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He Talks the Talk but Can't Walk the Walk
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To listen to Gil Gregory he’s God’s gift to the auto repair industry. I’m here to tell you that’s not the case. He routinely touts his record of never having had a repair returned. I had work completed on my Suzuki Grand Vitara, which included a transmission flush, fuel filter replacement, spark plug replacement, coolant rebalance (which was suppose to be a coolant flush), and a major front and rear brake overhaul. The original estimate of $192 jumped to almost $900, which was paid in cash, the only remuneration he accepts (real trusting of his customers!). He additionally recommended replacement of the AC compressor clutch, which was working fine, at a cost of $200, a complete engine reseal, which was seeping not leaking oil, at a cost of $1600, as well as a transmission rebuild for $3000 to unstick an internal valve which was corrected with the transmission flush. I declined the repairs on the engine reseal, transmission rebuild, and AC compressor clutch. Boy am I glad I did!!! After picking up the vehicle I noticed the brakes seemed a little stiff. I thought it was simply a matter of the brake linings and pads needing to seat themselves. As time went on my wife and I noticed a burnt smell and the vehicle appeared unable to roll free, as if the brakes were dragging.
We returned the vehicle to Gil who said “he” was going to do a complete diagnostics on the vehicle. My wife noticed on the repair order he had written that a complete diagnostics was “requested by the customer” at a charge of $69.99. I never requested the diagnostics!! I called him by phone and questioned the additional charge. He claimed I would not be charged if the problem was associated with the brake overhaul. My wife, on the other hand, cautioned me that he would not have put it on the repair order if he hadn’t planned on charging us the amount. Boy was she right!! He called and claimed that the parking brake cables were sticking and had caused the linings to drag on the brake drums, thereby causing excess wear to them. He claimed to have “unstuck” the cables, but I would need to have them replaced at a cost of $500. Needless-to-say I declined the repair. I think he must have only a few customers who are the sole support of him and his family. He charged me the additional $69.99, stating the parking brake had nothing to do with his brake overhaul. Now that’s really curious!! Two parking brake cables, which had worked perfectly for 8 years (106,000 miles) and had never been touched until he did the brake repair, were now suddenly and mysteriously sticking. Two parking brake cables, which had to be disconnected, reconnected, and adjusted during the rear brake overhaul, had nothing to do with his repair work on the brakes. I protested the additional charge and he called me cheap.
I paid the money (in cash!!) and submitted a complaint to the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR). However, it’s the last dollar he’ll filch from me on his shoddy workmanship. I will not be returning any of my vehicles to him for repair or service. I also believe karma (what goes around, comes around) will eventually prevail.
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