My Nightmare of an experience with Cottman Transmissions...
On August 13, our car broke down (gears would not shift, starts fine but couldn't go into drive) and it was taken to Cottman Transmission of Durham to be repaired. They gave us an initial quote of $1500 because the transmission needed to be rebuilt. We authorized the repair and 6 days later on Aug 19, was told to come pick up the car but at a price of $2100 (yes, $600 more than quoted). Because of schedule conflicts, we made arrangements to pick up the car after the store was closed (BIG, BIG mistake). We got to the car and it would not start. After trying to jump start it for 30min, the president of Cottman of Durham (Richard White) 'happens' to come up to the property. Told him what happened and he had NO CLUE what's wrong.
To make a long story short, we ended up leaving the car there another night since it would not start.
On Aug 20th, Cottman calls to tell us that the timing belt is broke. WHAT! Really?! We brought the car in for one thing (transmission), and had to have it towed to the Mitsubishi Dealer because Cottman broke the timing belt (and would not take responsibility for such) and they don't do electrical work. How can they NOT be responsible? How did they test drive the car? They argued they never touched anything of the sort and only worked on the transmission. We then had to pay the dealer $1800 to fix the timing belt. So in two days, we're down $3700.
About 10 days later, the car starts acting funny! RPM gauge is racing and pretty much acted like it did on Aug 13th. Took it back to Cottman Transmission of Durham, they did their little "21 Point Inspection" and 'Mike' (the local manager) said that his tech 'Mark' test drove the car and everything seems fine. Of course, we were not with them when the check and test drive took place. No one is the wiser about what was wrong with the car. Got the car back and everything seemed fine. Until Dec 6.
On Dec 6, car had the same symptoms, racing RPM, not shifting right, so by assuming it's not the transmission because it was just rebuilt (at a price of $2100). We took the car back to the dealer (because we didn't want something else breaking like the timing belt). We wanted the dealer to tell us what's wrong with the car. The dealer indicated that it's a transmission/solenoid pack issue. We called 'Mike' at Cottman of Durham, to advise that the transmission is acting up again. Well, once he heard that it was a solenoid pack, he GLEEFULLY stated, Electrical components are not covered under the warranty (see back of receipt). (he did not tell us this when we gave him $2100). When we paid him $2100 on Aug 19th, he ONLY showed me the front of the receipt where he hand wrote 6 month/unlimited warranty on parts and labor.
Not having a choice (because, according to 'Mike' the solenoid pack was not 'under' warranty), we authorized the dealer to fix this problem (at a price tag of $870.) So far, because of everything Cottman Transmission of Durham has done (or done VERY POORLY), we are out $4800. While the dealer is fixing the Solenoid Pack, they noticed that the transmission fluid is FILTHY, BLACK and is NOT conducive with a rebuilt transmission. So they drained the fluid and gave us new fluid. They did not touch the transmission except to give us clean fluid. We're back on the road, then on Jan 3, guess what. Back to square one (same symptoms of Aug 13th) with the gears not shifting, RPM racing high (but now we're stuck in NY).
Called Cottman Transmission of Durham and they said to take it to their NY (Bronx) location. Of course, I had to pay them $100 towing cost. Car was delivered to Bronx location on Jan 4th... They did not get to our car until Jan 11th (one week later). Around Jan 9, the Bronx NY Cottman manager 'Kevin' looked at the outer aspects of the transmission and also found BLACK, FILTHY transmission fluid, and said it was definitely the transmission.'Mike' from the Durham Cottman Transmission approved repairs to be completed by the Bronx branch of Cottman transmission. Now on Dec 11, the Bronx NY, Cottman manager "Kevin", looked at the car and said the transmission is shot along with the Solenoid pack (why am I not surprised). But guess what?'Mike' (the Durham Cottman manager) would not authorize repairs because he "claims" that by having the dealer put the solenoid pack on the transmission back on Dec 7th, it voided the warranty (and we should have brought the car to him on Dec 7, (when on Dec 7 he said that it was not under warranty).
How convenient. Now it's back and forth with 'Mike' from Durham Cottman about why the warranty is not valid. Cottman blames the dealer and says Cottman can't tell if it's their work or if it's what the dealer did that caused the transmission to go bad. Either way they will not fix the transmission. We ask Cottman, if we get the dealer to fix the Solenoid Pack (which is under warranty) if Cottman would look at and fix the transmission and they said NO. Now, we have to go to the dealer to have them fix the same transmission that Cottman Transmission of Durham 'supposedly' fixed back in August. Needless to say, that'll be another $1500.
We even caught 'Mike' (the Durham Cottman manager in a BIG LIE) where he said he spoke to the Cottman Headquarters customer service and they told him not to fix the car. Of course, I called their headquarters and spoke to 'Carol' (Director of Customer Service) who said she did not speak to him at all that day. Later, she changed her story to say it's up to the individual store to honor the warranty. HELP! Help! HELP!
I spoke to the dealer on 01/17/05 and he advised that the transmission was not properly fixed because, it was because of the transmission that the Solenoid pack went bad and since a new solenoid pack was entered, the bad transmission caused the solenoid pack to fail again. Dealer said that they have to put in a new transmission because the car needs it and Cottman refuses to honor the warranty.
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