ComplaintsforMoonlighters Mechanic Shop LLC

• Initial Complaint

  10/18/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I took my diesel truck to Moonlighters' Mechanic shop for a diesel leak. They did not fix the leaking engine. There were two leaks at the time of the truck being dropped off. The owner told me there was potential for two different leaks. One was easy and the other was involved and deeper. They did not acknowledge the second leak and claimed the truck was fixed after having it for a week. I paid them $1459.00 cash and they guaranteed the engine was not leaking when i picked it up. Since it was nice out, i drove the truck approximately twelve miles home. It sat there for a couple of days because i was riding my motorcycle everywhere during that time. I then drove the truck to work (19 miles) and it sat all day in the parking lot. When I came out after work, i noticed my truck was leaking and it was in the same spot as it was noticed prior to supposedly being fixed. I took the truck back to moonlighters and a technician came out to check the leak. His first words out of his mouth were "I hate when we get come-backs after we do a job". I was told by the technician that there was a leak and the owner would call me and they would make plans for whatever he came up with. I waited several days and there was no call. The next day the truck started making a metal to metal noise so i tried calling Moonlighters' and there was no answer. i wanted to take the truck back because i was afraid to drive the truck. The issue was a bad starter not associated with the leaks or job. I got a text approximately a half hour later stating to bring the truck out. At this time i was told the starter was faulty and the oil leak is coming from the front timing cover. the owner said it would be a week before he would get to work on it and i said it was fine, it needs fixed. The truck was there for almost a month and a half and he wanted paid another $3167.55 for fixing a second leak that was there at the beginning of this whole issue. Negligence cost me.

  Business response

  11/07/2024

  The customer initially contacted us for an engine oil leak.  We scheduled customer in to diagnose and fix the leak.  We diagnosed the leak by spraying truck off with brake cleaner and compressed air.  Leak was seen to be at the top part of the oil cooler housing left side of engine where the oil feed line for the turbo comes out.  You could see the oil bubbling at the mating surface where gasket goes to oil cooler outer part.

  I confirmed my mechanics findings and told him to go ahead with repairs as customer dropped truck off and said fix it.  (Quoting is only done if customer states he needs a quote to repair of if the amount is over ******** on small vehicles or ********* on large vehicle).  Once repair was final, the mechanic inspected for any leaks, cleaned any residual oil from repair, test drove and let idle and hour on clean concrete to confirm.  I again confirmed all good and dry called customer, told him price he came and paid the total and picked the truck up.

  A good number of weeks later the customer contacted me and said there was a few drips of oil coming near the front of the engine.  We were scheduling out a few weeks as the work load in shop was high.  Customer was going to drop truck with in the net week or two so that it would be here when we needed it, customer contacted me about a bad noise coming from his truck a few days later and didn't want to drive it.  I told him to bring it over I would look at it quick to see what's going on upon arrival I could tell the noise was from the starter staying engaged.  Customer stated the starter was just put on at another garage he was going to contact them to see what to do.  I told him he could let the truck and we would work it into the schedule the soonest we could.  When we finally go freedom up to work on his truck we first diagnosed the oil leak.  Found the leak to be the front timing cover of the engine where it mates to the engine block.  (Common issue with this engine) customer did not ask for a quote.

  I again verified the leak and told mechanic to fix it which include removal of front end components such as radiator, inner cooler, ac condenser, freon, valve covers, rockers, pushrods, magnet install in lifters with clip to hold up, lift up engine out of engine mounts, remove oil and oil pan, pull outer tin timing cover, pull out camshaft, mounting bolts for the timing cover, aluminum housing, and cleaned up all parts.  Used Cummins gasket and reinstalled parts listed/special tool for crank front seal and adjusted valves.  Once truck was running again, we held off from test driving till customer had shop supply us a starter to install in place of the faulty one.  We installed starter and then was able to test drive, test drove let idler on clean concrete no leaks.  I again confirmed all good.

  Contacted customer, truck was done.  The customer asks how much do I owe you?  I stated we were busy and was behind on billing.  I had no reason to believe I couldn't trust him to pay so I felt comfortable sending it to him in the text picture when we got to it.

  Now we are here.  There was no work done twice on this job we didn't mess anything up or have to warranty any parts of the job we are not at fault for causing either oil leak just simply fixed both no related issues.

  Customer response

  11/11/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  My truck was taken to Moonlighters garage for major oil leaks. There were two leaks 
  present when I dropped the truck off. I told the owner to fix the cause to the leaks and 
  thought when I picked the truck up, it would have been fixed.

  
  When I picked the truck up, the truck still leaked in the exact same spot under the 
  truck. I took the truck back to the garage and the mechanic crawled under the truck and 
  confirmed the truck was still leaking. It was at that point I knew the garage did not fix the 
  truck for what I took it there for. A competent garage would have been more thorough and 
  made absolutely sure there were no leaks other than the obvious leak which was visible on 
  the top of the engine. 

  
  I hoped the garage would fix the problem that they missed and I would get my truck 
  back fixed and leak free. There was no communication and I was notified to pick the truck 
  up. I went to pick the truck up and walked into the office. The owner said the truck is out 
  there, take it.. I asked how much? He said Just take it. 

  
  A reputable garage would have taken the truck back, fixed the truck in a timely 
  manner, and would not have gone the route we are at. I tried to settle this with the owner 
  but there is no dealing with him.

   
  Regards,
  
  ***** *****

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