Complaint Review: My Auto Service - Las Vegas Nevada

Time for an oil change.  As advertised $10 for an oil change so my friend said.  So I went down to My Auto Service on Thursday the 20 of May around 9 AM.

I stopped at Auto Zone first to pick up the oil, oil filter, air filter, and a serpentine belt for a used car I just purchased.  A rare 1990 Cadilliac Eldorado Biarritz.  The Shop Supervisor started the car and drove it into the oil change service bay.  When done with the agreed upon service, The Service Manager came to me in the waiting room to inform me that the car would not start.  They offered to take me home and look at the car with what was left of the day.  Around 4 pm They gave me a ride home. 

Friday May 21, 2010
Next morning a call from the Service Manager informed me that a new fuel pump was required.  The cost of the pump was $154 and Approx $200 in Labor.  They would have to drop the gas tank to replace the faulty part.  As a person living on a fixed income, these kind of expenses are not in my budget.  After some scrambling and effort, I called back a couple hours later, and told them that would provide the part as it was cheaper from Auto Zone.  I also complained about their fees as this problem was of their doing as it happened in their shop while the car was under their care.  An agreement was reached at a fee of $136 for labor.  I got the parts to them that day by noon.  I returned to their shop around 4 pm.  The car was not ready yet.  I waited around until 5:30 PM when I was once again offered a ride home.  The car was still in their shop, still not completed.

Saturday May 22, 2010

After getting a ride to their shop, and a couple more hours waiting My car was released to me.  I was able to start the car, and listen to a horrible screeching sound, The gas guage display was not able to display how much gas in the tank, and the turn indicators did not work.

I also noticed that there was a red wire coming from under the car and stuck into one of the fuse slots under the hood.  I was told that there was a problem now with the gas gauge sending unit.  They had to order the part and it would be a couple days before it arrived and could be put in.

Sunday May 23, 2010

Drove to Pahrump to look at some property.  Car ran great, even though I didn't know how much gas I had.  Even worked as we went over the pass and it was snowing in May.

.....Monday .....   Tuesday ......   

Wednesday

 I showed up at the shop and waited....   After a couple hours waiting they told me it would be a few more hours before they could get the car done....  It was at this time I was greeted by the shop owner.  He informed that the potential problem was the Electronic Control Module ( ECM) that the Dealer sells for $700.  That was most likely the part that kept the gas guage from displaying how much gas you had. The Screeching sound from the Altenator pully was louder than ever.  The owner put forth a "Deal."  What can I do to make you happy?  I told him, fix my car back to the way it was before your staff got their hands on it.

He said, that isn't possible.  How about I replace the altenator, and what else do you need?  I told him I also needed the car smogged, and he immediately offered to do both tasks and would have the car ready the next day.  Once again I got a ride home without my car. 

The next afternoon I called asking about the car.  I was told that the altenator had been replaced and the screeching sound was gone.  I was also informed that they had not yet smogged the car and would call me when the car was ready to be picked up.      No call the rest of that day.

Next morning I called them and was then told that they where unable to smog the car.  I asked and was told that the car runs.  I told them I would be down to pick it up.  So I did.  Still no gas guage display.  Drove home.  Needless to say, at this point, my patience had been tested.  My car was worse now and all I wanted to do was get the oil changed.  Not spend another $400 and still not be able to smog or have the damages they did fixed.

The next day I needed to take a drive down town.  10 minutes later, sitting at a red light, the car starts to jerk.  Would work fine when driving over 10 mph, but once stopping or stopped, it tried to stall, jerking the car, the engine either racing or stalling. 

I have decided that I will make them this offer on Tuesday when Memorial day has passed.

Choice 1.

Take the car to the shop, and tell them that they can take my car to the Cadillac dealer and have it repaired and they pay the bill for the damages caused by them.

Choice 2.

I talk to an attorney, then take the car to a cadiallac dealer to be repaired.  Rent a car in the time the dealer has the car, and let the attorney handle any further commucnications between their shop "My Auto Service" and myself.