Complaint Review: Valley Auto Doctor - Kent Washington

This all started out as a tune up to get my car running properly. I took my car in to Valley Auto Doctor in Kent Washington to have a tune up done and to have it inspected for other problems that could be causing my car to run rough. There mechanic "Bill" called me back a few days later to tell me that we had some problems and we needed to talk. Well I made it down there that day and he pointed out that I needed new gaskets, new hoses, the carb needed to be rebuilt, and the heads needed to be resurfaced. Well my car is a 77 firebird and I intend to keep it for a long time so I had the work done to the tune of $991.57.

Well I don't dive that car much because I ride the bus to work in Seattle. About a month later after coming home from dinner I heard my engine making noises after I shut it off. I am not a mechanic, so I called the shop first thing in the morning to say I was having a problem with my car. I was told to bring it in and they would have a look at it. Well I brought my car into to Valley Auto Doctor again and this time I was told I had a cracked block and that engine was no good and that I needed a new engine. I asked why wasn't this discoved when my car was in the shop a month ago and was told it must of been over looked or something and if I wanted to put a different engine in the car they would work with me on the bill and make it right.

I was told that they would help me find a engine and put it in. A month went by and there was no engine found and no other work had been done on my car. I aquired a good used engine about a week later and broght it down to the shop. I was told he would start working on it as soon as he got back from vacation. Well 3 weeks later he finaly got around to working on my car. I recieved a call about a week later telling me my car was done. When I showed up to pick up my car, I was given another bill for another $814.49 after some complaining we settled that bill for $700.00 and I drove my car home. Well a week later after driving my car to the store and back, I noticed that radiator fluid was leaking on the ground and my car was steaming. After letting my car cool, I checked the hoses and discoved that the hose that was on there was not new but a used one that had cracks in it.

I called the shop and told them about it and they said they would put a new one on the car for another $65.00. I ended up going to the part store and buying a hose for $11.00 and puting it on my self. After installing the new hose and starting my car the fluid was still leaking, I decovered that my water pump had been damaged from lack of fluid running thru it. Need less to say I drop the car back off at the shop this morning and called them when I got to work. I was told that they would look into it and get back with me.

Dear Rip-Off report, I feel I am being ripped off here and need some help. I have a feeling that when I get a call back that I will have another bill due on top of the $1700.00 I have all ready spent at this shop. This problem all began because my car was misdiagnosed with a cracked block. Can you please help.