If you are a single woman... DO NOT use Cottmans Transmissions in Tempe Arizona... Until this corporation changes their practice of tearing down a tranny just to inspect it, when they have all the best diagnostic equipment ever made, NO ONE should use this company!
I drove in with a tranny flush coupon, because a mechanic friend told me that's all I really needed, and Cottmann's coupon price was affordable, plus one of their shops was right around the corner from work. So, I left my car with them for the morning to do their 'free diagnostic' prior to the tranny flush.
I was called 2 hours later at work and told that my car's computer was not interfacing with their diagnostic equipment, that they couldn't get any codes out... (later this story was denied, and I was told the codes were fine, which begs the question why then did they have to tear down my tranny?).
I was told they needed to tear my tranny down to tell me what I really needed done, that it looked more 'serious' than just a tranny flush. There was a $325 charge to tear it down and inspect, but that money would be applied to any repair I needed. Their quote I was given at that time, if I needed it, for a soft rebuild was $995, which was matched to the quote I had been given earlier that week from Thrifty Trans in Chandler, which I had told them about the day I brought the car in.
I authorized the inspection, not realizing I just gave this man all the power he needed to rape me!
When he called back it was Monday. He said my tranny was shot, and so was my torque converter, and two tranny mounts... For a grand total of $2200!!! I about died... I argued and cried. He remained firm.
I asked him to give me a couple of hours to think it over, and when I called back, I wanted him to put my car back together, but he told me he wouldn't be able to do that until Tuesday or Wednesday! I couldn't be without my car that long! They had no loaner vehicles, and so I asked for some time to think again.
When I called back, still uncertain, David was rude and short with me... Telling me he had to make room for other customers' cars! Under this pressure and needing my car back, I agreed to let them do the repair.
I went through a living hell that week trying to come up with the funds to get my car back, and David did discounted their price to $1845 for me. On Friday I payed the man in cash. I asked to see my parts, but he said he disposed of them already.
As I started my car, which I found in their lot unlocked, it made all sorts of unusual noises and rumbling movements. I pulled out to leave the lot, and as I tried to apply the brakes... They weren't there! My car nearly hit an oncoming car, but they stopped for me to go, so I went ahead into the street. A loud grinding noise under the right front of the car developed, as I continued to drive.
Instead of turning around and taking my car back immediately, I drove to the nearest gas station as my car was completely out of gas, and filled up, then I called David and spent 15 minutes arguing with him about whether my brakes were out or not. He said I needed brakes when I came in, but I absolutely did not, and I had a reciept from Gruelichs to prove it in my purse!
I finally shouted at him to not close the shop, that I was on my way back, and he was going to check my car out! They were waiting for me, and right away took my car back to the rack. David again treated me horribly. He actually said to me, "If your brakes are out, we have a brake shop right next door - they handle brakes, we don't!" So, I accused him of setting me up for a brake job too!
About that time his mechanic came out and asked him to come back, and they were gone for about 10 minutes. I went outside to make a phone call, and they closed the shop on me, then drove my car out, and all of them left.
I was in tears and still on the phone when I restarted my car. My brakes were majically fixed! Two weeks later, it still starts rough and shifts rough, but the brakes work fine! I still have concerns about the workmanship on the repair... If it is good or shoddy, like their customer service!
I am now convinced this company ripped me off from the get-go! I took the car back to my mechanic friend and he said they did a tranny rebuild I never needed, and that is why they wouldn't show me any of the parts.
Not only this, but I just learned that David, the manager there, he and his father have a reputation in the tranny business for this sort of rip-off -and that comes directly from one of their former boss's!
Dawn
gilbert, Arizona
U.S.A.
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