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Pep Boys Huge problem with them. VW Jetta EcoDiesel

Ok here is my story, on July 11, 2004 while driving my car I notice the alternator light went on. I pulled to the side of the road and noted the belt had broken off and was gone. Luckily it did not bother any thing else so I went on my way home which was only a mile away. On July 12, 2004 I bring my car to a local PeP Boys to have the belt replaced. I figured it should not be a problem. Well they replace the belt and 90 minutes later I am driving away. As soon as I leave the parking lot to take a left hand turn it takes me all my strenght to turn the wheel. Well I call Pep Boys up and tell them that someone removed the power steering belt and forgot to replace it. They said no way. I bring the car right back open the hood and bam the pulley has no belt on it. Well they charge me an extra 45.14 for the power steering belt, which they replaced in 74 minutes. Well now I am happy my car is running fine. Well on Aug 1, 2004 I am driving down route 24 North in Bridgewater MA and I notice my alternator light goes on, then I notice the water temp light goes on, then the steering gets very hard all while I am in the high spped lane. Well I managed to make it into the breakdown lane safely. I call the pep boys emergency tow number and have them tow my vehicle to the nearest pep boys as there was no doubt that it was the fault of the pep boys employee or a faulty belt. They look at my car the next day with me as I would not let them look at it without me first. They agree that one belt broke, and took out all the others. Well today I get a call and they say the car is put back together but it is running rough. They noted the timing belt cover appeared to have been torn up and asked me when was the last time I had the belt replaced. I told them about 15,000 miles ago. The service tech then went on to say that the timing belt was definatley put on wrong, that it was off by at least a tooth and the timing was off. I explained that my car has been running perfect and getting close to 45 miles per gallon. Well it appears that they are tryong to blame the timing belt for the problem. I was thentold that it may have blown a head gasket and if that is the case they are going to have to send the motor out to have it fixed. I am not sure what this entails but the tech said it will take at least a week. They tell me it is blowing out black smoke, and running rough. Never did that before!!! What can I or should I expect if the head gasket is blown? Will the car ever run right again or is it time to look for something else. It has 225,000 miles on it but I am sure it could go for at least another 100,000. Anbody have any advice?

Reply to
AlanH70
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The best advice is to not take your car to any of the big franchises (Pep-boys, Midas, Sears, AAMCO, Firestone etc.). I am sure people in this NG can recommend a good independent shop in Bridgewater MA.

If the engine overheated the time the temperature light came on, it is hard to tell what kind of damage could have been done. Best case, no damage at all, not so best case, warped head. If you can do without the car for some time, I would take this up with the Bureau of Automotive Repairs (or whatever the MA equivalent is), and not take it back to Pep-Boys. Save all receipts and start a log of events so you have a good case if this goes to mediation, arbitration or court. If you need to have the car repaired ASAP, find a reputable mechanic who is willing to testify about his findings.

Reply to
Randolph

Grab your car and get the "H-e-LL" out of there and take it to a VW dealer where you can get it fixed correctly We see it all the time with statements like " I just had my car at pepboys, sears. etc and now it does..."! My opinion is the only repair they might be able to do correctly is sell batteries & tires, maybe. It's possible that the belt they put on your car was wrong, or something was left loose, and when the belt came off it may have done so in pieces which got under your timing belt. He's a moron, diesels will smoke black when the timing is off spec. Just hope the valve aren't hitting the pistons. Quote "are going to have to send the motor out to have it fixed" I bet that means they will sublet it to the local VW dealer and then tack on $$$$$$$$$$$ after the local dealer fixes their mess.

Reply to
Woodchuck

Take it to VW or better yet a good independent shop.

My guess is it may have over heated "I notice my alternator light goes on, then I notice the water temp light goes on, then the steering gets very hard all while I am in the high spped lane."

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

This is why I go to VW. Because I go to them for most everything, they work out some great deals for me, and all the parts are VW. Good luck, I hope the damage is nothing to serious.

Weldon Cimbrik '99 Passat 1.8T 5spd

Reply to
wjcimbri

Well PeP Boys as it stands has taken the blame for there error and said that they are going to have to send the motor out to a machine shop to be fixed. Can I expect my motor to work as good if not better then it did before? Is there anything special I should do for the first couple thousand miles? Any advice?

Reply to
AlanH70

and who is doing the repairs? dealer maybe?

or PeP Boys?????????????????? later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

Reply to
dave

Why a machine shop? I would demand you want the car to go to a VW dealer. You get the engine fixed for FREE with original VW parts and I bet the dealer can do a better job than any machine old Pep-Boys recommended shop.

Reply to
Woodchuck

With all that said about how fixes it etc, can we stick to the original question?

Reply to
AlanH70

Did you read the original message? The engine has 225,000 miles on it. If the machine shop is good the results will be better than some results you would get from VW. Sure if it had 225 miles on it, I would agree that something else may be required, but see below.

Assuming the machine shop is good, most are, you can expect it to work as well or more likely better and longer than it would have otherwise.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

I would say research the quality of work that machine shop does. I have had VW cylinder heads butchered by different shops. One was damaged by their milling machine, it put circular lines in the mating surface. Two were damaged by inexperienced personnel that did not know how to remove the valve guides.

BE CAREFUL! I would think that they would pay for a used engine installed. A new engine from the dealer would be nice! lol

JMHO later, dave Reminder........ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes. Frieda Norris

Reply to
dave

I vote Pep Boys is doing it if they said they have to send the motor (head) out to a machine shop.

Reply to
Peter Parker

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