Broken Intake Hose Rant

[C6H12O6]

This morning at the local Firestone shop, I was having my new Revos installed. I look into the service bay after they pulled it in and I see the hood up. Wondering why the hood is up for tires, I look through the window and see the service tech pulling the air cleaner lid up and flexing the hose about 4-5 inches. I run out and throw a fit.

Very long story short, they pull the hose off and there is a visible crack in between two of the flex ribs. I continue to throw fit and the service guys and manager deny any wrong doing and refuse to replace hose. They insist that it isn't their fault and they even deny that it was a crack. Then, they changed their story to, "the crack doesn't even go all the way through. It won't even affect the performance of the vehicle."

Long story not so long, I eventually had to call the police to get my keys back. They refused to release my vehicle until I signed the work order. I know, more bees with honey, but I was pissed. The tire store across town is going to match their price this afternoon, so I'm good, right?

No. Check engine light after car starts up after two attempts. I was like Samuel L. Jackson in the hamburger scene of Pulp Fiction. The jackass service manager actually tried to tell me the light was on when I brought it in, then said, "oh, I know what it is. They probably forgot to plug in the MAF sensor." Needless to say, I didn't let them near my truck. The MAF sensor was unplugged, but I'm going to Autozone to pull the code anyway so I can tell the manager on Monday what the code was ~ hopefully that will help my case.

How should I proceed with the manager on Monday? I'm kinda thinking about leaving the light on to help my case, but I don't want to be dishonest about the MAF sensor, so that might not make a difference. Maybe it would be better to clear the code to see if it throws another one with just the hose.

Tech question: It didn't look like the crack was visibly large enough to let much air through, but how much will this affect things for a couple days until a new hose comes in? It was somewhat brittle at the end closest to the exhaust, so I'm sure there are a few other small cracks that I didn't notice. I'm thinking I'll be calling Dan on Monday and ordering the hose and a new air filter.

Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[cruiser88]

customer is always right

 

[C6H12O6]

Not today at the Tigard, Oregon Firestone. Rat bastard sons of bitches.

 

[cruiser88]

stay pissed until monday then go in and hammer them. and oh give them this .buch of bastards and on and on.do not go in the morning on monday go in when they are rea;l busy and make a real fuss. good luck

 

[Rich]

I'd suggest that you just replace the hose, and ask the manager to pay the parts cost. If he forks over fine. If not, then I suggest letting it go.

The fact is that the hose ages poorly and become excessively brittle with age which I expect you already know. You are better off with replacing the hose regardless of the tire shop experience. It's too bad that the hose is not made of better materials. No reason that an air hose should not last the life of the engine, and then some, but the OEM part does not. I think the material it is made of is substandard for withstanding the underhood temps that are encountered.

Since the tire shop was under the hood without authorization, I understand why you would want them to pick up the tab, but throwing a fit was not the best approach for them to see things your way.

A leaky intake hose causes erratic idling. If your engine idles the same as before taking it into the shop, the hose is probably not leaking any worse than it was before.

 

[RAYJON]

So let me get this right you go in for tires and the guy is under the hood with the MAS disconected pulling the aircleaner and disconnecting the tube from the throttle body..... If this is the case you really need to contact the BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR..

Why were they under the hood anyway???? Not what you wanted done or signed the work order for... and you can prove they did damage. check engine light and tube damage show that. I would take it to another shop have them write a work order, stating the MAS was unpluged and give you quote on a tube and clearing the code... This could be used as evidence to what they did.

........ ask that the shop pay for the intake tube if they dont start a complaint with BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR ... ..


I am curious what reason did they give you for what they were doing???



BTW most of the air cleaners are cleanable.. and have instructions on top...unless someone took the stock one out and tossed it...

 

[Rich]

No doubt they were doing an underhood check to see if there was additional service that they could sell, air cleaner, oil level, brake level, etc. Very common for shops to do that kind of check when a vehicle comes in for service. They are perhaps a bit out on a limb going underhood for a tire job.

 

[C6H12O6]

Yeah, they were doing the "Courtesy Check." They didn't have the MAF sensor plug off or the tube off to do that. The guy just unclipped the air cleaner cover and pried it up without unhooking the hose. Bad juju.

I totally understand the point of view that it is an old part that should be PM'd anyway. You're totally right. But the fact was that the part was not cracked when I took it in, they were not authorized to do any courtesy check, and even if they were, the resulting failure was a result of their not removing the hose properly.

Honestly, I was more pissed about the attitude, dishonesty, and poor customer service than I was the broken hose. Sh!t happens, but man up and accept responsiblity for your service guys. I didn't start off throwing a fit, exactly , but when the service manager started in with the, "I don't see a crack" BS, I was infuriated. Telling me the MIL was on when I came in really didn't help.

I ended up with a nice set of tires anyway, and at a great price: $865 for five 285 Revos, mounted, balanced on road force balancer, road hazard warranty on all, out the door. Not a horrible end to a frustrating morning.

 

[Russ in California]

Hoses do wear out with time, true but it seems to me and others here that they had no business under the hood. Damage done, hammer their ass. I like the BAR angle too. I wouldn't let this one go and neither should you. Good luck.

 

[mooker82]

In the integra (super riced out) that I had I was getting the tires balanced and rotated at a Firestone store. After they were done I noticed the guy whip out of the shop and speed around the store. You could hear the car was revved really high. He was well over 6000 RPM's (it had a HKS monitor that stored information about engine speed and stuff). About the time I looked badk out I noticed my car seemed to be parked really far into the parking spot. The guy had whipped into the spot and parked the front bumper onto the curb thus cracking the whole fiberglass front bumper (the car had a body kit). The manager tried to say it was not their fault because the car was lowered and blah blah blah. I hate Firestone!

 

[RavenTai]

I think Rich has the right path on this one, yea they F'd up but the cost of the tube that would have needed replacemnt soon anyway is not worth the blood prssure, demand they pay for it if that gets you no where I would not waste much more time on it, cross them off your list availabe shops and bad mouth them whenever you get a chance and be done with it.

This is why I hate letting any body work on my cruisers, its 50/50 weather they will scew it up or not, so far my 80 has seen another mechanic for tire work and a windshield and that is it.

 

[radioguy]

FNG alert (me).....


I've been on both sides of this issue in the past. I've seen damaged cars that were our fault and damaged cars that were not (but we couldn't prove it, so we had to pay). Here is how I would suggest you proceed:

1. Be calm and logical- I know this pisses you off and it should. Big picture though, things could be much worse. If you keep your cool and act like the bigger person, you won't feel like an a$$ after it's all over.

2. Deal with the District Manager or owner- The manager on duty already has his defenses up. If you keep dealing with him, it will be an arguement. Call another location to get the DMs name. They will be more helpful if they know that they are not the issue.

3. Ask for what you're owed- Today's society is full of people that think their time is priceless. Sorry but sh*t happens. If you have a realistic quote for the part AND the labor, your issue should be resolved more quickly. Get the quote from the local stealership. After you are reimbursed, you're free to spend the money as you see fit.


Good luck sir !

Todd

 

[cruiserman]

Wrap it with Saran wrap, and call it good. They owe you a new hose.

 

[C6H12O6]

Disaster averted...
I was ready for battle this morning and called the manager at the shop that broke the hose. A couple hours of phone tag later, I finally caught up with the manager, ready for a fight for him to pay to replace the hose.

Turns out he already had a hose ordered, delivered to the shop and waiting for me to either come in for install or take it home and do it myself. Super nice guy and said the things that should have been said Saturday. Very professional and courteous. I formally rescind all "Rat Bastard Sons of Bitches" comments.

Very good for my blood pressure to have that handled. Sorry Dan, I was all ready to order it from you. I'll call you for the u-joints next week.

 

[CJF]

I formally rescind all "Rat Bastard Sons of Bitches" comments.

I wouldn't.

I'm very glad you got your situation worked out, but they pull this crap every day on hundreds of unsuspecting folks: new dizzy cap & rotor, new air filter; on and on with stuff that's in no way needed. If you went back in a week they'd do the same d*mn thing again. I'd actually hazard a guess that the reason they settled up so fast with you is that they know how out of line they are and will continue to be, so it's worth it to just quickly quiet the (few) folks who catch on.

I would/will NEVER take my rig to a Firestone shop; I've heard WAY too many stories like yours.

Again, glad it worked out for you,

Curtis

 

[cruiserdan]

It doesn't matter where you go or what you drive, this sort of stuff will happen right or wrong. The point being that IF you can not or do not care to do it yourself you need to clearly state that you want "XYZ" done and that is all you are interested in having them do and clearly state that they are not to touch "ABC". That should clue them into what your intent and expectations are. If they balk, you would be better served to thank them for their time and move on.

 

[C6H12O6]

Great advice. I'll know for next time to be overly clear about not touching ANYTHING except the tires. Doing all my own work on my cars since the age of 17, I kinda forget how much BS happens. It never even occured to me to tell them not to check my air filter while changing the tires.

Once at the beginning of our marriage, the wife got talked into a new air cleaner at Oil Can Jiffy Squirts, and I threw a fit. She now has standing orders to never EVER buy any of that crap. Not that it matters, because I do all the work on her car now too. That old Saturn was such a PITA, the $19.95 was worth the headache. Glad it's gone.

 

[CJF]

Once at the beginning of our marriage, the wife got talked into a new air cleaner at Oil Can Jiffy Squirts, and I threw a fit. She now has standing orders to never EVER buy any of that crap. Not that it matters, because I do all the work on her car now too. That old Saturn was such a PITA, the $19.95 was worth the headache. Glad it's gone.

LOL!

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Steve, I'm so glad to know you. My life would be so boring without your stories!