WARNING: Transmission Specialists Ltd

[Maddog55]

Here's the lo-down:

My son's g/f bought herself a 1990 JDM Skyline. Everything was running fine until, "pop!", the clutch pedal slams to the floor and she can't shift. She needs the car fixed asap and starts to phone around. Everyone else is booked for at least a week until she phones "Transmission Specialists Ltd" in the Avenida Mall down south. "Sure..I can take it in today" he says.

The Transmission Specialist Ltd. RUSS STOODLEY Owner/Operator - #619-12445 Lake Fraser ... General Repair. CALL: 225-2767

She drops it off with those exact instructions as to whats wrong. Well he proceeds to drop the whole tranny and take the clutch and pressure plate apart. She phones later only to be informed: "You need a new clutch, pressure plate, flywheel re-surface and master & slave cylinder...I've taken it all apart"

So my son and I inform her to tell him to STOP all work..we'll decide and, if needed, can get the parts ourselves and we'll take the car away

He says the bill is up to $300 just for the work he's done so-far.
The next day we go to pick it up and he has already re-surfaced the flywheel at an additional cost of $70.00!! (yes AFTER she told him not to do anymore work)

He of course says otherwise ("No..she said her b/f will bring a new cluth, so of course the flywheel has to be machined") so its a he-said/she-said deal now.

I phone him up and tell him to put everything in a box...we'll pick it up. Him and I exchange a few heated words, after which he calls me back and leaves a msg threatening to charge us $85/hour for his hoist unless we come down and pay the outstanding bill by 5 pm that day (this was at 3:20pm)

Here's where it gets REAL interesting:

Once back in my garage at home, we look under the pedal only to find one simple bracket for the cluth pedal has snapped. That was it!!
Did the clutch need replacing?...sure...in time...but it was NOT slipping AT ALL before this. Its very close to the rivets..but there's no gouging on the pressure plate yet, and as for the flywheel...well he had already re-surfaced it, so dunno about that side. There was also no leakage anywhere of any fluid and the master was full.
(He even made a note on the original work order about no sign of leakage)
NOW all of a sudden after we've picked it up, the slave cylinder leaks like a seive out of the boot.!!!!!!

I did some research and found two complaints with the BBB. And another shop in the same complex told us he's known for these kind of tactics

It was the owner himself, Russ, that we dealt with. So, friends...take it for what its worth. All I've stated here, is pure fact, I've made no accusations.

60,000 Beyond members is a powerful word of mouth. Lets all look out for each other.

[LBG]

thanks for the warning. stupid people who try to take advantage

[Dayclone]

Damn thanks buddy! I hope things goes okay for you!

Hmm we should threaten him with reporting him to the news and filing a lawsuit! lolz that'll scare him.

And he must of made your cylinder leak somehow or something... I'm thinking sabotage!

[frozenrice]

I kind of wondered about that place. I went in there once asking about a transmission rebuild I was working on and something just didnt' feel right. So I just said thanks and left. I'm glad now that I listened to my gut.
Thanks for the warning Maddog, hope everything works out for you. G/L.

[Maddog55]

Here are pictures of the pressure plate and cluth. You can see that it's obviously on its last legs, but no gouging and not quite down to the rivets yet. And obviously had NOTHING to do with the original problem. Why he felt he had to drop the tranny and rip everything apart for a "pedal malfunction" is beyond me.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/th_a682ae86.jpg (http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/a682ae86.jpg)http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/th_00c87611.jpg (http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/00c87611.jpg)

Here's a picture of what the actual problem was...a broken bracket. (you can see the shiny metal of the break to the lower left of the text..sorry..didn't know how to paste an arrow lol)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/th_bfcaaf6a.jpg (http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o312/CalgaryDave/bfcaaf6a.jpg)

[5hift]

I would explain to him how he is now getting free adversting on Beyond, and how you could continue that free advertising on local consumer alert newcasts if he wants to continue to try to scam you out of some money.

[Maddog55]

Originally posted by 5hift
I would explain to him how he is now getting free adversting on Beyond, and how you could continue that free advertising on local consumer alert newcasts if he wants to continue to try to scam you out of some money.

I like the way you worded that, 5hift. Good idea. There's Tony Tighe, who I've already had a spot with that got me TV exposure....lol.

The only thing is, we just decided to get it the hell out of there before anymore work/damage was done. We've put all brand new parts in there for her which is good...she just didn't really need it now...nor did she need a $1,000 repair bill.

Imagine if this guy had showed her the actual problem...did a simple weld fix and have it ready for her that afternoon? He would've gotten RAVE reviews and recomendations. With 60,000 members Im sure that would've turned into some nice repeat customers. Worth MUCH more than the $400 he "got out of us".

[Maddog55]

I've registered a complaint with BBB. We'll see what happens.

[ca18det240sx]

If you want a new slave cylinder i can give you one for free that im pretty sure will fit. Bring me the old one and we'll make sure.

[freakin]

I had a simmilar issue with my clutch about 3-4 years ago. I had my clutch go in my Integra....no big deal it happens. I take it down the them and pay the $600-$800 for the simple job of replacing the clutch and resurfacing the flywheel. At this point, everything should be good, and I paid what I felt to be an average price for the work.

Two weeks later, I start getting a really bad vibration out of the clutch pedal, then next thing you know, it goes to floor. I'm thinking, no big deal, I'll call up the shop and get back in there for them to fix it. I call them up, get the same guy I dealt with last time I was there....he tells me that they're under new management, so any warranty work isn't applicable....but they'd be happy to look at it for a discounted price. I tell them a few choice words and go to my buddy's shop instead (he was too busy to take me in the first time). My buddy calls me back to confirm that I paid for a new clutch, because the one that's in there is absolutely toast. It looked like they just put another used one in there then it let go, or they just put it back together with my old parts after machining the flywheel. Either way, definately not new parts in there. He calls up the shop to try and get some leverage for me, and gets the same run around. I can spend months fighting this in court, or just pay my buddy for a job done properly and eat the other clutch.

Needless to say, I have nothing good to say about that shop either. I'm not sure if they did in fact change ownership, but the fact remains that the staff was the same....so regardless, the same assholes would have been working on my car.

Definately beware of that shop in Avenida!

[MilanoRedTeg]

sounds like somebody needs to shut these idiots down for good

[Maddog55]

Originally posted by ca18det240sx
If you want a new slave cylinder i can give you one for free that im pretty sure will fit. Bring me the old one and we'll make sure.

Wow ca18....that would be awesome! Thanks so much. She is looking for one right now but they are about 3 weeks away on arrival. So her car is sitting in my garage in the meantime. I'll get back to you when we get it out of the car.

Beyond members are the greatest :clap:

[Biga Ramrod]

Thanks for the information, I won't be going there any time soon. I really appreciate members posting which shops they have had problems with, people like RUSS STOODLEY should not be able to get away with ripping customers off.

[ca18det240sx]

Yah, i have s13 slave cyls out the ass so if itll work for you, youre welcome to have one.

[Maddog55]

Originally posted by ca18det240sx
Yah, i have s13 slave cyls out the ass so if itll work for you, youre welcome to have one.

LOL...is this Jeff? My son just read your posts. His name is Brad...g/f is Janelle, friends with Tanner etc etc.

[Kona9]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: to ca18det240sx!!


Now can you please train a large chunk of Calgary to stop being Douches!!!

generousity goes along way. You get back what you put into a situation ten fold!!

[max_boost]

Originally posted by Maddog55


I like the way you worded that, 5hift. Good idea. There's Tony Tighe, who I've already had a spot with that got me TV exposure....lol.

The only thing is, we just decided to get it the hell out of there before anymore work/damage was done. We've put all brand new parts in there for her which is good...she just didn't really need it now...nor did she need a $1,000 repair bill.

Imagine if this guy had showed her the actual problem...did a simple weld fix and have it ready for her that afternoon? He would've gotten RAVE reviews and recomendations. With 60,000 members Im sure that would've turned into some nice repeat customers. Worth MUCH more than the $400 he "got out of us".

Yeah. Bring it to the media and let them blow it up.
How hard is it for people to be honest these days?!


Originally posted by Kona9
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: to ca18det240sx!!


Now can you please train a large chunk of Calgary to stop being Douches!!!

generousity goes along way. You get back what you put into a situation ten fold!!

Good karma! :thumbsup:

[ca18det240sx]

Does Tanner have a really nice s14?

[Maddog55]

Tanner does have a skyline...not sure what chassis. His nic is "Type S" here on beyond. Spiked blond hair.

[ca18det240sx]

Dont know him, LOL i know a tanner that lives in crossfield, bought my friends s14, which used to belong to Garage Works in edmonton.

anyways, maybe if you take a picture of the slave, i can tell you if this one will fit or not. AFAIK only the GTR uses a different master, the rest should be the same as s13

[403Gemini]

Good to see how this thread is turning out.

Maddog, your post was well written and obviously had thought into it, not like most other "WARNING! THIS SHOP SUX0RZZZZ" threads, so i'll definatly take what you say into thought when i need work done on my car, thanks for the warning!

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by 403Gemini
Good to see how this thread is turning out.

Maddog, your post was well written and obviously had thought into it, not like most other "WARNING! THIS SHOP SUX0RZZZZ" threads, so i'll definatly take what you say into thought when i need work done on my car, thanks for the warning!

:werd: +1 Maddog, good to purely sticking to the facts, and leaving the opportunity for the shop to respond or whatnot (even though I know, not every auto shop in Calgary has 5 hours sittin' in a hotel room after work to be on Beyond)

[Maddog55]

Originally posted by 403Gemini
Good to see how this thread is turning out.

Maddog, your post was well written and obviously had thought into it, not like most other "WARNING! THIS SHOP SUX0RZZZZ" threads, so i'll definatly take what you say into thought when i need work done on my car, thanks for the warning!


Originally posted by TomcoPDR

:werd: +1 Maddog, good to purely sticking to the facts, and leaving the opportunity for the shop to respond or whatnot (even though I know, not every auto shop in Calgary has 5 hours sittin' in a hotel room after work to be on Beyond)

Thanks Guys. I did put a lot of thought into it. I wasn't even sure about posting it. I'm very careful not to make any slanderous accusations. Just state the facts and let people make thier own decisions.

I actually printed out this thread, along with the current "view count" and took it down to the owner "for a good read". I asked him why he didn't say anything to anyone about the broken bracket before he started taking the whole tranny apart. His first response was "you can't see it without dropping the tranny" :confused:

"huh?? you just look under the pedal with a light and can see the break"

His response then was "Well you have to drop the tranny to replace that bracket"

"Why, then, would you start taking the whole clutch assembly apart when the problem was clearly just a broken bracket?"

He also told my son's girlfriend that he "took the car for a test drive" and "it clearly needs a new clutch". I find that very interesting when the car had to be towed into the shop, as the clutch pedal was slammed tightly to the floor making driving virtually impossible. Not saying he didn't...I just find that statement interesting.

My stance is; the problem was linkage. The bracket can be replaced. The problem was not the clutch. It would've lasted a while the way it is. But by taking the whole thing apart and re-surfacing the flywheel (without her permission) she is now forced to spend over a thousand dollars and carry through with a complete new clutch assembly and slave cylinder when that was not the problem at all.

[Maddog55]

Originally posted by ca18det240sx
Yah, i have s13 slave cyls out the ass so if itll work for you, youre welcome to have one.

Update:

Thanks so much for your offer ca18...But A friend of hers got her a slave. (cylinder that is....that sounded a little kinky lol)

I would've totally brought you a case of beer for your kind offer. But thank you none the less

[ca18det240sx]

No problem man, love to help out. If you need anything else, let me know.

[403Gemini]

Threads like these remind me why i've been on this forum for 4+ years

[limited60]

Just bumping this thread because it's relevant to me....
I have been getting screwed by RUSS STOODLEY as well on a head gasket repair.

The long and short of it...got an estimate from Calgary Honda for a head gasket replacement, coming in at $1228, all inclusive.
I was looking to sell the car but wanted it fixed before I sold it.

Looked around for a lower price and found that nearly everywhere in Calgary charged between $700 and $1000.

I took it to The Transmission Specialist in Avenida upon RUSS STOODLEY'S quote of $800-$1000.

He phones me the next day asking for....get this....$2245.

I have told him that I need everything in paper....labor hours, parts costs, etc. He won't comply.
He has a pattern of lying and deceit, and, since he is not complying with my requests, I have taken the matter up with AMVIC, the BBB, and my final step will be to drag his ass into court.

I'll spend $2245 in court before I give it to this corrupt and dishonest shop.

(maddog, if you're out there, can you pm me, or email me at [email protected], with RUSS STOODLEY in the subject line please???)

Thanks.
I'll let you know how it works out, but, be very aware of the service provided at
THE TEANSMISSION SPECIALIST LTD in Avenida in Calgary.

[n1zm0]

^ you brought your car to a 'transmission specialist' for a HG replacement? :confused: either way seems like this guys a definite POS, how can he not give you a breakdown of labour and parts???!

[94boosted]

Good job on getting the car out of there when you did Maddog and thanks for the heads up. GL with finishing the car

[limited60]

Originally posted by n1zm0
^ you brought your car to a 'transmission specialist' for a HG replacement? :confused: either way seems like this guys a definite POS, how can he not give you a breakdown of labour and parts???!


I called a TON of places and no one came in above $1000 except Honda. I like supporting local businesses and his price was on par with everybody else, so, given his proximity to my house, I went there.

Given the number of places that just straight up said, "we don't do that repair here", I figured that was standard protocol. If you don't do the repairs, you don't do the repairs.
He seemed knowledgable, basically talked about all the things Honda talked about...besides, aside from the tools and the time, I hear an HG replacement is pretty straight forward.

Nevertheless, repair details aside, he's reneging on his original quote, doubling it and then adding some more.
That's wrong and I'm not going to let him get away with it.

This shop apparently has some crookedness to it.

[psycoticclown]

Wow what a fucking scumbag. Who can't write a sheet up showing labour and part costs? If he does any work to your car, IIRC, you don't have to pay him since you didn't agree on what was needed to be done and since he has no paperwork, if he tries to take you to court, I'm pretty sure you'll have a strong case.

But I may be wrong.

[toastgremlin]

For future reference. which is a good shop to go to for general transmission work?

I might need to get my tranny dropped and inspected. From what other people are saying, this shop would probably start replacing things willy-nilly instead of actually listening to what I told them.

Good on you for threatening legal action, limited60. I seem to remember hearing that paperwork is mandatory for a shop, but I'm not sure if it was for this province explicitly.

[R154]

a1

[SRT10Killer]

wow that pisses me off.....

I know that Kuks at kuksshop.com is pretty honest and has a lot of experience, his labor rate is lower than most of the shops in Alberta. He does all kinds of work.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

You may not win...

what is he quoting? Did he explain why he needs that giant leap in cash?

The head might be warped beyond machinable fix and it would need a new head, or perhaps its cracked.. who knows.


I admit he is shady, but we would certainly like to know the whole story.

[limited60]

Originally posted by AE92_TreunoSC
You may not win...

what is he quoting? Did he explain why he needs that giant leap in cash?

The head might be warped beyond machinable fix and it would need a new head, or perhaps its cracked.. who knows.


I admit he is shady, but we would certainly like to know the whole story.

Honda gave original estimate.

Russ did repairs.

He had machinist look at head, no cracks, flaws or warpage. Head gasket was actually fine, but needs to be replaced since it was removed.

He explained briefly what the costs were,and what work was done....but, I went in for a straight up hg replacement and he's obviously gone above and beyond what I had asked.

I am now dealing with AMVIC (Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council) and they are hearing my complaint.
The BBB is next, then to court.

Mr. Russ might think twice about overcharging next time.

My only concern is, what is he doing to my car while it site in his shop?

[Zero102]

You went in for a head gasket replacement when the head gasket was fine, and don't know that whenever the head is removed it should be fully inspected?

I agree the costs seem way out of line but I have to agree that when the head is off it should be checked out by a machine shop.

[limited60]

Originally posted by Zero102
You went in for a head gasket replacement when the head gasket was fine, and don't know that whenever the head is removed it should be fully inspected?

I agree the costs seem way out of line but I have to agree that when the head is off it should be checked out by a machine shop.

I don't understand this post.

I went in with the recommendation provided by Honda that the hg had failed and needed replacement.
I am not contesting the state of repair or disrepair of the hg.
It turned out to be fine, so, let me pay this guy his quoted price and and allow me to deal with Honda.

He is charging me 2.5 - 3 times his quote, which, by the way, is not only immoral and dishonest, it's illegal, as per the Fair Trading Act.

[limited60]

http://calgary.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=154&bbb=0017&firm=46525#ratingdetails

He's got a Better Business Bureau track record. Imagine how many people you have to piss off to have them actually go to the BBB.

Add me to the list.

[cyrusli]

woaw. Thanks for the heads up Maddog!

[KRyn]

Thanks for the heads up I know someone who is looking to get a new clutch put in her car. I will tell her to stay away from Transmission Specialists.

[limited60]

Tell everybody to stay away from them, if you can.

[Zero102]

Originally posted by limited60


I don't understand this post.

I went in with the recommendation provided by Honda that the hg had failed and needed replacement.
I am not contesting the state of repair or disrepair of the hg.
It turned out to be fine, so, let me pay this guy his quoted price and and allow me to deal with Honda.

He is charging me 2.5 - 3 times his quote, which, by the way, is not only immoral and dishonest, it's illegal, as per the Fair Trading Act.

Yeah, I said his costs were way out of line, but you said:


He explained briefly what the costs were,and what work was done....but, I went in for a straight up hg replacement and he's obviously gone above and beyond what I had asked.


You were complaining that once the head was removed it was sent to a machine shop to be inspected and made it sound as if that was totally unnecessary. From a mechanical point of view this is an excellent idea. He should have said up front he was having this done (and given the price of his estimate it should have been included). He may have gone above and beyond what you asked but the mechanical work performed was fully justified.

Really the only thing he did wrong was charge you more than double the estimate and for that he has earned a fair kick in the nuts. IIRC they aren't allowed to increase the estimate more than 10% without your written consent. I don't have time to track that down in any government provided literature but I am almost positive that is the rule.

[limited60]

Originally posted by Zero102


Yeah, I said his costs were way out of line, but you said:


You were complaining that once the head was removed it was sent to a machine shop to be inspected and made it sound as if that was totally unnecessary. From a mechanical point of view this is an excellent idea. He should have said up front he was having this done (and given the price of his estimate it should have been included). He may have gone above and beyond what you asked but the mechanical work performed was fully justified.

Really the only thing he did wrong was charge you more than double the estimate and for that he has earned a fair kick in the nuts. IIRC they aren't allowed to increase the estimate more than 10% without your written consent. I don't have time to track that down in any government provided literature but I am almost positive that is the rule.

I actually never really directed any specific frustration toward him having the head inspected by a machinist....every single shop I called said they do this regardless, and charge an extra fee if the head needs to be machined, not inspected.

When I said "above and beyond", I just meant above and beyond with the agreed upon price.. I guess I wasn't all that clear, my apologies. He hasn't done anything "extra", except charge extra.

...and you are correct, there are guidelines, and LAWS, that govern fair trade practices, and one of them sets limitiations on the excess fat that can be charged above and beyond an original quote, and the costs that might be incurred by the repairs that can go on without customer authorization.

My g/f is in (graduate) law school and she has taken this up as one of her assignments. He really doesn't stand a chance on this one once the laws are applied to the situation.

I have AMVIC, and the BBB on this. If those fail, it'll go to her firm to go to court.