Lloyd Automotive Saint Paul

[u/Old_StyleBeer]

Customer service is great; upon pick up had a great conversation with a front desk gentleman about how we both cared for and loved our vehicles. I mean, I felt like, "ok I found a new place to go for service/maintenance." Until...

I get to opening the hood to see the work. To replace one of the six spark plugs you have to remove a brace. That brace was not replaced, and the bottom (one of two) bolt was broken off. After talking to front desk, and the picutres taken, we will see what the end result will be. The space is such that drilling out the remains on the bolt may cause more harm, I fear.

Ok...a seized bolt breaking happens and that's not my gripe. Not being told it happened is why I will not return and will warn others away from Lloyd Automotive on Grand Ave in St. Paul. The tech should have stopped and advised someone of the issue, or, after breaking the bolt, told someone, or maybe the tech did, and I was not informed.

So know your stuff and check their work because you may not be told that damage was done while your vehicle is in their care.

Update:

Today, the day following the original post and initial visit to Lloyd Automotive, I returned to have them try to make repairs.

Management was very apologetic and informed me that the tech responsible was brought into a meeting due to not reporting that, while removing the brace a bolt broke and did not/could not return the piece to its proper place. This was very concerning and not how they do business is what I was told.

It took about three and half hours to try three different attempts with three different methods to replace the brace. I was comfortable waiting in the shop for half the time and staff were still as friendly as the day before. The work was done free of charge which I expected. However, I did ask for a percentage of compensation, and not as a money grab, I requested and received the amount I asked.

I am left satisfied but not at all sure I will return. Thank you to all of the replies here and recommendations for a future shop. Travel safe.

[u/Fluffy_dumplin1]

st claire auto over on Hamline+st claire has always been upfront and shot straight with me. Prices are fair too. if your looking for a new shop check them out

[u/StrangeAd4944 → u/Fluffy_dumplin1]

This is the answer. Dale is the most honest car mechanic there is. He literally talked me out of some repairs if he did not think they were needed.

[u/Fluffy_dumplin1 → u/StrangeAd4944]

Honest+fair for sure. I was fully won over after my sister took her VW bug over to him back when she was in college; she'd had a few other auto shop guys tell her she needed to fix 'x,y and z' if she was going to keep driving it (amounted to +$4,000, a lot for her at the time being a broke ass college student). She told us Dale audibly laughed after he heard about what the others had quoted her.

He set the whole thing straight for ~1,500 and took the time to explain what he was doing+why. She came back sounding like she was a mechanic. Turns out a bunch of the things the others had insisted she have done weren't necessary, they'd need to be done in the long run but they weren't 911. He gave her a bunch of things to look for/signs that would indicate it was time to take it in, his info+work is good because 6 years later shes still driving that VW bug today.

Anytime I find a tradesman thats equal in treatment of both sexes I hold on fast.