Horn automotive
My 1994 camaro engine needed an overhaul. I checked with several shops on prices. After interviewing the managers of different shops I decided on Horn Auto Motive in Marion to do the work. I had used them previously on another rebuilt. (1994 S10 Blazer 4.3 motor. I had the car towed there in Jul 07. It sat there for bout a week even before they started to do the rebuild. Once they started I changed the work order slightly. I wanted them to convert the existing motor to a 383 stroker. Then the problems began. The first set of internals werent right, not their fault. Reorder 1 week delay The work was progressing ok until it was time to put it back together. They could not find a new balancer. They claimed the GM had to do a buy back and sell it to them. It took 3 weeks to find a new hub. After they got the new hub the engine went together ok. I got the call that it was complete. This was near the 1st week of Aug. 07. I wrote the check for $ 5687.00 I drove the car home except it didn't make it It started missing very badly. I called them and they said get it back to them for diagnosis. I took it back and the next day they called and said it was a burnt through plug wire. And it had been repaired. This problem repeated it self 4 other times. They tried to use fire protection on th3e wires to keep them from burning through. AS you can imagine each trip back took several days to work in to the shop as it was not scheduled.
Late August it was repaired again. Mind you since I wrote the 5grand check I hadn't put 80 miles total on the vehicle.
Now I drove it the next day and the motor would barely run. I limped it back to the shop and talked to them about the problems. I was assured they would find and fix what ever the problem. It sat there 2 weeks and the finally got it in the shop. It was at this time they found one cylinder with no compression. They hemmed and hawed on what to do It was obvious to me that the motor had a major failure and needed to be removed again. It sat another 3 weeks and each week I called to see what progress had been made. I was told that they had a lift tied up by another vehicle waiting for parts, and as soon as they were done mine was next. I had heard this excuse once before.
Delay was the harmonic balancer was spinning on the shaft. This is a major problem. The fit between the inside diameter and the outside diameter of the crank shaft was out of tolerance causing the hub to slip. The reason I found this is the power steering would not work since the hub was spinning and not the belt. Course they said they had test driven the car 40 mile to make sure it was all OK. (Yeah Right!) After the crank shaft was repaired I took the car home and the plug wire burnt through again. Another trip back to the repair shop 3 days later they had installed new higher temp wires and fire protection. Again I picked it up and dint get 3 blocks and plug wires burnt through. The repair shop tried to tell me the headers (Borla with JPC hot coating) was the problem. I bout came un glued These guys are suppose to be racers in the ASA competition. So one more time with new wires and fire protection. I take the car and can it get home before it acts up. I take it back and they say it will be a week until they can look at it. SO I wait a week trying to be nice and diplomatic. 2 weeks an my son drives past the shop and my car is still in the holding area. I call as ask what the deal is? I'm told that there is another car on the lift and they have to pull the motor an need the lift to remove the motor apparently. I guess my feeling is that they don't want to do the warranty work even though they have already been paid, not the car taking up the lift space.
Here it is 3 days before Christmas 5 months since they started to repair my car I'm $450.00 out in insurance premiums and no car plus lack of use and it still isn't back
SO bottom line is stay away from HORN AUTOMOTIVE IN MARION Iowa They may cover their warranty work but they don't tell the truth about what they plan on doing
David
Palo, Iowa
U.S.A.
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