McCabe's Automotive

Hi Joann,

We’re sorry to hear you’re upset, but we’d like to take a moment to clarify the situation.

On the day of your appointment, you mentioned that you had to pull over three times just to let the vehicle cool down, which resulted in you not arriving on time. That alone speaks to how serious the condition of your vehicle was before it even reached our facility.

You stated that the car had been overheating multiple times, with the temperature gauge spiking and steam coming from under the hood. You also noted there were no visible leaks and that you had continued driving after  letting it cool down, and continuing to drive—which, while understandable, is unfortunately a fast track to serious engine damage.

When your vehicle arrived, our technicians performed a full inspection. We found the cooling system under pressure when hot, but once it cooled, the pressure dropped and there was very little coolant in the reservoir. We used a block tester to check for combustion gases and your engine failed almost instantly—without even running. That result means at least one head gasket has failed, and likely there’s warping or cracking of the cylinder heads from the repeated overheating.

Our professional recommendation was an engine replacement due to the severity of the damage, the cost-effectiveness compared to rebuilding, and long-term reliability. And yes, while we diagnosed the vehicle, we were transparent in explaining that we no longer offer engine replacements in-house. Here’s why:

We provide a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty and unfortunately, it’s becoming harder to find engine manufacturers willing to stand behind their products for that duration.
Some engine replacements require specialty tools specific to certain makes/models that simply aren’t practical for us to invest in for rare repairs.
And finally, it’s incredibly physically demanding work for our technicians, and we value their long-term health and ability to continue helping our customers with the repairs we do specialize in.

We aim to be thorough, honest, and educational with our customers. Bad news about a car is never fun to hear, we get that. But the frustration here seems more about the results of the diagnosis more than anything we did wrong. We can’t undo the damage that occurred before the car ever reached our facility, especially when it was being worked on by a family member prior, which wasn’t mentioned during scheduling.

We’re not the shop that just throws parts at a problem hoping it sticks, we diagnose properly and give our customers the full picture, even when it’s not what they want to hear. That’s called integrity.

We wish you the best in getting your vehicle repaired.

Hi Paul, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly disappointed to see your 2-star rating, especially after what felt like a positive experience during your visit. It was a pleasure chatting with you in the office, and we genuinely enjoyed having the opportunity to assist with your vehicle.

We understand that pricing can be surprising at times, especially when comparing aftermarket parts purchased online or through retail with professional repair shop quotes. To clarify, the $500 you mentioned included not just the battery, but also professional installation, system testing, and a full 42-month battery warranty. Additionally, our work comes with a 3-year labor warranty—something most parts stores or DIY repairs simply can’t offer.

Our actual cost breakdown was $296 for the battery, $80 for labor, and applicable taxes, totaling $440.70. We do our best to stay competitive while using quality parts and delivering a level of service that includes things like complimentary loaner vehicles and personalized care. As much as we wish we could offer parts at retail pricing, doing so would compromise our ability to stay in business and provide the high standard of service and support we believe our customers deserve.

We pride ourselves on taking great care of both our customers and their vehicles. Great service and strong warranties do come at a cost, but we believe they bring peace of mind and long-term value.

We’re sorry to hear that the price overshadowed the rest of your experience, but we truly appreciate the opportunity to have served you and hope you’ll give us another chance in the future.

Wishing you the best,

Ashley McCabe
(253) 565-5173
Vice President