Don’t let the lack of a sign fool you–Green Care Auto Repair on N. 45th St. and Corliss Ave. (formerly Walt’s Muffler) is open for business. Owner Alex Kagarlitsky says the sign should be in place by the end of the week.
Green Care is a general-purpose auto shop. Kagarlitsky described the services he offers: “We service imports and domestics including hybrid cars for light automotive repairs that would include oil changes, brake services, tune-ups and factory scheduled maintenance services.”
We toured the shop recently and noticed it’s very clean, which was one of Kagarlitsky’s goals. “We’re trying to set a new standard in the automotive industry for cleanliness and green repair,” he said. What does “green” mean for an auto shop? He gave us a few examples: he installed lower-energy lights in the shop, uses “zero hazard chemicals,” and recycles everything. He said they almost don’t need a dumpster because they buy fluids in bulk and Safety-Kleen will cart away used oil from oil changes.
Green Care will also offer monthly customer clinics on how to do basic preventative maintenance as well as cut the environmental impact of vehicles. And the first 100 customers will get a $60/hour labor rate (regular rate is $90/hour) and will be locked in at that rate forever.
For many in Wallingford, a distinctive feature of the shop’s exterior was the Ryan Henry Ward mural the on the building’s east side, which is now white. Kagarlitsky said he’d have kept the mural, but the landlord wanted it painted over. He points out, though, that the mural is now preserved if anyone wants to uncover it in the future.
Why did they cover it up in the first place? What if people want it uncovered now? I say, return the mural!
I just had my car repaired there and had a great experience. The owner was friendly. The prices seem reasonable enough ($20 for an oil change). And they vacuumed and wiped down my embarrassingly dirty car – a nice touch. For me, this new shop is a great, convenient addition to the neighborhood. And it WAS strikingly clean in there!
My first impression is very good! My check engine light came on and I failed the emissions test. Took my car to Superior automotive and was told I needed about $1500 in repairs. Spent $150 in preventative maintenance in order to pass emissions. Brought the car to Alex and was told it was probably just a clogged $15 fuel filter. I don't mind paying for repairs when they are necessary, but if Alex is correct, he saved me a lot of money. I really value a good diagnostician who lookins for the simple solutions first. I will definitely be coming back.
I'll update this comment if the long term diagnosis was correct.
Hello and thanks for your reveiw just wondering was the diagnosise correct? Thank you!
Dishonest and irresponsible, the owner, Alex Kagarlitsky has lost a customer. I went here a few times for oil changes with no issues and thought I found a great new mechanic. With the last service a few months back I got into my car and noticed that the radio volume control knob was gone. Had a nice hole where the button used to be. I immediately asked them about it, and I was directed to see if “my wife” would know anything about it. Since I drive the car 99% of the time and was listening to the radio on my way in, I was certain that the volume knob was still there. They checked with the guy who does to courtesy cleaning after service, and they looked around and found a radio control knob. But it wasn't mine. They kept looking, and found another. Still wasn't mine. After rummaging through the vacuum, they found it. It fit perfectly (and had a little sticker my daughter put on it), but the internal mechanism was damaged. Normally the button is recessed and pops out with a push, then pops back in with a push. They found a way to get it back in, but now it only comes out about 2mm and is almost impossible to turn. I've taken it to Toyota and to Car Toys, and there is no way to fix it. The only remedy they offered at Green care was to let them take the radio out and try and see if they could fix it over a couple of weeks. Considering that their electrical guy is only there on Thursdays, and they had been telling me they don't really do that kind of work, I didn't see the value in that. I've opened a case with the BBB, but they refused to respond. So, I still have a broken radio, and no offer to repair or replace. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone. They damaged my vehicle, and have walked away. After trying several times to get some assistance from the BBB and the State AG on the issue I had with him, he writes in a letter back, very willing to lie: First he states that I left the shop immediately, then immediately returned, when the fact is once I got into my car, I noticed the damage and went back into the office. I never even started the car, and didn't deal with him until Someone found him. He then states that I was acting peculiar as if “I knew what had happened” before he did. Quite an inference. I was upset that my car was damaged. I think I should be allowed to be upset, but Alex seems to thing that would be peculiar. He admits it didn't fit “100%”, but since the push-in/push-out spring mechanism didn't work, I let him know that it wasn't good enough. Alex accuses me of “knowing what was wrong with the radio” before he did. Well, one I could tell that the spring mechanism in the knob didn't work anymore, yes – I did know what was wrong: IT DIDN'T WORK. Apparently Alex had no clue that it should. He also claims that I didn't show up doe a scheduled appointment, and on that I'll give him some credit as I had shown up once, but they didn't have the new part, then showed up a second time and they had a new knob, but it didn't work, so they put the old knob back in. The third appointment was only arranged after a lot of his insistence that he couldn't do the work and if I would come in they might take out the radio and play with it for a week. By that time I had too much of Alex's bull, and had missed too much time from work. It was obvious that if I let him take out my radio after he kept insisting that he doesn't do that kind of work, I'd be buying myself a new radio in a month. He also claims that I told him that “you owe me a new radio” which I didn't. But I did tell him that I took it to Toyota – and they told me it could not be repaired and they gave me and estimate for $1300. I told him that I just wanted it to work like it did and I expected him to take care of the matter. In his letter he claimed he offered to “gladly send it out for repairs” if he was unable to fix it. He never made that offer, and had he, I would have gladly taken it, but without him trying to fiddle with the radio himself. I have given him several chances to correct the situation, and he refused to even reply to my complaint to the BBB (but he does acknowledge receiving it in his letter to the AG. I want everyone to know that Alex did a really lousy job on my car. When he got caught, he avoided taking care of the problem, opting to do the very least he could, and pass the buck. He has been difficult to work with avoided doing anything substantial. He continues to lie, avoid responsibility, and point fingers. Could he have replaced the radio? Yes, but he didn't. Could he have offered some other smaller compensation? Yes, but he didn't. Could he have responded to the BBB as a 3rd party to mediate the situation? Yes, but he didn't. Could he have contacted me at any other time? Yes, but he didn't. Once again – I have spent too much of my time and energy trying to get him to address the situation and getting the run around. He has shown himself to be inept, and dishonest. I will never do business with him again, and I would encourage anyone else considering auto repair in Wallingford to think of going somewhere else.
Too bad there's not more detail – wish I know about this before I took my care there.
http://docs.justia.com/cases/f…/
Hope they could give away auto repair coupons regarding with the previous commentators some say the shop is ok while the latest comment says he had a bad experience which of them should we believe?
Great, I was searching for something along the lines of this. I was wondering
I took my Pathfinder in knowing my radiator hose was cracked and leaking. The tech proceeded to tell me the radiator itself was cracked in not one but two places in addition to the hose estimating the repair cost at nearly $600. When I asked the tech how he knew it was cracked he stated, “Cause there is radiator fluid there.” It was obvious he has no clue and so I asked the tech to please put the hose back onto the radiator as I will be going elsewhere, and he refused. I had to reconnect the hose myself and took my car to a different mechanic. Not only did I know the Green Care Auto tech was full of it, the new mechanic pressure tested the radiator for leaks and of course it was not cracked, hose was replaced and the car lived happily ever after.
I attempted to contact the store manager to express my frustrations. Trevor, who initially identified himself as the Sales Rep, placed me on hold then got back on the phone and said “This is the manager Trevor.” When I explained how shady this all seems he said, “The teach made a recommendation.” I said, “Telling me the radiator is cracked in two places is a little more than a recommendation, it’s a diagnosis.” Trevor then hung up on me. I called back to ask for the name of the owner and it took me three times on hold to get the store owners name. This is by far the worst experience/customer service I have ever encountered.