ComplaintsforMeineke Car Care Center # 2473

• Initial Complaint

  11/03/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On October 1, 2021, I took my vehicle for a diagnostic test. I was having an issue with my car shutting off for probably a second or less and powering back on. I explained this issue to the owner, Mr. John C. He stated that one of the mechanics would test drive my car to see if the issue arose while the mechanic drove my vehicle. He stated that he was not able to perform a diagnostic test on my vehicle because the check engine light was not on but after examining my vehicle, mechanics determined that the issue with my vehicle was probably due to battery corrosion and the battery not being installed securely. Mr. C. even took a picture of the battery corrosion and showed me in the lobby of the shop on his cell phone. I agreed to having the battery corrosion repaired and the battery tighten to fit securely. A total of FOUR hours passed and Mr. C. finally told me that my vehicle was ready. I was charged a total of $172 for services. I leave the premises to go pick up my daughter so that we can go shopping for a dress for her homecoming dance. We stopped at a gas station to get gas and after filling up my tank, my car would NOT start. This is less than an hour after leaving Meineke. I am now stranded at a gas station. I immediately called the shop to inform them that my vehicle stopped operating and asked if they offered complementary tow trucking services. I was told that it was only for reward members but that I could have the vehicle towed to the shop and they would inspect it in the morning. I took my vehicle back to Meineke the next morning and Mr. C. informs me that they could not find any reasons why the car was shutting off again. Well unfortunately after taking my car the following week to the dealership they determined faulty repair work was done to my vehicle and that this shop caused severe damage to my engine harness when they cut into the wires. I am asking for the cost of this negligent damage to be covered.

  Business response

  12/03/2021

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2021/11/03) */ Contact Name and Title: John C, President Contact Phone: ************ Contact Email: **********@gmail.com Response to Complaint ID#: ******** Guest provided information to inspect vehicle for cutting out while driving and turning. Our Technician road tested vehicle and could not duplicate guest concern. We inspected under the hood just to see if there was an obvious issue. Technician noticed that a wire that was attached to the positive side of the battery was corroded and barely attached. Also noticed there was a newer battery installed and that the hold down bolt was missing. That is when I took the picture and showed guest the concern that was more than likely causing the condition. We researched and found that the wire was a fusible link which was molded or attached to the entire engine harness. That is when I explained to guest the situation of the vehicle and it would need an entire engine wiring harness to fix the issue, however I believe we could simple install a universal fuse to resolve the issue. I also explained that if it does not then the engine harness would need to be replaced. The guest agreed to the potential fix of installing the universal fuse. We also at no charge installed and secure the battery with a hold down j-hook style bolt. We test drove the vehicle with no issue so we felt the repair had been resolved. When the vehicle came back for us to recheck for the fuse blowing, we were unable to get the fuse to blow. At that time I explained that if the issue continues then the engine harness will need to be replaced. I also offer an alternative repair of trying to obtain a salvaged/used engine harness. I asked the guest to let me know if the fuse blows again. I did not hear anything the following week so I reach out to the guest and that is when the guest states that she was taking the vehicle to the dealership to fix. Guest called me a few days later stating the dealership told her that the repair should never have been done and that we damaged the engine harness and want us to pay for it. I reminded the guest of our prior conversation in which she had no recall. The guest insisted that I pay to have the harness replaced, and again I offered to find a salvaged/used engine harness. The guest stated that she does not trust us to do that. I offered to refund the money spent for the repair, which the guest gladly accepted. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2021/11/11) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) The owner is inaccurately recounting the situation. There was NEVER a mention of my vehicle needing an entire engine harness for repair. As I stated before, the issue was presented as battery corrosion and my battery not being securely installed. That is what I understood to be the issue and that is what I understood was being repaired on my vehicle. In fact, I never heard any mention of an engine harness issue until I took the vehicle into the dealership and that was the first mention of an issue with my engine harness wires which the technician at Meineke chopped and butchered. If the owner had mentioned the word engine and in the same sentence as an issue that would have given me pause to ask more questions and to be more concerned as engine repairs can be costly. I would have also expected to receive an estimate for such a serious issue, which I was never given any type of estimate, not even for the battery repair. Again, the word engine was never used, the owner did however, continue to use the word harness. BUT only after hours of waiting he explained he was waiting for a part (this fusible link that attaches to the harness). He stated he needed this part to complete the repair. I am not an auto mechanic and I don't know auto repair jargon. Therefore, I was trusting that based on his and the technician's professional experience that this was a necessary part as it related to repairs to my battery. When I took my vehicle back on October 2, 2021, the day after the initial "repair" for the shop to inspect the vehicle again because I was stranded at the gas station, the owner claims that is when he offered to find me a salvaged engine harness. Again, that is inaccurate, he never mentioned the word engine or harness. He did not clearly state what part he could find salvaged. I am still under the impression it's a part for my battery that he replaced with this fusible link part instead, which I assumed just wasn't compatible with my battery. The owner also implied that he did not hear from me the following week, well that too is inaccurate. I took my vehicle in for repair on Friday at 1pm sat for 4 hours, left at 5pm, by 6pm I was stranded at a gas station with my daughter. On Saturday morning, I took the vehicle back to the shop. They claimed the vehicle worked fine for them. I picked up my vehicle Saturday afternoon and by Saturday night my car was inoperable. On Monday morning, the owner called me and that is when I informed him that I was without transportation and was taking it to the dealership. I couldn't get an appointment with the dealership until October 12, 2021 and this is the first time, I was aware of the term engine harness and their report determined it was damaged by the shop. When I called the owner to inform him of the dealership's findings, he became rude and combative. I informed him that my engine harness wires had been cut and I asked why were they cut, he did not give me a response. I told him I had no idea any work was being done to any part of my engine and his response was "well you should have asked more questions." Report from dealership: "Engine harness has been damaged due to faulty repair work from outside shop. Harness was cut and soldered at*A68* location leading into the engine room fuse/wire panel causing an intermittent start fault as this portion of the harness should not be cut for a repair." The owner says I gladly accepted the refund, no I deservingly accepted a refund and now I hope the owner does the right thing and cover the thousands of dollars in damage his technician caused to my vehicle.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩