CHAPPY'S IMPORTS

August 12, 2013
Subject:  Deceptive practices; failure to accurately diagnose and repair the problem with my car; damage to my car; false promises and keeping my car for four months with no action; refusing to take back an unused new part and refusing to refund my $1,470.25 deposit.
On February 26, 2013, my 2003 Jaguar XKR faltered at a stoplight on my way to where I work one day a week.  The car restarted immediately and I continued to work.  At 6:00 PM leaving work the car would not start at all.  AAA towed my car to my home where I attempted to diagnose the problem.  I isolated the source to the fuel system.  I was referred to Chappy Chapman at Chappy?s Imports, 3500 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, and had the car towed there March 4, 2013. 
Mr.Chapman said he was familiar with that problem and would have to replace the throttle body, and I needed to leave a substantial deposit, which I did. 
I called back Mr. Chapman the following week and was told he replaced the throttle body but the car still wouldn?t start.   He was researching other possible causes.  I called the following week, he was sick, a week later, his helper didn?t show for work.  Excuse after excuse.  Whenever I went there he and his assistant were always working on other cars, different ones each time I visited.  This charade went on for 4 months.  Finally I went there called a tow truck and took my car home. 
I went online and researched problems with Jaguar fuel systems, and isolated the problem to the fuel pump located in the fuel tank.  Turning on the ignition, I could hear the fuel pump operate, but no fuel was making it to the engine compartment.  I removed the fuel tank, and when I pulled the fuel pump out, I could see that the locking tabs on the plastic connector
that locks the fuel line to the fuel pump were broken and the line was not connected to the pump.  I repaired the
connector, reinstalled the gas tank, removed the ?new? $1500 throttle body, replaced  the original one, turned the
ignition, the car started immediately and has been running well ever since.
On July 15th, the following day after I repaired my own car, I drove it to Chappy?s Imports, and told Chappy  what he couldn?t do in 4 months, I did in 4 days.  I wanted my deposit back and I would give him the ?new? throttle body to return for a refund. 
I didn?t push the issue that a headlight component was missing and there were scratches on the car that weren?t there when I brought it to him.  He told me he didn?t have any money but if I gave him the ?new? throttle body, he would see if he could get the money back. 
Mr. Chapman lied to me about everything else, I wasn?t about to trust him with the only collateral I had.  I told him if he
didn?t return my deposit I would pursue further ways  that would cost him a lot more than if he returned my deposit and returned that new part that wasn?t needed.