Took 2000 Escalade in for pre-holiday tune-up. Explained to Auto Care Express that car was slightly skipping. They suggested an engine diagnostic (cost $78.00). Also suggested car needed 4 new tires. I told them I just put 4 new tires on less than 6 months ago.
ACE called later to say the back breaks needed replacing and a 30,000 mile maintenance package was needed. This includes, change fuel filter, clean fuel system, flush transmission fluid, change spark plugs rotate and balance, clean throttle body flush coolant system, change air filters, check brakes, batt check, tire check, steering linkage, exhaust check belts and hoses, engine leak check, Total for above $329.95
Additional charges. Coolant flush kit 22.30.. Trans flush kit 7.80.. Power steering flush 89.99.. P/s flush kit 28.57.. Wh alignment 69.99..install rear brakes 78.00..install belt 46.80.. Bleed and install systems 46.80.. Misc. Parts 114.60.. Total...$813.84
Engine Diagnostic $78.00 plus $195.00 to fix hatch door (which is not fixed. Total $287.54. On separate bill.
Auto was picked up on the 18th. On the morning of the 20th my wife asked an employee that arrived at our home to take the Escalade and run over to our wharehouse. The employee returned immediately stating there were NO BRAKES. I checked and had to jerk the shift in to park in order to stop the car from running through our driveway.
We called Auto Care and told them we had no brakes, come tow the car and get this fixed. The car was picked up late in the afternoon for repair the following day.
Auto Care called the next morning stating a brake line was cut but was probably going bad anyway. They said they wouldn't charge us...
On the morning of December 23rd we left on a trip (the reason for the original tune-up) some $1102.38 in expenses for our "tune-up".
On the 23rd, less than 30 miles outside of Charleston, the car began to jerk and was almost not drivable. We called the Auto care people and told them to find us a Firestone dealer to repair our car. The Firestone employee told us any Firestone Auto Care could assist us and the charges would be taken care of (false) he also mentioned they were closing for the holidays. We requested the owner call us ASAP. The coward never called, to this day. Two hours later we made it back to Charleston and found another firestone Auto Care in North Charleston. They confirmed our belief that we had been scammed.
Upon examining the car, it was discovered that the spark plugs had not all been changed, the wire pkg. Was NOT changed and was the original reason for the skipping. No new tires were needed, The Firestone employees were shocked at the shoddy work done, documenting every false detail and giving us the parts that were not repaired for evidence. This location never understood why our breaks were lost and suggested we have them further looked at.
Our new bill was $649.85... Yes. A Scam at its Finest.
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