T-N-D Automotive

(This review is for TND Automotive which is now on Swansons Ranch Road. The address has not been updated on Unilocal yet.)
I had a terrible experience here and would not recommend it to anyone. I took my 2002 Toyota RAV4 here because I was experiencing harsh shifting. One month and $ 2,400 later, I got it back and it was just as un-​driveable as when I dropped it off.
Unfortunately, I did my own research on the transmission problem I was experiencing AFTER I got my car back from TND. Turns out, ECMs (Electronic Control Module — the computer that controls the transmission) on RAV4s from 2001 — 2003 are failing. The failed components are widely known for damaging transmissions. I found all kinds of documentation on this problem after literally one minute of Googling. Something you would think any proficient mechanic would do.
What he did do was read the technical service bulletin and ignore the repair procedure. The bulletin states that the ECMs are problematic and step one is to replace it. (Not a single mention of an ECM was made to me until the very end of this ordeal.) He told me that he was «ruling out electronic issues before addressing mechanical issues» so the first step he took was to replace a malfunctioning shift soleniod. That didn’t solve it. OK, I understand that troubleshooting can be a multi-​step process, it sounded like he knew what he was talking about. Because the solenoid replacement didn’t work, he then recommended that a transmission rebuild was necessary, and that I could even «get another 100 thousand miles out of my car.» I foolishly believed him and authorized the work. The rebuild was performed, yet the problem persisted. He couldn’t figure out how to solve it until taking it to a Toyota dealership. They pointed to the ECM as the source of the problem. I was then notified that I had two options 1) have TND get a new ECM from the dealer and replace it for about $ 1200, or 2) have TND get a used ECM and replace it for $ 670. The second option would have taken at leaset five more days to complete and he was hesitant to make any guarantees that it would resolve everything. Not exactly confidence instilling.
At this point I had spent $ 2400 on the replaced solenoid and the rebuild. I had done my homework on the ECM/​transmission issues, and was equipped with the knowledge that the problem was clearly mis-​diagnosed. Whether he knew all along that the ECM was the source of the problem, I don’t know. If he secretly knew from the start, that would have been really underhanded. If he had just found out, that would have made him negligent. Either way, I got screwed over.
I’m speculating a little here, but if I had taken my vehicle to a savvy mechanic with the diagnostic tools necessary to take on the job, they probably would have identified that the ECM needed to be replaced and the transmission needed to be rebuilt. Which is about $ 4,000 worth of work — about the trade-​in value of a 2002 RAV4 in good condition. I would have avoided sinking thousands of dollars and weeks of time into it.
So I met with him to see about getting my vehicle fixed once and for all at no extra cost, or see if I could get some of my money back. He shut down completely and refused to admit that any mistakes or false statements were made. Because of this, I’m now taking legal action to see what I can recoup.
To sum it up, TND may be capable with certain transmission jobs, but mine was definitely not one of those. Taking your car here is a roll of the dice — they may end up learning their trade on your dime. There are plenty of other shops in Austin, so there’s no reason to gamble here.