Cain’s Michael Engine Service

I’ve been going to Michael for years. He does good work. He charges fair prices. HERE’S WHY I WON’T USE HIM ANY LONGER. He will quote you one price, then perform EXTRA work, 1) without telling you and 2) without your approval of any additional costs. Most recently took a car to him to replace brake shoes. I knew they were close to the rotors, but wasn’t sure if it was front or rear. He said he’d find out which and replace the pads/​shoes that were worst. Well, he replaced the front (which had about 15% left) instead of looking at the rear, which were down to the rotor. After I quized him on which needed it most, he said he’d take another look and get back to me. He replaced the rear as well, without discussing with me. Next, he said I had a power steering hose that was leaking and would replace it for cost ($ 54), I approved that. He then changed the oil/​filter (I never asked for this). The original $ 100 quote that I approved to replace brake pads ended up costing me me $ 650, which I didn’t learn until I got there to pick the car up.
The same car, a year earlier, ended up costing me an extra $ 800 in unexpected and unauthorized repairs, he kept the car for almost a month, and when I got it back my «check engine» and «transmission» lights were on and he couldn’t tell me why. They’re STILL on, and he STILL doesn’t know why, after I’ve asked him several times to explain. My concern now is whether it will pass inspection.

I found Michael Cain by a recommendation from another shop that didn’t do automotive work. He knows exactly what he’s doing, but it took two months and cost me double what he quoted me. I waited until today to update my review because I just got my parts back today. He does great work, don’t get me wrong. He knows more about engines than most teams of mechanics. It’s just after the two month delay and $ 1400 later I would have done things differently. I wish I would have seen the reviews on him before I invested as much time and money as I did.

I had heard that this fella was an ace engine builder, and if you want a place to take your high-​performance or classic car in Plano for top-​notch machine work, this is the guy. Well, he may be all that, but I’ll never know. All I know is:
#1: The shop is an absolute mess. There are engines and parts and goodness-​knows-​what strewn all around the shop. It looked to me like an episode of Hoarders. I’m not sure when the last time the floor saw a broom or mop, or even daylight for that matter. It’s bad.
#2: I overlooked that and left my cylinder heads with him to get machined based on the recommendation I had received. Horrible mistake. Months later, the work had not been done. There always seemed to be someone else’s project in front of mine.
#3: The guy moved without any notice at all. One day he’s there, and then *poof* he’s gone. Just an abandoned car and some junk left out back. The guy at the business next door told me it was some sort of midnight move-​out, but that’s just what I heard. I don’t know what the deal was, other than I couldn’t find the guy and the phone number I had just rang and rang. So great, I lost my cylinder heads and am out around $ 1000.
Now I talk to some other people and the consensus is «oh yeah, that’s Cain. He’s a real character.» Well, this «character» sure seems to operate with some different business ideas than I do. I wouldn’t treat a customer like that for fear of being sued, or having my reputation ruined, or being met in a back alley by someone looking to do me harm.
I have now learned that he changed his business name to Cain’s Auto Haus and moved his shop not far from the old place. He’s still in an industrial park in Plano. I’ve tried getting him to talk to me on the phone, and he won’t call me back. I’m not in Plano much anymore so it’s not easy for me to get to him.
Dealing with this guy has turned into a real nightmare. I just want my 1960’s vintage parts back so I can put the car back together and I cannot understand why that’s so difficult.
I’m glad that he’s not where he was any more so that others do not get duped into the situation that I have found myself in. I’m only hopeful that either he’s cleaned up his act with his new venture (which seems to me unlikely) or that the new location finds him hidden away between some other industrial buildings and honest, hard-​working people don’t stumble into a trap.
Sorry to be a buzz-​kill on this one. I really take no joy in writing a poor review. I really WANT for small businesses to succeed and be great. I just really can’t think of anything positive to say in this case.