Complain about a product or service

Econolube

Susan of Boulder City, NV, writes:
I went to EconoLube (4337 East Sunset Rd, Henderson) on 11/17/00 for an oil change. The manager of this franchise, who refused to identify himself, told me that my air filter should be replaced. I agreed. He then tried to sell me an "engine flush service", which he said I needed because I had sludge in my engine. He recommended this service every 1200 miles. When I refused this service, he became belligerent and told me that my oil change would be worthless because the new oil would just create more sludge. I refused again.

When I returned to the waiting area, I asked the men in the room if the manager had tried to sell them such a ridiculous service. Both men denied that the manager had tried to sell them an engine flush. After my oil and air filter change was complete, I noticed that my check engine light was on. The light had not been on before the oil change.

I returned to EconoLube and notified the manager. He said that the air filter had probably been installed improperly. He told me that it would take about twenty minutes to fix the problem. I returned to the waiting room. Forty five minutes later, I entered the garage and asked the manager what the problem was. He told me that they had been unable to fix the problem, but they had a few more things to try.

Two hours later, I again returned to the garage to check on their progress. The manager told me that one of my sensors must be bad, and offered to perform a diagnostic test for $60.00. I poined out that the vehicle, a 1998 Volkswagon Golf with 45,146 miles on it, had been working properly when I brought it in. The manager adamantly refused to admit that something they had done had caused the problem. I told him that I would not pay him $60.00 to find a problem that he had caused. The manager then told me that sensors go bad, and he had no control over where or when.

I was sure that the air filter was the problem, and I asked to use the phone to call the local Volkswagon dealership to ask the opinion of their service department. The manager refused to let me use the phone. I walked across the street to use a pay phone. The service representative at the dealership confirmed that the air filter was the most likely cause of the problem. When I returned to the EconoLube, I found my car parked outside. I went back inside to inform the manager that the dealership had also suspected the air filter. He told me that the air filter was installed properly and that there was a problem with the car. I asked the manager for his name, and he gave me a first name of Michael, but refused to give his last name. I called the dealership again to confirm that my car was safe to drive, then I left the EconoLube.

I took my car the the Volkswagon dealership in Las Vegas. They removed the air filter, then put it back correctly. The check engine light went off. The EconoLube had also set off the security feature on my stereo system while trying to fix the check engine light, and the dealership reset the stereo. I paid $54.37 to EconoLube for the oil change/air filter replacement, and an additional $73.00 to the Volkswagon dealership.

Marie of Lakewood, CA, writes:
Our air conditioner broke down on 5-19-2000. Today I went to Econo Lube and Tune (at 21815 Norwalk Blvd., Hawaiian Gardens) with my written warranty so they could repair my air conditioner and the owner of the shop refused to honor it. He said he was a new owner and for me to call the corporate office. He said he would not repair anything for me. I showed him my written warranty that states one year from 5-27-99 If anything goes wrong they will fix it under warranty. He still refused. What can I do? We paid $600.00 for the air conditioner compressor.

It has been very hot in the 90's in the Los Angeles area and I have to drive my children around in a van that is as hot as an oven. One of my kids almost fainted from heat stroke. Not to mention the emotional stress both my husband and I are going thru because they will not repair the air conditioner that is under warranty.

Marie should first contact the corporate office. If they will not help her, a visit to Small Claims Court is called for.

Carlos of Helotes, TX, writes:
On June 20, 1999, I took my 1996b Kia to the Huebner Rd. store to have the oil changed. I was courteously attended and my vehicle was serviced and inspected in a timely fashion as usual. I drove home and parked my car, and proceeded to celebrate Father's Day with my family.

The next morning, as I was driving to work, all the oil leaked out of my car. I called the Econolube and told the manager that I was having the vehicle towed to the dealership. He insisted that I have it towed to his shop and he would take care of the problem and pay for the tow.

At the shop one of the technicians showed me that the seal on the oil filter had warped. The oil and filter were changed a second time. I again drove home, but had to stop because of a knocking noise from the engine that started out as a soft knock but became louder and louder. I was again towed to the EconoLube shop and after 2-3 days was told that I had spun a rod and for $100 they could fix this.

After paying the $100 dollars and picking up my car for a third time, the knocking was even louder, but this time I was towed to the dealership where I was informed that I needed a new engine.

I have written several certified letters to the parent company, the owner, Mr. Faghi, and have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I have yet to hear from any of them.

Time to stop writing letters and head for Small Claims Court.

Trish of Tucson writes:
Econo Lube flushed my transmission and did not replace the fluids. My transmission had to be replaced. The owner will not reimburse me for rental car or replacement of transmission.

The owner of this franchise had given me the runaround. I had to miss one days work because of multi phone calls. I am a RN and work nights. The cost of the transmission was $2,300.00.

Robert of Dallas writes:
On July 21,1999 I had an oil change done at a local Econolube. Usually I would go to the dealership, but Econolube is a well know company and I did not feel I would have a problem.

One day after the oil change, I was driving home from a friends house when my engine ceased up. Apparently Econolube did not tighten the drain plug all the way and it fell out. I called the company the next day and they said they would file a claim with their insurance company.

A claim was filed and a few days later I get a call from the insurance company saying the policy was canceled. I contacted the owner of the shop, but he would never return my calls. I called the corporation a few days later and found out the owner lost the business for some unknown reason.

The corporation would not pay for the damages done to my vehicle because they did not own the shop at the time of incident. It has been almost two months since this accident happened and I can not find anyone to help me. I am a 21 year old college student who works full time. I can not afford legal help or the repairs to my vehicle.

For the past two months I have been without a car. I have to walk to work and beg for rides to school. I still pay $447.00 dollars to pay for a car that I can not drive. I have been very stressed out and need some type of help.

Robert needs to determine who owned the shop at the time of the incident and then sue them in Small Claims Court. But if the former owner is in bankruptcy or can't be located, the unfortunate truth may be that Robert is out of luck.

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