Pep boys a rip off?

[Kalian]

Hey folks, just want to relate a bad experience I had with pep boys. I'll try to condense as much as posible, and keep it short. If anybody has comments or simialar experiences, please post.<br /><br /> My nissan quest mini-van stalled 80 miles from home and was towed to pepboys in my hometown. They have a program where the towing is free if they fix the problem.<br /> There was engine turnover but it wouldn't catch. They checked the alternator, said it was good. Next they checked the fuel pump and said the pump was not working and needed to be replaced. After it was replaced they said the car still wouldn't start and were going to check the timing belt. I asked for the old pump, (replacing it cost $400.00+). The service manager was obviously taken by surprise but reluctantly gave it to me. I took it home and tested it and it worked fine. I believe the psi is suposed to be around 35, I had no way to check that, but it had some presure, enough to squirt a stream of water about 2 inches high. My brother put his finger over the stream and it had enough pressure to spray both him and me with water.<br /> I called the service manager and told him the above and he said bring it back and we'll put it back in. <br /><br /> I decided to call the area manager and told him the same thing, telling him I want the fuel pump instalation closely supervised to ensure someone dosn't screw it up for "covering of a$$" purposes.<br />He said "don't return the old pump, thats not necessary. I'll take care of it. You won't be charged."<br /> Now, I probably cost somebody there job, and I feel sorry for that, but $400.00 is a lot of money to throw away here in Chico, Ca. Better him lose his job than people getting fleeced on a regular basis.<br />Any simialar stories?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

happens all the time in the marine side of it. you wont believe some of the horror stories I see daily. I work with "technicians" on a daily basis that have no service manuals and are terrified of test equipment. so they plug parts at it and hope for the best. you just would not belive the stuff, I saw a tech put 3 TPS sensors on an EFI motor, the original one and all three replacements were fine, the problem was a bad connection in the orange wire TPS 5V reference wireing. I watched a VST pump get replaced due to a defective power resistor, the list goes on and on and on. I try to help some of the new guys out by keeping an eye on what they are doing and trying to assist without everyone knowing. helps them and me cause once they get lost I get called in and have to figgure out the original problem and find all the tecnician induced ones.another is testing and troubleshooting of the yamaha precision blend, its amazing how many techs cant do it and spend a lot of time guessing.<br /> one of the funniest was a tech that swapped a CDI due to no oil transer when he jumped the wiring with the key on. after I watched a bit I explained that that particular motor wont transfer unless the engine is actually running. same as replacing the oil control module only to find the problem was a bad trim sender. and thats just on the yamaha side of the house

 

[springhead]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

Pep boys suck for repair work, this summer i had them replace my front tires, didnt look at them until i got home, come to find out, they broke 2 lugs off of the passenger side wheel. i called and asked them to fix it and they sad the next day, which was a Sunday, waited 3 hours for them to fix them and waisted my weekend for two front tires, no boating or fishing.I asked the service manager what if i had hub caps on my truck, i wouldnt even know they were broken and you guys would let a truck i haul a 3000 lb boat with drive with 3 lugs holding on the front tire.<br />dont even ask me what i think of pepboys.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

I think repair shop chains have a lot of turnover in the shop (correct me if I'm wrong, somebody)...so you never know what kind of quality work you'll get. I think they become accustomed to fixing mistakes, which implies that their profit margins are high enough to make up for 'em.<br /><br />Ask all your friends...somebody might have an independent mechanic you can trust...I have one in my town if anybody needs a referral just ask.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

jtexas<br /> they do<br /> I am at the other end of the spectrum.<br /> I live on property purchased in 1885 in a house my grandfather built with his own 2 hands in 55 and have been for almost 20 years, most folks not only have my phone number,hence no ansewring machine , but they know where I live, its not uncommon to have someone open my door and holler for me at 5:30 in the morning. I would lock it but I aint sure where the key is. I do mostly contract work with marina's now and they dont mind if I bill a part, they know they get paid whether I am right or wrong. tends to make one a bit careful about testing. with some of the ECM's and drivers over 1000 dollars and CDI over 1200 and stators and triggers above the 500 mark ya tend to be careful cause I have no desire to own it.<br /> to many mega mall types just have half arsed parts changers that have no troubleshooting skills much less an understanding of how each subsystem works with the next. its sad but I see it daily.

 

[Kalian]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

Just thought I'd post a follow-up. <br /> I got the van back today, started it up and it ran really rough, like it was missing. The car was shaking pretty good at idle. Once I started getting up to speed it ran smooth, but it has absolutly NO power. It takes forever to get to 25mph.<br /> I'm going to take it to the dealer and have them do a tune-up. I'm done with pepboys. Forever.<br /> Oh, forgot to mention. When I opened the hood the distibuter cap cover was sitting inside. Great job pepboys.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

I learned long time ago not to let them work on my cars. I got back into the grease and do it myself. At least I know what I mess up and what I need to do to fix it.<br /><br />I have got good deals off parts/accessories from their screw ups. Marine engine I bought, it took 4 times of ordering it, 4 months, and 15% off 4 times. Final cost was $1050 for a crate engine. Needless to say, they said they won't order anymore marine engines.<br /><br />Ordered a bugdeflector for my van. They ordered it and came in as window vents which I already have. They was going to refund me cash, but it was the company credit card that bought it. So I couldn't accept cash. The manager said he would order the right thing and charge me the same price of the window vents.<br /> <br />Window vents $39.99,,,,<br />Bugdeflector $115.99<br /><br />What a bargin,,,,I love America!

 

[Kalian]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

Lol, good for you SS Mayfloat! I hope my local dealer will do a good job on the tune up. I don't have the equipment or the knowledge to do the timing stuff myself or I'd do it.

 

[Kalian]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

It gets worse.<br />I took the van to the dealer, told them what happened with pepboys and asked them to take a test drive. The tech said it definitly seems like the idle and timing need to be adjusted. When we got back to the shop he put it up on the rack. He pointed out to me one of the pulleys (he called it a harmonic ballancer) was all busted up. He said judging by all the shiny metal, it was damaged recently. Since the pulley would have had to be removed to get the timing belt, it was most likely pepboys did the damage. <br /> They adjusted the timing and idle, and said the timing had been retarded, and that it was most likely done after the timing belt was replaced. I called pepboys and they said they would pay for it.<br />So, $90.00 for the timing adjustment, $295.00 to replace the harmonic ballancer, $400.00+ for replacing a good fuel pump = $785.00 loss for the pepboys, + whatever the 80 mile towing was. I asked the tow truck driver and he said $465.00 for the tow. I doubt pepboys is paying that much, they probably have a discounted contract. But thats still a large sum of money to throw away isn't it?<br /> I'm buying a bunch of tools and a manual.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Pep boys a rip off?

Nissan Quest.... bring it to a Ford garage. It is a Ford Windstar rebadged as a Nissan. It is almost sad but the same parts purchased from Ford are cheaper than "Nissan OEM" parts.<br /><br />I believe the crossover stopped in 2003 or 04 but the older ones are absolute Ford.... look under the hood I know Ford is stamped on sone of the sheet metal parts.