North Hollywood : Auto Shop Owner Fined in Swindles

A North Hollywood auto repair shop owner accused of swindling customers has been ordered to pay $6,350 in fines and costs after pleading no contest Thursday in Los Angeles Municipal Court.

Chun Kun Woo, 49, of the Wilshire District, who operated Q’s Transmission Center at 7649 Lankershim Blvd., was also placed on three years probation, City Atty. James K. Hahn said.

The case stemmed from a sting operation in which investigators from the state Bureau of Automotive Repair purchased from Woo three rebuilt car transmissions that failed to meet standards required under state law, Hahn said. Parts were missing from some of the transmissions, he said, and some parts were excessively worn. The case of one transmission, he said, was cracked.

The investigation began after Woo ran an advertisement in a bargain hunter newspaper offering rebuilt transmissions at unrealistically low prices, Hahn said.