aamco did really shotty work on my car and i want your guys' feedback on how to handle the situation.. here is the story

Dealership wont replace my clutch because of my mods..So I got a new exedy organic clutch and was to impatient to wait for an opening at gruppe-s or vishnu, found aamco in the phonebook.. i figured they install clutches all day long, they wont have any problems with my car..drop the car off at 930am, and while im there the customer before me is yelling at the guy behind the desk for bad service of some kind.. figure i cant just walk away because this one guy is unhappy ..
well when it came 530pm and I called to pick er up, they tell me that they have never done a clutch install on a subaru and that they are have lots of difficulties getting the tranny on, so i have to come back in the morn. come 11am i call and they tell me its going to be another hour or so.. come 245pm they call me say its done.
i go in, pay, get the keys and go around the block.. olnly to find the steering so loose that i can turn the wheel 90 degrees before i go anywhere.. take er back.. look under the car to find these two bolts dangling as if they werent tightened at all.. call someone over to throw it on the lift when suddenly i also notice a new dent in my front left fender that was not on the car when i dropped it off. i point out the dent, and tell them to tighten the bolts or do whatever they need to do to fix my steering.. they pull it off the jack, i test drive it.. and suddenly the alignment is off.. im totally veering to the right.. I go into the office sit down, politely ask for reembersment for the alignment and the dent.. they agree to pay for an allignment, but claim no responsibiliy for the dent in my fender that looks like it came from some mechanics knee or something.. we argue. i drive away pissed.. 4 miles later im driving and suddenly my car sounds like i have an exhuast leek..then it gets louder, to where it sounds like a mack truck.. sounds like im on three cylinders or something.. mad sputtering from the exhaust.. no power.. talked to mike @ gruppe-s says they might have installed my intercooler wrong.. thinking of taking it off to check it out for myself, but i want these bastards to pay.. thinking of having car towed all the way to hayward let gruppe-s fix it and then make aamco foot the bill.. or else small claims court. what do you guys think

 

I would suggest letting Gruppe-S take a look at it. Mike does great work! Call him up and setup an appointment.

 

I would let a good shop fix it....but to get back @ them i would file a compliant with the B.A.R.....they will send a rep down there make them pay to have ur car fixxed and they will fine them and or/ shut them down if need be if the shop is found to be real shaddy....

The last thing a shop wants is a state rep up there butts.....lookin @ all their records and given them a hard time.....

Good luck




Mark

 

what does B.A.R stand for??

 

Burn the place down! DO IT!

 

B.A.R. = Bureau of Automotive Repair

"During the 2002/2003 Fiscal Year, BAR negotiated $5.2 million worth of refunds, rework, or adjustments from auto repair shops on behalf of consumers"

For sure file a complaint!

 

I doubt anyone remembers this but there was a huge investigation into AAMCO in the late 80's. Undercover officers taking in cars in perfect working condition yet AAMCO would find metal shavings in the tranny pans. Turned out they were planting it themselves. Or they'd swap in broken gears after they'd opened a tranny case. It was a nation wide scandal.

I'd file a complaint. Or take them to small claims. Or both.

 

Car got to Gruppe-s and turns out it they didnt put all the bolts back on the dp (turbo side) and left the egt sensor so loose it popped out. nothing too big.. but caused me some issues for sure.. spoke to B.A.R and they told me that these guys will definitely be resonsible.. i just hope they pay up so i dont have to waste time in small claims court.. going to call them before bar does and record the conversation with them (without telling them i called bar) and hope to get them to agree to take responsibility. just in case they pull anything shady when bar calls em..

 

If that fails, take my advice and burn the place down.

Good luck with that.

 

Always take transmission and motor work to specialists. If the obvious reasons aren't obvious to you, here's a good one: many cars, especially newer cars, use manufacturer- or even make-unique tools for doing most transmission and much engine internal work. The places like AAMCO or other non-make specialists usually do not do their homework and have your car sitting around while they way to the special tools (know as "ST" in the Impreza service manuals, no joke) arrive.

LIC rocks.

jason

 

yah.. i definitely learned my lesson on this one.. i usually would have never taken my rex or any of my previous cars to anyone but a specialist.. but my clutch was so bad i thought it couldnt wait a week to get it done.. now i havent had my car in almost a week and i have to front all the money to get it fixed.. hope others can learn from this as well..