ComplaintsforA. F. S. Automotive Ltd

• Initial Complaint

  23/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  August 12/23 Paid $1580.71 Vehicle was at shop July18/23 to August 12/23(For 6 hours worth of work) Committed to: Replace fuel system parts that I supplied for the job.Fix a sticky steering wheel.Check/change all fluids.Replace a valve cover plug.Condition break drums if needed (surface rust?)Check rear differential; modified for the truck and installed but never ran on. These details as per a hand written note I left in the truck when it was dropped off at *** on July 18/23.Nature of dispute:Mechanic reconfigured fuel system parts, inconveniently blocking access to other essential parts. Truck was not tuned properly, vacuum advance not hooked up to anything.Engine block covered in extremely dirty oil. I asked to replace not reconfigure.I asked that all of my old parts to be returned to me. I received only some of my old parts back, one of those parts (propane vaporizer) had been opened and gutted of its inner components, it is also missing a brass breather plug; rendering my property damaged. Aluminum elbow fitting, inner components, breather plug for vaporizer, and battery completely missing.Changed oil, topped up transmission fluid; but did not change power steering fluid or break fluid as requested. I payed to have rubbing fixed between the rear backing plate and drum, the problem persists and was not fixed. On the day I was told it was ready I picked up a truck that should have failed a simple road test. I was expected to drive a truck with no working break lights, turn signals, or horn, no one was around that could answer my questions about the fuel system, my lack of lights, the oil all over my engine and that Id have to come back and ask the guy who did the work.*** tried to correspond with the owner but cant speak with them directly.Ive been stonewalled ever since. Im left with a truck that I now have to take to another shop to fix what *** has done or hasnt, and Im left with both bills.Other damages incurred pictures included

  Business response

  08/09/2023

  Hi ********,

  This vehicle initially came in for a no-start diagnosis, came on a tow truck and some more parts replacement for which the parts were provided by the customer and to be replaced by ************ here at *** Automotive but the request to return all the old parts was made later when the repairs were ongoing.

  There was no set time for the repairs to finish. Just to diagnose; why the vehicle is not starting took us a long time. Out of all the time we spent on it, we choose to charge the customer way less than what we ended up spending on it as we always want to be fair with our customers and usually, we end up covering the diagnostic time. If we were to charge the customer for all the time, we ended up putting on the vehicle, the invoice would have been more than double of what it is right now.

  Coming to the issue of blocking the access to other components of the vehicle, converting any vehicle to propane is an aftermarket-add on thing and no vehicle manufacturer leaves space for these add-ons. It is at vehicle owners discretion that they want to add these modifications and want to run their vehicle on propane. It is inevitable to keep every component clear of the propane system parts. Another thing to add here is that its not everyday that the vehicle components need repair every day and the propane parts are easily removeable to reach anything that needs repair.

  The vacuum not being attached to anything has to do with the fact that they system is not ported vacuum. We can hook it up, but it would not make any difference. For anything to happen, she needs a totally different setup.
  We were never asked to clean the engine block of any oil and nor was she charged for it. We were asked to check the fluid levels and those that were low, we filled them up, but we never charged her for any fluids we did not change. When it comes to missing the breather plug, ************ does not recall having that kind of part in his possession at any time. Everything we took off the truck, we put it back in the vehicle. We do not have any use of old parts anyways and there is no point of us keeping anything. ************ claims he put all the old parts back and we stand by that claim. We have been in this industry for more than 30 years with a great reputation to look after. Keeping old parts is not something we want to do. We did however, offered her to buy the parts for her(new) that she claims shes missing. But this offer was refused as she wants us to buy all the parts for her and refund her the whole amount.

  The rear braking drum issue, all the components installed are aftermarket parts and were installed by the customer. We were just asked to check the noise and we charged her $125.00 for that fix and if the issue is not resolved we can either have another look at it and fix it or we can refund the customer $125.00 for the rear braking drum issue. We did mention in the invoice that the lights are not working and since the overall condition of the truck is not road worthy anyways and it came in on a tow truck, we expected the customer to not drive it. When we reached out and told that the vehicle is ready, we meant that the repairs that the customer asked us to perform are done. Customer never asked us to perform any light repairs and we never charged for that either.

  We want to be fair to all our customers and we take pride in providing propane services here in ** where not a lot of shops offer these services. I hope you can find a conclusion to this issue soon.

  Kind regards,

  Rahul

  Customer response

  11/09/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  There are a lot of false statements in this recant; I will retort to them in chronological order as I read each paragraph of this message;

  
  
  Paragraph 1
  The vehicle was not a no-start diagnosis, while the vehicle hadnt been driven in a few years, the truck started and ran just fine before *** did any work. It showed up on a tow truck because if had no coolant in the system, the reason it was empty was because the coolant runs through the fuel system.
  If the fuel system was to be replaced the coolant would have needed to be drained just adding more time to the replacement so it was towed instead. 
  What does it matter when I asked for MY parts back, they are my property you can assume they are mine until you ask me if I dont want them, correct? 
  
  
  Paragraph 2
  There was no diagnosis needed because the truck started and ran prior, the trucks new components were installed and the truck was running in the first 3 hrs of work as per *** mechanic.
   It had a dead battery and no coolant.
  
  
  Paragraph 3
  This was not a propane conversion job, it had already been converted. There was no modifications to be done. I requested specifically that the fuel system be replaced with the components I provided. Instead the fuel system was completely reconfigured from its original location and mounted in a location which prevents me from doing routine maintenance to my engine. The propane system was already in a location that was free from all other components, I have pictures of its original configuration to prove it. I supplied everything needed to replace the fuel system as it was; hoses, fittings, clamps, coolant etc. The vapour hose I supplied to locate the fuel system in its original spot was not used, a ***** plumbing fitting was used in its place instead.
  
  
  Paragraph 4
  This is now the 3rd excuse Ive heard from *** regarding why my vacuum advance was not installed. First it was because it doesnt have a port at all, but after pointing at 4 available ports to use (that *** had plugged) the answer changed. Then it was because it was pulling too much timing and the mechanic couldnt get it running properly so he left it off because, and I quote its just for mileage anyways. Now its you can hook it up but nothing will happen. Again, this truck ran just fine before it went to ***, the vacuum advance was hooked up and the ignition was tuned with the old components so Im not understanding what *** means by I need a totally different setup. The oil in question was not there before *** started work. When asked were the oil came from no answer could be given. There is still no explanation; why would I be charged for *** to clean up a mess that they made on my engine? The mechanic did not put all my parts back in the truck as I asked. I received my old parts half gutted and missing pieces that dont come in a rebuild kit. I am also missing a very specific fitting that is needed to move the system back to where it was in the first place. *** advertises selling used systems on their ******** page so they are definitely in the business of profiting off of used parts that are left behind. I have not been offered anything from *** to compensate my loss, and have not asked for them to refund me the whole amount, this is false. What I asked for was; to have my missing parts replaced; and to cover the cost of moving the fuel system components back to their original position; in Leu of not knowing how much it will truly cost me to fix this mess at this time, I thought it fair to ask for a refund on the labour portion of my bill+tax with ***. I should not be financially burdened because my components were reconfigured instead of replaced like I had requested. I have never refused anything from *** because they have never offered me anything. In fact when I came to them personally with these problems I was told in person by their office guy to give them some time to make it right, but that must have been some lip service to get me out of their shop because by the Monday that had changed to there is nothing we can do for you and any attempt at contact from that point on has been ignored or met with silence. 
  
  
  Paragraph 5
  None of the rear brake components are aftermarket, everything is stock. Its a new rear differential and had not been driven but nothing is aftermarket. After being informed there was a rubbing noise in the rear drum, consent was given to fix the issue. I was charged and it was not fixed. I told *** I was driving it home and to make the truck road worthy, they were fully aware I intended to drive this truck away when I picked it up. I was never told about the lights not working before I was told it was ready for pick it up.
  
  
  I am fully capable of doing the mechanical work on my own vehicle, however because its a propane fuel system that component needs to be worked on by someone with a TSBC certification. The only reason I brought my truck to *** was to have my components replaced and tuned by specialists. I asked them to replace system parts and ************ and running; check and change all fluids; inspect the rear end as it hasnt been driven on yet. Get it road worthy, and keep me in the loop with any developments. I was charged $1500 and the only things that were done like asked were an oil change and top up of transmission fluid. The truck sat at their shop for 26 days for 6 hours worth of work, no more, no less.  My fuel system was reconfigured to a completely unsatisfactory position. My parts had been pulled apart and pilfered. New body work ruined because a careless mechanic stepped on my 42 year old step side and broke the bolts out, drivers side carpet covered in mud because no one thought to put down a mat to protect it?  (again carelessness, we havent even talked about the damage my property sustained while in the care of ***, and I havent asked for compensation for those either!)When I showed up to ask the mechanic about how it is exactly that I am supposed  to access the engine underneath the fuel system parts he installed?  And why my vacuum advance wasnt hooked up among other things. I was met with condescending misogynistic communication from the mechanic who had absolutely no time for me. He tried to walk away from me multiple times regardless of my civil demeanour, and did want to talk to or listen to me at all let alone answer any questions I may have had. 
  If you went to a mechanic; If you went to someone that knew anything. Obviously your having a bit of a problem because you ARE at a disadvantage, because maybe you DONT
  I have that interaction recorded by audio.
  I came to *** looking for a specialist to replace my propane parts, tune it and get it road worthy. I feel like I got the run around, perhaps because I was seen as an easy target; I have been perceived as a young woman who must know little of such things, and isnt going to ask questions. The work has been questionable, I am unsatisfied and I am asking. 
  
  Again I will reiterate very clearly what I asked for; I want replacement for the parts and pieces that have effectively been stolen from me. Ie. All of the parts gutted from my vaporizer and the missing elbow for my Vapor hard line. 
  I want the cost of labour+tax returned to me so that I may lessen the financial burden of taking this to someone else to put the system back to a satisfactory position as it was mounted with its old parts and have it tuned properly; and for the work to the rear brake assembly that I was charged for but wasnt done. I feel like this is more than reasonable considering my nightmare experience in your shop, and how I have been treated since the moment I asked for my old parts back. 

  Sincerely,
  
  *********************************

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