E & L Auto Steve Swarts E & L Auto provides substandard work which endangers its cusotmers Lake Park Florida

 On June 16, 2014 I went on the advice of a friend to E & L Auto owned by Steve Swarts to have my rear brakes checked on my 2005 Lincoln Town Car. My car was not stopping in a timely manner and the brakes felt soft and caused the brake pedal to go all the way to the floor.  Mr. Swarts suggested I have a caliper, upper ball joints and an axel saver bearing put on my car. Mr. Swarts ordered the parts for the caliper, the ball joints and the axel bearing to be delivered that same day. It is not clear why Mr. Swarts did not order the master cylinder part to be put on the car at the same time.  It was discovered later that Mr. Swarts did not perform the work on my car but someone else who was working for Mr. Swarts did the work. It is unclear if this other person is a certified mechanic. When Mr. Swarts’ employee was finished with my car the employee took the car for a test drive. The employee stated the brakes still felt soft and the pedal still went to the floor.  Mr. Swarts said my car still needed a master cylinder but did not offer a time to have the part put on. Mr. Swarts stated the car was safe for me to drive as long as I didn’t drive to California. The cost for this work was $722 which included $415 for labor and $286 for parts.

 I continued to experience problems with my brakes the rest of that week and being unable to stop in a timely manner. I called Mr. Swarts on Thursday June 19, 2014 to let him know that I was still having trouble with my brakes.  Mr. Swarts told me to put the car in neutral and use the emergency brake to help me stop. He reiterated that I needed a master cylinder but still did not offer a time or date to perform the work. On Saturday June 21, 2014 I called Mr. Swarts a second time with the same complaint about the brakes. Mr. Swarts stated he was closing the shop soon and to bring the car in that Monday. On Sunday June 22, 2014 I was working in Broward County and continued to have trouble with my brakes. That Sunday it was raining very hard and making it almost impossible for me to stop my car safely. By the time I came home I was very upset and scared.  I had relied on Mr. Swarts’ original supposition that his brakes were safe enough. I was in a highly emotional state at this time and called Mr. Swarts at home to tell him how dangerous my brakes were and to ask his opinion. Mr. Swarts at first denied he was Steve Swarts but when I asked him if he owned E & L Auto Mr. Swarts said yes, he was Steve Swarts. I told Mr. Swarts about my problems with my brakes and Mr. Swarts said he didn’t appreciate being called at home. I told Mr. Swarts how difficult it had been for me to drive in the rain with the bad brakes and Mr. Swarts said he told me to use the emergency brake. Mr. Swarts also said I needed a master cylinder and there was probably no air or fluid in the brake lines. Mr. Swarts stated again he did not appreciate being called at home. Mr. Swarts did not show any concern for my welfare or regret that my brakes had continued to fail after leaving his shop. On Monday June 23, 2014 I took my car to Pep Boys Auto to have my brakes inspected and fixed properly. The diagnostic summary from Pep Boys stated that the brake lines had not been bled and there was air and fluid in the brake lines which contaminated the brakes. Mr. Swarts does not seem interested if the work done at his shop by himself or his employees is correct or if the cars are safe for the customers.  The result was that more work was done for less money at Pep Boys than at E & L Auto and the problems caused at E & L Auto were fixed at Pep Boys.

Michael

Boynton Beach, FL