SAVE YOURSELF THE PAIN BY STAYING AWAY.
I have been coming to Golden West with both of my cars for over a year now. The price is right, and the staff appears to be friendly and honest. However, it was becoming increasingly clear to me that they potentially were incompetent with cars. Regularly, after repairs were done, they were done wrong and I would have to take time to bring the car back to them for it to be fixed. Golden West is very generous to fix their mistakes for free, though it would be preferable for them to not make mistakes in the first place.
My latest experience, however, was a nightmare. I got my water pump replaced (routine maintenance). The car was making a funny squeaking sound after it was replaced, which concerned me. I called Golden West, and they agreed to go back in there and check it out, and fix it for free (as usual). And, as usual, they returned the car to me, pronouncing it fixed, though it was still not fixed. The squeaking sound was still there. Wanting to trust Golden West for knowing how cars work, I assumed that if they were not concerned with the squeaking sound, it was not something to be concerned about. However, the sound continued to increase in volume and duration. Eventually, a rattling sound accompanied the squeaking sound. I decided to bring my car in to a different mechanic due to having lost confidence in Golden West. Sure enough, this new mechanic discovered a very big problem. When Golden West had moved the alternator to replace the water pump, they had broken a bolt. This little mistake could have been easily addressed immediately, but the broken bolt was left in the car and ended up damaging the alternator, the water pump, and the belt, for hundreds of dollars.
I called Golden West to inform them of this very big mistake and the outcome of it. Instead of owning up to their mistake, they fought me about it, and refused to help pay the costs for fixing their own mistake. I encourage you not to have the same experience with their incompetence.
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