Watch out for this scam artist running the Tilden car repair garage in Royal Palm Beach Florida.
I lost $500 for something that could have been resolved for free.
Here's someone else scammed the same way he got me.
The actual problem with my vehicle - The anti theft system prevents it from starting without the steering wheel in the locked position.
So basically this guy charged me $500 for labor, an alternator, and a serpentine belt I didn't even need.
I even told them 3 times when I brought it in - I already paid a Roy's Mobile Mechanic Service to check the issue and he said the battery seems to be drained by the anti theft system ($75 well spent). Yet I was told to go back inside and they would get back with me. Their $40 diagnostic took them approximately 5 minutes (to determine I was a sucker). I was quoted $450 if I paid in cash. I said all I have is my bank card. He said if it works as a credit card he could charge it, it took $316 out of my bank. The receipt I was handed quoted $188 due after the charge. When I returned the quoted price had then changed to $203. (I guess an added $25 sucker fee for waiting a day to get the remaining balance.)
My car wouldn't start 2 more times this week. The first time I removed the battery. Walked it down to AutoZone. They checked and said it is full charged and working fine. (Also strange, Tilden claimed it is a bad battery and tried selling me a superior one for way more than Walmart charged.) Went back, hooked it back up. Started just fine.
Last night wasn't so lucky. I unhooked and rehooked the battery multiple times. Gave up trying to start it. The lights all came on fine but it just couldn't start. So I called a tow home which cost another $120 (I hate having to keep borrow money from my mother but Tilden took all $316 I had plus another $203 already my mother was kind enough to loan me).
It wasn't until just now I was checking prices of starters on AutoZone website when I felt like just googling why it isn't starting. Perhaps it could be a loose wire. That's when I stumbled upon the fact with the anti theft light flashing I had to turn the steering wheel left/right until locked before my car would start.