This is the second time they have told me I needed a new alternator and a battery when I in fact did nto need one. First it was for my maxima and now my Navigator. I have taken them to another shop that I trust and they have been like your alternator is fine. You just need a new battery. Not once, TWICE! I went to NTB because the car was having trouble turning over and if it was just a battery I figured might as well not risk it. The a$$hole over there before I left was like, “Is there anything we can do to earn your business rather than you going to another shop?” Yeah how about not lying and trying to get me to do $500 in work when all I need is a $99 battery. I am lucky enough to have a good relationship with a shop that I trust. The manager thinks the tech probably tested the alternator with everything on earth running (AC on full, lights and radio on) to get a lower reading for the machine to convince me to get a new one. I went to the one in midtown Houston. If you need just a new battery NTB is fine. Just don’t let them trick you into doing anything additional. Go to a reputable shop you trust.
I have the same issue with Lamb's here in the Austin area. They tried to tell me that I had an exhaust leak. I took it to another shop who couldn't find anything. Also couldn't find the rack & pinion leak they claimed I had. The only reason I have road hazard coverage on the tires I got from them was because they tacked it on to the invoice without telling my wife when she picked the car up. I went in a complained. I basically demanded that they give me my money back and let me keep the coverage or I was going to the BBB.
I heard really bad things about Lambs. The only people I trust is the dealer. Lambs told me I need brand new tires, while my dealer told my tires were fine. This was when my tread was like an 7 out of 10 (3-4 means you need new tires). I bought my tires from Discount Tires, but one time I went there, they tried to sell me rims instead of tires.
lambs also tried to screw me. told me i needed a bunch of stuff for my truck. my brother came and looked at and i saved probably about $1500, and i fixed what actually needed fixing. i dont suggest lambs either at least the one off of far west.
Every time I go to a car shop to get the check engine light off on my car, they tell me I need a new catalytic converter. I must have changed that thing every year since 03. I just dont get it. And to make matters worse, the damn light came on again a month ago. ARRRRRR.
been there twice. i always ask them how long is the wait and this guy would go inside the shop as if checing then comes back saying " you're next.". well at first i bought it and i waited for 2 hours. the following i brought in a diffrent car and asked the same question and the guy did the same routine, "you're next." told him that's what you told me last time and you let me wait for hours... i left. had the same experience with the dealr - gillman honda. told me that my brake would start to sound squaking sound soon. but i knew it wsa still good because my friend told me who's a mechanic. told them no thanks and my brake lasted for over 2 years. this kind of style is pretty rampant and common. it does help to have a little know-how.
bought a laptop in October along with the their warranty. the "tech" checked it out real quick and said it looks like possible bad motherboard. gonna take 6-8 weeks since they have to ship it to HP for replacement. i'm just worried b/c i've read all the horrible fry's stories about returns and repairs. just crossing my fingers they don't try to tell me it was my fault and want to charge me another $60 to fix it.
My advice is to take your car to autozone and ask for a quick computer read. Its free. They should be able to give you an idea on what is wrong before you take it into a shop.
Just never buy and "open box" items. They just wrap them up with out inspecting them. 3 times in the past I bought crap from them only to realize it was busted. This was when I was a broke mofo and saving the few bucks seemed worth it.
My advice is to take your <strike>car</strike> laptop to autozone and ask for a quick computer read. Its free. They should be able to give you an idea on what is wrong before you take it into a shop.
All they can really tell you is what part is causing the code. They can't tell you if it's actually something that needs fixing. If the light is coming on for the same thing over and over, even after it's fixed multiple times, I'd tend to lean towards a problem within the computer that's sending out erroneous error codes.
