ComplaintsforAbel & Son's Auto Repair

• Initial Complaint

  09/15/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  I took my 2005 ************ on 06-03-22 to Abel and Sons auto repair to get a quote for repairs to an engine rear main seal replacement due to leaking oil and to check a clacking noise on my suspension, Abel's mechanic ***** conducted the inspection and told me that my engine mounts were bad and would need to be replaced along with the transmission mount as well also my rear main seal was leaking oil and my valve covers are leaking oil as well Abel then said for him to give me a price on what it would cost for the repairs for me to send him my full vin info to his cell # ************ so the next day on 06-04-22 I sent him my vin info I then waited a couple of days and called Abel's shop on 06-06-22 When I spoke to Abel he advised me that my car required dealer parts because he felt they are better quality and said the cost for repairs would be $3,000 he didn't specify @ that point if parts are included I then told him I would call him back in a couple of days. Long story short I took my car to Abel and Son on 07-21-22 and did not pick up the car till 07-29-22 when I drove the car home it wasn't the same it had loss of power and muffler sounded muffled I got home and put the scanner I have and got readings of a misfire I texted Abel of the situation and he said to take it back after a whole week at his shop my car was ready on 08-03-22 Abel advised me his mechanic ***** admitted that they had crossed wires that caused a misfire. Since my car still sounded muffled I took to ********************************* I spoke to ****** the owner advised him what transpired with prior shop he advised that the misfire did damage my catalytic converters cost for repairs $1900 I asked ********* Abel and Son's since this was an error by his mechanic named ***** they should pay for the repairs Abel then said misfires do not damage catalytic converters and he wasn't to pay for this. I don't think its fair that I have to pay out of pocket when Abel and Son's are at fault

  Business response

  10/25/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 8, 2022/10/10) */ Contact Name and Title: ************ Contact Phone: ********** Contact Email: *********************** ************** Abel and Sons Auto Repair, acknowledged that ***** did cross coil electrical wire number 2 and 4, driver side, which caused a misfire. However, in order for a misfire to damage a catalytic converter, one would need to be driving a vehicle long term (weeks of driving with the misfire). Mr. ******** stated he drove it home and back again the next morning. Which is 1.7miles one way (5 Minutes ********** ****). Also the vehicle had 186,951 miles at the time of repairs, with original catalytic converters. Also the coil banks that were crossed was on the drivers side, which if driving with a misfire for weeks on end, there is a possibility that it would damage the driver side catalytic converter, but impossible to damage all four catalytic converters. Coil bank 2, 4 and 6 which connect to the driver side catalytic converters. Coil bank 1, 3 and 5 which connect to the passenger side catalytic converters. Crossing coil 2 and 4 would cause misfire, but no way can it affect the passenger side. If the car was driven 1.7 miles, and sat overnight, and driven back to shop for another 1.7 miles, it would be impossible that the misfire would cause all four catalytic converters to be damaged. Nevertheless, I am willing to pay for the cost of 1 of the converters, although improbable that the misfire caused any damage. Consumer Response /* (3000, 10, 2022/10/11) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Per my estimate invoice from the shop it clearly states that the misfire damaged my catalytic converters not a converter alone, also when I took my car from his shop my car was already running bad it sounded like a cho cho train god knows how long ***** and his young mechanic had my car running prior to me picking up my car as it was moved from the rear of the shop to the front , the next day when I took the car back ***** asked his young mechanic if the car sounded like it did and the young kid said yes ***** then asked him why didn't you say anything the young kid just nodded don't know. The shop I took it to did a separate diagnose and confirmed also my oils pressure switch got ruined and the engine due to a misfire not only needed the catalytic converters replaced but also engine needs a possible rebuild due to possible timing chain being mis adjusted due to misfire and possible other parts ruined due to misfire, the shop that provided the estimate invoice advised they would recommend engine rebuild prior to replacing the catalytic converters because more damage had been caused to the engine aside from the catalytic converters. I have my car sitting @************ house it's not drivable I am thinking of junking the car as it will be to expensive to do a engine rebuild and fix the catalytic converters If Abel and Sons does not refund me @ least $1900 for the cost of the catalytic converters I will take him to small claims court with more evidence from other shops stating the same also ***** or his young mechanic scratched my front bumper and by texted Abel the picture and by text he said he would also fix that by taking it to a body shop, I can easily get an estimate for that also and ask for that amount as well but I'm only asking for the cost of the catalytic converters of $1900 Thank You

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