The first attempt to rip me off was by a Midas in Barstow CA. I had to make an emergency stop there because my car was overheating. After having my thermostat replace (which turned out to not even be the problem, I had a clogged radiator), they tried to start my car and it wouldn't kick over. He told me to wait longer because it might be "vapor lock".
My Dad has taught me how to work on cars my whole life since I was a child, so I quickly diagnosed the problem. The mechanic cut a sliver off my distributor cable and looped it around another cable so that it would arc out and make the engine incapable of starting.
I un-looped the cables and was able to start my car instantly after. The Midas mechanic tried explaining to me that a rat must have bitten through the wire, even though my car was starting perfectly fine the whole weekend before I brought it in to their business.
It was obviously a fresh knife cut. I mean why would a rat decide to nibble solely on that particular wire in a location that is practically impossible for a rat to stand and reach. I was very skeptical, upset and tired from the weekend so I just left and promised myself to never go there again. This is part of an additional rip off report I'm going to be filing against that Midas location. This occurred 8/7/10.
Two months later on 11/08/10 I stopped into Jiffy Lube to get my regular scheduled oil change service. The supervisor and employee noticed the exposed wire because it had shocked one of the workers trying to remove the transmission dip stick. They took note of that and recommended that I replace it immediately.
On 2/25 I was again due for another oil change. I brought my car into the same Jiffy Lube. I still hadn't replaced the wire because I have been so busy with school and work, but it was on my to do list. My car was starting and working perfectly regardless so it was not imperative to change immediately.
After waiting for about 20 minutes for the employees to complete my oil change, I noticed they were trying to start my car but with no luck. I thought to myself, "no way you have to be kidding me".
I was called over to the service port and the Jiffy Lube mechanic told me, "I don't know why it's not starting". I looked at him and his supervisor in disgust. I knew exactly what the problem was immediately. With my hood still closed, I looked at them and asked, "why would you need touch the cable to the distributor during an oil change. Who did it and why"? The Jiffy Lube employees looked at me awe struck and pale faced and could not give me an answer.
I then proceeded to ask them to open my hood. I looked right at the cable and sure enough it was looped right under the other cable just as the Midas mechanic had done in Barstow. I un-looped the wire and asked them "try to start it now". Sure enough it fired right up.
This is obviously a common practice to try to get someone to replace their battery, alternator or starter. Unfortunately for them, I know a lot about cars so they weren't able to swindle me into unnecessary repairs. I can't imagine how many people they are able to rip off on a daily basis.
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