation for the following (receipts to follow)

h Tune up performed by Hi-Tech Automotive $59.95 + tax

h Drivability Analysis performed by Ford in Alabama $77.04

h Double Silicone Wires purchased in Alabama $53.99 + tax

h Motorcraft Spark Plug purchased in Alabama $3.99 + tax

h Mechanic charge to replace wires and #4 spark plug $150.00

After Hi-Tech Automotive performed a routine 8 cylinder tune-up on the 29th of November, I returned my truck to Hi-Tech Automotive on December 29th for a diagnostic on the check engine light. After inspection, Hi-Tech found that the EGR flow sensor needed to be replaced and the as the EGR passage and blade needed to be cleaned. Once that work was complete, the check engine light was no longer illuminated.

On December 22nd, (Sunday) while driving the truck to Alabama for the holiday, the truck seemed to be missing. Once we arrived in Alabama (590 miles) the truck was parked and wasnt started again until December 24th (Tuesday). When the truck was cranked the check engine light was once again illuminated while parked, the truck stuttered while driving and the check engine light blinked on acceleration. I immediately tried to contact Hi-Tech Automotive to no avail. Once I contacted Hi-Tech on December 26th, (Thursday) I explained the situation to Nancy and Randy, and they each said they were unable to make any decisions without knowing what code was coming from the engine, so I tool the truck to New South FordVNissan in Meridian Mississippi for that diagnostic test.

Ford performed a diagnostic test and the code was P0304 (Cylinder #4 misfire) which I notified Sean of, because Randy and Nancy were out to lunch. When speaking with Sean, he confirmed that during the tune-up that was performed on 11/29, all spark plugs were replaced with Autolight spark plugs, and that was standard procedure on a tune-up.

Ford estimated the cost of work to be $250, so we opted to try to find a mechanic that could perform the same job for less money. After purchasing the needed parts for the repair (wires & spark plug) we found a mechanic that reluctantly agreed to do the work. After the mechanic replaced the wires on the truck, we test drove the truck and the truck was still missing so he proceeded to check spark plug #1 & #4 to ensure they were new plugs. Although #1 was a new Autolite plug and was difficult to remove, #4 was more difficult and took a significant amount of time to remove. Once removed, the mechanic told us that the #4 spark plug was the original (Motorcraft) spark plug and was in bad shape (we have the old spark plug). He also mentioned that the old wires looked ok, and would not have had to be replaced if the #4 spark plug was replaced at the time of tune-up by Hi-Tech. The mechanic re-set the check engine light, we drove the truck and it drove fineK.then way it was driving prior to the tune-up on 11/29.

In closing, for a sense of fairness and continued business, I do hope that this was an honest mistake, and am confident that Hi-Tech will grant my request for immediate compensation without escalation. We do know that the price to keep a customer is far less than the price to gain a new customer.

I look forward to swift closure of this matter.

Audra

Brandon, Florida
U.S.A.