Airport Road Auto Repair Price gouging for parts, knowingly re-installing starter motor with engine bolt too short to properly secure after stripping original bolt. Never informed customer until returned for crunching noise. "complimentary" diagnosis and not re-assembling vehicle when car returned key missing from keychain. Breckenridge CO

When I brought my car into Airport auto I asked them to complete 3 items, they wrote these items on the original service form. First, to complete an electrical diagnosis of the computer. Second, if not simply an electrical issue found in step 1, replace starter. Third, fix the power window.

After leaving car with and giving above instructions to J.C. Circle, manager of the Airport Auto. I called the following day for estimate. J.C. informed me the total would be $680. He also informed me I needed a radiator flush and one would be also completed within the $680. I OK'd the work.

That night I stopped by my car to get something out of it, the car was unlocked. I had given them the keyless entry and both keys so leaving car unlocked was totally unbelievable.

I called NAPA to check on how expensive a new starter with a warranty wouold cost if I bought it from NAPA. NAPA quoted me $160 after a core return at retail price.

2 days later I returned to Airport Auto to pick up my car and when reviewing the work J.C. continued to say they never did an electrical diagnosis they just replaced the starter and the power window is still not fixed. They did flush the radiator.

When given an estimate for the items of concern to be completed and to be expected to pay for the completion of only 1 item and nothing for the other two is unrepresentative and fraudulent. Also, in the itemized list of work done they sold and installed a starter motor for $299.00. Again I called Napa Auto parts store here in summit county and they told me a price of $160. Again I am only talking 'parts' labor is another charge.


I took the car home and drove out of town a couple hundred miles and on this trip everytime I started the car the starter motor would make a grinding noise like they didn't tighten the bolts enough or something.

As soon as I returned home I brought the car back to Airport Auto and had J.C. hear the start up noise. He had me leave it again. On a break from work I went over to again get something out of the car. the mechanic was driving to car out and I caught him and asked him what was wrong. He told me that when they removed my old starter 'my bolt was stripped' and they did not have the correct length bolt so they put the new starter on with a bolt too short and that is what caused the noise.

So, to recap the last part. Airport Auto told me work was complete and billed me for the work and new starter. They installed the price gouged new part with a bolt not long enough to ensure proper fit and functioned only a couple of days before I had to return the car do to obvious problem. Only to find out they never installed the part correctly with the proper parts for the car.

Lastly, when I checked my bank account Airport Auto charged me $736.92. After only completing 1 of the 3 items I thought I was quoted originally and after they released the car to me having knowingly improperly installing the price gouged new starter motor.

Lastly, J.C. promised to look into and diagnose the Power window issue which he had been conveniently forgetting about. when I picked up the car the door panel was still disassembled and still is. I will have to re-assemble tomorrow out in the snow storm since I do not have a garage.

Brian
Breckenridge, Colorado
U.S.A.