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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
08/07/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I took my car into South Shore Auto Repair for an oil change. They told me that the threads on the oil pan and/or the bolt were stripped. They said that the pan would have to be replaced.I showed them and they read the receipt from the last oil change which they did last year. This meant that they caused the pan/bolt problem. I also told them that they put my life in danger by not telling me at the time that the bolt's threads were stripped. If the bolt had popped out at high speed it could have been catastrophic. He made me pay for the pan at $384.62, but did not charge me for the oil change. Since the oil change last year cost $124.86 then I am due $259.76.
Business response
08/14/2024
In response to Mr. ******** request for refund it is deep concern that he doesnt understand the mechanical side of automotive ownership. His vehicle is 12 years old and has been serviced 11 times according to ******. Out of those 11 times we have only performed an oil change twice. So, the prior 9 times serviced elsewhere having to remove the oil drain plug brings to question the technician who performed the service. Did the tech simply tighten until he felt the drain plug was tight enough? Did the technician look up the proper torque specs of how tight the drain plug is supposed to be by manufactures specs of ******* inch lbs? For any of the prior services performed did the tech use an electric ratchet, which is becoming a common use tool in the industry to remove and reinstall the drain plug but is highly frowned upon? That falls back on the supervisor doing their job making sure the technician is performing the service properly. This question is where his true problem started. Drain plug and oil pan materials vary by each manufacture. Metals used to create them are of different materials chosen by the manufacture. Soft metal drain plugs can and will fatigue over time thus causing failure of threads, while oil pan threads will do the same. There are items called wear and tear, and drain plugs and oil pan drain holes are in this category. For a full refund for the first oil change the shop performed, which also included an engine air filter and a cabin air filter, is totally absurd. To say your life was endangered is being a little too dramatic, in the whole time from that oil change to the current date of one year ago there was never contact stating you had a leak issue or seeing oil on the driveway, or the smell of oil burning. As for refunding the repair to replace the oil pan that is out of the question. You were not charged for the oil change when the pan was replaced as a courtesy so you would have a record of oil being changed. We can credit your account your military discount, which I do not have an issue with because we do this with all active and retired military personnel who have served our country as long as they show proof of their service by proper I.D. before services are rendered.
Unfortunately your 12 year old vehicle came to the time for a replacement oil pan. I have had to replace my very own oil pan for the same issue, and being a 45 year veteran in the auto industry I know at some point and time this type of repair will arise. In closing, thank you for your service but I cannot see refunding any funds for your vehicles repair.Customer response
08/19/2024
Complaint: 22101717
I am rejecting this response because: Lots of words saying that it's someone else's fault even though the last time the oil was changed, they did it. They didn't even apologize although they are saying that it couldn't have been their fault even though the last time the oil was changed, they did it.. I feel that they robbed me. However, I'm don't think that I'm going to pursue this further.
Sincerely,
*****************************
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