Briarcliff Auto Service

A couple weeks ago, my 2001 chevy cavalier had broken down on ashland ave in glenolden PA, a few hundred feet from Briarcliffe. I walked to the shop, and right away one of the workers offered to push my car to the shop with his. After about an hour, they concluded that it was a bad fuel pump. I told them I would call them in a few days with what I wanted done. When I called, I explained that as a student I was really tight on cash, and since they didn’t accept payment plans, that I couldn’t afford the price they were charging for the repairs. After talking to them, they agreed to let me find my own fuel pump and have them install it, which I did.
They also told me I had a broken motor mount, which DID explain some of the behavior of the car. The original price I was quoted at was $ 150 for the part. I wasn’t happy about that either but I agreed to it. However, on the day I was scheduled to pick up the car I got a call from them saying that the price of the motor mount for some reason was now $ 205 plus installation. This just seemed way too high and I couldnt afford it so unfortunately I had to tell them not to install the mount. Im just going to buy my own and have them installed at a local mechanic. The guy I talked to on the phone was nice about it and just told me to be careful and not accelerate too hard until it got fixed. All in all, I would say it was a decent experience.
The Good:
–Patient: It took me a couple weeks to gather up the money, find my own parts, and have them shipped in. Glad these guys were patient and really nice about it.
–Friendly: Im not car illiterate, but im definitely no mechanic. They explained the problems with my car in a way that actually made sense for once.
–Quality work
The Bad
–NO PAYMENT PLANS? This was a killer for me as I could have easily had my car off their lot weeks before If they had let me pay in installments (even a half now half later)
–High Prices: I’m not even sure on this one but it just seemed like the prices they were charging for these parts were too high. $ 205 plus labor for a passenger side motor mount is just off the wall. I didn’t expect to pay $ 45 like I could online, but their quote was too much, I’m not sure where they’re getting their parts. Even the fuel pump, which I got for $ 150, they were charging in the neighborhood of $ 300 plus labor for. Unfortunately I was kind of at their whim since I lived over an hour away and was basically stranded in their lot unless I wanted to pay to tow my car to ANOTHER mechanic.
I only got the car for $ 2000, work with me on the prices fellas !!

It is so hard to find a honest mechanic now a days. Keep looking & don’t get ripped off by this guy like I did.
My first experience at Briarcliff Auto was really good so I dcided to go back for a $ 62.00 repair. HUGE MISTAKE!
The guy from the first time was not there nor did anyone know who he was. This alone was crazy. I was quoted one price by the nice guy then the tatooed guy who told me he was not around the first time because he was in prison (that was really obvious by the prison tatoo’s & he seemed high on something) he said ‚“that price doesn’t sound right, I will call you with a price”. (I worked for a car dealer I know more that the average woman does).
He quoted me $ 145.00 of which $ 34.00 was labor. I said I’ll get my own part & I did from Auto Zone for $ 50.00 & had him install it. So as promised my check engnie light was off but the told me if would come back on really soon.
I was like why is that if you fixed the problem? He responded well your power stering belt is on it’s way out and you will get stuck unable to drive like that.
WHAT? It was fine b/​f I brought it to him. Bottom line he got pissed that he did not make an extra $ 61.00 or more of the part from me, so he ruined my belt so I would have to come back to spend more money. I was past due for an inspection so I need it fixed right away.
My fiancée said take as much as they can’t be trusted at least they’ll fix it & we can be done with them for good. So back my vehicle went for new power steering belts & for inspection. So for $ 214.00 I got basically an inspection & my check engine light was still was on, 2^nd time I was told it would resolve the issue after each repair.
So $ 298.00 total, my check engine light still on!!! So since I got my car back I was
smelling an unusual smell. Yesterday ½/​12
when I drove ½ a mile to the track my car started dinging & my temp. gauge shot
all the way up. THANK GOD I DID NOT DRIVE FAR. My fiancée brought me antifreeze/​water from the gas station. I came pouring out from under my car like a fast faucet. So off to Pep Boys I went with my other half following me to make sure I got there without overheating.
It was late in the day so I had to leave my car overnight not a big deal. Pep Boys did a coolant diagnostic test & HERE IS THE REAL KICKER– Briarcliff Auto TRIED TO SABATOGE MY CAR ONCE AGAIN SO I WOULD COME BACK FOR A «REPAIR» they did not properly close the coolant valve cover, which builds up pressure & makes the antifreeze mixture come pouring out fhe bottom of a car instead of shooting up & hitting you in th face with burning hot antifreeze. Pep Boys said and I quote,“it is obvious that this was intentionally done to your vechicle”. Thank God it only cost me $ 40.05, plus the $ 28.00 in antifreeze
my fiancée spent on antifreeze at the gas station.
I would not recommend this place to my enemy. BEWARE!!!