I brought my vehicle into this store for a simple inspection of my AC and exhaust. I was experiencing a shimmy and rattle when starting, stopping, and normal driving as well as over slight bumps. I wanted to ensure that the exhaust was not rattling or loose or needed to be replaced.
Also, I had a noise coming out of a passenger AC vent when the air conditioner was on high that sounded like a leaf could be trapped inside the vent. The exhaust was inspected and confirmed OK. Also, the suspension was checked and it was originally thought the shocks might need to be changed, which I later handled through an alternate repair company being the shocks were under warranty.
The Meineke mechanic did find a CV boot on the right side front was damaged during his inspection. However, the air conditioner noise he could not isolate at the time. I have had experience with CV boots leaking and actually had the left replaced the year before, so I could understand that repair and decided to let this store perform the repair.in addition, he wanted to take a look into the AC problem. So, repairs were made to the CV boot and the mechanic felt the AC needed a new blower motor and an actuator. So the CV boot, blower motor, and an actuator were supposedly replaced.
When I picked up the vehicle after repairs were completed and still had the same "crunchy leaf" noise coming out of the AC vent, and learned of a new problem that developed after his repairs where the driver side and passenger side vents no longer blew with the same strength they had prior to the repair.
I brought the vehicle back with 24-48 hours or so, and the mechanic dug into the vent and pulled out some small pieces of insulation that apparently came loose and stuck in the vent. As for the vents no longer blowing, I was informed that they would take the vehicle back in and repair it and will take care of everything. I was quite shocked when I was told there will be more charges for parts and labor after I was told that everything would be taken care of.
I realize nothing is free, but they told me that they were taking care of everything from the point I came back for repairs to the air conditioner system. Taking care of everything generally means no need to worry we are handling it. So, this mechanic wanted to try to isolate the problem further. He took in the vehicle and tore the entire dashboard and console out. Remember, he already replaced a couple of primary parts, but a new problem developed after he finished those repairs with the vents blowing. For almost a week he went through the entire AC system and wanted to replace just about everything he came across, and would call me saying this and that needed replacement. I even stopped by a couple of times to find out what was happening and would see him looking at schematics online of the AC system.
The whole time the owner of this establishment never questioned what was happening but would tell me he would take care of everything and seemed to have this look of worry and frustration about him as if he knew that this mechanic was going nowhere on the repairs.
My vehicle was parked back in a dirty unclean area in the back of the shop and I walked up to see the entire dash completely torn out and grease and oil smeared all over the leather seats and doors and interior.
I finally started to question this mechanic's abilities after several days of getting phone call and phone call of parts that needed replacement and then seeing the shape my vehicle was in. After a week, I get the call that everything is fixed.
I arrive to pick up my vehicle to find that they want more money even though I was told everything would be taken care of and it seemed to be their mistake.
The dash and console were not put back together properly, it was misaligned, and there were bolts left over, and one piece that was left out and did not get reinstalled and was probably damaged during their repairs. The interior was left completely filthy and gross with oil and grease smeared everywhere. I questioned the dirtiness of the vehicle and the lack of parts being reinstalled correctly and the left over bolts, but they did not want to make those issues right and left me hanging without an answer. As for whether the AC repairs were properly completed, well, the noise seemed to go away when the small pieces of insulation were pulled from the vent. So all these other repairs were almost for nothing. It was like going in for root canal, but getting a kidney transplant and even though this facility made some real judgment errors they still wanted their full payment no matter what.
Roughly 4000 miles later, I find the CV boot that they repaired was leaking. It's their own repair, so they should fix it under warranty. I returned to their shop and they did repair it but instead opted to replace the entire assembly, but wanted more money of course and failed to claim any faulty or negligent repairs.
As for the dash and console repairs and AC and original CV boot, those issues are still in dispute at this time and the original mechanic who made the repairs is no longer with them. Richard Garland, Texas
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