Our GMC Safari Van was stalling continually when finally it would just not start. My husband last year had replace the fuel pump, fuel filter and a fuse and note it only took him and his brother-in-law about 1-1 1/2 hrs. To do so. Well, my husband is working 2 jobs and was unable to repair the van himself. He decided to have it towed to Pep Boys after speaking to a gentlemen on the phone who stated it would cost $75.00 for a diagnostic to be run on it. When my husband had the van towed there, they changed the price to $89.00, so my husband told him to go ahead and run the diagnostic.
He also told him that he wanted them to check the fuel pump, wire harness to the fuel pump, the fuel gauge and the fuse box. Well, two days later they phone my husband and tell him, the diagnostic states the the fuel pump is bad and told us that it will cost about $350.00 for the part. My husband told him to go ahead and replace the part and to also make sure that the other mentioned items are ok. They then call back the next day and tell him the van is ready, that the total for the bill is $733.00??? They said it took (2 hrs) to replace the fuel pump.
My husband was amazed on how much it cost. I phoned them the following day and asked them "Ok, your saying that I paid $89.00 for the (so called) diagnostic and it only stated that the fuel pump is bad? What about the wire harness, fuel gauge and fuse box?" The man stated that he didn't work on the car, but that the bill states that it took now (2.9 hrs) to repair @ $79 hr and that at the bottom of the bill it states that the fuel gauge doesn't work.
I told him, ok, now why first off with the equipment you have does it take your mechanic almost 3 hrs. To replace the fuel pump and told him that my husband did the same thing about a yr ago and it only took about 1-1 1/2 hrs without any equipment, plus there was hardly any gas in the van, so they can't say that it took time to drain all the gas out. He just told me, well I think you need to speak with the Manager Andy and that he understands that money is hard to come by and that Andy may be able to work with me on the price.
I also asked for him to please fax me a copy of the diagnostic test that was done and a copy of the bill for my records, he also stated that I need to speak with the Manager Andy regarding that. Now, my husband and I now for a fact that the check engine light is on (previous to the repair) and that the oxygen sensor is also out. Now if they actually ran the diagnostic, these items would show up.
We are going in person tomorrow to speak with Manager Andy and demand that they show me the diagnostic test, I also want to see the fuel pump that they removed. We will also be asking Manager Andy why it took almost 3 hrs to replace the fuel pump. Like my husband stated "All they have to do is put the van up in the air, remove 4 bolts, drop the tank, remove the old pump, replace the pump, put the tank back up and replace the 4 bolts. With there equipment, it shouldn't take but 1 hr. To do so!"
I know for a fact that they did not run the diagnostic on the van, otherwise it would have shown that the oxygen sensor is bad, that the check engine light is on, and possibly other things may be wrong with it. I will be letting the Manager know that there is NO WAY we are paying for 3 hrs. Labor and for a diagnostic. We will pay for the part, and 1 hr. Labor. They were told in advance about the fuel gauge, the diagnostic would tell them that also!
Pep boys in slidell, la does not do the diagnostics, they assume what might be wrong, replace a part and if the vehicle runs, they call the customer and say it's ready.
We will be also informing manager andy that if they want to try to get over on us, we will be calling 6 on your side and having them come out, on top of reporting them to the bbb!
This is also price gauging because slidell la was hit by hurricane katrina, we are still trying to recover financially from that and now we are being screwed by pep boys? Nice world we live in!
If anyone in slidell see's this and has had the same experience, please contact me via rebuttle. This is insane!
Now my van is a hostage of pep boys because we thought it would only cost about $450-500 at the most for this repair. And we thought that the diagnostic test would show what is actually wrong with the van! Con artist, rip-off artist, and sorry ;ying mechanics! That's what pep boys is!
BrandySLIDELL, Louisiana
U.S.A.
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