# What would you do... re: auto service **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [September 6, 2011, 6:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229 "2011-09-06T06:00:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/1 "2011-09-06T06:00:42Z")
A few weeks ago I had an alignment and 2 tires mounted at Licatas. Yesterday I had all 4 tires off to bleed the brakes and put on my race pads and noticed the center cap on one of my front wheels (the ones they took off to mount/balance tires) had 3 of it’s 4 tabs broken off and someone glued it in place with what looks like gasket maker. These wheels have only ever been to Swerve prior to this and I know Paul wouldn’t do something like this (besides that, I’ve always been standing right there shooting the shit with the Swerve guys while they mounted my tires). I’m ordering a replacement on ebay for $24, just not sure if it’s worth talking to Licata’s about it. What would you do? The fact that they broke it, made a half ass repair and then didn’t even mention it to me is enough that I won’t be going back for service there in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Mike93](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike93/32/7325_2.png) [@Mike93](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mike93)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/2 "2011-09-06T06:14:15Z")
Worth a pleasant phone call to Licata. I forget the owners name, but I had several conversations with him while having my car worked on recently, and he seemed like the type of dude that would understand. It’s completely possible he was unaware of this situation, and would have never approved of the repair. ---
**Author:** ![yamba6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/yamba6/32/5161_2.png) [@yamba6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/yamba6)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/3 "2011-09-06T06:26:18Z")
I would either make a call or stop back in. They should have documentation of who was working on the car. Something like that is important to bring back up. May not so much be a solve to your problem, but in the long run you are saving others from the same mistake happening to them. Which from one car guy to another would be something I would definitely do, being I wouldnt want that happening to anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Carnut](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/carnut/32/7590_2.png) [@Carnut](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/4 "2011-09-06T06:43:44Z")
Order a new one, not go back. On the other hand, if one of my guys did something stupid, being the owner I’d like the chance to fix it rather than have you pissed. Who knows maybe the guy is a hack and it’s a good opportunity to say get the fuck out you loser. ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/5 "2011-09-06T06:44:53Z")
Definitely call Russ at Licata’s. He’ll want to know someone screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![bracketracer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bracketracer/32/15592_2.png) [@bracketracer](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bracketracer)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/6 "2011-09-06T06:49:22Z")
Absolutely call Russ. I can guarantee it will be a no-hassle call. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/7 "2011-09-06T06:53:51Z")
are you after $24, or the truth? ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/8 "2011-09-06T06:57:31Z")
It’s not about the price, it’s that someone is trying to hide the damage. Licata’s was working on my old Range Rover and one of the guys snapped off a sensor by accident. I got a call, was told what happened and they said it was already ordered and on it’s way. That’s how it should happen. ---
**Author:** ![FadetoBlack](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fadetoblack/32/6118_2.png) [@FadetoBlack](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/FadetoBlack)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/9 "2011-09-06T06:58:10Z")
I say call the the owner. Like others said, he was probably unaware of the situation. I’m sure he would love the opportunity to make things right especially now everyone on NYSpeed knows about what happened under his watch. If he knew you put it on here (whether you tell him or if he found out any other way) I’m sure he would love to make you whole again so you can follow up with another post explaining how he made things right and therefore killing the bad PR. ---
**Author:** ![reval](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/reval/32/5168_2.png) [@reval](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/reval)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/10 "2011-09-06T07:17:04Z")
I would Call and explain the situation, order a new one, and never go back. I do not think I could ever go back to a shop that did that. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/11 "2011-09-06T07:18:00Z")
> [@Anonymity](#): > > are you after $24, or the truth? I really don’t care about the $24. In the scope of car ownership it’s a minor expense. What bothers me is that the first I knew about it was yesterday when I was putting my wheels back on and said to myself, “What’s this black goop that looks like it was used to glue my center cap on”. I realize center cap tabs can just break no matter how careful you are and wouldn’t have had a problem with them saying, “hey, one of your center caps is in really bad shape so we used some glue to hold it on blah blah”. I know Josh knows Russ pretty well so if he’s saying I should give him a call that’s probably what I’ll do. The replacement is already ordered since I have my doubts the hack repair is going to hold up the first time the wheels get good and hot under heavy braking. ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/12 "2011-09-06T07:24:27Z")
Yeah ask to speak with Russ. I’m sure he’ll thank you for the call. > [@JayS](#): > > … The replacement is already ordered since I have my doubts the hack repair is going to hold up the first time the wheels get good and hot under heavy braking. [fairgentelmanz]You should be removing your center caps at track days anyway n00b![/fairgentlemanz] ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 7:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/13 "2011-09-06T07:47:24Z")
> [@Onyx Z32](#): > > [fairgentelmanz]You should be removing your center caps at track days anyway n00b![/fairgentlemanz] Yeah, I take them off at the track. Sometimes I get a little, uh, over enthusiastic on back roads cruises to the point that my brakes get pretty hot though. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 8:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/14 "2011-09-06T08:10:05Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Yeah, I take them off at the track. Sometimes I get a little, uh, over enthusiastic on back roads cruises to the point that my brakes get pretty hot though. :tup: This is the first bad PR I have personally heard for Licata’s. Interested in hearing how they deal with this for you. Keep us informed! ---
**Author:** ![nytalonTSi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nytalontsi/32/5399_2.png) [@nytalonTSi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nytalonTSi)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 8:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/15 "2011-09-06T08:17:33Z")
Yeah it’s definitely not about the money, it’s about common decency. And you took it to a professional, where you would expect quality. ---
**Author:** ![Mike93](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mike93/32/7325_2.png) [@Mike93](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mike93)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 8:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/16 "2011-09-06T08:42:14Z")
> [@maxwell](#): > > :tup: > > This is the first bad PR I have personally heard for Licata’s. Interested in hearing how they deal with this for you. Keep us informed! Not to shit on Licata’s by any means…but when I had an alignment on my Mustang a few months ago they failed to notice the passenger side inner tie rod being shot. Anything over 60mph caused a serious shake to the car, one that wasn’t noticable prior to aligment. Anyway, I took care of this on my own after the fact…but for ~$200 for my aligment I wasn’t exactly thrilled they didn’t pick up on this and aligned the car. I didn’t think a car could be properly aligned with a loose component (like an inner tie rod)? Contrary to my advice above, I never called them to notify of the issue since I drove the Mustang to Minnesota a few days later where it is now parked collecting dust. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 8:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/17 "2011-09-06T08:59:10Z")
^ 2nd story… ---
**Author:** ![05OrangeSS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/eada6e/32.png) [@05OrangeSS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/05OrangeSS)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 9:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/18 "2011-09-06T09:45:58Z")
Russ doesn’t personally work on every car there but he’s one of the most standup guys I know. I started going to him in 2005 for alignments and inspections. Just call and I’m sure he’ll take care of your problem. ---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ---------- > [@Carnut](#): > > Order a new one, not go back. > > On the other hand, if one of my guys did something stupid, being the owner I’d like the chance to fix it rather than have you pissed. Who knows maybe the guy is a hack and it’s a good opportunity to say get the fuck out you loser. Clearly Russ isn’t a hack. This is me speaking my mind. A person doesn’t expand their business to what it is and buys out another repair shop from being a “loser” or a “hack”. I’d let russ personally work on ANY car I owned. Clearly Russ knows how to run a SUCCESSFUL business. Just a thought… ---
**Author:** ![fiend540](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bcef8e/32.png) [@fiend540](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/fiend540)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 9:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/19 "2011-09-06T09:48:31Z")
> [@05OrangeSS](#): > > Russ doesn’t personally work on every car there but he’s one of the most standup guys I know. I started going to him in 2005 for alignments and inspections. Just call and I’m sure he’ll take care of your problem. > > ---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ---------- > > Clearly Russ isn’t a hack. This is me speaking my mind. A person doesn’t expand their business to what it is and buys out another repair shop from being a “loser” or a “hack”. I’d let russ personally work on ANY car I owned. Clearly Russ knows how to run a SUCCESSFUL business. Just a thought… He was talking about the mechanic who may have worked on the car, not the owner Russ. I swear some of you have terrible reading comprehension. ---
**Author:** ![Bull49](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bull49/32/7381_2.png) [@Bull49](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bull49)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 9:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229/20 "2011-09-06T09:53:08Z")
> [@05OrangeSS](#): > > Russ doesn’t personally work on every car there but he’s one of the most standup guys I know. I started going to him in 2005 for alignments and inspections. Just call and I’m sure he’ll take care of your problem. > > ---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ---------- > > Clearly Russ isn’t a hack. This is me speaking my mind. A person doesn’t expand their business to what it is and buys out another repair shop from being a “loser” or a “hack”. I’d let russ personally work on ANY car I owned. Clearly Russ knows how to run a SUCCESSFUL business. Just a thought… you missed the point. don was saying that it is possible that the guy who did the work (not russ) could be half a douche bag who does dumb shit sometimes and that bringing this cover-up incident to light could be what gets him canned. edit: apparently i took longer than i thought to type that [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-would-you-do-re-auto-service/216229.md?page=2)