I got my oil change done to my 1997 Mazda 626 with Precision Tune on 01/28/06, and had a brake inspection since my breaks were squeaky. He told me I needed new brake pads and that my car was making a clicking noise when i turned so i needed a new axel.

I returned a week later and got the service done. He called me inbetween to ask if they had permission to check my rotors. I said OK, and he ended up resurfacing both, leaving one to be OK but one not. So he ended up replacing both. Also, he said i needed new Front and Back axels, after only initially telling me i needed one.

So he replaced the front and back axels, front rotors, front brake pads and rear shoes. Total cost, 1130.69. I feel cheated. And the car kept making weird noises ever since, even after the inital 1000 miles break-in period.

(Later that day i ODDLY get a flat tire?!? Coincidence i dont know)

About 6 weeks later, i am driving on hwy 101 and my oil light flickers on. I pull over when the engine makes noises. I have it towed to the nearest shop. We notice oil is leaking all over the side of the road and on the tow truck.

The place i tow it to is Community Garage in Morgan Hill. They take a look at it in the morning and tell me the oil drain plug is missing and ask me if i want them to put in a new one. I tell them go ahead and see if my car even starts. It does, but makes a clicking noise and oil light comes on when in idle. They tell me i'll need a new engine for about $4,500.

I call Jim at Precision Tune, since they did my last oil change and he has it towed to his place so he can look at it. The mechanic at Community Gargage says an oil drain plug does NOT come off by itself. It comes off when not tightened enough by the person who last did the oil.

Upon recieval of the car, Jim from Precision assesses that Community Garage overfilled the oil and didn't place a gasket in. He warns that this particular shop doesn't have a good reputation right away. He says they replace batteries when it is still good, etc. and that they were just trying to sell me a new engine. He told me i shouldn't have taken it there because now there is no proof if the oil drain plug was actually missing! Now I don't know who to believe!

Jim says that the car is fine. He ran it for hours and took a test drive. There is a noise coming from the engine which "concerns him" but he tells me its okay. He tries to distract me by telling me two of the fuel injectors are leaking, and that is what is causing a hissing noise and the oil light to come on, since the idle is too low. The oil light does go off when the car starts going, but the engine continues to make a tapping noise. He says that i can keep driving it and "see what happens."

All the while, he is trying to tell me he does not TRUST Community Garage and believes someone has tampered with my oil drain plug because there is no possible way it would come off after 6 weeks and so much milege. But i think it can... eventually, wear, rain, time... it just comes undone!

I am very wary of Jim just because he does not do what is best for the customer, and tries to fix everything or blame things on other people. He is not going to take liability for internal motor damage. I talked to the Mazda dealer mechanics and they said the engine is for sure damaged and i cannot keep this one. Jim is trying to get out of something he KNOWS is his fault.

Don't go to Precision Tune for anything.

Diane

Salinas, California
U.S.A.

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8 Updates & Rebuttals

Robert

Jacksonville,
Florida,
U.S.A.

Okay, good idea

#2Consumer Comment

Sun, March 12, 2006

The total labor to do both axles should have been from 2-2 1/2 hours. They robbed you. Good luck in the future. Please find one repair shop to handle all of your future needs. While the car is under warraty, use the dealership for actual warranty related repairs. Otherwise, use a trusted mechanic/shop. Stop by a NAPA store and ask for their recommendations for an AutoCare Center.

Diane

Salinas,
California,
U.S.A.

Thanx You

#3Author of original report

Sun, March 12, 2006

I sold the car today to someone for 450 cash. I think their labor fees were 185 for each axel, so that may make the bill up to 1000. I decided to move on... it is not worth the time and effort to fight it. AND,... i just bought a new car today.

Diane

Salinas,
California,
U.S.A.

Thanx You

#4Author of original report

Sun, March 12, 2006

Diane

Salinas,
California,
U.S.A.

Thanx You

#5Author of original report

Sun, March 12, 2006

Diane

Salinas,
California,
U.S.A.

Thanx You

#6Author of original report

Sun, March 12, 2006

Robert

Jacksonville,
Florida,
U.S.A.

Thanx Diane, for responding

#7Consumer Comment

Sat, March 11, 2006

Thank you for double-checking what you were charged for also. The cost is still very high. If you could fax(904-381-1270) me a copy of the invoice, I could break it down for you how badly they "took" you. I maxed everything ouit to full NAPA list, and added a little on the labor times, and still cannot get the bill over $950, using $80/hour as the labor rate. I assume you pay more there, then we do here. As for the oil light being on, it's because the bearings have wear. Their age has nothing to do with it. During the short period of time the engine ran with no oil(when you were on hwy 101), lots of damage occured. Bearings require massive amounts of oil to stay lubricated. The bearings do not survive more than a few seconds when their is no oil film between them and the journals. I would suggest getting a reliable shop to give you an estimate on replacing the engine, or at the very least, replacing the rod and main bearings. Expect about $600-$700 plus tax, to replace the bearings, depending on whether you have the 4, or 6 cylinder engine. The labor time to replace the engine is from 8-12 hours, depending on engine and transaxle. Fax me the invoice if you can, and I'll fax it back the same day with a breakdown of how they did it. It may help you if you go to court, to understand the way the big chains do their paperwork.

Diane

Salinas,
California,
U.S.A.

Axels

#8Author of original report

Sat, March 11, 2006

I checked my documentation and he only replaced the left and right axels. So there is no way the fault is off precision tune for not putting the oil drain plug in right? The oil light is now going on just because the bearings are old?

Robert

Jacksonville,
Florida,
U.S.A.

You got robbed

#9Consumer Comment

Sat, March 11, 2006

How did he replace the rear axles? A 626 is front wheel drive only. You have no rear axles. I may be wrong, but I have NEVER seen, nor do any of my books even mention, a Mazda 626 with rear axles. Break-in period? For what? There is no break-in period for anything, except a new engine. Flat tire? That's just one of those things. It has nothing to do with anything that was done to your car. Oil drain plug missing? Someone helped it along. You drove for 6 weeks before it became missing. They don't just loosen themselves. If the kid who changed your oil didn't tighten it, the plug would have fallen out within a day or two. You would have seen puddles where you parked too, before it fell out. It doesn't require anything more than "snugging" for the drain plug to be tight. Some guys think it's a contest to see who can strip the threads first. The oil light goes out when you inrease the engine speed because the pump is able to compensate for the worn out bearings caused by lack of oil. The noise you hear is probably the rods knocking against the crankshaft journals. You need an engine. Precision Tune robbed you, if everything you posted is accurate. At the very least, they owe you money on rear axles. You will have to go to court to get anything though. Good luck.

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