I have taken my car to Doyle's a couple times, based on good reviews they have on Car Talk. I was disappointed each time however, and decided the last time that I would not be returning.
My car was lurching, and I told them that I thought the problem was a Mass Air Flow Sensor. They ran their diagnostic tests and found that a vacuum was missing! Now, here is what surprised me. They replaced the vacuum, but didn't bother to call me first to let me know how much it would be or that they were doing work on the car. They just did it. They did tell me to keep an eye on the check engine light and let them know if it came on again. Luckily, it was inexpensive, so I picked up my car, so relieved to have it back.
The next day, I had planned on taking my sister to the airport. Luckily, I left very early because the car was lurching so bad that it hardly made it onto the freeway and I had to drive with the hazards on and immediately turn around and go home. I called Doyle's and they said they could look at it again in a couple days. So, not only did they clearly not take it out and test their work, but now I have to wait for them to fix the problem that should have been fixed in the first place?
I get the car back to the shop and guess what? It was the Mass Air Flow Sensor as I had told them initially! They told me it would cost about $500 to replace this part, that I could put a used part in, but they wouldn't trust it. My thought- as a shop, don't you know how to find a good used part? On top of this, when I went in to pick up the car, the price suddenly changed to it would have cost me $600+! Fishy, if you ask me. They knew I was planning to sell the car, so they recommended cash for clunkers without fixing it. I found the necessary part, used but under warranty on eBay and installed it myself (30 minutes of labor) and it all cost me $45. My car works fine now, and I can sell it for quite a bit more with the part in.
Apparently, a pregnant 30-year-old woman who knows practically nothing about cars can do better shopping for good used parts than this shop can....
Pros: Friendly
Cons: Sketchy, Doesn't get the work done the first time
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