ADS Auto Repair

I had some problems with my air conditioner on an older vehicle and took it in to these guys for repair. I also had some leakage on my front axle boots on a front wheel drive vehicle. They were backed up when I arrived and said it would be sometime before they could get my car in. After a short time, I was told they could get my work started and would be a little while. I left and a short time later they called and said my car was ready. I was unexpectedly surprised and happy that they had finished so quickly. [redacted] And [redacted] did an excellent job and the Customer Service was fantastic. I recommend ADS and would go back in the future for any other repairs.

On approximately 5/13/15, my wife ([redacted]) and I, made an appointment to get a couple of issues looked at for repair on our 2007 Saturn Vue.
Issue 1: The air conditioning system was making a knocking sound inside the vents while the air conditioner was on.
Issue 2: the headlights were turning on, even when the vehicle was turned off, causing the battery to drain.
On the initial visit the service advisor (Sean M[redacted]) went over the possibilities and assured us that they would investigate, call us and repair the issues. The following day, I received a call from Sean stating that they were able to find out the issue with the knock in the air conditioner system and that the actuator needed to be replaced. He also stated that they checked the electrical system to try to find out what the issue was with the lights turning on and could not find an issue, but that the battery cell was not up to par and needed to be replaced. Sean also stated that "they" believed that a relay switch had probably gotten stuck and that was what caused the lights to keep coming on. The cost to fix the air conditioner vent actuator would be $104.00 for diagnostics, and $147.10, also to replace the cabin air filter $31.20 parts and labor. The was the lights that were never fixed. Sean stated that it now needed a new battery, (the old battery still took a charge and I was able to jump it with no problems). Sean quoted me a battery cost of $220.00, because it needed a special battery since it was a Saturn. I told him I would get my own battery and found one at [redacted] for $125.00 with a 5 yr warranty. I brought the battery to them and they installed it for $10.40. They also suggested many other issues that "should" be addressed, one of which was the Serpentine belt, which I allowed them to replace at a cost of 119.23, parts and labor. The remaining cost was labor and diagnostics for the lights that were never fixed for a total cost of $641.42, which I begrudgingly paid for on 5/15/15. Note: They also stated that they checked the pressure on the air conditioner system and made sure all of the hoses and fittings were serviceable, without cracks or leaks, (Checked with dye through the system).
The following day 5/16/15, my wife, [redacted], drove the Vue. When she returned, she stated that the air conditioner was not getting cool. . Since she drove a short distance and the heat was up outside, I assumed it was because the air conditioner had not had a chance to cool down, so I waited until I drove the vehicle to work the next day, to see how the air conditioner was performing.
I drove the Vue to work the next day, 5/17/15, and noticed the air conditioning would not get cold (it always blew out strong and ice cold prior to the work done by ADS prior). So for two days I drove it back and forth. I guess hoping something would change, because I did want to have to deal with ADS again. No changes with the air conditioning, so I contacted ADS and let them know that the next day the air conditioner was not working, and I thought it was odd that it was working fine before (except the knocking noise) and now it was not, after work was done on it. The now service advisor (Dale W[redacted]) stated that it could not have been anything ADS did, because they never went under the hood. I informed Dale that I was told that all of the air conditioning systems were checked for pressure, hoses, leaks, etc. and that the technician had to go under the hood to verify that. Dale continued to deny that there was anything done under the hood to the a/c unit, but that we could bring the Vue in and they would see what was wrong. I made an appointment and dropped off the Vue on 5/25/15 to ADS. Dale stated that it would not be looked at until the following day. The next day, I received a call from Dale stating that the A/C compressor was bad and that it would have to be replaced, and since it was a Saturn it would cost approximately $1,370.00. I told Dale forget it, I am not paying that for something I thought was their neglect and I would be on my way to pick up the vehicle. As I was getting into my car to go pick up the Vue from ADS, I received a call from the Manager, who stated that he had overheard the conversation between Dale and I, and that he looked at the records and noted that ADS had done intrusive inspection under the hood at the A/C system, and that the Technician noted that dye was leaking from the A/C system, and that it was ADS's fault for not notifying me of the issue. (Note: I know enough about A/C systems to know that if you run the compressor without refrigerant it can ruin the compressor.) The manager stated that since it was ADS's responsibility to inform me, that he would reduce the cost of replacement by 50%, for a total of $670.10. At that time I felt that I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, since I didn't know the cost or extent of repairs if I took it somewhere else, so I authorized the work. The air conditioner seems to be holding up so far, but I feel ADS should have at least performed the work for free or at a much more reduced cost.
Part 2
Back to Issue 2. A few weeks later, the headlights on the Vue began to turn on again, when the vehicle was turned off. Again, draining the battery. I did not want to deal with ADS, so I found out a reputable automotive repair shop locally, that was recommended by a co-worker ([redacted]). I dropped off the vehicle on 7/2/15, right before the holiday weekend, and before I made it home, I received a call from the representative and she stated that they found the issue. It was a headlamp switch. I authorized them to replace it and I haven't had an issue with the lights since then. Note: while they replaced the light switch, they also replaced the windshield wiper switch, free of charge!! Something that took two days to troubleshoot, without resolution by ADS was solved in 30min by [redacted]!!