after $2500 of labor fees

[Ryoga28]

Had the mechanic install the following:
1. spec clutch
2. findanza flywheel
3. Turbolife fmic
4. BC inverted coilovers
5. alignment
6. Paintless dent removal (2 dents, each 150)
7. Painted an EVO spoiler (300)

Here's the problems I get:

1. Greddy EBC not connected in the engine bay (can't find the other connector-seems striped or something)
2. Defi EGT gauge is acting strange (idle is bouncing at 19-20)
3. AC is WARM (had it serviced last month and it was cool)
4. Steering Wheel extremely crooked at straight way
5. One of the Aerocatch Hood Pins is broken (driver side)

[slo03.5msp]

Except for the clutch those are all reasonably easy installs. Why didn't you just do it yourself? And if your egt gauage is bouncing at 19-20 at idle I would say that it's not an egt gauge.

[evilmonkeyMSP]

nice...and you paid the guy?

AC is probably warm becaus he either bent and crimped one of the AC lines or just took it off to get the FMIC in and didnt fix that...

[redspeed6]

sounds like you need to go back and raise hell

[Ryoga28]

Well the car was ready yesterday but I was at work and he wanted me to pay over th phone with my CC because he was not going to be in on saturday. I'm really upset right now.

After reading the instructions for the FMIC and the Coilovers I realized that I don't have the tools or the time to do it. It's not easy being a medical resident with a call schedule.

[Ryoga28]

sounds like you need to go back and raise hell


Just left a detailed msg on his voice mail...I'll go talk to him on monday.

[Ryoga28]

Except for the clutch those are all reasonably easy installs. Why didn't you just do it yourself? And if your egt gauage is bouncing at 19-20 at idle I would say that it's not an egt gauge.


It used to be normal before I brought my car to the shop...I don't know what happened but I'm not happy with the workmanship.

[lestat13]

I understand being busy... went from full time college student with job, to full time teacher with weekend job and a girlfriend. but you also know there are people on the forum willing to come help you with your jobs right??

[Ryoga28]

I understand being busy... went from full time college student with job, to full time teacher with weekend job and a girlfriend. but you also know there are people on the forum willing to come help you with your jobs right??


Long island doesn't have much of a mazda presence...Sigh...I was I was working close to protege garage or speedcircuit. The mechanic (well known in the maxima circles in NY) just butchered my car. With all the parts and labor I spent I should've just bought a new car or an used evolution.

[o.g.sk8er]

sorry to hear about all that mess. seems I just went through almost the same thing with my BC's and alignment. I brought it back 4 times and they still couldnt get it right. So I just bought camber/caster/toe gauge and did it myself. Car drives beautifully now.

I would cancel payment on the cc till they make everything right.

[redspeed6]

let us know what they say when you talk to them on monday -- if they call

[ForceFed]

Wow..you need to find a new shop....Period.

[coondogg]

Ugh... that sucks to hear.

Hope it works out for ya...

[mike2225]

Ive had my fair share of problems with shady mechanics, thats why i drive 7 hours to speedcircuit now to get my car worked on.

[Ryoga28]

let us know what they say when you talk to them on monday -- if they call
I've already left the car in front of their shop and will be stopping by first tomorrow morning. Hopefully this works out. I may have to start driving 3-4 hours to get to speedcircuit.

[MSPLIFE]

about the ac the member on top might be right, that when they install the FMI they probably unplug the ac condenser if im right that this little bottle is call by the smi. And sorry to hear that this happend to you, thats too much money.

[Metallic36]

I had the same issue with my A/C when the shop put in my engine and fmic. I still haven't figured it out yet, but haven't checked the lines going to the condenser yet.. might check that. I have stuff to recharge it though.. I was thinking maybe all the stuff got out somehow during the time when they were messing with the car.

[ForceFed]

You guys crack me up with your Broad Knowledge of the AC "STUFF" you all talk about....and how you guys are all going to fix it yourself with the "STUFF" that goes in it.

Its a bit more involved than simply "Filling 'er Up".

Sorry...just a little laugh from a guy that knows better.

[Metallic36]

It's late, I know nothing of A/C details, I can't recall the "stuff", recharge, whatever the scientific name is for it, so I'll apologize. So tell us what's wrong? I'm not saying I know anything about A/C so I definitely have no "Broad Knowledge" of it and have simply been guessing at why my car goes from perfect A/C to freaking warm after the fmic was put in. From the mild amount of what I have found out, if it's warm it may need to be recharged. Figured I'd try to find out from other people on their causes for this to get an idea without having to pay someone more money to do something stupidly easy to fix it on my car.


You guys crack me up with your Broad Knowledge of the AC "STUFF" you all talk about....and how you guys are all going to fix it yourself with the "STUFF" that goes in it.

Its a bit more involved than simply "Filling 'er Up".

Sorry...just a little laugh from a guy that knows better.

[slo03.5msp]

you mean stuff like freon like r134a which is what every car in the world has used since 1993. Or the parts you have a compressor, a clutch on the snout of the compressor a condensor and evaporator a drier. Theres so much. if an engine was removed from a vehicle the freon has to be recovered before it is taken out because most would leave the a/c compressor on than take it off. So metallic if you had the engine removed they may have recovered the freon or the may have vta either way from what your saying it doesn't sound like they recharged it.

[shane02pro5]

I will say that you can't just add r134 in our system it has to be vacuumed as its filled or usually evacuated as they say. If the correct pressure is not in the system it won't work properly for long.

[Metallic36]

Yes, the r134a. Thanks for that info. I doubt they recharged it, so more than likely that's the issue. Thanks again.


you mean stuff like freon like r134a which is what every car in the world has used since 1993. Or the parts you have a compressor, a clutch on the snout of the compressor a condensor and evaporator a drier. Theres so much. if an engine was removed from a vehicle the freon has to be recovered before it is taken out because most would leave the a/c compressor on than take it off. So metallic if you had the engine removed they may have recovered the freon or the may have vta either way from what your saying it doesn't sound like they recharged it.

[protegeV]

it could be as simple as he unplugged the high presure cutoff switch and forgot to plug it back in. I see that a lot.

[Ryoga28]

Just talked to him this morning and he didn't dischage the system before working on the fmic. He thought that maybe the fmic is too hot and not allowing the ac condensor to work, which I thought was bullshit. I told him that others didn't have this problem.

[mazdaspeedwerx]

sounds like bullshit. I have perrin and my ac is cold. what did he say about all the other stuff

[slo03.5msp]

I think it depends on where you live. I have an ion and I don't use my air but if I want to it doesn't work unless im on the highway because of the lack of airflow.

[Ryoga28]

sounds like bullshit. I have perrin and my ac is cold. what did he say about all the other stuff
He said he'll check it out.

I called him at 1pm and was told that he was going to drop off the car at the alighment shop since they may be going on vacation.

Called him back at 550pm and was then told that the alignment shop had the car the whole day and he wasn't able to check out my other problems due to that.

Went to the alignment shop at 610pm and was told by the owner that he just got the car about 30-45 mins ago and will finish the alignment tomorrow morning...

Lots of bullshit going on...

[ForceFed]

Wow..you need to find a new shop....Period.
Yup..I still stand by this statement.
I wouldnt even take the car back for fear of further damage being done.

Wow.

[Ryoga28]

Yup..I still stand by this statement.
I wouldnt even take the car back for fear of further damage being done.

Wow.

Agreed. This is going to be the LAST time my car will be at his shop. I'm going to start using nolimitmotorsport.com in sulfolk instead.

I'm just disappointed at how sloppy he got. When I first knew him 6 years ago he was great and did an awesome job, but now this is the type of workmanship I get.

No wonder the nissan crowd that used to frequent his shop has started to dwindle. I see mostly old elderly customers getting repair work done instead.

[In4am0sPuN]

I've already left the car in front of their shop and will be stopping by first tomorrow morning. Hopefully this works out. I may have to start driving 3-4 hours to get to speedcircuit.

Thats what I am going to start doing.. my Mechanic is a mazda Pro, sadly not with the Pro... hes a killer on the Rx's even the new speeds, but since this car is so fackin rare in the nyc area i guess he never messed with one until he seen mine.. only other car remotely close to mine is a mp3 around the way of the shop

[special--k]

I think that "TurboLife" so doing some drive-by bombing, give him the address he might be able to blow some shit up for you.

[lil_red_wagon]

yeah, i would have taken it to a new shop and sent him the bill. legally, you are supposed to give him 3 tries at fixing it, but small claims court is a little more laid back about that now. nobody works on my car except me. the only thing that i will ever get help on is tuning and i will only do that with a shop that is really trusted. do the math, 20k tool collection = if something is broken, i know who did it. it is worth it to me, i don't know about you.

[Ryoga28]

I'm going to see how this pans out. If it doesn't work out for me I will file a complaint with the BBB. Aparently he is a BBB acredited bussiness since 1/2006 with no complaints.

Should I demand compension for my hood pin (aerocatch $85)? He could argue that the boost solenoid was old and broke on its own.

[shane02pro5]

At this point just be as nice as can be and try to get up there and check on things. Talk to the guy and maybe he will take responsibility a little more seriously.

It's funny he's taking a vacation after you just spent $2500 on half ass work.

[redspeed6]

It's funny he's taking a vacation after you just spent $2500 on half ass work.


(iagree)