YACT(poll): I think mechanic did a shoddy job

[NeoPTLD]

A month or so ago, I had my car in a small repair shop in Corvallis, OR for timing belt and tensioner replacement I stopped by the shop in the process of repair and the radiator was removed.

What do I find under the car today?

Pic:
londons1.jpg

They were the last one to screw with my radiator and coolant is leaking at the petcock. I installed the radiator when the original one developed a crack and it has not leaked a drop in years. It leaks after they screwed with it.

My radio pre-sets were lost, so it is clear that battery has been disconnected. It's a common practice to remove negative terminal when working on a vehicle. When I popped the hood today to fill the washer fluid, I touched the negative cable and what the... the connection clamp turns. I installed the battery. Sure enough positive terminal is secure, the negative terminal, which they removed during repair is very loose.

londons2.jpg



londons3.jpg

What's this thing dangling around? I installed the radiator and I KNOW this wasn't dangling before they worked on it...

So what y'all guys hafta say?

 

[NutBucket]

Hmm, that thing hanging looks like a solenoid, maybe EGR valve. Looks like the bracket was snapped off or something. As for the radiator, its possible they messed up the seal on the petcock when they drained the radiator. Either or that or maybe they overtightened it?

What car is that anyhow?

 

[SeaSerpent]

Take it back and make them fix it right.

btw...when I do major repairs, I disconnect the battery.

 

[NeoPTLD]

They screwed up twice already. They were supposed to replace the fan belts the first trip, but they "forgot" to do it and I had to have it in.

Now I discover this. I don't want them working on my car anymore. I want to have it fixed by the dealership and expect the shop to pay for their screw up. Now the fan belts squeal(did they tension it to factory specification? I doubt it) as well as these issues.

 

[atiyeh]

Originally posted by: SeaSerpent
Take it back and make them fix it right.

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: atiyeh

Originally posted by: SeaSerpent
Take it back and make them fix it right.

Would you trust the same shop???

 

[element]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
They screwed up twice already. They were supposed to replace the fan belts the first trip, but they "forgot" to do it and I had to have it in.

Now I discover this. I don't want them working on my car anymore. I want to have it fixed by the dealership and expect the shop to pay for their screw up. Now the fan belts squeal(did they tension it to factory specification? I doubt it) as well as these issues.

uhh if they forgot to do the job I'd forget to pay them

 

[Wolfsraider]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD

Originally posted by: atiyeh

Originally posted by: SeaSerpent
Take it back and make them fix it right.

Would you trust the same shop???

I wouldn't. Its better to cut your losses and file a complaint, then go elsewhere.
But
If you do ...
I would have it looked at by another mechanic and get an estimate then I would file a complaint with better business and finally I would take it back and have them do it right.

 

[Blastoid]

Looks like a really crappy job, you best bet is to try and find a good place local to you. (If you were in NYC I would send you to my mech, he has been working with my wife's family for 20+ years!) Look for car groups or forums online and see if anyone recommends a shop near you.

Sorry that you had this bad experience, I have had a few when I was younger and it really sucks!

Good luck.


edit: what Wolfsraider suggested is a good idea as well, still need to find a good shop though.

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: element

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
They screwed up twice already. They were supposed to replace the fan belts the first trip, but they "forgot" to do it and I had to have it in.

Now I discover this. I don't want them working on my car anymore. I want to have it fixed by the dealership and expect the shop to pay for their screw up. Now the fan belts squeal(did they tension it to factory specification? I doubt it) as well as these issues.

uhh if they forgot to do the job I'd forget to pay them

They didn't charge me for the belt and they didn't charge labor to re-do it so I they did it for free..
but I'm afraid of letting them do anything to my car. Chances are, if they fix problem A, I will drive home with problem, B, C and D.