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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,028
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,028 |
Wow! I had something very similar happen to me at a JIFFY LUBE in Richardson. I took my S-10 in for the regular oil change several times in a row. And then my front end got REALLY REALLY LOOSE. I took it to a different mechanic who told me that the joints were completely dried up. JIFFY LUBE DIDN'T PROPERLY LUBE THE CHASSIS! I've refuse to ever take my cars back to one of these idiotic places. 
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,143
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2003
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Originally posted by Woodencross:
Wow! I had something very similar happen to me at a JIFFY LUBE in Richardson. I took my S-10 in for the regular oil change several times in a row. And then my front end got REALLY REALLY LOOSE. I took it to a different mechanic who told me that the joints were completely dried up.
JIFFY LUBE DIDN'T PROPERLY LUBE THE CHASSIS!
I've refuse to ever take my cars back to one of these idiotic places.
Did your bill say that they put grease in all of the joints down there? because no national chain will do more work then they need too. Thats why I never took my car to any of those chains. I take my car to family owned businesses.... For example... I took my car to my family mechianic, his name is Roger he owns Nuffer's Auto and farm repair in Bay City. I was having my rear brakes done on my contour before I sold it, I actually had brought a drum brake hardware kit so he didnt have order those parts, he took one look at the parts kit I had and he just said "those are absolute junk." He then got on the phone, called his parts provider within 10 minutes he had a new parts kit in his hands, he replaced all of the necessary brake components at NO EXTRA CHARGE. He turned my drums, put new pads in, new hardware in and gave me a warrenty for only $130. I was very impressed. Here is the best part though, less then a week after he fixed it all on my the shoe retaining clips burst, I guess it was defective... I brought it back to him and he fixed it again with no extra charge to me, and apologised for the inconvinece.
Family owned shops are the best ways to go, yes you still take a risk but they are usualy the most honest people.
Another example... Same shop... My mom had a 1998 Grand prix GT, she had some concerns about the suspension, the car was hitting 100K miles and she thought it probably needed to be replaced... If anybody takes their car into a shop and says "I need rear brakes, I think it needs a new suspension" they will immediately start ringing it up for parts and telling you what its going to cost, in some cases wont even test drive the car. Roger took my mom's car for a drive, took it around a couple of twisties, came back and said to her "I wouldnt put a new suspension in that car if you begged me to, but it does need rear brakes as they are the origional pads and rotors at 100K miles."
THAT is an honest mechanic.
98 Corolla LE 1.8L DOHC 1ZZFE
TEIN H.Tech Springs
Tokico HP series Struts
Short ram air intake
Tsudo Axel Back Exhaust
... if a jelly fish stung me.. would you pee on the wound?
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 177
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 177 |
I was 18 when I got my first mechanic job in a gas station. It was an independant SOHO in Akron. The first thing the owner did was teach me to rip off customers. That was in 1978. I did not work for him long not because of screwing the customer but because he screwed with my money. I would not do that stuff to day because its wrong. The customer should be able to take their car into any shop and not have to worry about being ripped off. We all know that it happens and all we can do is protect our selves and our family and friends. If your in the business all you can do is not rip off the customer. If you work for a shop that is not ethical find another job. If your an owner and are ripping off the customer YOU not I have to live with it and trust me the word does get around. 
98 Tropic Green Contour 2.5 MTX
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117 |
The national chains advertise a chassis lube with the oil change ALL THE TIME! They lube the chassis pretty much NEVER!
Took my big Merc in to one for an oil change & lube. I checked the grease fittings before hand & noted the buildup of dust & road grime on top of some grease. If they lube it, the grease will be wiped away & the fitting clean. Got the car back & NOT A SINGLE GREASE FITTING WAS TOUCHED. Brought it back & had them perform the work. I even got an argument about it from the shop manager, "Didn't need a lube, so we didn't do it.". "Do it anyway, I paid for it.". I knew it hadn't been done in about 30000 miles - it needed it.
Another famous rip is to charge for an extra quart of oil. The low price oil change deal is great, but that one extra quart of oil they charge $4 to $8 for. When they did that to me, I asked them to take the extra quart out. "Manual says overfill can damage the engine. Take it out, I don't want it & won't pay for it.". They take it off the bill & send you on your way.
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 979
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
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Posts: 979 |
Never had taken my car to a Jiffy Lube before, guess I'll never will.
I take my car to a local personal business. I've seen their work in action. After one of the employee mechanics are finished with it, the manager/head mechanic comes over to make sure the work is done right.
I had sued a local Ford dealership for the crappy repairs the did on my timing belt. The pulley for the water pump halted and prevented water from circulating in my engine. Well, unfortunaley, I found out to late and had to pay the price to repair my warped head gasket. Three months later the manager, Bob, came to court with my mother and I. Then a couple weeks later got our money back. Bob really helped out in the court room. Thats why I trust them even more now since I have seen his dedication.
My ride(Cardomain link) :
'95 Contour 16V Zetec DOHC, Teal , ATX
Born on Sep. 4, 1995
86+ miles
*LEDs mods are on their way!*
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,301
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,301 |
Originally posted by Evo-Twin-red:
I took my Contour to Jiffy Lube it's whole life for trans/coolant flushes and no issues. I have taken my Evo for oil changes at Jiffy Lube also. When taking you car in for ANY service you need to be "involved" with what is going on.
Same here. I always watch them do the tranny flushes to my Contour, and talk w/ the guy while he does it, just so he would know I am the owner of the car. Never had a problem.
When I was too lazy to change my own oil, I would watch them do that too. I could not be in the bay with them, but I could stand right outside the garage and see everything they were doing.
-Ken V.
1998.5 SE Praire Tan Zetec ATX
psycho_bass@hotmail.com
Roush springs Roush rear sway bar BAT struts 17" Millie Miglia HT3 and a ton of subtle asthetic mods
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,155
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,155 |
Originally posted by CRZYDRVR:
I could not be in the bay with them, but I could stand right outside the garage and see everything they were doing.
Always do this. When I asked to have my transmission flushed at a local shop, they didn't do it until I was standing where they could see me.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,132
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,132 |
I went to the Pennzoil center. I had to wait a while for them. When they opened the door the smell of pot smoke came pouring out. The smell was really strong. They were so high they had a hard time changing the oil but they still pretended they knew what they were doing.
They started spraying the serpentine belt with wd-40 and told me the belt needs to be replaced because the slight squeaking noise went away when they sprayed the belt. I had just replaced the belts. The problem was the belt idler pulley needed replacing because the bearings were going bad.
There was a Lady that came and ask them about problems with her car's check engine light. I could tell they didn't know what they were talking about but they acted like experts.
Most people see a large expensive business and they trust them completely. They think they must be experts.
I usually got to Wal-Mart. The next time I'm going to check to before and after to see if they grease the fittings and change the oil filter.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
Originally posted by Tom Thumb:
The next time I'm going to check to before and after to see if they grease the fittings
On a contour?
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
Originally posted by TourDeForce:
The national chains advertise a chassis lube with the oil change ALL THE TIME! They lube the chassis pretty much NEVER!
Coming from someone that works at a chain store (but a better one), almost noone does the lube unless asked. Yes, seeing as the work order says oil, lube, and filter it should be done everytime, but it doesn't work like that. If only customers didn't get angry because it takes longer to do a quality job than those 10 minute oil change places take... and if greedy store managers didn't overschedule...
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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