Last month I bought a used car from a very trusted friend of mine. She has a lot of knowledge about cars, having been a service writer in previous years. So when she told me that she had a complete safety check done on the car before the sale was final, I trusted her hands down.
After buying the car I decided to use my income tax return on new tires and new wheels. The car was also in need of an alignment, but nothing more.
I took the car to Les Schwab and got what I feel was a fair price for the tires and wheels. I spent exactly what I expected to spend.
The problem, however, started when I went to pick up my car. I had to call them to find out if they were done, got told my car was ready. But when I got there, they asked me who I spoke to, because my car was NOT ready.
The tires and wheels had been installed, but the alignment had not been done yet. I offered to come back in the morning, as it was closing time, but they insisted on having one of the mechanics double up on jobs. So I waited about a half an hour. Is that all the time it takes for an alignment?
Anyhow, when the mechanic came into the waiting room to give me my keys, I got told, by the way, we found a leak on one of your boot pads, which apparently indicates my power steering fluid is leaking.
I was confused, because before I got the car, my friend had some work done on the car. One of which had to do with replacing a cv joint, or something to that affect. But I wondered, if my friend's mechanic had just been in that area, why didn't he notice the leak?
So, I decided to get an estimate for the work they claimed needed to be done, and made an appointment to come in. After all, I didn't want to get into an accident because my power steering suddenly stopped working, like the Schwab mechanic subtly suggested.
The estimate was for a remanufactured rack and pinion steering gear and behind the engine installation. Approx. 800.00
I spoke to my friend that night, and she called her mechanic that did the safety check and various work on the car. She talked me into going back to her mechanic for a second look at no charge.
I did, and I'm glad. Because as it turns out, my car has NOTHING wrong with it!!!
Until this happened, I always thought Les Schwab could be trusted. But now, I will never go back to them.
All they saw was some female with a little money to spend and thought they could scare me into spending more.
I'll be taking my car to my friend's mechanic from now on.
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