Gabe's Truck & Auto Repair LLC in Fairbanks, Alaska

ONE OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD....? Lower Radiator hose replacement $165.91, Replace Transmission mount $386.22 Replace CV boot clamp $230.18. Took Toyota Tacoma in due to large amount of grease seeping out of CV Boot. Gabe's told me that the clamp had loosened, allowing grease to seep out of the boot. They recommended I have the boot re-clamped, so I did ($5.78 clamp, $224.40 labor!). Three weeks later, I noticed the boot was split open and spewing grease everywhere. When I took it back to Gabe's, they wouldn't warranty anything because they said the boot failed, not the clamp. The boot is a $20 part, so I'm wondering why they didn't replace it to begin with? They claimed the boot was in fine condition (should have been, because it was only 6 months old), but it seems that either the boot wasn't in great condition or it was damaged while replacing the clamp. All of this compounded the problem, so now I have to have the entire axle replaced (elsewhere), and pay for the same labor AGAIN. Gabe's gave me an analogy for what was going on: "It's the same as if you (customer) had brought us (Gabe's) an engine to install that failed after 5,000 miles." No. I got replaced what they suggested, and they got the parts themselves...so how does this make sense? Also had transmission mount replaced. Inspected work after I got my vehicle home and noticed the fail safe bolt was unattached (transmission mount holds transmission to frame with rubber to reduce vibration, once rubber inevitable cracks fail safe bolt keeps transmission from falling). Took truck back next morning and they did fix the problem after trying to blame it on the manufacturer. Three weeks later after they would not warranty my CV boot I notice fail safe bolt is detached once again.. I take my vehicle to professional mechanics because I need reliable transportation like everyone else. I don't mind paying top dollar for good work. I expect that I am paying for piece of mind as well as parts/labor. Well, I have no piece of mind and have to replace my CV axle as a result of Gabe's faulty work. Also had to attach fail safe bolt myself with lock tight. Do you feel like you should have to crawl under yer vehicle in subzero weather to inspect the work of professional mechanics...? Would you like to be treated with hostility when you explain mechanical errors to sales associates? Maybe you get good work done at Gabe's, I'm sure they are capable, but I received poor customer service and faulty mechanical work.. Head across the street to H&H Service center or any of the many others along Van Horn.

I have taken vehicles here off and on for years and I feel like this is a super honest shop with fair rates. I recently took a truck into Ford and they wanted to do three hours of diagnostics and were assuring me the problem was either the alternator they JUST installed or a very expensive GEM module. All that and they wanted me to wait a week before even diagnostics. I had it towed to Gabes and they called within a few hours to say they had found the issue, just a battery terminal. I have had a similar experience before - long story short they don't pad their quotes, they stick to their estimates, and you can be confident that they lean toward the simple and cost effective solution. Never fun to have a vehicle issue, but this is the place to go when you do.