pep boys Something Fishy going on @ Pep Boys Raynham, Massachusetts

Being the weekend, I had trouble finding a repair shop that was opened and was delighted to find out that Pep Boys was opened and could look at my car that same day.

Before I brought it in, was told they would hook it up to their diagnostic machine that would pinpoint the problem.

First, they told me that it was my starter and my battery that needed to be replaced.

I agreed with the starter, but questioned the battery as I had just replaced it myself less than two years ago. Told the service guy I would replace the battery myself at a later date and told them to go a head and replace the starter.

Went to pick the car up, was told that I was right, that the battery was good after all, since they charged it and it kept the charge. (red flag # 1)

 Paid them for the starter replacement and the service guy enrolled me into their "rewards" program. Was told that repairs also went towards earning "rewards" (red flag # 2)

They drove the car out of the garage and it stalled, the service guy kept starting it, (it obviously started now), but the car would die right away. This was something new. I brought it in because it wouldn't start. Now it wouldn't keep running.

I left the car with them as they were going to look at it again. 

On a follow up call, I was told that they hadn't gotten to it yet, but the mechanic looking at the car earlier thought it might be "engine problems". I told the guy there was nothing at all wrong with my engine and that prior to not starting, it was running

perfectly.  He told me, that that din't mean it didn't have "engine problems" now.

(red flag # 3)

Called back the next day, was given a list of at least 5 sensors and valves that had to be replaced. I told the mechanic that I was aware that I might need an 02 sensor, but that the car had been running fine regardless. I disagreed that I needed to replace so many sensors and valves and asked what specific part "might" be causing my car to stall out as soon as you put the car into gear. He said "all of them" I told him I disagreed with this and asked him to ask the mechanic again.

He advised me to call back.

Did some research on line and my research indicated that the mass air sensor valve might cause the problems I was experiencing and had this confirmed when I called back and they told me that replacing this part "might fix my problem" 

I asked for an estimate, was told that he would have to get one for me and advised me to call back.

I waited another day and called back. I was told that the part was "very expensive" and that they were trying to get me a "after market" mass airflow sensor. I asked him how expensive was this part, and he told me $500.00 plus labor. (bare in mind that I had just paid them $300.00 to replace the starter. I asked him, "If I replace this part, will this solve my problem?", and he said, Probably not, and that I had "a lot of things wrong with my car."

At this point I called my regular mechanic, who is familiar with the car. I advised him that I didn't take it to him because it was the weekend and he was closed and appologized for it. Gave him a run down of the things they wanted to replace in my car, to which my mechanic said, "You better get that car in here, (to his garage).

Towed the car out of Pep Boys, to my now opened mechanic's garage.

In less than an hour my mechanic called me back with the cause of the problem.

"Somehow" the mass airflow valve had been "unplugged" and my mechanic reattached the wire leading to it and the car was running fine now..... 

So, let's break this down, 

Pep Boys in Raynham, Ma tried to replace a bunch of valves and sensors I didn't need replacing....

"Somehow" with all the diagnostic work they did, they missed the fact that the part they were trying to replace (the "very expensive part"), was merely unplugged... 

I wonder how that happened in the first place. Guess it's a mystery....

I believe that had I not objected, I would have also paid for a new battery I didn't need too.

It's been a week, the temp is exactly 3 degrees outside and my car purrs like a kitten.

AVOID PEP BOYS IN RAYNHAM, MA UNLESS YOU WANT TO REPLACE A LOT OF PARTS UNECESSARILY!!!!!

But HEY! they have a rewards program!!!!!! After all those repairs, you will qualify for free air fresheners or something...........