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JIFFY LUBE don't you know a car needs oil to run TAMPA Florida
On 4/21/03 I took my 2000 Mercury Sable into Jiffy Lube for an oil change. After the services were completed, I got into my vehicle (which was running) and drove out of the parking lot. I drove about 50 ft before my engine stopped running, I then coasted into a car wash 2 buildings away and tried to restart my engine- nothing. I walked back to the Jiffy Lube and told them what happened. While I stayed in the waiting area, several employees went to retrieve the vehicle (at this point I assumed they pushed it back to Jiffy Lube). I was told it was an electrical issue - possiably the starter.
I left the car at Jiffy Lube and had it towed to Northgate Lincoln Mercury. I received a phone call at about 11:00am from Northgate, in which I was informed that the car had no oil in it and my engine had seized due to this. I called Jiffy Lube customer service to update them on the information I was given by the dealership and they told me to have the oil pan and valve covers removed so they can have an inspector look at the vehicle. On April 24th their inspector went to Northgate and filled out his report, took pictures and recorded notes on what he saw.
Now according to Jiffy Lube, due to some build-up in the engine shown on the pictures, they feel it was maintenance neglect that caused my engine to seize. I purchased this car on March 31st, 2002 from Northgate Lincoln Mercury, and during this time of ownership i have had no problems with the vehicle. Jiffy Lube does not deny the fact that there was no oil in the car but they question whether or not that was the cause of my engine seizing.
Jiffy Lube will not do anything more until they have service records for all the miles that have been put on the car and I don't know how to give them something I do not have. I do not expect a new engine-meerly a car that works as well now as it did when I went in for an oil change.
Mellissa
LITHIA, Florida
U.S.A.
11 Updates & Rebuttals
David
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Checks and Balances
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sat, February 21, 2004
Perhaps a way to avoid this with Jiffy Lube or any other company that does this, would be for the company to take a proactive stance and walk the customer through what they did on the vehicle. Such as a check sheet showing you what they did and then checking those items with the customer. Such as pulling out the dipstick and showing the customer how much oil is in there, in addittion showing that it has been put back property. Showing the air filter and oil fiter that have been changed, etc. Things like this shows the business cares about the customer and gives some checks and balances to the work done and could and probably will avoid problems in the future.
Mary
Durham,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Anyone can *check oil* without knowing how to change it
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sun, May 04, 2003
Most women that I know do not know how to change the oil, and there are quite a few men who don't know how to change the oil. Ricardo is wrong to make such a presumptious statement. >>
We're not talking about changing your own oil, just CHECKING THE LEVEL. You can find a diagram in your owner's manual. I can't change my own oil worth a lick, but I can certainly check it. Grap a rag, pull out the dipstick, wipe it, put it back in, pull it out (this ensures the level isn't higher than actual due to splashing) and check it again. Anyone can do it. Part of responsible car ownership is knowing simple things about your vehicle.
I do agree, however, that you shouldn't have to worry about Jiffy Lube not performing the services paid for. I know someone who went there with his brand new pickup (synthetic oil) only to have REGULAR oil put in because they "ran out." To make a long story short, one of the guys ran to Pep Boys to buy some of the oil needed because he wasn't going to put up with their lazy b*llsh*t.
I'm glad to hear that the author hired a lawyer- I see more complaints on here that could be solved in small claims court but no one does.
Mellissa
LITHIA,Florida,
U.S.A.
Thank you for all your input
#12Author of original report
Fri, May 02, 2003
First I would like to thank everyone for their input. It never occured to me to check my oil after an oil change, but I assure you I will from now on. Ricardo, I understand where you are coming from but I would like to clarify that my engine seized in front of Jiffy Lube as I pulled away from getting the oil changed there, not a month later. This happened 11 days ago and it is still unresolved.
It will take $5000.00 to replace my engine and Jiffy Lube still will not even admit they failed to put oil in the car. Unfortunatly, I have had to resort to legal action - I hired a lawyer yesterday. I feel Jiffy Lube dug in their heals from the get go and decided they had no intentions of accepting responsibilty without being forced to.
I can not fight Royal Dutch/Shell on my own - this is a large oil company, not a franchise. I posted my complaint to warn others of simular situations. I have done some considerable research on Jiffy Lube complaints and have found them to be common. Most people can not afford to fight with a lawyer or even pay to have their vehicle repaired- this creates a rock and a hard place and people end up backing-off the claim. In the end Jiffy Lube has nothing to lose and could care less whereas, we as consumers have everything to lose.
Mike
Radford,Virginia,
U.S.A.
Ricardo, read the original report again.
#12Consumer Comment
Fri, May 02, 2003
Her problems did not begin "a month later". Her car barely made it out of the Jiffy Lube parking lot before the engine failed. Their "sludge" defense is pure hogwash. If you take a BRAND NEW car, empty all the oil out, then try to drive it, it's not likely to make it to the next block.
I'm not saying that Jiffy Lube is less competent than other places, but they are refusing to pay for something that is undeniably their fault. This is establishing their reputation as a rip-off company. Anyone who hangs out a sign offering "oil change" service to the public had better be prepared to do the job properly, or pay for the damage.
Ricardo
Chino,California,
U.S.A.
Once again, nobody realizes the big picture! ..Jiffy Lube does not require any employee to have an ASE certification
#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, May 01, 2003
You all fail to realize that im not trying to say the world is incompetent, but im trying to alert everybody to keep on their toes. Im trying to tell people who dont know how, just some knowledge about things like these can help prevent huge problems.
Jiffy Lube does not require any employee to have an ASE certification, so dont expect a professional job well done everywhere you go around the states. Every J-Lube store differs.
Also, Mike, im aware that her vehicle was fine when she first went to J-Lube, but a month later problems started to accure. Not J-Lube's problem. That sludge would have occured over time of not flushing the engines lubrication system. Like i said, its like a artery loaded with cholestrol.
It does not matter if the change that oil every 3000 miles, that oil sludge will continue to collect until it jams up the whole lubrication system. Then, some engine components will not get oil, therefore parts heat up due to friction, and break down. Not everyone knows about this. That is why im trying to let these people know to the best that i can so they dont run into these mistakes. Im just trying to help prevent such an ordeal. Im not pointing fingers at nobody.
Joanne
Newark,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Disagree with Ricardo
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, April 30, 2003
Ricardo suggests that she should have pulled over and checked the oil before leaving the lot. He assumes that she knows how to do that. I believe that I am one of very few women who routinely changes the oil on her own vehicle.
Most women that I know do not know how to change the oil, and there are quite a few men who don't know how to change the oil. Ricardo is wrong to make such a presumptious statement.
Secondly, call it naivete, but most people still believe that when they go to a place like Jiffy Lube they are dealing with automotive people who know, and care about, what they are doing. It never occurs to them that they should have to check to make sure that the service they paid for was done properly.
They still believe in good customer service, even though these days it kind of like believing in Santa Claus. Ricardo, just because you may know how to check and change, the oil does not mean the everyone else does.
Jiffy Lube is suppose to be there to offer good faith service to people who do not have the ability, or time, to change their oil. NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joanne
Newark,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Disagree with Ricardo
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, April 30, 2003
Ricardo suggests that she should have pulled over and checked the oil before leaving the lot. He assumes that she knows how to do that. I believe that I am one of very few women who routinely changes the oil on her own vehicle.
Most women that I know do not know how to change the oil, and there are quite a few men who don't know how to change the oil. Ricardo is wrong to make such a presumptious statement.
Secondly, call it naivete, but most people still believe that when they go to a place like Jiffy Lube they are dealing with automotive people who know, and care about, what they are doing. It never occurs to them that they should have to check to make sure that the service they paid for was done properly.
They still believe in good customer service, even though these days it kind of like believing in Santa Claus. Ricardo, just because you may know how to check and change, the oil does not mean the everyone else does.
Jiffy Lube is suppose to be there to offer good faith service to people who do not have the ability, or time, to change their oil. NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joanne
Newark,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Disagree with Ricardo
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, April 30, 2003
Ricardo suggests that she should have pulled over and checked the oil before leaving the lot. He assumes that she knows how to do that. I believe that I am one of very few women who routinely changes the oil on her own vehicle.
Most women that I know do not know how to change the oil, and there are quite a few men who don't know how to change the oil. Ricardo is wrong to make such a presumptious statement.
Secondly, call it naivete, but most people still believe that when they go to a place like Jiffy Lube they are dealing with automotive people who know, and care about, what they are doing. It never occurs to them that they should have to check to make sure that the service they paid for was done properly.
They still believe in good customer service, even though these days it kind of like believing in Santa Claus. Ricardo, just because you may know how to check and change, the oil does not mean the everyone else does.
Jiffy Lube is suppose to be there to offer good faith service to people who do not have the ability, or time, to change their oil. NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joanne
Newark,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Disagree with Ricardo
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, April 30, 2003
Ricardo suggests that she should have pulled over and checked the oil before leaving the lot. He assumes that she knows how to do that. I believe that I am one of very few women who routinely changes the oil on her own vehicle.
Most women that I know do not know how to change the oil, and there are quite a few men who don't know how to change the oil. Ricardo is wrong to make such a presumptious statement.
Secondly, call it naivete, but most people still believe that when they go to a place like Jiffy Lube they are dealing with automotive people who know, and care about, what they are doing. It never occurs to them that they should have to check to make sure that the service they paid for was done properly.
They still believe in good customer service, even though these days it kind of like believing in Santa Claus. Ricardo, just because you may know how to check and change, the oil does not mean the everyone else does.
Jiffy Lube is suppose to be there to offer good faith service to people who do not have the ability, or time, to change their oil. NO EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
Radford,Virginia,
U.S.A.
How could anyone defend this?
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, April 30, 2003
The old oil change without oil. It happens even at the most reputable places once in a great while. It's an honest mistake. The big J owes Melissa an engine. As she pointed out, not necessarily a new one, but restore her car to how it was before they damaged it. They should have "oops" insurance to cover it. There's a pattern in these reports of Jiffy Lube steadfastly refusing to pay for damage they cause.
Even Jiffy Lube admits that they let her car run without oil. When you do that, it will be ruined very quickly. It's immaterial if there was also a little sludge involved. Clearly it made the trip *to* Jiffy lube just fine despite any sludge. Even if she checked the oil immediately after getting the car back, it may have been seriously damaged while they were driving it out of the garage.
Ricardo
Chino,California,
U.S.A.
be more alert to your surroundings
#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, April 29, 2003
i am very sorry that this had happen to your vehicle. Other people have ran into similar problems too. But Jiffy Lube is such a large corporation and franchise that, it would take more than a lot to bring them down. It sounds like to me that it was an honest mistake that could have been avoided if you would have checked the vehicle yourself before you pulled off that lot.
Im not defending Jiffy Lube but i am saying that from time to time, huge mistakes like these will continue to happen and if nobody catches them like they should, then the customer should be more aware with what is done to their vehicle. Once the service has been performed and the vehicle pulled to the side, check your car to see if all fluid levels have been topped off or serviced.
This will annoy some of the employees but, sometimes they dont notice that they make mistakes, especially with the newer employees who havent been working there for long. Dont mistake them for younger employees for they might know more than you think. Once again i am terribly sorry that u had to be one of the unfortunate few. If u wait for justice to be served, nothing will happen. You have to go out there and push it. Good luck.