HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE - DRIVER BEWARE.
I own a 2002 Audi A6 Quattro - 161k miles on it.
Sunday 4th of January as I was coming to a stoplight in Bloomington all of a sudden my car started running really bad, it felt like it was shaking under the hood, the engine light was flashing and something smelled like burning. So, I took it to South Imports in Bloomington, from a recommendation.
I walked in on Monday the 5th of January and told them my car’s symptom. My car started shaking + the engine light flashing, car smelled like burning. I think it's the coil, can you check that for me please and replace the coils if it is?
Then two days later said they didn't know what was wrong with it. Said they wanted to do a $380 diagnostic (me, figuring I had no other choice, said ok), then I didn't hear from them. Then they said they'd do a compression test (I didn't ask how much that would be, but should have). The next day. They said the compression checked out good. Still said they didn't know what was wrong with it. Then next 3 days (Thurs-Fri-Sat) I had work, so not sure if they tried to call but I was not available to call them. I talked to them like on Thurs or Fri and say, oh... "We see there is a burned up coil and we will test something just for fun." After $200+ in rental cars I really don't know what they mean by just for fun. Especially upset after I came in there with a burned up coil and I thought that was the problem *based on Google searches and the codes*.
So they told me my timing was off… I had the timing belt replaced a few months ago. They replaced the coil, but I asked why they didn't check the coil first like I had asked them instead go into $610 in diagnostics and tell me I need to buy a new car because mine isn't worth anything and will cost more to fix it than what it's worth.
I told them this didn't seem ethical to do all these tests without telling me upfront what they were doing and what the cost were and then taking this much time and every time I talked to them they seemed to not know what was going on. Told them I was considering contacting the Attorney General of MN about it and the owner was saying I don't care if you call the president of the US. Went to pay them and get my car and asked about the diagnostic and what it found. They said, “there’s tons wrong with your car, more than just the timing belt and the coil.” They showed me the burnt coil. They gave me a one page invoice that just said compression good, valves good. What about a full diagnostic report for the $610 less the $30 coil? So, I said, okay, then what will that cost to fix the timing? and why wasn't I able to have this choice to have it fixed as I had a rental car for a week and they had the "valve gasket covers off"? They said... "Oh so much money, thousands." I said I would like an estimate - they said $800 something (using the current parts). ... I asked what the numbers on the cylinders were they wouldn't even tell me said acceptable Audi standards... I called three other mechanics and then went to Nur Technik in Burnsville where a friendly owner ran the codes and looked at it and said if I wanted they could adjust timing $570 and use my parts.... Said I can drive it like that but I rather wouldn't and he said wouldn't suggest driving thousands more with it like that.... Anyway it's done, I just feel like they were rude and not upfront with me.
I then called around, I even called a local Audi Dealership to get a quote on a diagnostic, mind you it was SIGNIFICANTLY less than what South Imports charged me. Plus they told me they look to find what’s wrong with it, the cheapest thing first. The Audi dealership quoted me: Coil: $130, diagnostic $130, compression test (which they usually wouldn’t do) $130. = $390.
I just wanted my car to be fixed so I could continue driving it.
I was without a car for nearly week when I brought mine into South Imports.
Another thing that I find really odd, under "parts" on the invoice from South Imports it says $40 - Identifix - TECH LINE ASSISTANCE: Next to parts it says "identifix" gee guess that's the "just for fun" part? "In 1987, Identifix started out as an auto repair hotline offering live technical assistance to professional shop owners and technicians seeking a trusted second opinion and additional expertise on various vehicle issues. More than 4 million calls later, our Repair Hotline is still providing personal service to customers across North America with over 45 OE factory-trained, ASE Master, L1 Carline Specialists. These hotline interactions have enabled us to compile an exclusive database of short-cut tests and confirmed fixes which have been documented and made available in our award-winning online tool."
After $610 I found out my compression was good. My timing belt off and “lots of other stuff wrong” with my car, oh and guess what, they gave me a new $30 coil.
Here’s my invoice from South Imports: http://oi59.tinypic.com/2h7fkfc.jpg
Anyway it's done, I just feel like they were rude and not upfront
with me.
Driver beware!
