Meineke Car Care Center #367

Review: One night while driving, my boyfriend and I noticed that the car was squeaking, so we pulled over and looked under the hood. He realized that the squeaking was due to needing a new belt, so he purchased a new belt. However, before he could install the belt, the steering wheel tightened up while we were driving. So, we pulled over into [redacted]'s parking lot, and looked under the hood again. We noticed that the old belt had come off of its tracks. He attempted to place the belt on the pulleys. However, he was unable to. He noted that the belt tensioner (a separate piece) was intact. Therefore, we had the car towed to my home. It sat there for one day. The next day, I towed the car to Meineke. (I have the receipt to prove this.) This was on Saturday. I spoke with the shop owner and he informed me that the tow truck driver could leave the keys in the drop box, which he did. I called on Monday to find out the status of the car repair. The shop owner said that he believed that the [redacted] was ready, but to call back the next day. I actually called back on Wednesday instead of Tuesday like he asked. On Wednesday, I spoke with the shop owner again. He asked me.. "What is wrong with the car?" (I don't understand why he would need to ask me this as that is their job) I explained that the belt had come off of the car and needed to be replaced. Then he sounded very defensive and told me that a piece fell into the engine and "that's how he got the car." Then he explained that he couldn't repair the car and recommended that I take it to "another mechanic". I asked my boyfriend to go over to the shop to find out more information, because I was at work. He went up there and saw the engine of my car open. He spoke with the mechanic and looked at my car. He says that the belt tensioner was removed off of the engine. He says that the bolt that connects the tensioner to the engine was disconnected and stripped. In addition, the pulley closest to the alternator had oil condensation which means that they were working on the car outdoors while it was raining. He explained that that's not how he last saw the car. Afterwards, I had my car towed from the Meineke to the dealership where I bought the car. (I have proof that it was towed directly to my dealership from the Meineke parking lot) The mechanic and assistant service manager at the dealership diagnosed my car and wrote as part of his statement that "The vehicle belt tensioner broken. Tensioner breakage was most likely due to "Over-Torquing" of the Tensioner Main Securing Bolt. The bolt broke off flush with the face of the engine block." He explained that this type of damage caused him to recommend replacing the entire engine block as there is no guarantee that the piece can be removed from the engine block. He explained to me that this damage could not have been caused by us, because we would need to be able to lift the engine and have the right tools to remove the tensioner and torque it, which we can not do, and do not have. He recommended that we request Meineke to pay for the damage that was caused. The manager at the dealership was very cooperative, wrote a statement explaining how the bolt was over-torqued, and gave his phone number available for Meineke to call and speak with him. (which they refused to do for some reason..) I decided to call the Meineke headquarters and request that they settle the compliant by reimbursing me for the cost of the engine that the dealership had to install. (FYI, I bought the car from the dealership and I've only had this car for 3 years.. It's a [redacted] with 55,000 miles at the time this occurred.) Basically, I explained the situation to Meineke, faxed the dealer's statement to them as requested, my boyfriend also has spoken with them as well. The girl handling the compliant called the local Meineke shop, but the shop owner refused to admit any fault. She said that she would call them again , and promised to get back to me. I later found out (because I called numerous times) that she left the company that week. A second woman handled my case. She called the shop's owner and explained that I was thinking of pursuing this matter legally, and she told me that he responded that "He doesn't care." She promised to call his superior and try to negotiate things and get back to me on a Thursday. This was weeks ago. I keep calling the headquarters everyday, but no one picks up anymore. I left messages, but they never returned my calls. It seems as if they are trying to get me to brush this under the rug by giving me the run around and ignoring my calls. I request that Meineke own up to their mistake and do what is responsible and right. They damaged the engine and it is only fair that they reimburse me for it. I should not had to suffer a financial loss due to the shop's negligence. I am not asking for the cost of taxi fees, even though they had my car for days without diagnosing it. I am only asking for the cost of the engine that I already paid to the dealer "who actually fixed my car."Desired Settlement: I would like Meineke to reimburse me the cost to replace my engine $3,834.35 due to their negligence while attempting to work on the car.

Review: Car was taken to shop for inspection, mechanic contact owner stated problem with lights interior & exterior, owner asked if meineke could fix problem, paid addtional 80.00 to have matter cured, several days after getting car from shop owner discovered traction button not operational, fog lights not operational, ABS light on when new brakes should have been put on vehicle, check engine light on, when car just passed inspection, heat does not flow from vents when on buttons 1 and 5. Called shop spoke with owner informed him of problem was told to bring car in when I was available. Owner went to shop located on [redacted] was told mechanic could not look at car. When asked why did car pass inspection with the features not working, only given nasty reply. I would like my car to be fixed because that what I paid for or I want my money back.Desired Settlement: Fix my car or give me my money back for the work on the lights because they only half work and I paid for an entire job.