Author Topic: Am I Getting Ripped Off? (Read 2115 times)

Tbone · « **on:** June 13, 2011, 05:04:56 pm »

Seriously, I haven't had this much bad luck at once in a long time...

So my car has had a noisy belt for a few weeks now and one of the tires was low. I was well past time to get it serviced anyway, so I took it into the shop last Monday to get all those things fixed up.

I was there for two and a half hours, but they fixed the tire (broken valve) and "fixed" the belt (tightened it up) and changed out my fluids or whatever.

A few days later, I've got rehearsal 50 miles away, and I'm starting the drive back home. Shortly into the drive, my AC stops blowing cold air. After about 15 minutes, it starts blowing cold again. Weird...

The next day I start up the car and the AC is working again, but a little ways into my drive I notice the engine is making a funny noise - different than the belt noise I was used to - but still kind of a squealing, rattling noise. "I bet they overtightened that belt" I thought. Last time this happened, my steering went out.

So I go to work and when I get back in the car and start it up, the noise is REALLY loud! "Shit, that doesn't sound good at all". Also, now my AC is out again. Once I get going the noise kind of subsides. Continuing on my journey, however, I kept noticing a burning smell. I thought it might just be the air, since my windows were rolled down due to the AC not working. At one point, though, I thought I noticed a bit of smoke from my rear view mirror and thought "Sonofabitch...I think that burning is coming from me".

So I'm about home, hoping I can make it before the car just breaks down. The noise is back and loud. Suddenly, though, the noise stops. "Huh...steering is still good". But then the check battery light comes on. "Oh no". Then the check engine light!

I'm so close to home... I make it home fine and immediately call the auto shop. They advise not driving it, and to have it towed there tomorrow.

So today I have it towed to the shop. I'm not very happy because whatever they did, it screwed up my car, and I had spent so much time waiting before. At least this time I wouldn't have to pay anything...or so I thought.

Apparently it's going to take a while, because they drive me back home. Then they call me and tell me that my compressor had gone out, which caused the belt to snap. I said "So the compressor just went out on its own?"

"Yeah, just from wear and tear."

"Wait, so what's the damage."

"At least $1500."

Wait...WTF. They are telling me I now have to pay $1500 for a new compressor, belt, pullies because the compressor went out "on its own" less than a week after I got it out of the shop???

Bullshit. I'm no mechanic, but it seems they arranged that belt in a way in which it was putting too much pressure on the compressor, causing it to break down. But they refuse to take responsibility for it! Now I have to pay $1500 in repairs and parts for what seems to me to be THEIR mistake! But I have no way to prove it.

I've had the car for 10 years now and it has never broken down on its own, ever. Am I supposed to believe that it is coincidence that a part goes out the first time I drive it a long distance out of their shop? Am I getting ripped off?

What am I supposed to do? How do I fix this problem without being out $1500??

Da6onet · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2011, 05:47:52 pm »

I would find another mechanic and have the car towed there. Yes it will cost you the tow plus whatever the repair quote the next mechanic says, but if you truly believe this current shop is crooked, it will save you money in the long run.

Without proof there isn't much recourse you can take against the current shop. If you were up near me I know a great honest mechanic that could take a look for you, but the tow fee would be too much probably.

Sorry you're getting screwed :-(

Tbone · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2011, 05:55:30 pm »

It's a dealership, so I would assume they'd be up-and-up about it. It's not that I think that they purposely rigged it to self-destruct. I think they overlooked or messed with something by accident, but since there's no way to prove that one caused the other, they are sticking me with the bill.

Paitryn · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2011, 08:45:28 pm »

ouch never go to a dealership in my experience. you end up paying 10 times more than a mechanic. the compressor is prone to go out eventually depending on the car. you can go without an AC unit unless you have a unibelt (one belt for the entire engine) generally the AC belt isnt connected to anything but the main drive shaft. simply removing the belt should circumvent the issue.

really to find out if your compressor should have gone out so soon is based on what kind of car you have and how old it is. they will go out eventually, but it can be replaced pretty easily if you can get a salvaged part and depends on where the compressor sets on the engine (at the top is the easiest) plus there are refill kits that are safer nowdays so self recharging has been a lot easier now.