STAY AWAY!

STAY AWAY!
Do NOT take your car here.

In short:
Simple problems are magnified and phoney claims of inherent defects are made to justify extra costs.
Wilful damage caused to justify their made up stories.

Background:
I took my Cruze here in early March and neglected to read the reviews before I handed over my keys.
I had one simple problem: the hose clamp on the coolant reservoir tank had come lose and spurting coolant. I didn t have any tools on me to tighten it, so I decided to get it to a mechanic. Being close to work, I took it to this place and spoke to a guy named Eva. I clearly explained the problem and asked him to tighten the clamp and refill my coolant reservoir. He said: we ll take a look, and if there s anything else wrong with it, we ll let you know . That set off alarm bells in my head but I handed over my keys anyways.
I got a call a little later from Eva who said that my whole coolant reservoir needed to be replaced as it was broken and it was going to cost me about $450 for a new reservoir (FYI the part actually costs about $80). I thought that was ridiculous as I had inspected it myself prior to deciding to take it to them. So I asked him to text me photos. He never did.
He also started to make phoney claims about how I ve got seriously bad oil leaks from my timing belt . Warning sirens went off in my head and further compounded when I read the reviews online.
I realised I had walked into the typical trap of a crook workshop. So I asked him not to do anything and that I ll come and pick it up and take it some place else. He said that there would be half hour diagnosis fee of $75 payable. I agreed to pay just to ensure a smooth release of my car and without them adding other phoney claims.

When I got there, I was shown the broken reservoir. The mouthpiece of the reservoir connecting to the hose had been deliberately snapped off to back up their story. This is the same part of the reservoir that I had inspected and touched multiple times in an effort to tighten the clamp myself. This was wilful damage of someone s property. And frankly, I think this is just criminal!

I took it to another mechanic who replaced the reservoir and refilled coolant for approx $200.

MRT Performance, we only have one name in this game of life. It is advisable that you don t rub it into the mud. In this day and age of reviews, connectivity, and social accountability, the consequences of our actions are not as far as you may think or like it to be. Be sure that I will report this incident to ACCC and Fair Trade and I encourage others to do same. It s the right thing to do for everyone s sake. Even for the souls working at MRT Performance.