South Bay Auto Repair and Transmissions

"I called the day to verify my appointment. I spoke with owner's daughter and she said she was unaware of my appointment, and seemed surprised the diagnostic was free from open bay. She said they wouldn't get paid for that diagnostic and will usually pass off that cost to the repair, which will end up being higher priced to make up for the free diagnostic. I told her I gave a detailed description of my check engine light on open bay, but gave her the run down of my issue via telephone. My concern for calling the day before appointment was to verify whether I needed someone to pick me up from the auto shop ( in case diagnostic and potential maintenance took much longer than a few hours). I told her I had the check engine light on weeks before (which was currently off) along with the wrench light (which is sporadically on and off). She told me to take the car in the morning as soon as the shop opens and perhaps I'd be the first to be seen so I can get in and out early without a need for someone else to pick me up. Once I arrive the next day, the owner spoke with me. Ask me briefly what my issue was. I told him the car had not been sitting for 2 weeks, and then I started having issues with the hybrid battery not holding a charge. I also had the code already ran at Auto Zone. He said based on me not driving the car for two weeks (only driven very short distances, about 4 streets round trip during this period) along with the error code Auto Zone gave, he doesn't even need to see my car. He could tell me right off the bat it was time for a new hybrid battery.... WHAT?! A new hybrid battery runs someone THOUSANDS of dollars. How could you make that claim so quickly before even TOUCHING my car. He suggested I drive the heck out of my car and hope that one of those faulty cells gets charged somehow. I was upset and told him that had I known he wouldn't even TOUCH my car, I would not have come in for this appointment to begin with. You could've told me this information over the phone! I wouldn't have arranged for someone to be on standby to pick me up potentially, or had someone come over to watch my kid and dog. I suspect this lack of effort was related to the free diagnostic that Open Bay provides. The daughter mentioned that if open bay doesnt charge for this, then we end up not getting paid. As a client, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW YOU GET PAID. I would NOT recommend going to this shop via Open Bay app. This shop should not be using the app if they aren't getting any notifications/communication on upcoming appointments and estimates made through the app."

"The results of how great my car is running makes all the difference. He did a great job"

"great service"