ComplaintsforMeineke Car Care Center #1809

• Initial Complaint

  09/21/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 9/10/21 I brought my car in with an oil leak, and my check engine light on, the mechanic stated that I would have to pay $147 to perform a diagnosis on my car. I returned on 9/16/21 to get the services performed, which was a full diagnostic of my car and check the engine light. Mieneke kept my car for over 24 hours before I got a text for the results of my diagnostic. I approved the repairs for $421. When I arrived on 9/17/21 to pick up my car, I noticed my engine light was still on, so I immediately called to let them know. The female Tammy at the front desk told me that they didn’t check for the light. But further discovery it was overlooked. On the morning of 9/18/21 I discovered I still in fact had an oil leak. On 9/19/21 they then took another look at my car and found another $600 in repairs that should have been found if a diagnostic was in fact done on my car. I was accused of damaging my oil pan within 2 days of my car repair. My car is still leaking oil and no resolution

  

  Business response

  09/29/2021

  The original complaint was for an oil pressure light and the CEL.  Meineke proposed to diagnose the oil leak, which was authorized on Sept 15 at 1:17 pm.  The finding from that diagnostic was a large oil leak coming from the vacuum pump.  No oil was found on the dipstick.  An additional Job was added to replace the vacuum pump (with an OE part) and seal.  Along with that, but not documented or charged to the customer, was the replacement of the oil-soaked coolant hose and addition of oil to the engine after the repair was completed.  The customer authorized $421.65 to pay for the oil leak diagnostic and replacement of the vacuum pump.  The hose, coolant, and oil used to complete the job were free of charge.

  Oil leak diagnosis time was looked up in the Motor Labor Guide.
  

  The customer still had a CEL and oil drip and returned the car for service on Sept 18.  The CEL was from a defective oxygen sensor.  The oil leak was from the oil pan seeping from the gasket, apparently from a significant impact to the oil pan at some point in the past, obviously much more than 2 days prior because of the rust accumulation on the impact point and scrape.  An estimate for $629.18 was offered to cover the cost of repairs to the oxygen sensor and oil pan and the cost of the oil change.  The oxygen sensor should have been found on the initial inspection, but the focus was on the diagnostic for the large oil leak, which is what was addressed.  These repairs are in no way related to the original repair, which was needed and proper to do first.  Small oil leaks are notoriously difficult to locate when there is a large oil leak coating the engine.  It was simply covered up and there may be more small oil leaks on the engine.
  

  So, to address the Customer's Desired Resolution: Repair - the vacuum pump job is complete and problem free.  Finish the Job - Oil Leak Diagnostic - Complete.  Vacuum Pump Replacement (to remove the damaged vacuum pump leaking oil) - Complete.  Hose, coolant, and oil  - Complete. Explanation of charges - all documented.  The oxygen sensor and oil pan gasket jobs can be initiated as soon as the customer Authorizes repairs.  Please be aware that the CEL will be scanned again upon arrival and more codes may be present.  Other issues with the vehicle engine may present at that time as well.
  

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