I came here this morning of Aug 9, 2016/ Tuesday, due to the following reasons :
1. There is the sound coming from under my feet/ under left side under my car.
2. The car died on me twice while driving ( when traffic light was on red, scary !). ( Before I brought my car today, I went to the same place, Pep boys, 2 days ago in the afternoon, since it was busy they told me to comeback in the morning ( it was Jonathan, he is very nice guy), the reason of the visit was the sound, metal popping sound when I turn the car).
Today Aug 9/ Tuesday I came in at ...I believe before 9AM or exactly 9. The person there ( maybe he is the manager , Luis,I will not release his last name , because I do not have bad intention to release him publicly)
He asked me why I came here for? (the car problems) I said , there is a sound under my feet a metal sound that is popping when I turn and when driving and its off and on , 2nd is the car died on me 2 times.... he wrote it down on the paper and he asked me more question like ... does it have a light coming out ( from the dashboard?) I said yes... ( but I am worried about the car dying and the sound. MY Priority) That is why I went to pep boys.
He let me sign, it say's $89.99 ( diagnostic) .I signed because I wanted them to see what is going on with my car and I want it fixed today if they can.
So I was here before 9am or 9, I waited until past 11AM, since I was hungry , I left just to grab something to eat. After maybe an hour or less, they called me back. They told me they found the problem, so I said I'll walk back, I am just few blocks away.
Then they showed me the paper what they need to do with my car. It will cost me like almost $500 ( diagnostic charge was added there, but on the website and from their corporate , says it will be waved when you have your car fixed there). So it sounded like the manager gave me a discount ( but I told him . I know that diagnostic charge will be deducted ,IF Pep Boys will fix my car.
So they told me if the things will be fixed the "Check Engine Light" will be GONE! I said , oh, how's the problem why the car is dying and how's the sound under my car? ( The main reason why I came for). The guys who looked at the car said , the things they will fix today HAS NOTHING TO DO with the metal sound under and why my car dying....And .....
They told me , they need to do another diagnostic to see the problem ( I said, that is the problem I wanted to be checked since I came here as early ... AND new diagnostic will cost ANOTHER $89.99 .
They told me they did not hear any sound under the car and car did not die , So I tried to ask the guy ( he is nice , named Jonathan, trying to explain things)
I asked the guy if that quote they gave me has something to do with the problems why I came here for?. Since the two guys told me , it has "NOTHING" to do with the problems I came in for, It's a total separate things and not related to the main reason and problems of the car. So Jonathan told me to wait for Luis ( he is on break, I'll wait until 1;20pm?)
They told me , I need to pay another $89.99 for another diagnostic? Are they really serious?
I don't mind paying the diagnostic fee, that is why I signed for the fee. BUT my concern is the "sound under my car and the problem that the car died on me on the road " while i am on red light.
The light "Check Engine" comes and go ( I know I have to fix it , but I will have it done next visit) The light , check engine is not my priority today.
I tried to ask the guy if they can fix something else related to the problem of the car instead of the 'Check Engine Light?" ( just a nice gesture to show them that I did not want to waste their time and effort)
Their answer is , They need to do a new diagnostic ( back to square one and CHARGE again!)
I called the corporate and wanted to know if that's how it works? ( I meant the system, when they cannot find a problem, look for another problem?)
I spoke to an agent named "NICK" , he sounds nice when we were talking over the phone , And i explained what happened , and I gave him the phone number and address of the branch where I went ...I was put on hold for a moment ( he was on the other line with the manager at the store where I went)
Then he came back to me ( over the phone) ,but the agent sounds loud now , jerk and arrogant , He told me, that I gave the guys ( at Pep Boys) a go signal to have my car checked ( for $89.99), I said yes.. for checking the metal popping sound under the car and now , why they are trying to fix a different issue... NOT the metal sound under ( did they lift the car to see?) they said they drove it, and I believed them that they drove it... Actually we did drove the car ( before I go home), but the sound is not making any noise ( at the time) .
In short ..It was a waste of my time ( Btw I acknowledged the hard work of the mechanic , pls don't get me wrong) But this is not what we were agreed on , NOT the "Check Engine Light" . It is disappointing .... especially the person at the corporate "NICK ". So unprofessional ! Btw he dropped the call after he was acting up like a J*RK.
Well, I cannot get my car key without paying the diagnostic , I know in my heart I am telling the truth, The manager knows it.... He gave me $30 discount ( and i thanked him) , but my point is why this company wants to make money like this?
This is a total rip off. My last visit to Pep boys (West Pico Branch), I paid $1,200 ( it is ok because I know they did something to my car, change all tires and other things... But seriously, today Pep BOYS " Van Nuys corner Tobias in Panorama City" Ripped me off!. BAD BAD BAD BOYS!
I will never comeback here again, By the way ,a great mechanic told me that the sound coming from my car is the bearings, changed and grease and I need to change my break pads..... The new ( great and smart and not samming mecahnic)said , it is easy to know the problem ( if they drove the car and checked under) . Pep Boys wanted to make too much money and taking advantage of people.