1 /5 Janelle Augustin: I wanted to share some feedback regarding my recent experience. First, I want to say that I appreciated having a woman answer the phone when I called the shop. As a woman, visiting or even calling an auto shop can sometimes feel intimidating due to past experiences, so that small detail made a positive first impression.
I brought in my 2013 Volvo XC60 because my air conditioning has been blowing hot air. After the inspection, I was informed that the issue was related to the catalytic converter, which needs to be replaced at a cost of $3,700. I was told this was also the reason for my check engine light being on and that once the code was cleared, the AC began blowing cold air again. However, this explanation raised concerns for me, as I’ve previously owned a vehicle with catalytic converter issues and never experienced any problems with the heating or air conditioning systems.
When I picked up my vehicle later that night, the AC initially blew hot air, then began to cool but this tends to happen naturally during cooler times of the day, such as at night or early mornings. I drove the car again the following day in warmer weather and noticed no improvement. The AC continues to blow hot air even with the check engine light being off, so now the original AC issue remains unresolved.
Additionally, I couldn’t help but notice that my vehicle appeared to have remained in the same spot throughout the day. While I understand the lot may be crowded, it left me wondering whether any work was actually performed. In the end, I paid $178 and feel no closer to a solution. I would have appreciated more transparency even simply admitting that the team was unsure how to address the issue rather than leaving me with unresolved concerns and unnecessary expenses.
To further validate my doubts, my husband and I did some research and confirmed that a catalytic converter does not impact a vehicle’s AC system. This makes me question the accuracy of the information I was given.
