06/11/09

This place is nothing but trouble!

by seahorse777

My car ('99 Dodge Durango) was stalling every so often, about once a month. I dropped my car off on a Tuesday morning and was told later that day that it was the idle air control motor. I waited around until Thursday with no word back from them before I called back. My car had been ready since Tuesday afternoon; no one had bothered to call me though.

When I tried to drive my car again (Sunday), I couldn't even get it out of the parking spot. It was doing the SAME thing only much much worse. I called them back (Monday) and explained what the problem was. I was told that they would tow me and it would cost me if the problem wasn't their fault and it would be free if it was related to the work that they did. I didn't want to chance it so I called AAA.

I was told that there was a wire running from the computer of my car to the idle air control motor that was "chewed up" and luckily it was covered in the warranty so I didn't have to pay for this. They kept the car for two days and couldn't figure out what was wrong with it so they suggested that I take it into the Dodge dealership (about a mile away). They said the computer in the car needed to be reflashed or replaced. They offered to refund the money I spent on the idle air control motor there ($220.29 total, received $135.50 back), but they never offered a tow. So I spent 30 minutes driving my constantly-stalling car to the dealership!

The dealership called me and informed me that the idle air control motor was BROKEN. The one they put in didn't even work. The computer in the car was also broken and needed to be replaced. The price of these two things together is over $1500. My car went from rarely stalling (which I will assume means no computer problems) to hardly moving (with a broken computer). I can only assume that the people at Pep Boys (Who don't call to let you know car is ready, use broken parts, and don't offer a tow for a car they jacked up) caused a short in the computer.

Do not go to this place. I would trust a block of cheese to do better work on my car than the tools at this Pep Boys. I haven't yet gotten my car (and paperwork) from the Dodge dealership, so I don't know whether or not I will get the rest of my money back.

• Pros: Easy to find
• Cons: Everything