Local garage problems:
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2004
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Local garage problems: Long story short. I've owned my 1999 Trans Am for 20+ years. Been sitting in garage for 3 years. Brakes are out, battery, etc. Has ABS/Traction control/Service engine soon light on. Took it to a local garage and asked them to fix all the issues. Went and picked it up and all the lights were on. They said they changed all the calibers, brake lines, and rotors. Cost me $1500. The brake went almost to the floor too when I drove it. Called them up and asked why the ABS light and everything still on, took it back. They ran a scanner on it and said speed sensor in front tire was bad. Ok they replaced it for $359. They just called me and said the ABS light is still on because there is an electrical wire up front not connected but they dont do electrical work but the ABS is working. I thought I read somewhere that if the ABS light is on the dash it WASNT working regardless of what their machine is saying? So almost 2k later and my car still doesn't feel good to drive. Any advice? Was my expectations too high?
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Long story short. I've owned my 1999 Trans Am for 20+ years. Been sitting in garage for 3 years. Brakes are out, battery, etc. Has ABS/Traction control/Service engine soon light on. Took it to a local garage and asked them to fix all the issues. Went and picked it up and all the lights were on. They said they changed all the calibers, brake lines, and rotors. Cost me $1500. The brake went almost to the floor too when I drove it. Called them up and asked why the ABS light and everything still on, took it back. They ran a scanner on it and said speed sensor in front tire was bad. Ok they replaced it for $359. They just called me and said the ABS light is still on because there is an electrical wire up front not connected but they dont do electrical work but the ABS is working. I thought I read somewhere that if the ABS light is on the dash it WASNT working regardless of what their machine is saying? So almost 2k later and my car still doesn't feel good to drive. Any advice? Was my expectations too high?
Sounds like the brakes still need to be bled better (low pedal), and/or some other component is still not working (such as master, etc.) due to failure or contamination in the system.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 101
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Can anyone answer me this for a fact please? If the ABS light is on, it's NOT working correct? Or what they are saying about it being an electrical problem BUT it's still working even though the car has the light? Sorry it's so damn confusing.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,917
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From: Western North Carolina
It is NOT confusing. NO LIGHTS SHOULD BE ON. You have a poor shop there and one that charges way too much too. I know you don't want to hear this but you need to take your car elsewhere, someone that has a good reputation and solid reviews from family, neighbors, or friends. If you stay with them, kiss your $$$ goodbye. It will be like pouring gasoline onto a fire.
Correct ABS wont function properly with the ABS light on.
If they replaced your calipers and didnt do a proper bleed or refill the system adequately air trapped can cause an ABS light to stay on. Which sounds accurate if your pedal went to the floor cause of lack of hydraulic compression.
If they replaced your calipers and didnt do a proper bleed or refill the system adequately air trapped can cause an ABS light to stay on. Which sounds accurate if your pedal went to the floor cause of lack of hydraulic compression.
So if a shop won’t mess with electrical, then why do they own a scanner tool? You’ve been lied to and taken advantage of, SSr. Hate to say this, but unfortunately it’s a fairly common problem this day and age with shops. Read reviews, and ask lots of questions to the shop owner, before you drop it off at the next one.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 814
Likes: 231
From: Nebraska, The Good Life
How could a shop with any integrity at all return a car to the owner with poorly working brakes? I'd report them the BBB and find a different shop.
Stories like this reinforce my desire to continue working on my own cars.
As far as the mushy pedal and ABS light being on, when they replaced the calipers they left the brake lines open to continue to leak fluid. This likely drained so much fluid that air got into the ABS system which cannot be removed by a normal mechanical bleeding process. The proper way to do it is to cap off the brake lines while the caliper is off.
At this point I'd also question the quality of the parts they installed. And I'd also question if the hard parts (calipers, brake lines, rotors, etc.) actually needed to be replaced OR if they actually replaced everything they claim to have replaced. Quite often with brakes that have been sitting a while all they need is fresh fluid and a good thorough brake bleeding, especially if the car has been stored inside.
Stories like this reinforce my desire to continue working on my own cars.
As far as the mushy pedal and ABS light being on, when they replaced the calipers they left the brake lines open to continue to leak fluid. This likely drained so much fluid that air got into the ABS system which cannot be removed by a normal mechanical bleeding process. The proper way to do it is to cap off the brake lines while the caliper is off.
At this point I'd also question the quality of the parts they installed. And I'd also question if the hard parts (calipers, brake lines, rotors, etc.) actually needed to be replaced OR if they actually replaced everything they claim to have replaced. Quite often with brakes that have been sitting a while all they need is fresh fluid and a good thorough brake bleeding, especially if the car has been stored inside.
Last edited by Rich-L79; Jul 21, 2023 at 09:24 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
At this point I'd also question the quality of the parts they installed. And I'd also question if the hard parts (calipers, brake lines, rotors, etc.) actually needed to be replaced OR if they actually replaced everything they claim to have replaced. Quite often with brakes that have been sitting a while all they need is fresh fluid and a good thorough brake bleeding, especially if the car has been stored inside.
Agreed. I don't see how 3 years of sitting in a garage could necessitate new pads & rotors unless they were already shot when it went into storage or the conditions inside that garage were horrific. My '74 sat for years inside a dry garage, the fluid in the master was so bad that it looked like a slurry of rust and milkshake, but all that was needed was a new master (this is an old cast iron version), new prop valve, and a full system bleeding. Lines were fine, drums/rotors were fine, pads/shoes were fine, calipers & wheel cylinders were fine. These parts can & do last for decades when protected from the elements sitting inside a garage.
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Man that's a terrible experience with a bad shop. As the others said definitely find a new shop.
Provided the details shared are accurate, that shop needs a bad review on BBB, Google, Facebook etc since they had an opportunity to make their mistakes right but decided to treat you as they did.
Provided the details shared are accurate, that shop needs a bad review on BBB, Google, Facebook etc since they had an opportunity to make their mistakes right but decided to treat you as they did.
TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 814
Likes: 231
From: Nebraska, The Good Life
The problem with the BBB is that members actually pay the BBB to be listed on the BBB so any complaint you file with them is likely to not go very far since the BBB actually acts as an advocate of the business, not the customer.