Mr. Lube almost ruined my trip.

From their website:

Of course, we’re best known as oil change specialists, but we also
perform a wide range of vehicle maintenance services, including:

Fluid changes: engine oil, transmission, coolant, differential and
transfer case

Filter replacements: air, cabin air, fuel and emission (PCV)

Other products and services: batteries, serpentine belts, emission
(PCV) valves, wiper blades, headlights/taillights, fuel system
cleaning, engine flush, and a variety of preventative care and
performance additives

------------------------

Note that it specifically says serpentine belts. So it sounds to me
like a failure to properly diagnose a potential problem. Good
letter... and good luck with a resolution.

if this is a part they normally inspect for your oil change then yes
it would be an issue.


however oil changes don't often include other system checks.



sure they might work on that part but... most likely it's something
they inspect when doing full car inspections. and most oil changes
don't include full car inspections.

I would have done what I always do when they tell me about a problem -
If it's something cheap (this time they suggested changing my air
filter, so we went ahead with that) I let them do it, if it's
something that's major bucks, I bring it in to my mechanic. Usually
Mr. Lube is dead on about what needs to be done, but it's cheaper for
me to have my mechanic do it.

My car had an occasional squealing under the hood, typical of a loose
belt. Boyfriend heard it, said he'd look at it on Friday after work,
tighten or replace it if necessary.

My check engine light has been on for a couple of weeks, so I decided
to go ahead and take it in to my trusted mechanic today.

Turns out, the belt does need to be replaced, but it shouldn't, based
on lack of other wear and tear on my 2005 car, and the low mileage.
So now it's costing me hundreds of dollars so they can find out what
was causing the stress on the belt that caused it to crack.

Which wouldn't have been done if I'd just had my boyfriend deal with
it for me. So I can't recommend certified, respectable, trustworthy
mechanics highly enough.

So you want free stuff because you didn't get the service that a
company doesn't offer? They change oil and do routine maintenance like
air filters. They aren't meant to check your entire car over inside
and out. Car problems like this happen to people all the time you
can't blame a quick oil change place. You got your car serviced and
repaired and you paid Mr. Lube for the service that they provided.

You may want to take a course at a trade school in automotive
mechanics. Then you could stock your garage with a rolling tool cart
for $10K or so, and repair all the cars in your neighborhood. How
cool would it be if all the young guys in the neighborhood were
jealous because the chick down the block has the best tools and
experience for miles around?

You may have to shorten your nails a bit, if you wear them long. And
tie your hair back - you don't want it to get caught in the air
ratchet while working overhead. Oh yeah - you will want to install a
lift as well in your 16' high garage. You do have a high ceiling,
right?

It sounds like your complaint is that Mr. Lube failed to recognize
during an overall inspection that your serp belt was about to
implode.

It is impossible to know what the serp belt looked like before it
ripped and started making noise, which I think presents a problem in
holding Mr. Lube accountable. It is hard to know what incorrectly
installed means in this case. Was it one groove off side to side?
Something like that should be caught.

Was this belt ever replaced? Do you know who installed it
incorrectly? You might want to rattle their cage as well.

If MR. Lube is one of those quick oil change places, I wouldn't
qualify them as a "mechanic" able to do a quality inspection of any
kind.

I would suggest doing the own maintenance on your vehicles.

Changing the oil, air filters, and belts are an easy task.

Not only is it cheaper in most cases, but you get the satisfacation of
knowing its done right.

I get the oil at sam's in bulk and its cheaper and sometimes can get a
rebate on top of that.

Good Day