On March 20 I brought my 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee in for my usual 3000 mile Signature Service 4x4 Oil change. I am a former Restoration and autobody shop owner now retired and do not do oil changes any longer. I do other repairs as needed to my own vehicles.
I currently have 222,000 strong running miles and I am the original owner of this Grand Cherokee. As usual I purchased the signature service but got the Hard sell tactics instead. I do not agree with this practice and make a habit of explaining who I am a former technician and engineer by trade. Anyone who is familiar with mechanice and their grading system knows AAA is the best you can be. These Z-rated Grease monkeys at best continue to make strong suggestions each time I and other patrons arrive at their shop and make every attempt to sell many items not required at this time.
Included in this expensive "quick service" is vacuuming out the cabin and washing external windows. To date they have never performed or completed either one of these so called "included" services.
I suggested to the manager, would you kindly please remind your service Tech's to include these two services. He became extremely aguitated and defensive suggesting I mind my own business and Im lucky to get the Oil serviced at best, especially if I am refusing to make any additional purchases thru them today. I refused the following services below.
I explained all of the work on my Jeep is performed by me on this vehicle and were not needed at the present time because I had already personally completed what they were suggesting below:
1. Serpintine belt replacement
2. Air Filter replacement
3. PCV
4. Breather
5. High mileage oil - ridiculous at best (most likely will be some crude based oil extracted from a high mileage automobile)
Upon refusal of the serpintine belt and the other items I noticed the manager with a tech attempting to loosen a bolt near one of the pulley's, as if they were going to remove my serp belt to sell the service I did not need.
When I questioned the manager he explained they were inspecting the drive belt system. Ok.
I drove the car home and parked it overnight aprox 4 miles form my home. I then on sunday began a 2 hour trip with my younger brother and while driving heard a loud rattle from under the hood. You guessed it, my belt was slipping off the top pulley. I shut the engine down and what we found to our suprise was not a bad belt, but a shredded Idler pulley which was clearly loosened from the center bolt which holds it in place. The Serp belt has to ride along this smooth grooveless pulley which picks up the slack when you have A/C installed with yourt engine.
Sabotage seems to be too kind here. See if they were honest mechanics they would have seen a wobble to this pulley or at best heard a noise and recommended not just a belt, but tightiening or replacing the pulley. They did neither, just got pissed off when I left and did not purchase one of their over priced services.
The $34.10 oil change which I received then cost me the following:
1.2-1/2 hours awaiting a flat bed tow in the freezing cold. Cost memorable.
2. Cost of a flatbed tow $150
3. Dealer Idler PulleyChrysler part number 53009508 list cost $26.75
4. Serpintine belt list $42 My cost $24
5. An hour labor to remove the shredded idler pulley clean up and install the new dealer part and one new serpintine belt.
Absolutely no satisfaction unless I get reimbursed for my time and trouble via Jiffy Lube I am currently still awaiting compensation. I hope this serves as a reminder to all of the lay persons who are not technicians, automotive mechanics or mechanically inclined.
As with most service oriented establishments in the automotive field there are bonuses for each and every "other" sales service accumulated monthly and quarterly. Do not let anyone fool you, these are salry oriented incentives. Buyers beware please. I have no problem with a shop making money to cover their overhead by not at my expense for the entire month that's in question. Good luck to all
Steve
Parsippany, New Jersey
U.S.A.
0 comments