Jiffy Lube sucks!

tjfreddy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Greensboro
cliffs notes at the bottom
We had to get my girlfriends Jeep inspected and since it does not get driven much I figured that we should get the oil changed. Against her better judgement (she told me about a bad experience she once had) we took it to Jiffy Lube (on Battleground in Greensboro)
Had the car inspected, oil changed and were on our way. 1/4 mile down the road the jeep died in the turn lane of a busy 4 lane road, it would not re-start. I had to push the jeep into the parking lot of a BP gas station while traffic stopped so that I could get across 2 lanes. What the hell, I drove it there just had it inspected and everything was fine. I just replaced the battery that morning, so I thought maybe I go a dud.
Got the jeep re-started and it was knocking bad so I shut it down. Well pulled the dip stick and it was dry! No oil in the motor.
The guy from Jiffy lube walked back down and put oil in it and it started. The oil pressure came back up and the lifters stopped rapping.
They admitted that they screwed up. My GF is pissed, actually much more than I was. They offered Free oil changes, but that was it. They finally agreed to refund the cost of the oil change.
my question is, would 2-3 min of run time on a dry motor hurt it? If all is good with the motor, I am fine with that, other than the two hours of inconvenience that they caused. I am not trying to get something for nothing, but what would you do?
Cliffs notes:
brought car to jiffy lube for oil change.
oil was drained but not replaced
car died
replaced oil, car seems to be running fine now.
is our motor screwed?
 
I'd say yes...too much $$ to risk. You need to go after them. Document everything...don't take a refund, whatever you do (which would indicate you accepted their terms/offer/settlement). Be sure and save any paperwork/receipt from the oil change.
 
Had that happen once. Car drove for another 100k+
 
kaiser715 said:
I'd say yes...too much $$ to risk. You need to go after them. Document everything...don't take a refund, whatever you do (which would indicate you accepted their terms/offer/settlement). Be sure and save any paperwork/receipt from the oil change.
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x2!
 
FYI, Jiffy Lube has salvage yards on retainer just for this reason
 
This would be a.good question to ask pappa jon.....he runs a chain of lubeshops....im sure he would probably know the proper way to handle it
 
Good lesson to change your own oil. I know papajon personally as many others too. I wouldn't let him change my grandma's depends!
 
Be warned you get what you pay for most of those shops hire very nonautomotive educated people and rush them to get the job done .
I would get a lawyer and hav them install brand new 4.0 not a j/y motor . the person who did not put the oil in is probably been fired . i worked across the street from one and they screwed up so many cars that they had a account with us to fix their screw up's . the worst one was a FI service on a Diesel they caused the engine to blow up it cost that shop about 9 grand to replace the engine the customer requested a factory replacement btw the vehicle had 20 k on it .
 
Vehicle is a 95 ZJ with a V8 if that matters.
Yes I usually change my own oil, I just didn't have the time, lesson learned.
 
I'd call the dealer and ask what they recommend, which would most likely involve an attorney at some point.
 
Yes they are terrible and I would get a new motor out of them. That unacceptable and you shouldnt have to bear the burden of their costly mistake. Im sure the motor running with no lube put some kinda metal shavings in your oil now. I just wouldnt risk it.

On another note, I took my ZJ to the one in Rock Hill once to get my freon charged. I told em, "put freon on it" nothing else. I wait an hour, they come back and say "we inspected your A/C and found your condensor has a leak and will need to be replaced at $250. We cant fill it with the leak... That will be $75 for us checking your A/C." I asked if they charged the A/C since they were doing all this other nonsense... Nope.. So I explain that this is crazy, it has always worked and I havent had any problems. They would not give me my keys until I paid.. So I said Ill be back for my money. Took the Jeep to my mechanic, he put die in the lines.. Took the receipt back to Jiffy lube with my working A/C. They refunded me but wouldnt apologize. So I made sure to make a scene in the lobby and let all the others waiting know that they are crooks... And dont get your brakes changed there either, they ALWAYS try to sell you new rotors!

Get you a new motor man!
 
Simple answer. Check your oil pressure after the engine warms. If it's 20-25 pounds or more at idle, you're good. I prefer to see around 40+ myself but that's a tad overkill.
If not good, you need to replace the rod and main bearings. Probably around $200 in bearings and a gasket set and at least 2 days worth of labor pulling the motor / crank / pistons / heads / rebuild and reinstall.
Been there and done that.
 
GotWood said:
Good lesson to change your own oil. I know papajon personally as many others too. I wouldn't let him change my grandma's depends!
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I think you mistook what i meant by that.....i probably know jon better than anyone on the board.....and i would trust him with my life any day of the week
 
redneckjeep87 said:
I think you mistook what i meant by that.....i probably know jon better than anyone on the board.....and i would trust him with my life any day of the week
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I agree. I just wanted to bust his chops a little. It's good for him to get a little worked up now and then!
 
They should also be responsible for any loss of value on the vehicle. Like if you're in a wreck that is the fault of the other party, and you get rid of the vehicle within so many years, they other party is liable for you recouping the difference in the value of the car from before they hit you.
 
GotWood said:
I agree. I just wanted to bust his chops a little. It's good for him to get a little worked up now and then!
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Freaking jeep owners ugh :fuck-you:.. You just hateing cause your olelady didnt want me to pull out .. Her jeep that is :bounce2:












Yes DO NOT talk to Jiffy Lube DO NOT take anything they give you..
Call your ATT, GEt him involed.. LIke they said I run some lube shops, PM me I will point you right
 
All for my work vehicle:

I had an issue with one JL in Houston years ago, they spun the oil filter on and never tightened it up. Swore I would never go back. Years later I went to a JL in Raleigh off Western, no issues. Now I take it to one on Creedmoor Rd, they keep screwing up the air pressure in my tires even after I tell them exactly what to do/not to do. Last time they did it with the District Manager in the office. I commented to him that I even told their people exactly what I wanted. He just shrugged it off saying "if only they would listen...". WTH?
 
OnlyOneDR said:
He just shrugged it off saying "if only they would listen...". WTH?
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:shaking: - Thats the customer service for this day and age.. Its not "the customers always right" policy anymore... Its take care of whoever escallates..
 
I had something similar happen back in college with Midas. Left the oil fill cap off and it puked oil everwhere. I caught it before it went dry. Pulled back up on the curb and laid in the horn until the manager came out. I raised hell. Told everyone to get their vehicles back before they could fawk them up.

The very subject makes my blood boil. Go to corporate and get a new motor and make em let you keep the old one...

Good luck
 
I'd go after them for a remanufactured engine with a warranty from a reputable supplier installed by a reputable shop.

I'd start by talking to a lawyer.
Write down everything that happened and the name/description of everyone involved. If you don't remember the names call the store and tell them you need it for your documentation.
Save the oil that is in there now for analysis which I'd imagine will show all types of fubar. Once it gets drained and re-filled it's gone.

I'm guessing the pistons heated up, expanded, and basically seized in place until the engine cooled down enough for them to move again. Even if it runs fine there is no way that much friction happened without taking thousands of miles off the cylinder walls/piston rings IMO.

How did you not notice the oil pressure light though? I'd think it would be lit up and the CEL might even be flashing.

Is there any smoke from the exhaust now?
 
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