I apologize in advance if this is long, but I feel I need to share my horrible experience.

I took the vette to a local engine shop to get rebuilt last spring. I chose this place because of some recommendations from people I know. To make a long story short, it took 2 months to rebuild the engine! The parts were all on order, or they sent the wrong part etc etc. Shortly after I got the car it started smoking quite a bit. I took it back, they looked it over and said that it was fine and that it just needs to be broken in. I drive it for a bit but it got much worse. I called back again but he kept insisting that it was fine. I ended up just driving the car down there. They looked at it and said it neeeded a tune. So I took it to get tuned. Now after 3 hours of trying to get it tuned we find out that my oxgyen sensor is giving very bad readings. We investigate and it turns out it's burning oil. So I had to pay for 3 hours of dyno time!! I called the next day to let him know. I got an appointment 2 weeks later. It turns out the valve steam seals were leaking. He replaced them. He never once apoligized or admitted his mistake. I took the car back and got it tuned. Now all this was finally done mid August. Where I live thats pretty much the end of summer. I got to drive the car for about a month and a half.

Now a few weeks ago you guys might remember me posting about an acceleration problem. I called in 2 weeks ago for an appointment and took it in yesterday. Now before I took it there I told him I had one bad wire, and the fuel pressure guage on the car wasnt working. He called me yesterday and said the wires fine. I told him there is a little crack in the wire and you get shocked everytime you touch it. He said it was fine, and that never happened to him. So I told him I will show him when I pick up the car. He called me shortly after and said they think the fuel pressure regulator or fuel pump is bad. He asked if I had the old regulator from last year so they could try it. I told him I didn't. He said it would be 2 weeks before they ordered one in! I asked why they didn't have one in the shop to try. He said mines different. He said he's going to have to charge me if I want them to figure out the problem from here on in. I asked him why it wasn't under warranty, the engine has a 2 year warranty? He said only the engine was covered for 2 years, the rest was only 6 months. I told him thats crap, I havent even driven the car for 6 months! Get this, he said its not his fault I don't drive it in the winter. After that I told him to stop working on the car and I'll come pick it up. I'm leaving right now to go get it. I'm so pissed right now!! I waited 2 weeks to bring it there because he said its all under warranty! Now that its there he won't cover it! Sorry for the rant!!

Don't be sorry. We all need to vent. I've been doing my share. Sorry about your bad luck. Maybe we can start a club?

Sounds like somebody else should be working on it anyway. I hope you can find someone who will take care of it properly.

Major bummer.

What a turd. I hate bad mechanics like that. I had my fair share of them butt heads.

I don't know but I'm getting the bad vibes from this guy as you are. I too would certainly be picking up the car and cutting my loses and get it somewhere where the shop seems to want to get it right.

He's treatin' you like a blank check.

Sorry to hear about this Man.

Keep us informed.
Gary

That sucks. Hopefully you can work it out.

Matthew

I think that's his way of telling you he has no idea what he's doing.

A good mechanic will do that upfront. A better mechanic will actually know what the hell he's doing.

It sounds like you're letting him make all the rules. Did you pay in full for the initial work? Have you paid on all the other work done?

And I don't think that warranty starts until the work is completed, which apparently it never was.

Sounds like he owes you 3 hours of dyno time at the very least. As far as old parts, you have to ask him prior to the work being done if you want old parts back, or maybe he's obligated to ask you. But after that point, you might as well assume it's in the dumpster (or on one of his other customer's cars).

The fuel pressure regulator is easy work though. Most of the aftermarket ones still use the stock diaphram and just add an adjustable screw to the lid which couldn't possibly be an issue, so I'm not sure what he's saying will take 2 weeks to get.

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Ya he doesnt care. He already has my money.

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Well I paid for the engine work last year after it was running properly. I complained out the dyno time and 02 sensor, but he said I shouldn't of taken it there because it was under warranty with them. I know it doesnt make sense but thats the story. I havent paid a dime to him since last year but thats besides the point. This guy has the worst customer service I've ever seen. He wants me to take it back after 1500 miles to check it over. I don't think I'm going to be doing that if I don't need to.
I took the car to my girlfriends uncle shop. He actually owns two Stingrays, and hes family so he won't screw me over. I took the car to him twice when I first got it. I just wish there was somthing I could do to this guy and his shop to get money back or let everyone know about it. I don't really want to take it to court or anything.

I can sympathize with you, as everyone here heard my bitching about my car, was out of a vette for three months or so. My condolences.....

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Might not get your money back but word of mouth could hurt him. Let everyone know how bad the service and treatment was

I'm setting myself up here but I think he was warranting his rebuild. Nobody I know would warrant externals except for the manufacturers warranty and 60 to 90 days labor. I'm not supporting him just stating what I encounter. I feel your pain on the Dyno time though.

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I've already told a bunch of car people I know about it. I hope it gets around.

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Well either way the customer serive could be waaaaaay better. He screwed me around for quite awhile. I called him before I took the car in and told him the problems I'm having. He told me straight up he won't charge me anything unless its a faulty part. There is only a 6 month warranty on external parts like you said. I'm fine with paying for parts, I understand there is a manufacturer warranty. I just hate getting the work around.
The dyno time did hurt, its not exactly cheap!