Business ProfileforKen's Muffler Shop Inc

RUN AWAY. I strongly recommend you DO NOT take your car to Ken's based on my experience. My son's old 1995 Landcruiser had overheated on College Ave and it needed to be towed somewhere fast. I was told to contact Ken's. They were happy to take a look. After receiving the truck, they determined it needed a new thermostat. (Apparently they didn't notice the big leak coming from the back of the engine.) They wanted $300 and said this would fix the problem. I told them that I thought $300 was steep for a thermostat ($20 part, and removal of three easily accessible bolts) But I agreed to pay it. They were after all, willing to take our truck in the pinch we were in. A day later they called me back and said that they needed another $500 to remove the starter to try to find a leak. They said the $500 was just for the removal of the starter and not to actually fix the problem. I told them there is no hose near the starter. I know this, because I replaced the starter myself. They told me I was wrong and their mechanic was an expert. The very same "expert" who determined the truck needed a thermostat because after running the engine a while he didn't feel heat in the upper radiator hose! A 20 second look into the radiator would have told you there was no fluid and hence a leak. Apparently the 'expert' didn't bother with this very basic step to diagnose a heater or overheating issue. I decided I needed to find the actual problem and a quick Google search on a Toyota Landcruiser made it clear to me (without seeing the truck) that it was the infamous "pesky heater hose" which is common on these FJ-80s. Which it turns out, was exactly the problem. I paid them a total of $517.67 just to get our truck back, horribly leaking (just as it was when it was towed to them). They told me it wasn't safe to drive it because the leak was so bad. I had it towed from there shop. I feel they tried to take advantage of me because they didn't think I could walk away.