Ripped Off by Garage

My reason for having this Blog is that I usually get ripped off when I take my vehicle in for repair. It's happened again. I carefully looked for an approved AAA garage that appeared to have a good reputation. All seemed fine until one day when I was looking out the window and noticed that the rear wheels on the truck were really shiny. They have never been shiny. So I went outside, checked them closely and discovered that my original wheels had been replaced with damaged and painted over wheels. I'm livid!!!!! If the mechanic took them, I'm sure they are long gone by now. I'm hoping that AAA will intervene for me and get me Alloy, original wheels, from the garage and have them put on my truck. Also, I'm pretty sure I need new rear tires but was told that I don't by this garage. And, the other odd thing is that in the entire time that I've owned the SUV, the rear brakes have never been replaced. They were adjusted once and that's it. Thnking back on my visit at this garage, the salesman told me everything was fine as far as the rear brakes, tires, etc were concerned. I do beleive that he didn'g want me looking or focusing on the rear wheels.

Being a woman and, a senior female, they thought that they could pull one over on me and I wouldn't be the wiser. I know my vehicle really well and I told them as much. If they don't correct these problems then I will be on a mission to make certain that they are removed from the AAA approved garage list.

Update to follow after I talk with AAA.

The 4Runner has to go to the Shop-Sounds like the Bottom is Going to Fall Off 5/16/10

Tomorrow, I have to call Calhoun's Garage to set up a time to bring the 4Runner in. There is a clunking noise under the truck. Last week I discovered that the spare tire was loose. I removed it and still have a clunking noise. It sounded really bad when I was driving to McCarter Theater last night. I prayed that it would not break down on the way home at 11:30PM. I'm choosing Calhoun's because they do auto body work. The abs light came on Friday after I drove through a heavy rain storm with huge puddles. It's still on. And then, there's still the issue of the Check Engine light being on. I'm having $$$$$$ nightmares. And still I don't know a mechanic I can trust. It's so frustrating. I searched the Internet and learned that the truck does have brakes. I just don't have abs. The problem could be as simple as a fuse or a sensor. I can't wait to hear what the mechanic is going to diagnose and charge for this problem. I was going to go to Pep Boy's and buy a new fuse. Figured it was worth a shot. But, didn't want to move the truck except to go to the garage. Of course, being it's the weekend, the garage was not open. Very important is I need the truck to drive to Jessica's graduation this Friday. I'll be saying prayers in hopes of not getting screwed over. Chances are I will be bamboozled again.

Where's an honest auto mechanic? - Time for a repair

The vehicle needs repair. The check engine light has been on for a couple of months. There was a tinny sound for quite a while but it has stopped. The engine idles rough when sitting. When the car was last at the garage, the mechanic changed the oxygen sensors. He ran a diagnostic on the engine but never recorded the code. This was the second time I paid $90. for a diagnostic without a code being recorded. Even the mechanic asked why there was no record of the code. The owner never put the code on record but, told me the oxygen sensors would probably need changing at some point. When I picked up the vehicle after the replacement, the young mechanic told me that the diagnostic indicated that the catlytic convertor needed changing. But, there was no code recorded to verify that. Now, I'm being faced with having to pay for yet another diagnostic test. Who can I trust? I want to keep this vehicle running for a good 300,000 miles. Where is there a competent and honest mechanic in the Princeton area?

After having major problems with Lawrence Toyota, I took my vehicle to LaRue's garage because they are AAA approved mechanics. When I bought tires, I paid for and requested Firestone Destination AT tires. That request after a lengthy discussion with Mr. LaRue. I trusted that was what I was given. Many months later, and too late for a return, I learned that I was given oe tires instead of Destination tires. An engineer from Firestone told me that I might be lucky to get 18,000 miles on the oe tires. The Destination tires would give me 60,000 miles. What is the recourse when a AAA garage doesn't give you the products and services that you expect and they aren't reliable. That same garage twice, did not record a diagnostic code after testing. One of the workers at the garage told me that LaRue's is thorough and often does not charge for diagnostic testing. Not only was I charged for diagnostic testing twice but, I never was given the resulting codes.

HELP AAA. HELP anybody in Princeton who might know a trustworthy expert mechanic.