Mopar Forums - Mechanic Trying to Rip Me Off? '05 Magnum Transmission Flush

Need some advice guys. I have an '05 magnum SXT. It has the 3.5/auto I think 42RLE. Long story short the grommet on the transmission dipstick tube was bad and basically just let water run right into the transmission when driving on wet roads. Tranny fluid turned a strawberry milkshake pink. It was awful.I attempted flushing myself, around $300 in fluid through it, I decided I needed to take it to a shop where they have the proper equipment as I had already spent so much on fluid thus far. I dont usually take anything to a mechanic I work on my own cars unless its a case like this where I dont have the proper equipment for the job.

I called around and found the best deal at Same Day Auto, I was quoted $169 for the flush and whatever the grommet costs but he let me know that may or may not be accurate as they need to see the vehicle to give me an proper diagnosis to know the problem and give me an accurate quote.. Fair enough. Had the car towed there. Later that day he calls and quotes me $415. $169 flush, $32 for the grommet, $15 for something else, $25 for the flush kit, and labor... Gotta love how these things spring up after you've spent money having your vehicle towed. But whatever, I decided to just have them do it and get it over with. So I gave them the ok.

Now, here is the first time they tried to scam me: After a couple days, they call me and tell me they're done with the car and it's ready to go then they say "But did you know that there is a loud popping coming from your rear end?".... Said they were driving it in circles in the parking lot and it kept doing it really bad. I told them "It didnt when it left here." He told me he'd look and see what it is, I gave him the ok to do so after making sure he wasnt going to charge me for the diagnosis. He calls back later and tells me my parking brake shoes have basically just fallen apart from sitting. I told him I could fix it myself. To conclude this little scenario: There is nothing wrong, no popping. He was lying hoping I'd just agree to whatever they told me and let them charge me whatever for it.

I went and picked up the car and paid them the quoted $415, Driving it home I noticed the transmission shifting at odd times, and when I almost got home it went into "limp home mode". (No dipstick to pull over and check the fluid. I have one at home.). I check the fluid when I get home and wouldnt you know it, it's still pink, probably just as pink as when I took it to them. I called and told them, he told me I'd have to bring it back in and they'll have to flush it again. I said "Ok, thats not going to cost me anything right?"

His response "Um, well we're going to have to flush it again, and it's $169 per flush. We already flushed it 3 times"...

Long conversation short and needless to say, I was pissed and not letting it go. He eventually told me to bring the car back in and he would flush it again. I did. He supposedly flushed it and then told me the car needed some miles put on it and he would flush it again. He told me to take it and put about 50 miles on it and bring it back to them for a 3rd time. I did. And I checked the fluid during this time and it still looked pink, so at their request I was driving my vehicle with contaminated transmission fluid. It was acting up to let me know it wasnt right as well.

I bring the car back. He calls me the next day and tells me the car is done. I say "Great! You guys got all the water out?" his response, "Uhhh.. She look a lot betta!"....

I knew it wasnt good after that response but didnt press him on the phone without seeing it for myself first. So I picked the car up. Took it across the street and checked the fluid after letting the car warm up. The fluid looked substantially better almost clear in fact.. almost. It was still cloudy. I called them and let them know. And to cut a long conversation short, He told me he'd need to speak with his boss and would call me back monday(today) to let me know if they could do anything. It is now 1pm havent heard anything, I have tried calling them twice and have been told he'll call me back. But still have yet to hear any word on the situation.

So what do you guys think? If I had been told that my $415 wouldnt have bought 100% clear fluid, I wouldnt have done it, If I would have been told that it might take more than 1 flush and they charge by the flush, I wouldn't have done it.

I feel I have been ripped off at this point. I paid a large amount of money to have this issue fixed and it is not fixed. I didnt pay for a bit of an improvement, that doesnt cut it in this scenario. Do you guys feel the shop is right in this scenario?

How do you guys suggest I proceed?

Edit: As a side note, I didnt choose them based on price alone. They had really good reviews on google. 4.7 stars out of 107 reviews.