Can Am Motor Service

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First: I know quite a bit about cars, their problems, and the characteristics of certain common problems, especially starter and battery problems. My story: From the characteristic sound it was making for a few days, I was quite sure, that it was either the starter OR the battery. Since there was a starter place nearby, I decided to go there and have him repair the starter, if indeed it was the starter. I would certainly have him affirm it for me. I arrived to Can-Am Motors around 430 pm, 8/25/15. Aside from the owner, and his mechanic, the place was empty. No other customers there but me. I should have taken this as a warning. I explained that I think the starter is going, and asked him if he could replace it. He ordered his mechanic to replace the starter. After his mechanic left, Art (the owner) and I chatted idly for a few minutes before I chimed in and asked him to affirm for me, that the problem was indeed the starter, before replacing the starter. Without going outside to TELL HIS MECHANIC do that, he assured me that his mechanic would do so. We continued to idly chat for some forty more minutes when the mechanic returned. The mechanic informed us that the starter has been replaced, but the problem is still there, that it NOW needs a battery, which is another $90. It was clear the mechanic never checked the battery. He just replace the starter, and without checking it first. I immediately protested. I suggested that the greatest possibility is the battery was the only broken item, and my starter is probably fine, since it's highly unlikely that two things would become problematic at the same time. Art contradicted me, and said the starter was also bad (this is what they always say when they replace the wrong part). He claimed there was 'pitting' on the starter, and my battery "killed" the starter, from arcing. That simply was not possible, because batteries won't put out more voltage than what's stored in them, in order to arc. I asked him show me the pitted part. He got my old starter from the garage and brought it into the office to show me the pitting. I saw no pitting where he pointed. I know what pitting looks like. It was perfectly smooth. I repeat, there was no pitting. I work with electricity. I've seen pitting many times. What I DID see was signs of normal electrical activity ~ a slightly darkened band on the copper armature core, but NO pitting anywhere. There was absolutely NO pitting as he claimed. He claimed that the dark band was pitting. It was not pitting, but just normal electrical activity. The starter, labor and tax was $241.18. I paid for the bill and left. But I made sure to retrieve the old starter, as I wanted to test his claim of the starter being bad. So I would go home and put the old starter BACK on, to prove that my starter was good. But first, I needed a new battery, since the original problem was still there. I drove down the road to the battery place that I trusted (Square Deal Batteries). I purchased a reconditioned battery. Incidentally, I asked the battery mechanic if they've ever heard of a battery killing a starter. They said no and agreed that it's simply not possible. It was not possible from a bad battery, as a bad battery has less charge than it should have, and for a battery to 'pit' a starter armature, it would have to have MORE charge than a battery could have. This is why a starter killing a battery is simply not possible. As soon as the battery was in, just like I suspected, the problem was gone! The issue I set out to solve was solved, but not by Can-Am Motors, but by me putting a fresh battery in. Now all that was needed was to determine that my old starter was fine. So I went home and in my driveway, I actually put my old starter back on. I understand that most would never attempt such a thing, but it's not actually that difficult. I used to help my father with things like this. In college I used to work on my old Datsun and I've replaced starters on Datsun's and even a Jaquar once. Starters are not hard to replace. As I suspected, my old starter worked just fine. His pitting story was just to make me confused and get me out the door. I'm not that easily confused when it comes to starters, batteries, and electricity. I work with electricity. He was not aware of this, and tried to fly me his pitting story, and sell me a starter I didn't need, as well as a new battery (at an inflated price). To be clear: I only ever needed a battery. The starter was fine. This mechanic is unscrupulous. Yes, a new battery was all I actually needed. Mechanics never go backward when they replace a wrong part. This is such a terrible way to do business. We always have to eat their mistakes and swallow lies. Most don't know much about cars, and cannot do the tests I just performed. But by process of elimination, I figured out that he lied to me. I wanted to return the starter and ask for my $241.18 refund. The next day, I took Mr. Cupp's new starter in its box, back to Can-Am Motors, and asked for a refund. He got quite defensive. I asked him why he doesn't stand by his assessment of the problem. I informed him that he sold me a starter I didn't need. I reminded him that I asked him to confirm the starter was bad before any replacement. He claimed that electrical parts are non-refundable. I still have the new starter. I cannot stand how mechanics continually take advantage of us. This is just one of many ways they work to cover their tracks, rather than do an honest job, admit his mistake and charge me for only what needed replaceing. I asked him to ascertain that it was the starter, before changing it and he told me they would. He didn't do this at all. I caught this man in that lie about my starter, simply because he wanted my money and didn't want to stand by his work. Above all and most exasperating was, he wouldn't do what I asked him to do, and check the issue first. Apparently he judged me as a dumb woman who would be easily convinced that the problem was both the battery AND the starter, and he could lie to me if he was wrong. I absolutely acknowledge that this was exactly as it happened, regardless of what Mr. Cupps might counter with. Rachel Cameron 14506 N. 19th St. Tampa, Fl. 33613 813 978 9506

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Brought it in because electrical parts would work and then stop working: dash, speedometer, A/C, etc. Art thought it might be ignition and called to say it was! Very reasonable price on repair.

Great! They repaired everything that was wrong with my car and the mechanic even test drove it himself to be sure everything was done correctly. I never feel as though I am being ripped off when I take my car into this shop! He fixes what needs to be fixed without hassling you to repair unnecessary things.

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When I owned my Audi they were able to work on it when no other shops could. I felt that the price was a little high, but if he cannot figure out the problem he will not charge me for anything. When he says the car will be ready it will be. He does a great job of fixing up cars.

THEY DO ANY TYPE OF CAR. ANYTHING THAT GOES WRONG WITH MY CAR, I WILL TAKE IT THERE. THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE A GOOD JOB AND THEY'RE HONEST.