Ammco Martinsburg West Virginia. BAD WORKMANSHIP Causing additional Damage to FORD VAN martinsburg West Virginia

Martinsburg Aamco 1554 Winchester Av

Martinsburg, WV 25405 - (304)262-0990 Store 14850

Marjorie Stafford

DEAR Aamco Corporate Office

On 5/16/14 Our van was taken into the Martinsburg AAMCO shop as the check engine light was on and the transmission running rugged. Upon their checking the transmission an Older gentlemen who worked on rebuilding transmissions (Mr. Kelly?) stated the snap ring was broken and needed replacement and that the check engine light was #4 or #5 cylinder not firing and it was wet. The van was ok to drive. They would order in the snap ring on Monday the 19^th and when they put it on the 20^th (Tuesday) they would assess it and let us know if there was any further damage at the drop of the transmission to see if there were any shavings - they called the next day, Tuesday, 5/20/14 to say there was no shavings and that the only thing needed was the snap ring.

We proceeded to let them do the job and they wanted to confirm the additional job to also perform a standard tune up. Costing an additional $547.34. We approved the tune up addition. The next day (Tuesday) 5/20/14 we went to pick up the vehicle at approx 4:30pm. Drove the Van home and then took it to work the next day. Upon filling the tank up with gas - driving it to Frederick MD and Doing one job - the van began to run terrible couldn‘t gain speed -engine lights blinking on and staying on - engine clearly had an issue. So after paying $221.95 to diagnose the van and the $1322.84 to supposedly repair the van - it was now worse off than before. I also had filled the gas tank up (32 gallons of gas) and ALL the gas had virtually left the vehicle after Driving only at most 100 miles. This was not an issue prior to bringing the van in for service. Clearly something was additionally wrong after they worked on our vehicle.

We promptly drove the van back to the AAMCO Martinsburg WV approx. 11:30am 5/21/14 (Wednesday) and they took it for a test drive and they said that the apparent problem now was that the Torque converter came apart. Having paid $1322.84 to properly diagnose the issue, now the transmission was worse than it was before. They said give them 2 days to repair the problem and that it would be no additional charge. So we gave them until Friday the May 23. We called them at approx 8:30 am on Friday morning and they said they were ‘waiting on parts’ and they should begin working on the van around 10am. (no discussion on what parts they were) At 3:30pm we called to see about the progress and they then said the van was finished and out for a test drive. We said we would be on our way to get the van. ON THE WAY THERE Aamco called again and told us that the van still had something wrong, Ms. Stafford said she didn‘t want to keep the van any longer and for us to take the van to Hagerstown Ford as they had been speaking with them on the issue. When we arrived there the engine light was now off but they wanted us to pay to have the van towed to the Ford Dealer. We didn’t feel comfortable with their advice and took it to the NEAREST Ford dealer, Parsons Ford of WV. As of 5:00pm Friday, May 23, the vehicle was at Parsons Ford awaiting for assessment of what is wrong.

Tuesday 5/27/14 - we received a call from Parsons Ford that the Van now needed a catalytic converter replacement - just to start which would be

Approx $3200.00. We asked what were the codes that came up regarding the vehicles computer system check up - Ford said that the memory of the codes on our vehicle had been completely erased. Now we have owned that vehicle for 5 years to erase our computer board to reflect no codes what so ever was in our eyes to cover up the damage done to the vehicle within the period AAMCO Martinsburg had the car in their possession. As the computer holds the last 30 days of vehicle malfunction code information.

At this point we feel AAMCO Martinsburg did significant damage to our vehicle which still remains to be assessed once the initial damaged catalytic converter is replaced. Our feeling is that the tune up was done incorrectly causing the additional damage to the transmission, which upon returning the car on the 21^st to Aamco they attempted to repair, but the additional damage to the catalytic converter which was also a result of mistakes done in the faulty tune -up was not a cost they were willing to own up to, thus they just wanted our van off their property.

Since on original drop of the Transmission to replace just the snap ring produced no shavings but after the tune up and snap ring replacement the transmission was damaged further with shavings and a damaged torque converter Per Mr. Kelly. As well as now a completely clogged Catalytic Converter.

Another concern is that Ford stated there were no codes on the computer as the computer was erased 3 days prior. That assessment was on the morning of the 27^th. Three days prior the car was at Aamco.

Further research on how to erase every code from our vehicle - would require someone to remove the negative connection to the battery a certain amount of times to deliberately erase the codes on the computer system of our vehicle. That could only be done deliberately.

We are asking Aamco Corporate to intervene as the additional damage done to our vehicle by Aamco Martinsburg WV. Per Mr. Kelly’s (older gentlemen Of Aamco Martinsburg) initial assessment and his documented ticket the only issue evident was a snap ring replacement but clearly after they worked on the van we had significant additional damage that still is in process of being diagnosed. We now are taking to a repairman we trust and are having it towed there tomorrow 5/28/14 to have the catalytic converter replaced.

If this were your vehicle - you would want to be treated fairly. We certainly

Didn’t expect to have our vehicle come out worse than when we brought it - and paid $1544.79 to repair our van. We feel it is only right that if your Aamco’s staff worked on the vehicle and damaged it further they should be responsible for the additional damage they caused in faulty workmanship.

It isn’t fair to us to have to be liable for another’s mistakes in workmanship.

Please get back with us concerning this matter as time is of the essence.

Sincerely

Edwin

May 29, 2014

RE: BAD WORKMANSHIP Causing additional Damage to FORD VAN Martinsburg Aamco 1554 Winchester Av

Martinsburg, WV 25405 - (304)262-0990 Store 14850

Marjorie Stafford

Dear Mr. Gregory Dxxxx,

Per our conversation on 5/28/14 10:24am. We spoke of our vehicle now being towed to Terry’s Auto Center in Boonsboro, MD after having our vehicle initially assessed by Ford who told us our Catalytic Converter needed replacement at initial assessment.

(Letter Faxed to you on 5/28/14 to Aamco Corporate 9:28am)

Mr. Terry’s findings upon replacing the Catalytic converter are documented and included with this letter. Along with Ford’s initial diagnostic test.

Mr. Terry concluded based on viewing the vehicle that the Spark plugs were never replaced for the supposed tune up. After changing the Catalytic

Converter and taking the van for it’s first test drive from picking up the vehicle from Ford. He found a fault code of a ‘Misfire’ on the 4^th Cylinder. Now if the system Tune up was done correctly - there should be no ‘misfire’ but clearly after Mr. Terry’s viewing the console where the access to the spark plugs were located - clearly the Tune up was never performed properly. As all spark plugs appeared to be OLD were still in place. Mr. Terry also located a $20.00 that had lodged itself in the center console area where access to the spark plugs is located. Anyone opening that panel would have found the money. We feel the negligence of the AAMCO Martinsburg station to perform the job as they outlined they would do - warrants our refund. Further more Mr. Kelly - during his proposed snap ring change also replaced a ‘band’ which if not installed correctly would have done direct damage to the torque converter as well to the catalytic converter. We feel that based on the evidence Terry’s Auto Center revealed - Aamco Martinsburg’s negligence caused what initially was a snap ring replacement and a normal tune up, to become an additional $2071.07 worth of damage resulting in Catalytic Converter replacement. We would appreciate all efforts now at this point to receive fairness as to the damage they caused. Their work was negligent. Erasing the codes on our system - negligent, Not performing the actual Tune Up as billed for - Negligent - Botching the replacement of the snap ring and band on the transmission - Negligent.

I am sure if you had paid $1544.79 you would expect to have the work performed correctly and professionally. Not to have the work Not done - and what was done to your vehicle, done incorrectly resulting in further damage to your vehicle. That is not fair to us.

We are hoping that you will provide a fair solution to this issue. As I am sure Aamco wants to present itself as a Reputable Company that treats it’s customers with fairness and honesty. Sadly we have not experienced that thru the Martinsburg Location and we are hoping the Corporate office will step in to make things right on Aamco’s behalf.

We look forward to hearing from you as time is of the essence.

Thank You in Advance for your Assistance in this matter.

Edwin