Helena Motors

Work done satisfactorily. Was presented with a list of "needed other repairs. " Many repairs were not pressing or routine maintenance. Others were inaccurate or staff unable, when I asked, to show them to me. Estimates for "needed repairs" were about 30-35% above costs estimated by other local mechanics.

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On my first scheduled visit, it took 3 days to find the IDM problem. Basically, they let my truck sit in their lot until they had time to check it out. In the meantime, I had to rent a car (they knew this). I took the truck home while they ordered the part (which they said would take 3-4 days). After a week, I called for the part status. and quot;Oh yeah, its hereand quot;. Again I scheduled time to bring it in. They continually remarked that they had never seen this kind of problem. In the meantime, I checked with other diesel mechanics who said this problem was not rare; any experienced diesel mechanic could address the issue. R and R replaced the IDM, charged me $1200 for the part and 7hrs of labor. I drove it off their lot with the same problem that I arrived with. Subsequently, I took the truck to the Ford dealer who identified and fixed the problem with a $40 cam sensor.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS SHOP!!!

Talked to the tech first on the phone and asked what was needed for the 50K mile service and he indicated the trans fluid needed to be changed and I could eliminate the filter change for and extra $100 because the car had a trans fluid flush at 25K. It's nice that the previous owners had the service done at Helena Motors so they had it on record. Did the fluid change and I requested that they leave the fluid on the low side as required by Ford for towing the Escape on all 4 tires behind my motorhome. They did that also. They had a courtesy car to take me home while they worked on the Escape. Had it done when they said they would. So all in all a good experience.

Got me right in, but ended up costing me more than they quoted because they went ahead and did a full diagnostic, even through it wasn't needed.
Plus, somehow the water cap became missing the the two days since last I looked. Since the cap is attached with a tie so it doesn't get lost, and the cap was attached when the car arrived, then I can only conclude the service folks took the cap off and lost it.
Finally the Toyota dealer adds a 10% charge for shop supplies to every bill, even if no shop supplies were used. The is similar to hotels charging to use the pool. I had been willing to pay a higher hourly rate but no more.

Smooth enough. Wait for parts, not unexpected for 2001 model. Left burning oil smell, which must be result of doing a vehicle inspection. I didn't order the vehicle inspection, but they didn't charge for it. Good business their part to do that.

My experience overall the last time I visited went wonderfully. They gave me a really great deal. No one tried to pressure me into anything.

They have always done a great service for us. They have really good. They give you the list of things that they recommend that you have done, but they don't pressure you to get it done and they don't exaggerate the seriousness of it. They are honest and I really appreciate that. They give discount to people who keep coming back and coupons and the more services you do there then you get discount for future services. They offer a transportation to downtown where you work or back home while you waiting for your car and they will come pick you up so they have that. It is a comfortable to place to wait, I have waited few times for oil change, lot of magazines, and coffee and comfortable chairs.

It went very well. The coffee was good.

Well

During the test drive, I thought I smelled burning oil and told the salesperson so. When we returned to the dealership, my husband put his hand up under the car and it was covered with oil when he brought it out. We were told the vehicle had just gotten an oil change when it was traded in as standard procedure, and a technician checked it out right away. We were told the oil filter gasket was leaking and the entire oil filter was replaced. We live about an hour away from Helena, and by the time we got 1/4 of the way home the burning oil smell in the car was so bad we were sick. The next day I ran errands thinking any residual oil would burn off, but the smell got worse. That afternoon, I got underneath the car myself and could soil a bad oil leak dripping onto the exhaust under the car.

I called the salesperson immediately, and he made arrangements for me to take the car into my local Ford dealer the next morning. At the appointment., I was told a PTU seal was installed incorrectly, but that they took it out and reinstalled it correctly. I left very happy, but the next day the burning oil smell was back and now there was oil on the ground under the car! I called the salesperson back and was told to return to my local Ford dealer again. The salesperson assured me all repairs would be at no cost to me. I had owned the car 5 days and it had been in the shop 2 of them. At this point, I was completely distraught because the car I traded in was older, had more miles, and no leaks or problems. I just wanted my old car back!

The issue was resolved by my local Ford dealer with a warranty replacement of the PTU seal two days later. I finally have no oil smell or leaking oil. Having been a service manager for both General Motors and Subaru, the minute I got under the car and saw the leak, I felt I had been lied to. In my opinion, there is NO way a technician could have gotten under the vehicle and confused this leak with a leaky oil filter gasket. If anyone had taken the time to do the inspection they said they did OR look at the oil leak I complained about during the test drive they would have seen this leak!

I am happy they immediately responded to my concerns, and called me back promptly. They handed arrangements with my local Ford dealer, and I did not have to pay anything for the service visits. I was most mad about the inconvenience. I would buy a car there again, but I think I would be more cautious and insist on viewing any inspection reports from their service department and warranty repair history for the vehicle in the future. I would have to think long and hard about taking my car there for service.

Tow truck driver they sent was very helpful. When we came to pick up the car after the keys were made (the same day) .... we were in and out in last then 10 mins.