Complaint Review: Firestone Complete Auto Care (store #012378) - Sarasota Florida

The Firestone Complete Auto Care (store #012378) at 2121 Stickney Point Road in Sarasota, FL, and managed by Justin Rosa is a "CLIP JOINT"!   I had a battery light on problem on my 2003 Pontiac Montana van and brought it in for service. After the service advisor explained to me what the problem was with my vehicle, I agreed to replace the alternator, as well as the serpentine belt, belt tensioner, and harmonic balancer. I then sat in the store waiting room for approximately 5 hours while my vehicle was being serviced.

It was also recommended that I replace front and rear wiper blades, replace my tires, wheel alignment service, and brake fluid exchange, but I declined to have that work done. I subsequently received a quote of $910.57 for that recommended work on the same day.

I was charged as follows on invoice 183821 01/21/2020 in the amount of $1,215.78 for all of the work performed on my vehicle on January 21, 2020.

Upon leaving the store parking lot with my vehicle at approximately 3:00 PM on January 21, 2020, the engine light came on, so I circled the block and returned to the store. A technician attached a device to my vehicle and told me that he had reset the engine light. The engine light was no longer on when I left the store for the second time that day.

On the morning of January 27, 2020 I returned to the store with the problem of excessive noise coming from the serpentine belt, and that the coolant temperature gage was showing a constant 40 centigrade, which was not normal. I waited for approximately 5 hours again while my vehicle was being serviced for the serpentine belt noise and the gage problem, and then was offered a free rental car for the day, while my vehicle was still being worked on.

It was recommended to me that I replace the power steering pump, as it could be contributing to the noise, but I declined to have that work done. I subsequently received a quote of $358.58 on the following day.

I returned to the store on the morning of January 28, 2020 to pick up my vehicle.  The belt noise had subsided, and the temperature gage was functioning properly, and I received no charges for any work performed on the vehicle.

The serpentine belt noise eventually returned, then subsided somewhat each time the engine warmed up.  While driving back home on February 13, 2020, the engine light came on in Marietta, GA, and stayed on for the next 1,000 miles, for the 2 days that was travelled to return to my home in Oakville, ON, Canada.

On February 21, 2020, I took the vehicle to a Canadian Tire store in Oakville, ON to have the engine light and belt noise problem resolved. I was informed by the Canadian Tire service advisor that the 6PK2225 serpentine belt was not the correct size for a 2003 Montana that does not have rear AC. I agreed to replace the serpentine belt, and approximately 1 hour later when I arrived to pick up my vehicle, the 6PK2225 serpentine belt that was installed by Firestone Complete Auto Care store in Sarasota, FL had been removed, and replaced with a #114-0788 Continental serpentine belt that fits a 2003 Montana, that does not have rear AC. I currently have the 6PK2225 serpentine belt in my possession, should Firestone Complete Auto Care wish to have it returned.

The charge that I received from Canadian Tire on invoice 20042900118519 on February 21, 2020 was $276.84 CAD.

Since visiting Canadian Tire, the serpentine belt noise has been completely eliminated, and also the engine light is no longer on. Under the circumstances, the approximately 10 hours spent in the Firestone Complete Auto Care store waiting room, the constant noise endured for 3 weeks until the engine warmed up each time the vehicle was used, and the $276.84 CAD that was spent to correct what the Firestone Complete Auto Care store had done to the vehicle, a reimbursement was requested in the amount of $276.84 CAD or equivalent $209.35 USD (1.3224 as at February 21, 2020, Bank of Canada).

Copies of invoices from Firestone Complete Auto Care store 012378, and Canadian Tire Associate Store #0429 were mailed in a claim to Bridgestone Firestone, Nashville, TN 37201 on March 12, 2020, and an on-line claim was filed subsequently, with both being completely ignored by Bridgestone Firestone.