April 16
My husband took our vehicle to Hanson's Auto repair. He told Mr. Gerald Enghausen President/Owner that all the engine light's had come on suddenly & the vehicle had stopped running. Mr. Enghausen said the engine was blown. Mr. Enghausen told my husband that he could install a Jasper engine that had a guarantee of 3 years or 7500 miles labors & part. No written estimate or warranty was given in violation of the Illinois Auto Repair Act. Mr. Enghausen stated (the only true statement that he has ever made to us) that we would never put 7500 miles on the vehicle.
Little did we know how true that statement would be. Mr. Enghausen stated that if my husband gave him a deposit now the vehicle would be up & running in 5 days.
Well that was over a year ago and it is still a mystery as to whether it is the little engine that could or the little engine that couldn't.
After Hanson's installed the engine the vehicle had problem's that it never had before. Upon picking the vehicle up after it was alledgely repaired, we couldn't even get it off their lot. It wouldn't shift properly. When we told Hanson's it wouldn't shift right they told us to take it to Crawford's because they didn't do transmission work.
June
I was so naive that's what I did that. The transmisson shop rebuilt the transmission. After paying the shop that rebuilt it they told us we should take the vehicle back to Hanson's because it wasn't running right. "Of course don't tell Hanson's we said that." (You won't will you?)
The vehicle was returned to Hanson's over 5 times. It still had engine knocks, would not idle, it kept dieing & was leaking fluids.
July
After having my disabled husband stranded numerous times, I called Jasper Engines & Transmissions. They suggested that I take the vehicle to another shop. I took it to PDR Automotive Inc. During this time I had communicated various times with Jasper Engines. Jasper called PDR & asked them to run some tests on the engine.
PDR had the vehicle from July to October.in October I called PDR to find out about the test results. John from PDR told me over the phone " It's an engine problem, it has alway's been an engine problem." I then called Jasper & spoke with Mr. Tom Schrader. He told me Jasper had spoken with John from PDR & he had told them it was not an engine problem. I then suggested a three way conversation. Mr Schrader said that was not needed because the conversation was on tape. Mr. Schrader then played the tape. On the tape was John from PDR talking to someone at Jasper telling them he did not want to work on our vehicle. John had never told us he did not want to work on it.
Mr. Schrader was very helpful. He told me that he had called several repair shops in our area but they had heard of the vehicle & refused to work on it. I was informed that Mr Enghausen son worked for a tool company & had been going around town telling every mechanic, the tale of the little engine that couldn't.
Mr. Schrader told me that we could tow the vehicle at our expense to Jasper in Indiana.
At this point the only thing was more disabled than my husband & his vehicle was his wallet. I can't say that I trusted anyone.
So I decided to go reason with Hanson's hoping that they would fix more than my wallet. I asked Hanson's for a refund. The vice president came out & alledgely called the president & owner of the company. The vice president then laughed in my face. I left. I have not heard from Hanson's. I did have attorney write a letter to Hanson's.
Hanson's response was that they would go to court for us if we went after Jasper.
October 29
The next day I called PDR & asked John to write a statement regarding the condition of the vehicle. I told him I would be there to pick it up around 4:30. On arrival John was sitting at the computer typing. Sweat was pouring off his face & he would not look me in the eye. He then gave the statement to the cashier & bolted out the door. Gee he forgot to sign the statement.
October 30
My husband went down to PDR to have John sign the statement. John was reluctant but did sign the statement. The cashier apologized for John's rude behavior.
Later that same day we went down & told PDR we wanted to pickup the vehicle. They gave us the bill & told us they wouldn't take a check from us. We then gave them a credit card. My husband signed it & wrote paid under protest. Then we told the cashier that John should watch what he said while he was being taped.
The cashier told John & he came storming out and asked what we were talking about. I then told John I heard the tape Jasper made & that was why we were taking vehicle because he didn't want to work on it.
John called Jasper & demanded the tape. We then went to get the vehicle & of course it wouldn't stay running. I went back to the casher at PDR explained the vehicle wouldn't restart & that we would get the vehicle off there premises tommorrow even if we had to tow it.
The next day one of the mehanics at PDR helped my husband get the vehicle started & stated that he felt bad but the wiring was a mess. My husband did not make it home with the vehicle it had to be towed.
A couple days later John from PDR called & wanted my husband to hear the tape. My husband went there to hear the tape. John became irrate when he found out I was at work. My husband asked if he could make a copy of the tape. John told him to take the % % tape. So my husband did. (I still have the Tape)
February 14
My husband finally found a repair shop in the area that would work on the vehicle. We did not have it towed to Jasper because other mechanic's in the area advised that Jasper would charge us $150.00 an hour to work on our vehicle.
June 3
Vehicle still not running properly. Last word: I been told several times by several mechanics that this is not rocket science, that can't understand why Hanson's couldn't fix it. Will this be the engine that could or couldn't. Stayed tuned for updates & launch time if there is one.
I would like to say that I have documentation on this story. I would be willing to give it to the right people.
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