How One Transmission Shop Cost the Big Three Millions of Dollars

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto)
09/26/2014 at 13:00 • Filed to: None

144

A transmission shop near Detroit ripped me off once. It cost the owner a few hundred dollars and the Big Three several million.

I owned a 1979 Chevrolet Monza which had a manual shift transmission. I bought it from my brother. Besides being !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , Dave was also a pretty good mechanic. He had recently replaced the clutch on the car before he sold it to me and the car ran great. One day I was driving along and something in the shifter linkage came apart. It wasn't in gear – I had been stopped at a light – and nothing I tried could get it back into gear. At the time I had not done as much with cars but I knew it was the shifter.

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I pushed the car into a parking lot and called for a ride home. I opened a phone book and saw an ad for a transmission shop which was a couple blocks from where I worked. They offered free towing. I called them and they said they'd get my car and call me as soon as they looked at it.

The next day the man at the transmission shop told me the trans needed to be rebuilt and, "The clutch is shot. It looks original. But it will cost less to do since we already have the transmission out for the rebuild." He quoted me an estimate for the job which was a bit over $600. Keep in mind that this was 1985.

I told my brother and he suggested we go to the shop and take a look. Among other things, if they had the clutch out, it would obviously not be the original clutch. It would be the one he had just put in recently. When we got there, the owner called us into his office. Before anyone sat down, Dave asked to see the transmission. The owner balked. Why would you want to look at a pile of car parts? Dave insisted.

We walked back into the shop area and there was my transmission, all torn apart, sitting on a bench. "Where's the clutch?" Dave asked. The owner looked around and saw a few clutches sitting on a different bench. He picked up the most fried-looking.

"Here you go."

Dave looked at it. "That's not the clutch from this car."

The guy looked at it and then back at the bench. He picked up another one. "Is this it?"

This clutch was not fried. "Yes. What's wrong with this?"

"Well, we have the transmission out." He pointed. "While we have it apart it just makes sense to do the clutch and the throwout bearing."

I stood to the side, wondering if my transmission would ever be properly assembled again. I walked over and took a closer look at the transmission. The front of the case normally had four flanges where it bolted to the bell housing. One of the bottom flanges was cracked off and missing. There were only three flanges and where the fourth one had been, there was shiny metal. It had been cracked off recently. I caught Dave's eye and pointed at the cracked flange.

Dave walked over. "I see you guys dropped the transmission when you removed it from the car."

"Oh that. It's no big deal. The trans only needs three bolts. We put them together like that all the time. Three will hold it forever."

At this point, there were no good options. We knew the guy was incompetent and a liar. But he had my car in pieces. What would someone else charge to fix this guy's mess? He told me his work had a "Lifetime Guarantee" or some nonsense so I agreed to let him put it back together.

A few days later, the car was done. I went and retrieved it and drove it home. When I parked, I immediately noticed the transmission leaking. I drove it back to the shop. The man did not seem concerned and told me to leave it. The next day he gave it back to me. I leaned under the car to see if it was leaking and I could see they had slathered the transmission case with something which looked suspiciously like caulking compound.

I drove it home. When I got out of the car, it was leaking again. I returned to the shop. I was young, and not quite as refined in channeling my anger as I am today, but I made it clear to the guy the reason the trans appeared to be leaking was the missing flange/bolt and unless the trans case was replaced, this was never going to run right. He said he would replace the case.

The car sat on the lot of the trans shop for a few weeks. Every few days I would call and the owner would lie to me, telling me the car was up on the hoist and they were working on it. I would walk over and see my car, unmoved, sitting where it had been the day before, covered with another day's dust from the shop's dirty parking lot. I would then walk back to my office and call again. Once, the owner told me I was confused; I must have seen another red car because mine really was up on a hoist. I went back over to the place and walked inside. I could see the two hoists were empty and we could see my car in the lot.

He told me he was having a hard time finding a transmission case for the car. He meant he was having a hard time finding one cheap. A couple days later I noticed my car was inside and they finally called me. The car was done. When I went to pick it up I climbed underneath it and confirmed that it was held on with four bolts. I took it and it ran fine.

I filed a complaint with the state Attorney General. I also filed a small claims court action.

My argument was that the original problem had been the transmission linkage. The transmission didn't need rebuilding and the clutch didn't need to be replaced. I was entitled to most of my money back.

A short while later, we were in court. I told the judge the whole story from top to bottom. Dave came in and testified about the repair he had done on the car before he sold it to me and about how we saw the trans with the broken case. The transmission shop owner told the judge his version, including how my brother and I had to be mistaken in almost everything because he was an upright businessman.

The judge ruled in my favor and ordered him to return every penny I paid him. Every penny. He was unhappy with the result but he paid me. I have to admit I had fun during the process and the fact that I had gone to court and won was one of the things which inspired me to become an attorney and to handle consumer protection claims.

The bulk of my practice is !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and I have handled several million dollars' worth of cases if you add up the value of all the cars bought back from my clients by the Big Three. In a roundabout way, this transmission shop can be blamed for that.

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But there was another very funny postscript to this story.

The Michigan Attorney General launched an undercover sting operation called !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! a few years later. They sent undercover "customers" into transmission shops across the state, shops they had received complaints about. Their operatives were almost universally ripped off. Among other things, they caught a transmission shop removing a perfectly good trans from a late model car and replacing it with a junked one. When investigators descended on the shop with search warrants, they found their trans – which had been marked – in the shop's inventory on a shelf. Presumably, the shop was hoping to sell it back to the investigator.

Many of the shops were fined and some were shut down. The one that did the work on my car was swept up in the investigation and eventually changed names. I've seen it over the years. It is still there and every few years it changes names again. I have no idea if the same owner is there but I suspect the place is still ripping people off, inspiring its customers to become attorneys. And the Big Three? They ought to hate this guy.

Follow me on twitter: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Steve Lehto has been !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for 23 years in Michigan. He taught Consumer Protection at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law for ten years and wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He also wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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DISCUSSION (100)

RMudkips > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 13:07

Great read!

It's a shame to see that this practice of ripping others off is still common. I hope you know an honest mechanic.

SteveLehto > RMudkips
09/26/2014 at 13:09

I do NOW. I was a bit naive at the time, sad to say. But it ended well.

Thanks for the note.

Crocket Bernet > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 13:16

I really enjoy all of these stories you write up, really shows the shitbirds that are blatantly trying to rip people off in the car world and that you can deal with these people.

Sweet Trav > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 13:17

So after your fees from these millions, you're doing pretty well for yourself, and all thanks to a crappy business owner who tried to screw a young kid over.

SteveLehto > Sweet Trav
09/26/2014 at 13:18

Well, I make a living . . . but I think your sentiment is right. All's well that ends well etc.

SteveLehto > Crocket Bernet
09/26/2014 at 13:19

The scary part is how many other people they ripped off without getting caught.

Thanks for the note. I'm glad people enjoy the stories.

vondon302 > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 13:22

Another great article Steve. Even if the head line is click bait, well a little bit at least, but we'll done nonetheless. Keep em coming.

SteveLehto > vondon302
09/26/2014 at 13:28

Well, it's a fine line. The alternative is that the headline is unruly.

I do think the Big Three would love to go back in time and slap that guy if they could - I'd probably be doing something else now.

Thanks for the note.

miadaman? yes please > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 13:29

Half way through reading I was like "if only Steve Lehto was there to save the day", shortly before I realized who wrote the article.

Great read as always, thanks!

SteveLehto > miadaman? yes please
09/26/2014 at 13:31

Now, that's funny! What is amazing is that I had no idea what I was doing. Looking back on it, I was lucky. I've seen enough cases go through small claims and it often is the luck of the draw - do you get a judge who will actually listen to the parties etc. I had a good judge. I got to appear in front of him quite a few times later, when I was an attorney and representing other people.

Thanks for the note.

miadaman? yes please > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 13:41

I've had the decent fortune to not having to deal with what you normally write about. But I do remember on my very first purchase off a shoddy used dealer, I left the lot with 4 very much bald tires. Gone back to argue only to have the dealer associated mechanic pull up a photo showing to me how it is "right at the legal limit" at the time of sale (of course driving from and to the dealer worn it below such limit).

Long story short, I took these balded tires to an autocross and proceeded to slide all over the place until one of them decided that it's had enough.

Looking forward to your next piece!

SteveLehto > miadaman? yes please
09/26/2014 at 13:43

Thanks for the note. I have learned that one of the most important things you can find is a mechanic you trust. If you don't have one ASK AROUND. I've got one now that I send everyone to. Likewise if you find a car dealer you trust.

Leadbull > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 13:56

So, do you still handle cases involving shops, or do you mostly focus on lemon laws?

If you do, or at least keep up with other attorneys who do, I'd be interested to know if this is still a major problem.

SteveLehto > Leadbull
09/26/2014 at 13:58

I handle them from time to time but they are messier than lemon law cases. And yes, it is still a problem. That is why you want to ask around and find a mechanic you trust and cling to them like your life depended on it.

I was young (relatively) and naive.

Thanks for the note.

miadaman? yes please > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 13:59

Couldn't agree more, especially if they let you stand around and watch them work.

Leadbull > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:10

Are there certain "types" of shops that are more likely to rip you off?

For example, I assume smaller, family-owned shops or specialized shops (such as the transmission place you just described) might have more freedom/ability to be dishonest than larger or chain shops with a more defined corporate structure.

But I could be totally wrong, and it may work the other way around. Or there could be no trends one way or another.

SteveLehto > Leadbull
09/26/2014 at 14:17

It seems to me - from what I hear complaints about - it is usually the smaller places doing the larger work. Engine rebuilds and transmission repairs, done at non dealers and non chain facilities. This is not a hard rule or a law but just the trend I have seen. For heavy engine or trans work, I would go to a dealership myself.

As with many other things, ask around and try to get referrals from people you know and trust. Those can be quite valuable.

Leadbull > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:26

Thanks for the insight!

For Sweden > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:28

I suspect the place is still ripping people off, inspiring its customers to become attorneys.

Michigan Law has odd recruiting practices.

SteveLehto > For Sweden
09/26/2014 at 14:29

Inspiration comes from the strangest places!

Gary Yogurt > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:33

Unfortunately, these articles justify my paranoia about mechanics. That and hearing stories from my brother (mechanic) and my dad (former mechanic). I've had exactly one good shop experience in my lifetime. I do my own work.

guppysb > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:34

"He shoots, he scores!!!" Another great article Steve.

SteveLehto > Gary Yogurt
09/26/2014 at 14:34

Which is the best option if you can do it.

Thanks for the note.

chucchinchilla > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:34

Kinja'd!!!

SteveLehto > guppysb
09/26/2014 at 14:34

Thanks. I appreciate it!

ScreenShot > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:35

In a roundabout way, this transmission shop can be blamed for that.

Given there are millions of cars on the road around the country/world that rarely go near a transmission shop, I think you're overestimating their impact.

Ingo-Castilho > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:35

Nice post, good read.

SteveLehto > chucchinchilla
09/26/2014 at 14:35

Thanks!

DMCVegas > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:36

Kinja'd!!!

Love this story.

SteveLehto > ScreenShot
09/26/2014 at 14:36

Blamed for inspiring me to become an attorney and sue the Big Three.

SteveLehto > DMCVegas
09/26/2014 at 14:37

Thanks!

Gary Yogurt > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:37

Keep up the good work, I enjoy your stuff!

Sky Blue > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:40

I don't understand how this case costed the big three millions? You mean people unsuspectingly buying numerous transmissions from them?

SteveLehto > Sky Blue
09/26/2014 at 14:42

This event inspired me to become and attorney where I specialize in suing the car companies. I have recovered millions from the car companies.

LumberJunk > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:44

This was a great read! My old college did a similar experiment I guess you could call it. They sent a bunch of girls each with a car with one problem to a group of shops. The cars were inspected before going out and everything else was perfect on them. All of the shops except for one were trying to rip off these girls.

The funny thing about it is, the one shop that didn't try to rip them off has been my (and my family's) go-to mechanic that we have been using for years. He's the kind of guy that will bring you back into the shop and show you the car and show you exactly what needs fixing. He also does this as soon as you bring the car in (if he has time). He also has told me "I'm not fixing that, I'd have to charge you $300, you can do it yourself for about $50 and a few hours of work" Just a group of stand up guys.

SteveLehto > LumberJunk
09/26/2014 at 14:45

Every so often the news stations or the networks do that with hidden cameras and it's like shooting fish in a barrel sometimes.

Thanks for the note.

ScreenShot > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:48

Inspiration being where we find it, I think looking for a reason to go after any large corp. means facing a fairly low hurdle, as they tend to serve cause up in spades.

MFEJAL grey because who knows... > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:48

They are like trucking companies! ripping of customers and drivers for a while, changing names, loop actions.

dilbag83773 > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:52

I really don't give the long stories much of my attention, but your stories always capture my attention and keep it. I love reading your stories and am going to continue reading.

I appreciate very much so that there are people like you out there.

SteveLehto > dilbag83773
09/26/2014 at 14:53

I trimmed it as best I could!

Thanks for the note.

Upshift > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:54

Hah that's a pretty interesting and fun story. It kind of reminds me how futureshop is the reason I've become an IT worker for the federal government.

Long story short, I got my first computer at age 12 and within a few month I had problems with it. It took futureshop an entire month to fix it under warranty and it turned out to be something dumb.

Me, being a spoiled only child at the time, hated waiting endlessly for my things to be available to me. So, I decided I would try to fix my next problems myself. I managed to hone myself some pretty good skills that got me a nice career.

iridiumisred > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:55

Thanks for sharing - very informative, and well written...

SteveLehto > Upshift
09/26/2014 at 14:55

Yes, and if you can do the work yourself it's the best way to go.

Thanks for the note.

angerandotherfinethings > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:55

I too fell into the trap of not realizing who wrote this article until the punchline. I feel like it should have ended with "...and now you know the rest of the story." Good read.

Sky Blue > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:56

Ah ha! Very clever.

Do you handle lemon law cases outside of Michigan?

SteveLehto > iridiumisred
09/26/2014 at 14:56

Thanks for the note. I appreciate it.

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:57

I'm confused: What does the big 3 have to do with this?

SteveLehto > angerandotherfinethings
09/26/2014 at 14:57

Thanks for the note. I guess my stories are often similarly-themed!

SteveLehto > Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion
09/26/2014 at 14:58

This case inspired me to become an attorney and handle "car" cases. I sue the Big Three all day long. If I had not become an attorney, I would not have filed all those cases.

gm0n3y > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 14:58

Decent read, the title is pretty click-baity though.

qqwweerrttyy > For Sweden
09/26/2014 at 14:59

We have a saying at work... if it's stupid, but it works, it's not stupid.

SteveLehto > gm0n3y
09/26/2014 at 15:00

Sorry. Headlines are not my specialty. The ones I come up with are usually too drab or too what-you-said.

Thanks for the note.

Illuminatty Light > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:02

This is a really good post. Reminds me of why I'm generally terrified to let anyone else repair my cars. If somebody is going to do shoddy work on my cars, it should be me. At least then the labor is free.

SteveLehto > Illuminatty Light
09/26/2014 at 15:03

That's funny. I've done a bit of work on my cars over the years. I tend to go really slow and double and triple-check everything.

Thanks for the note.

Eyaare > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:05

I kind of missed where this links back to the big three, and how they lost money off it. What does the cops beefing with repair shops even have to do with the big three (assuming we're talking the automakers, not some mysterious cartel of repair shops)?

mycorvettebroke > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:06

Makes me feel good you got that fool.

Early in my career I worked at a large dealer as a tech, always keeping in mind the shop that ripped off my dad when we were on our way home from a dodger game at 10yrs old when our Toyoda Corona wagon broke down in Echo Park near LA after dark. I was probably the only honest tech there at the time.

Ended up in R&D so no kid has to go through my experience. Love how life traumatized me into my career.

Do-Rif-To > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:08

Pertaining to your 2nd to last paragraph, do you think that certain types of repair shops are more likely to pull some crap like this than others? It sounds like that crack-down was focused directly at transmission shops, that makes sense logically because they're high dollar value and high labor items that the consumer is largely clueless about.

Similarly, I had an awful tire shop in Upstate NY try to tell me I needed a new wheel after I brought the car in with a bad tie rod while in college, I challenged them about 4 times to show me the mysterious crack that they claimed to be seeing and eventually they backed off. I was actually a little disappointing, I had a couple of PHD students with dissertations related to crack propagation and fatigue failure lined up to tear them a new one on the next visit.

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:08

Ooooohhhhh

Ok, now I get it.

SteveLehto > Eyaare
09/26/2014 at 15:09

"the fact that I had gone to court and won was one of the things which inspired me to become an attorney and to handle consumer protection claims. The bulk of my practice is Lemon Law and I have handled several million dollars' worth of cases if you add up the value of all the cars bought back from my clients by the Big Three. In a roundabout way, this transmission shop can be blamed for that."

I was joking that 1) this guy inspired me to become an attorney, 2) as an attorney, I sue the Big Three, therefore 3) the Big Three could blame this guy for making me become an attorney.

bratkitty > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:10

I usually enjoy your articles, but I think this was one of your best. I quite like seeing what motivated you to become an attorney.

factsonly1 > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:10

thanks for sharing this

SteveLehto > mycorvettebroke
09/26/2014 at 15:10

Same here (trauma = career). Thanks for the note!

GreenAcurasAreTheCarsForMe > LumberJunk
09/26/2014 at 15:10

I remember an article from many years back where the authors drove around to a number of shops. They'd stop about a block away and pull one spark plug wire. Then they'd pull into the shop with the car running like crap and see what happened. The vast majority of the shops did all kinds of unnecessary repairs.

Then one time, the car started running like crap all on its own. They pulled into a shop that, luckily for them, turned out to be one of the honest ones. The mechanic found a clogged jet in the carburetor (shows you how old the article was). The debris had come from the shoddy and unnecessary fuel filter replacement a previous shop had done.

drdude > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:10

Cool story. You could probably just write 30 articles of stories like this and we would love it.. lol.

SteveLehto > Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion
09/26/2014 at 15:11

No problem. It's kind of buried in there.

Thanks for the note.

SteveLehto > bratkitty
09/26/2014 at 15:11

Thanks for the note. Funny how life works out like that.

SteveLehto > factsonly1
09/26/2014 at 15:12

Thanks for reading it - and for the note.

SteveLehto > drdude
09/26/2014 at 15:13

Let's see how that theory works. I'll keep writing them so long as people keep reading them!

Eyaare > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:21

Yeah, I kinda glossed over that part. thanks!

SteveLehto > Eyaare
09/26/2014 at 15:22

I tried to cut this down but there was only so much I could do. Thanks for sticking with it!

LumberJunk > GreenAcurasAreTheCarsForMe
09/26/2014 at 15:23

The spark plug trick is a clever one! My brother had a little VW that sparkplugs would always fall out of. Our mech put it back in and took a brand new coffee that was in the cup holder of the VW as payment. Overall a funny experience.

Isn't it funny how no matter what happens, those shoddy shops generally lead you to an honest one, sometimes it takes a few years too long though!

EvilSuperMonkey > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:26

Always nice to hear someone who caught the people ripping them off. And even cooler when it's a life altering event, in a good way.

SteveLehto > EvilSuperMonkey
09/26/2014 at 15:28

Yes, and I know I was lucky. There are a lot of people who have gone through things like this who were not made whole.

Thanks for the note.

LumberJunk > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:29

I really wish more would come from these. I bet you get really frustrated at what happens to some of your clients. I would love to know how it feels to have a large role in helping the victims of these scams.

I love your posts on here.

elkris > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:29

I don't understand what the deal is about transmission shops being so sketch. It's not rocket science. I've rebuilt a few transmissions (including autos), one was supposedly "not serviceable". They are all running perfectly after several years and a hundred thousand miles.

I'm not a trained mechanic - but I'm not stupid either. All it requires is the correct tools and following the instructions in the manual exactly as described. Even a young neighbor girl with almost no automotive knowledge replaced a valve body in her auto trans a couple months back - I was just there to supervise, but she did all the research and tooling herself.

Most sketch shops will just install a trans from a junkyard and pass it off as a fully rebuilt/refurbished unit. I've even seen dealerships pull sad tactics like this as well.

The real fault is in consumer lack of knowledge and lack of willingness to learn. If you don't want to get raped, spend an hour or two researching online, sign up in some forums specifically about your vehicle, get second opinions. It literally doesn't take much to learn something about anything in this day and age.

deekster_caddy > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:29

Another great article! If there's one thing I hate worse than an incompetent mechanic, it's a crooked mechanic! I may have found my next career move!

CruzeHatch > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:31

Where is the "Cost the big three millions" part? Am I missing something? All I see is you getting screwed and lots of repair shops getting caught lol.

SteveLehto > elkris
09/26/2014 at 15:32

This was a while ago and I was a bit younger. There are a lot of people who do not have the skills or the time to do these things themselves. Those are who these kind of people prey upon. But I agree with you. If you can, do it yourself.

Thanks for the note.

SteveLehto > deekster_caddy
09/26/2014 at 15:32

Thanks for the note!

SteveLehto > CruzeHatch
09/26/2014 at 15:35

I am joking but the thinking goes like this: 1) this guy inspired me to be an attorney 2) as an attorney I sue the Big Three all day long, therefore, 3) the Big Three should blame this guy for me becoming an attorney. It's HIS fault!

Lockon Stratos GN-002 > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:36

Hey Steve, great story. It makes me mad as a Transmission shop owner, how this make us all look bad. The number one rule me and my dad have is always be honest to the customer. Without that we would probably been out of business a long time ago. We have been very fortunate because of that one rule, our base clientele is mostly word of mouth now. Since we have been open, only once we had a problem with a customer. But most of the time, if ever, there is a problem we take care of it right away. But we always gets this experience since people already been screwed once, they think we will do it too. Maybe we get a little bit hammer more because were Hispanic, but once they see our quality work it's a different story. One thing we always keep in mind, is the we are here for the long run, not big profit in a short time. We rather keep profit low and have returning customers. So far it's worked out good we've been in business almost 5 year now and its been great(well for the most part).

Upshift > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:37

Ain't that the truth! Thanks for the write-up!

SteveLehto > Lockon Stratos GN-002
09/26/2014 at 15:38

That is why I always say people should ask around for referrals. There ARE good places out there. You just need to find them. It's like any other business: the bad ones do so much damage to the reputation of them all.

Thanks for the note.

RalphyBMW > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:39

I'm sorry, but while I usually really enjoy your articles (and did enjoy this one) I'm not sure exactly what it has to do with the big three? This guy will have ripped off consumers, but not the manufacturers, or have I missed something?

SteveLehto > RalphyBMW
09/26/2014 at 15:40

It was a joke in the middle:

It's the transmission shop's fault I became an attorney and now sue the Big Three.

brzedr1 > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:41

Steve,

I've noticed a common theme in a few of your articles: you generally refrain from naming the less-reputable shops and dealerships you encounter professionally and personally.

Why not identify these lousy operations? I can understand why you would/must obscure the details of your professional cases, but why anonymize names from your personal experiences? Is it a protection against potential litigation perhaps?

Just interested in your professional and/or personal take on the topic..

Best,

Zed

P.S. I enjoy the articles, keep 'em up..

Grannypotts > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:43

This story comes as no surprise. :-(

I had a transmission shop in Plymouth MI pull a similar scam on me. I dropped off my 0ld 260Z to have the valve body in the TH700R4 (don't ask) replaced. I didn't tell the shop that the new valve body was a full manual shift unit, figured I would let them work on a need-to-know basis.

Get a call a week later saying the car was ready and head over to pick it up. On the drive home, my manual shifting valve body had no problems automatically shifting on its own. Additionally, my 10" 3200 stall torque converter felt a lot like an OEM 1400 stall unit. My plan was to go back the next day, grab my converter and valve body that were likely laying around, and then dispute the American Express charges.

I eventually made it back to the shop, found my original converter and the valve body that was supposed to be installed, grabbed them both and started walking out the door without saying a word to anyone. The owner quickly intercepted me and threatened to call the police. When I offered to dial the number for him, he stormed off to his office in a huff knocking over chairs and tool benches in the process.

Called American Express the next day and filed a claim dispute. It took a month or two, but American Express finally sided with me. A couple months after AmEx settled the dispute, the shop changed names and the owner was said to have died of a heart attack. Tough business I suppose...

Thanks for the stories. It's good to know there is someone local I can turn to should something like this happen again and / or on a bigger scale.

RDGJR > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:45

What would you have become if it wasn't for this guy? A haberdasher?

SteveLehto > brzedr1
09/26/2014 at 15:46

Not in this case. The place has changed names MANY times. If I told you the name as it was called back then, it would not help you and if I gave you the name today, it might be different management (I don't know). I had a long talk with my brother this morning about this case (I was double checking the facts) and he and I were both unsure of which name it was using at the moment I dealt with them. We had an office nearby and the place changed names while we were there. I thought one name was the original, he thought that one was the changed name.

Many of my other cases I leave out the names. Partly because I don't want to get sued (I'd win but the suit would be a nuisance) but also because these stories usually aren't that unique. In other words, I don't want you to think that if you avoid that ONE place, it won't happen to you.

Thanks for the note.

SteveLehto > Grannypotts
09/26/2014 at 15:47

Wow. Thanks for the note.

SteveLehto > RDGJR
09/26/2014 at 15:47

A cooper. Or perhaps a witch-finder.

Steve in Manhattan > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:48

I remember what Click and Clack said many years back - if you go to a transmission shop, you're not leaving with new brakes. Another reason to find a good all-around shop you can trust.

SteveLehto > Steve in Manhattan
09/26/2014 at 15:49

Now, that's funny. Thanks for the note.

dilbag83773 > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:49

No! Don't trim! Your stories are the best! The details are what makes it.

The Old Man from Scene 24 > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:49

When I needed to replace the clutch in my Ford Escort, I tried three separate independent shops. The first refused to work on a FWD car and the second told me it would be two weeks before they could get to my car. The third place looked more like a scrap yard than a garage, every surface had a coating of grease and the owner was missing most of his teeth and at least one finger and reeked of BO and weed.

I wound up taking the car to Cottman Transmission.

DanPadge > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:49

Neat origin story but rather misleading headline. I think I'm gonna call that Steve Lehto guy and see if I have a false advertising case. ;)

Saf1 > SteveLehto
09/26/2014 at 15:50

Interesting how you only mention the Big Three and not other manufacturers - is it just that the majority of your cases happen to be of their cars? And is that because between them they make most of the cars on the road in the US (assumption) or something else?? Am also curious for your other reasons/inspirations to become a laywer? Good read!

SteveLehto > dilbag83773
09/26/2014 at 15:50

Okay. I'll tell everyone the long pieces are your fault!

Thanks. (I just hate it when people respond and start with a TL/DR!)

SteveLehto > DanPadge
09/26/2014 at 15:51

Sue everyone! I admit I am hit-or-miss on headlines. As soon as I put it up, Jalopnik put it on Facebook with a better one. (I need an editor.)

SteveLehto > Saf1
09/26/2014 at 15:52

Believe it or not, 99% of my cases involve the Big Three. I have several theories on that which might make an interesting column one day.

Thanks for the note.