In late January we made the mistake of taking our 94 Mercury Sable to the Cottman Transmission Center in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Our transmisssion, while still functional was beginning to slip. I was told on the phone that the charge would be about $1,300 and that we would get an 18 month warranty.
So my wife gets the transmission fixed while I am traveling on business and the bill is $1,954.70. Upon checking the paperwork I realized the warranty we received was for only 12 months. I called them to remind them of the warranty promise and they were claimed they never offered the 18 month warranty (big surprise).
Well, 11,000 miles and 16 months later you guessed it, the transmission spills its guts all over the highway leaving my wife stranded. The first thing I realize is that the warranty is 12,000 miles or 12 months.
The original 18 month warranty promise has now become a big issue but I am screwed. I called corporate to complain anyway and talked to the most unprofessionl, rude, person I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. The basic message was that all Cottman Transmission franchises are independent businesses and there is nothing they can do for me.
So, the second mistake was that we agreed to let the same Cottman Transmission center tell us what was wrong with the transmission. They informed us that the transmission was shot and that a new one would be another $2,000. It was a short conversation.
So, the guy calls me back and says "OK, we'll fix it for $1,000. No matter what is wrong $1,000 is all you will pay". At this point I'm thinking "well, I got screwed but maybe it was just bad luck"
So, $1,000 later my wife picks up the car (the actual charge was $1,054.70). She complains that the "check engine" light is coming on and that the car shifts eratically and won't kick down into passing gear. I check it out myself. Yup, she's right. Not only that it is now overheating. I park the car and about an hour later there is a huge pool of transmission fluid under it.
I asked them if they had actually done anything to the car other than put transmission fluid in it and they are incredulous. None the less, I smell at rat.
So, I make them pick up the car with a tow truck and they do. They have it for a week and we pick it up again. (Today). Guess what, erratic shifting, no passing gear, and the check engine light comes on. As soon as I finish this I am going out to check for a pool of transmission fluid and then I am going to write everyone from the owners of Cottman Transmission (Sentinel Capital Partners) to the BBB, to any consumer advocate group I can find. I am also making signs for my car. Maybe I'll park it close to Cottman's
Michael
Export, Pennsylvania
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