Let me start off by saying it pains me to do this. I have a soft spot for small, family owned…read morebusinesses, as they tend to be the best. However, what happened to me with Performance Auto was flagrantly unacceptable. They did a shabby job on my timing belt replacement, by installing out of time to begin with. Also, they did not include the slinger plate, which allowed it to become even more out of time and caused damage to the cam seals and the belt itself by the belt rubbing on surrounding structures, with the belt being so loose without the slinger plate. However, I only find this out after spending over $100 to have another shop in Colo Springs, where I live, diagnose why the vehicle runs poorly and has an intermittent check engine light. And, the estimate is over $400 to redo the whole belt replacement, as well as replace the aforementioned damaged parts.
All of this was okay, in and of itself, as I understand mistakes are made and things happen. However, no attempts were made by Jessie, the owner, to reimburse this unnecessary expense to me which I should not have been responsible for. With the timing belt in that state, serious engine damage was imminent, something known to all mechanics, including the variety of personal and professional ones I asked regarding driving it to Denver. Having told Jessie all of this, he first simply refused to help me in the expense of having the belt reinstalled properly in the Springs.
Again, this was okay, I can understand if they want to see it. Then, Jessie refused to pick up the expense of having it towed to them from the Springs. And finally, refused to be responsible for any possible engine damage incurred in driving it to them since I had to somehow get it to them for them to make it right, and since I was presented no other options. I don't have a magic carpet on which to float it there. Even when I explained that I was extremely uncomfortable driving the vehicle so far, that it's as much a matter of my own safety as ruining the engine, driving such an unsafe vehicle down the interstate with an engine which might seize up and cause me to lose control...I was still stonewalled.
So which is it? You have to do something, something has to give. I was willing to provide various proof of the findings of the other shop, including pictures, to prove my statements of the timing belt. I would have been happy with being reimbursed for towing. But no, I'm supposed to eat all of the related expenses which are not my fault, including hundreds of dollars to have it towed so far, defeating the purpose of even taking it there. Or seriously risk a disaster, totaling the engine at least. How this all was handled isn't how it works. It was plain flat simply wrong. You stand behind your work completely, not partially or only as is convenient to you. You mess something up, you help make it right every step of the way.
The staff I spoke to were nonchalant, coolly carefree and unapologetic in any conversations with them. They would not even call Jessie to address the problem and help me in my dilemma until the weekend had passed, while I was without a safe vehicle to drive. While I hold no grudge against them, I do believe this place has no business even being in business, and I am relating events as they actually occurred, without exaggeration. Please, don't get me wrong. You may have a good experience with them. Or you may not. Just be very, very careful. And you can take that to heart