Tom's Service Center

My brother chose this auto repair shop because of its high rating and many positive reviews. We expected professional service and quality work. Unfortunately, our experience was different... His car was brought in for an engine replacement. After picking it up and driving approximately 130 miles from Binghamton to NJ, it became clear something was wrong. The truck consumed about 27 gallons of fuel for that trip, while it normally uses 16–17 gallons. Due to this abnormal fuel consumption, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. The independent mechanic performed a smoke test and identified multiple post-repair assembly issues: – Three vacuum leaks (crankcase ventilation line, HVAC control line, and vacuum distribution at the intake manifold). – Several hoses connected incorrectly, causing leaks. – Missing bolts that should have been installed. – One hose kinked and damaged due to improper routing. – Another hose routed incorrectly compared to factory design. – The vehicle’s alarm system disconnected from the battery without explanation. After these issues were corrected, the engine idle stabilized and the vehicle began operating normally. At pickup, the shop technician acknowledged unstable engine idle but stated he did not know the cause, while assuring that the vehicle had been checked and everything was fine. The follow-up diagnostics clearly showed that the issue was directly related to vacuum leaks — something that should have been identified during proper post-installation inspection. We did not immediately leave a public review. Instead, we contacted the shop directly, provided a detailed explanation, shared photos, and submitted the invoice from the independent mechanic who corrected the defects at our expense. We requested discussion of partial reimbursement, since the problems were discovered immediately after the repair. After a short email exchange, the shop stopped responding for the past 2 days... This lack of communication is unprofessional, particularly for a business with a strong public reputation. We remain open to resolving this matter privately if the shop is willing to discuss compensation for the additional costs caused by improper assembly... If the situation continues to be ignored, we will pursue formal channels and legal options, as this concerns both workmanship quality and financial damages. It is disappointing to write this, but this has been our experience.

My Ford F-250 came into this shop in non-running condition and stayed there for repairs, where they replaced the engine. After I picked up the truck and drove from Binghamton to New Jersey (about 130 miles), it became obvious that something was wrong. The truck burned 27 gallons of fuel on that trip, while normally it takes about 16–17 gallons for the same distance. That immediately seemed abnormal, so I decided to have the truck checked again by an independent mechanic. When I picked up the truck, the engine was already running unstable. When I arrived in NJ, I opened the hood and a strong burst of air hit my face, and you could clearly hear air escaping. It was obvious this wasn’t coming from the cooling fan or anything like that. I pointed this out to the independent technician. He spoke with me and later called the mechanic from this shop. The response he received was that this issue was definitely not related to the vacuum system, that the vacuum had been “checked many times,” and that if needed they were ready to look into it and resolve the issue. However, when my mechanic ran a smoke test, he immediately found three vacuum leaks: a line to the crankcase ventilation valve, a line to the HVAC control system, and a leak at the vacuum distribution manifold on top of the intake manifold. In addition, several hoses were connected incorrectly, some bolts and fasteners were missing, one hose was bent and damaged, and another hose was routed incorrectly. After these issues were corrected by the independent mechanic, the engine RPM stabilized and the truck started running normally. There is another important point here. Later we learned that the shop did not have the proper equipment needed to check some of the key parameters their own mechanic was talking about. Despite that, we were confidently told that the problem was definitely not related to the vacuum system. But once the truck was properly checked by an independent mechanic after their repair, it turned out that this statement was simply wrong — the issue was exactly vacuum leaks, which are easy to detect if you actually have the right diagnostic equipment. So the obvious question is: how can a shop make such confident conclusions and take on this kind of work if they don’t even have the equipment required to properly test the system? I didn’t rush to leave negative reviews. First we contacted the shop directly, sent them a detailed explanation of the problem, photos, and the invoice from my mechanic who had to fix the defects. We asked to discuss compensation for those additional expenses, since these costs happened because of problems discovered right after their repair. Their response was that the truck originally came to them in non-running condition and that they have no way of knowing how it ran before the repair. But that’s not really the point. The issue here is the quality of the assembly after the engine installation. Unfortunately, after our last email the shop stopped responding, even though several days have already passed. I’m still open to resolving this directly and privately, but if the situation continues to be ignored, I will have to consider taking further steps through the appropriate channels to protect my interests.

Incredible work and incredible prices. Their team is cordial, professional and goes the extra mile for your service.

This is a great auto repair shop. Their mechanics are professional and intent on making your vehicle safe to drive. Their pricing is fair, besides and they don't try to pad the bill with unnecessary repairs. Tom's is a good place to bring your car or truck for service.

These folks take care of my vehicle inspections every year. They perform the service and never go looking for extra ways to pad the bill. Inspection? No problem! Just had a replace a license plate bulb and you are good to go. I love honest businesses. I will continue to use them as needed and highly recommend them.