Lube x Press horror story!

[Deep South Cruisers]

I understand the mistake and no harm was done but I wonder if they would have told her what was really going on or would they have replaced the tranny?

OR worse - detailed under the hood and charged her for the tranny work they didn't do


My wife came in Friday and told me Wal-mart changed the oil in her '02 Maxima but they didn't have a oil filter that fit, so they left the old one on there

I thought she was joking... she wasn't

 

[archie]

Many moons ago I brought a Nissan sentra to the dealership to get some work done as a package which included changing the fuel filter. When I got the car back I found out that they didn't change the fuel filter. I eventually got a some refund back from those thieves and did it myself. I later found out from my sister's mechanic friend who worked at that dealership quit because of unethical business practices.

 

[Pitbull]

Had a Lexus Dealer forget to put oil in my wifes Lexus (the mechanics do the oil/filter changes at Lexus dealers) they made good on the mistake. I now still have the dealers do all the service on vehicles that are under warranty ( no fighting over who screwed up if a problem arises) After warranty I do it or I have a friend that has a garage that I can stand and watch the work being done. I do check the dealers work before I drive away, and I never get an oil change and then take a long trip. I get it changed, check the oil level and look at the filter, normally wash the engine top/bottom and take it home. Check the next day for leaks and check the oil level again. Then drive it the next day around town normal driving and keep an eye on gauges and check oil again at the end of the day, and check for leaks. This way if any problems I will catch them before any damage is done. I do the samething if I change it myself. I think most people have a problem when they "trust" too much. Better to assume the worst and check.

 

[dogboy2]

here's yet another horror story: Oil Can Herny's - Portland, buddie's FJ80.....had it lubed/oil/filter change...enroute to Deschutes on freeway, cruising and chillin'.....BAM!!! rod comes flying through the hood, truck is dead at the side of the road....no oil...blown motor + body damage

cause: they didn't tighten the drain plug and it had worked it's way loose, falling out onto the freeway, dumping the motor's life blood in a quick hurry

lesson: DIY, DIY, DIY!!!! this is such an easy DIY maintenance proceedure, why would anyone NOT do it themselves and ensure that it gets done right?

-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[Pitbull]

here's yet another horror story: Oil Can Herny's - Portland, buddie's FJ80.....had it lubed/oil/filter change...enroute to Deschutes on freeway, cruising and chillin'.....BAM!!! rod comes flying through the hood, truck is dead at the side of the road....no oil...blown motor + body damage

cause: they didn't tighten the drain plug and it had worked it's way loose, falling out onto the freeway, dumping the motor's life blood in a quick hurry

lesson: DIY, DIY, DIY!!!! this is such an easy DIY maintenance proceedure, why would anyone NOT do it themselves and ensure that it gets done right?

-dogboy- '87 FJ60

Let me finish your story and make it a happy ending. His FJ80 is towed to the Toyota Dealership a report is writen that indicates why the engine failed and shows who is at fault. Your friend with this report and a receipt showing that he "just" had the oil changed at "Oil can Henrys". He takes this information to the owner of oil can henry and they have to pay for a new engine to replace his old engine and they have to pay for the body damage. If they don't want to pay your friend gets a lawyer and they also get to pay for the lawyer costs. Now that is how it would end and it sounds happy to me. Now it wouldn't be happy if it was a new LC because he would have too replace a new engine with another new engine (no gain in that) JMHO

 

[dogboy2]

Let me finish your story and make it a happy ending. His FJ80 is towed to the Toyota Dealership a report is writen that indicates why the engine failed and shows who is at fault. Your friend with this report and a receipt showing that he "just" had the oil changed at "Oil can Henrys". He takes this information to the owner of oil can henry and they have to pay for a new engine to replace his old engine and they have to pay for the body damage. If they don't want to pay your friend gets a lawyer and they also get to pay for the lawyer costs. Now that is how it would end and it sounds happy to me. Now it wouldn't be happy if it was a new LC because he would have too replace a new engine with another new engine (no gain in that) JMHO

In short, this is approximately how it did net out in the end. The real loss was the missed float trip down the Deschutes, the big fish, and the good times with good buds.

-db-

 

[sisukid1975]

Um- I forgot to tighten the drain plug on my 2F and got 'free undercoating'!

I dont use the drain plug anymore.... I bought an electric vacuum pump to suck the oil out of the Jetta. (too low to the ground to get a jack under, and u need to remove a skid plate to get to the plug)

I use for all the cars now... stick the hose down the dipstick tube, flip the switch....

It s used for boats, where the drain plug on the bottom of the pan is not readily accessible, and the thing is available for about $30 at a marine supply.

I still take off the drain plugs every once in a while to check the magnet for crap, and to replace the washer (especially on the volvo)

Fred

 

[Pitbull]

Fred, I understand that is how all of the new Mercedes are set up. They don't even have a drain plug and the dealer sucks the old oil out. Sounds like a slick way to do it and also fast.

 

[paulj]

I might look into that, too. But wasn't there a thread a while back where someone questioned the wisdom of pumping the oil out? Seems like someone wanted to know about junk at the bottom of the crankcase being left there. The reason I take my Audi to one of those places is that my car too, is so close to the ground. There is also a skid plate made of plastic over the whole bottom of the engine. I took it to one oil change place once and they said they couldn't get it off. It's got some strange kind of screws on it. They're like real big phillips head screws that I've never seen a screwdriver for but can get off with a real wide standard screwdriver. Seems like it's designed to be taken to the dealer. They even have something like that over the battery. If you read the owners manual it says something like, "in the event of a dead battery contact your nearest Audi dealer." So I'm supposed to wait a couple of days if the battery dies in the middle of North Dakota?

 

[Jman]

They even have something like that over the battery. If you read the owners manual it says something like, "in the event of a dead battery contact your nearest Audi dealer." So I'm supposed to wait a couple of days if the battery dies in the middle of North Dakota?

It's crap like this that really pisses me off. Batteries and oil changes that have to be done by the dealer. WTF?? I had a long discussion with someone last year--an engineering/design student that wanted to do a project so that more Americans could work on their cars. His idea was an engine bay that was a lot more user friendly. At the time I told him he was dreaming, because the trends were all going toward less and less user maintenance--but not being able to put in a new battery? WTF???

Heh heh, I'm always opening up appliances/kids toys to fix them, and I've run across a few "sealed units" that cannot be serviced. My answer is the BFH, the trash can, and putting that brand on the "do not buy" list.

 

[cahilc]

It's crap like this that really pisses me off. Batteries and oil changes that have to be done by the dealer. WTF??

Guess what ???

In 2002 GM moved their entire fleet to drive-by-wire. The same time GM rolled forward the new Federal Mandated "CAN" (sp?) Computer-Aided-Network controlled computers.

If your 2002 or newer GM vehicle losses electrical power the computer *dumps*. To re-initialize the program, it will take a diagnostic hookup and re-program and re-train the computer, approximately 30 minutes.

Hope your battery doesn't die.

Ford & Chrysler are following Federal Mandated CAN with their fleets too.

Just gives that warm and fuzzy feel doesn't it ?

Cahil

 

[cruiser_guy]

I might look into that, too. But wasn't there a thread a while back where someone questioned the wisdom of pumping the oil out? Seems like someone wanted to know about junk at the bottom of the crankcase being left there. The reason I take my Audi to one of those places is that my car too, is so close to the ground. There is also a skid plate made of plastic over the whole bottom of the engine. I took it to one oil change place once and they said they couldn't get it off. It's got some strange kind of screws on it. They're like real big phillips head screws that I've never seen a screwdriver for but can get off with a real wide standard screwdriver. Seems like it's designed to be taken to the dealer. They even have something like that over the battery. If you read the owners manual it says something like, "in the event of a dead battery contact your nearest Audi dealer." So I'm supposed to wait a couple of days if the battery dies in the middle of North Dakota?

I would NOT suck out the oil through the dipstick tube. They do not reach the bottom of the oil pan, meaning there will be a considerable amount of old oil remaining after each oil change. I'm sure that method is used in the marine industry only because there is no other practical alternative.

I would not buy a car that I could not service. I looked under the hood of my dad's Jetta and all you can see is a big plastic cover over the whole engine.

With the "Drive by wire" sounds like I have another reason NOT to buy domestic!

 

[phlyfish]

Same thing happened to a friend on a trip back east. Half way back they had the oil changed. 10-15 miles down the road and and the engine seized. Funny thing is, about a mile before that he heard a loud thump and did think anything about it, thought he hit a pot hole. He started looking around and noticed an oil trail behind his car. Looked under the hood and NO oil filter. Walked back and picked it up (1 mile or so down the road). Filter matched the one that was on the sales slip, but was the wrong size for the car.

shop got a new engine, hotel, install, time from work. big mistake

 

[Jman]

If your 2002 or newer GM vehicle losses electrical power the computer *dumps*. To re-initialize the program, it will take a diagnostic hookup and re-program and re-train the computer, approximately 30 minutes.

Can't they just burn a CD for you to insert to reboot the fawking thing? Jaysus, hook these people up with Apple or something, or better yet, get that guy that started Linux interested in cars, have him hack some open shareware versions we can use.

The engine in my 60 is scheduled to last until 2032. What do you think cars will be like by then?

 

[Zack1978]

Hey JMAN,
How do you figure that your 60 will last until 2032??

Zack

 

[Jman]

I put less than 3k miles a year on it.

I dunno about this "cars of the future" thing, though--I've been waiting for years, and still I don't have my jet pack yet.

 

[sisukid1975]

I might look into that, too. But wasn't there a thread a while back where someone questioned the wisdom of pumping the oil out? Seems like someone wanted to know about junk at the bottom of the crankcase being left there. The reason I take my Audi to one of those places is that my car too, is so close to the ground. There is also a skid plate made of plastic over the whole bottom of the engine. I took it to one oil change place once and they said they couldn't get it off. It's got some strange kind of screws on it. They're like real big phillips head screws that I've never seen a screwdriver for but can get off with a real wide standard screwdriver.

Yeah, I think the VW A4 Jetta/Bora uses a Torx head screw on the skid plate... sounds like the same getup as ur audi-- in fact, it s probably the same part and the same platform. I think the A4 is the same platform as the Jetta/Bora and the A6 is the same as the passat...

Lots of people remove those things, I dont though cause it helps keep the heat in the engine, which, on a diesel in a place where it can get sub zero (and did this week!) it s good to have heat, else the oil gets all thick and gooey when u drive it... Diesels just dont make heat like gassers....

Lots of people just drill holes in the skid plate to access the drain plug.... but i think it s just easier to suck it out... and like i said, pull the drain plug a couple times a year to make sure nothing untoward falls out.... hasnt happened yet.


Fred

 

[sisukid1975]

Guess what ???

In 2002 GM moved their entire fleet to drive-by-wire. The same time GM rolled forward the new Federal Mandated "CAN" (sp?) Computer-Aided-Network controlled computers.

If your 2002 or newer GM vehicle losses electrical power the computer *dumps*. To re-initialize the program, it will take a diagnostic hookup and re-program and re-train the computer, approximately 30 minutes.

Hope your battery doesn't die.

Cahil

Chalk up another GM Cluster Fawk.... They still are hawking that DEXCool (DeathCool) crap, even though there is a class action lawsuit pending against them....

turns out that that orange miracle coolant GM has been using turns into orange jello inside ur block if u mix it with -- guess what-- oxygen, heat and pressure!!!! My oh friggin my! what genius came up with that?!?!?!?!?!?

So, if u own a gm, hope ur battery doesnt die, and hope u never get a pinhole leak in a heater hose....

Several years ago gm went door to door to various manufacturers hawking Dex-Cool (DeathCool) and approached Volvo and tried to get them to buy it... Volvo of course, as they were prone to do prior to ford's takever, didnt take anyone s word for anything, and commisioned their own engineering study of the stuff.... they discovered the problem and told GM to take Death Cool and shove it up their arse.

There is a class-action lawsuit pending against General Motors regarding their use of Death Cool, most of the plaintiffs are people who developed a pin hole leak somewhere, had the coolant turn into orange jello which ruined the engine -- only to have GM tell them that it s not covered by warranty since a pinhole leak in a coolant hose is a "normal wear" issue.

Maybe it is a normal wear issue, but I'm sorry, cooling leaks happen at some point in time and putting coolant in there that turns to jello when u get a leak is negligent....

Fred

 

[Cookiemonster]

Oil and Batteries. Sounds like a bad Ron Jeremy film from the early years. Try this. Woman takes her new Camary in to have a "squeak" in the brakes looked at. Everythings fine, she leaves. Not even a quarter mile from the dealer she turns to get onto the freeway, when you guessed it, her tire pops off & she puts the grind to the pavement. Mistakes even happen at the dealer, far and few between but they happen. As for the quickie places, I've heard of more people getting lubed at those than the vehicles they take in. As for me I'll lube and grease my own. I do like the sound of the vacumm and suction system though, I'll leave that up to the wife.........