Melos Auto Svc

On August 29, 2012, I brought my vehicle to Melo?s Auto Service located at 92 County St. in New Bedford, MA, to be serviced for a suspension issue. When speaking to the station owner, Mr. Mello Jr., I explained that upon online research, I found my type vehicle had a common suspension problem for having leaks with the ?rear air spring bags? and based on the amount of feedback I reviewed, I was convinced that this was the problem my vehicle was having. I made Mr. Melo Jr. aware that I would leave a copy of this research on the passenger?s side seat of my vehicle?in case it was needed.
After a few hours of inspection, Mr. Melo Jr. called to let me know that the problem was not the air bags but rather a bad compressor. I was surprised to hear that it was not the airbags, but agreed to have the compressor replaced. Upon picking up the vehicle, I noticed that the suspension was noticeably higher on the driver?s side. When I questioned why the suspension was ?off? when I thought the new compressor would have fixed the problem, Mr. Melo Sr. responded by saying it was common and he assured me it would eventually level off. I took his word and paid the bill in the amount of $605.00 for the new compressor and $225. for labor, a total of $867.81.
On the following day, I noticed the vehicle did not level off and continued to have the same identical issue. I brought the vehicle back to Mr. Melo Sr. where I explained that the suspension issue had not been fixed. Mr. Melo Sr. abruptly claimed that ?the
car was fine when you picked it up? and that ?the car must have another problem non-related to what we worked on?. I was taken back by his comment, but agreed to have him take another look at the vehicle. After several hours, I was told
the vehicle was ready for pick up and the problem had been fixed. Upon picking up the vehicle, Mr. Melo Jr. explained
the issue was simply ?dust on the sensors and after blowing it off, the suspension was fine?. It was not.
As early as a few hours after picking up the vehicle, it continued to have the same identical issue. The problem continued for a period of four months, during which time I made four additional visits to Melo?s station where I explained the vehicle had not
been fixed and continued to have the same suspension problem. On each visit Mr. Melo Jr. would say ?leave it, we?ll look at it? and upon picking up the vehicle he would say ?we did a few things and it?s fine now?. It was not.
On December 28, 2012, after four months and six attempts to fix the same issue with no resolution, and I explaining to Mr. Melo Jr. that because the problem did not get repaired, I was insisting on a full refund, however? I would give him a final chance at fixing the issue. Mr. Melo Jr. asked that I leave the vehicle for the 7th time. After a few hours, Mr. Mello Jr. called to say after further inspection the problem was the suspension had four bad links explaining why the sensor?s where not reading
effectively and why the suspension was not leveling off.
I questioned why this issue never came up during the past six visits. I also questioned why, if this was the ?real? problem, then why did the compressor need to be replaced? He simply said, ?because, it needed it.? I then asked him, ?before spending additional money, was he certain that the issue was not the air bags?? He assured me that he tested the air bags and the
problem was the bad links. He continued to say all four links would need to be replaced in order to fix the problem. I agreed to the repair and upon completion, I paid Melo?s an additional $466.45.
The following day the vehicle continued to have the same identical issue. I brought the vehicle back, where once again, I explained the problem had not been fixed. Once again, Mr. Melo Jr. asked that I leave the vehicle and after hours of inspection, Mr. Melo Jr. called to tell me the problem was the air bags. He claimed they would need to be replaced at a cost of around $1,000. I decided not have Melo?s do any further work to my vehicle and left quite disappointed with my vehicle not fixed while Melo's pocketed $1,334.26.
It was apparent that Melo?s did not have the knowledge of repairing ?Airmatic? suspension issues. If they had, the vehicle would have been repaired within the eight visits during the four-month period. Instead, Melo?s continued to ?guess? at what the problem was and unfortunately, at my expense.