Eberle Automotive Never Pay a Mechanic Who Tells You to Hit Your Gas Tank With a HAMMER! Severn, Maryland

The customers vehicle was towed to our shop and our instructions were to identify the reason the engine would crank, but failed to start.
 The vehicle was pushed into our shop. My tech. performed the ABC's of Failure to Start Diagnostics". Having verified the engine to have "Cranking Vacuum" and "Ignition Spark" we found a condition of "No Fuel Pressure". The fuel gauge showed an amount other than empty so we performed an "Ossilliscope Waveform test of the Fuel Pump". This test revealed an open circuit condition.
After verifying the "Power and Ground Circuity were in fact connected we employed a "Field Test" whereby we took a "RUBBER HAMMER" ,and while an assistant turned the key to the start position, applied some tapping onto the bottom of the fuel tank where the "Fuel Pump" lives. Many times this tapping will bounce the fuel pump back into a working mode for a short period of time. This done the engine started, it idled, and RPM could be achieved.
The obvious diagnosis here is that the "Fuel Pump " is defective and must be replaced. We raisaed the vehicle on our lift to investigate the tank's condition and the piping to and from the tank. Once a vehicle accumulates many miles quite often rust and deterioration will hamper the simple replacement of the pump asslemby that also will require the removal and replacement of the fuel in the tank, it will require removal and replacement of the various lines, vapor tubes, electrical connectors, and straps securing the tank to the underbody of the vehicle.
Once the fuel tank has been removed from the vehicle and the fuel pump module has been separated an internal inspection must be made to insure that the inside of the tank is free of any contaminates such as internal rust or other debris that might hamper the new fuel pump from proper operation. The recommended proceedure when replacement of a fuel pump is necessary is to replace the module assembly where the actual pump lives. While the replacement part is more expensive as a "Module Unit" It is also considered a safer and more complete repair.
 We believe in doing a repair that is complete as it will be safer and will serve the customer as expected.
 All this said the customer was given a quote that included our diagnostic time, time to remove the tank unit considering the Book time and the estimated time commenserate with the rusry conditions that we could see and included some time for the conditions that we could only imagine might exist that we could not. We would rather be able, if all went well to have the final bill some what less than the quote, rather than have to disappoint the customer with an add on because we failed to take all into consideration.
 All said the customer declined to have the work performed. The customer seemed to have a difficult time understanding that she would have to pay us for the time that we spent. When the customer paid the diagnostic bill and arranged to have the vehicle towed away I believe that the dumpster people had come to empty the unit which is on wheels, and possibily they neglected to push it back into it's normal position.

My name is Frank and I am the owner of this business and have been since May of 1980.  I have never meet this customer or conversed where we exchanged names thru casual conversation.  The customer probably spoke with the Service Manager, as I was on vacation.  That said I did happen to be in the shop when the vehicle diagnosis was performed.

Certainly there are times where a FREE "Two Penny Estimate" is given , however when expensive diagnostic equipment is used in place of "GUESSING" the appropriate fee is earned and charged.

I believe the internet to be a valuable tool and I believe that The Better Business Bureau, though not an official government entity, to be a more suited place to air consumer complaints. 
It is easy to accuse when you feel slighted and wronged, and understandable that you may view the circumstances differently than they actully were.  However when someone uses the social media pages to WILLFULLY cause harm to a persons business and livehood reserve and strict accuracy should be employed. 

We are a professional Automobile Repair Facility and we respect and value our customers cause they are why we are still here some 32 years.

Thank you, Frank N. Eberle,  ASE Certified Master L-1. MCET

You don't know what you are talking about. The fact that my father retired from the profession was a friendly conversation between the owner and myself, which took place one of the times I took one of my vehicles in to be services by him. Not to metion, prior to this I had been a regular customer who between two vehicles and a work van, spend nearly $800 per month in gas, and gave him numberous referrals for auto repairs. It wasn't like I just popped up. We were on a friendly basis until he attempted to screw me over. NOT TO MENTION, this is a small neighborhood shop, which I have been in only a year and a half. Since this incident, I have been informed by local, neighbors, and tow truck drivers that they have a bad reputation for this type of thing. And many of the residents have boycotted his establishment. But I will give it to you, he definitely was angry because I stood up for myself. I work hard for my money and don't like being robbed.

You can also mount a pump in line externally to get you started and going.  Then if your lucky the original pump will start working again and you will always have a backup pump.

Hitting the gas tank with an object will sometimes cause the pump to work temporarily, in fact did this for a friend of mine about 3 weeks ago, his pump had failed in a parking lot and was trying to get the vehicle home.  I said let me bump the gas tank, took a hammer and hit it several times(not hard enough to knock a hole in it mind you) and after two attempts the vehicle started right up.  Still had to get the pump replaced but it was enough to get him home.

Try being a little nicer to people.  The gas tank and a hammer was their way of telling you to f*** off.  If you go in telling mechanics that your father owned four auto shops and you know more than anyone else and your smarter, the price will go up.

Blocking your car in was pretty unethical.

Good choice to go elsewhere for the repair.

What a SCUMBAG!

"I'm simply furious that someone would think I am stupid enough to believe that a part could be marked up several hundred dollars"

  I thought your father owned four automotive shops?   If that's true, then why didn't he tell you about parts markups?   Anywhere from 100% to 200% is common.   You sound very naive for someone who is supposed to be connected to this business.

" I had already researched several different parts that may be causing the problem. "

  If you're so knowlegable, why waste this man's time having him diagnose the problem? 

" I already knew that the car would benefit from a new fuel pump and was planning to have him put it in regardless of what his diagnosis was."

  Now I'm sure you're full of it.   A car does not benefit from a new fuel pump unless the fuel pump is broken. 

  Next time I recommend that you take all of your vast knowledge about mechanics and $174.88 and just replace it yourself.   For someone who pretends to know what they're talking about, this should be no trouble at all for you.