DO NOT GO TO VALLEY SERVICE CENTER IN OVERTON, NV!
I have recently experienced horrific service at Valley Service Center! I purchased a Subaru Forester a couple weeks ago which had a fully functioning, and cold air conditioner. Of course with it being so hot out in the desert our goal is always to get an a/c what we would consider "crisp." Especially when I have two young kids who get hot here in the summer and want the a/c as cold as possible. I was told that if I get a can of freon and top off the system it may get that little bit cooler. I went to the auto parts store and purchased a can. When he asked me if I had a hose to fill it I realized I was in over my head. He recommended I run across the street and get it topped off by Valley Service Center. When I pulled up Dale (the mechanic) was actually opening a new condenser kit for another car. He attached the hoses and guages to my car and told me the freon "was just a little low." He said at some point it may be good to put a dye in the tank to see where a leak might be but because the system was working great and I just wanted it topped off he proceeded to do so. Admittedly (in recorded phone calls I have with him and a master tech that called to speak to him about the issue after it occurred) when he went to top off the freon my car was filled FAR too high with freon. I became worried when he repeatedly starting saying, "shit, shit, shit" and trying to release it out. At that point even I knew he was having issues and began taking pictures and videos of the guages. He was very nervous and showed me on a paper what the levels should be and said they were over 100 too high. I asked if I should shut my car off and if it would help him release the excess and he said no, but kept messing with the guages and revving my engine that was obviously working very hard and waxing and waining since it was overfilled. He took the guages off and sent me on my way, stating that I should start saving up for a new condenser as I may need one after about two years or so, citing cost as well. I left, knowing I would never return as his nervousness made me nervous (as shown by the fact that I videoed and took pictures as he was working.
I began driving home which was only a couple miles away and my air conditioner was blowing HOT air. Not understanding what could have happened I phoned a friend who is a mechanic (I had already sent him pics of guages). He asked me if Dale had emptied the excess freon to the point of normal and I told him he had not. At that point my engine began waning just as it had when Dale was messing with my car. I drove just a couple miles to a shop in town that I know and trust and as I put my car in part smoke began bellowing out from under the hood. I opened the hood and ran for help as my car was burning!!!! The condensor had gotten SO INCREDIBLY HOT from being (knowingly) left overfull that the plastic over the top was melting to the part. Because Dale was too lazy or laxidasical to empty the excess then refill my car burned and so far I have had to pay $550 in parts, have been without my car for a week waiting for parts, and will have around $600 in labor on my car!!!
My mechanic friend spoke with Dale a couple times over the phone (RECORDED) and Dale admitted that he should not have touched it, that it was his fault, and that the car FAR overfilled with freon. He also told me he had told the owners and they assumed no responsibility for it. When I later called and spoke to the manager (Josh, also recorded) he acted as though he had never even heard of the incident and told me he would talk to the owners. Not hearing anything, I called back two days later for an update. Josh then told me to call back Thursday when the owner would be back from California. Low and behold, Josh is now out of town until some un-disclosed date....
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS POOR SERVICE AND WILL BE SERVING VALLEY SERVICE CENTER FOR THESE CHARGES. I WILL ALSO BE POSTING THIS LITERALLY EVERYWHERE UNTIL THIS MATTER IS TAKEN CARE OF. I didn't get to choose if this was an inconvenient time to not have a car, pay over a thousand dollars, etc, and they don't get to either.
Business: Valley Service Center
140 S. Moapa Valley Blvd.
Overton, NV 89040
(702) 397-8944
Let's see how long it takes for them to loose enough business to pay me what is rightfully owed for what they destroyed on my car!!!! read more