On Sept 2nd 2007, at 2:45 PM I took my Mom's 2003 Toyota Camry for oil change at Walmart in Clovis, CA (store #2277, (559) 297-4176) , the car has 31965 miles, we bought since new. The mechanic drained all the oil and replaced the oil filter and then when he put the oil plug back, he mis-threaded the plug and so the screw stucked, the screw sticked out about 1/8 inch. Then all the dramas and allegations started from there.
First, the mechanic explained that "cause it was over-torqued by previous oil change, and it damaged side" (???), then cancelled my service with technician comments "P.394 L.B.T. 30. <new line> PLUG COMING OUT TIGHT DID NOT SERVICE LAST OR ANGE FILTER.<new line> PLUG WILL NOT GO IN ALL THE WAY CANT SERVCE". It pissed me off since my car did NOT have any leak and nothing physically wrong or visually wrong, I just need the oil-change done.
I even saw it myself when I stand just about 8 ft away from the car (outside of service area) the guy put the bolt back with a wrench, he tightenned it and when it stucks, he used flash light to look at the threads.
I requested to talk to the manager to complaint about the service, but was helped by assistance manager Art Flores. As soon as Art came, the mechanic came to talk to him and said the oil plug was pop-out like that before he took it off (???) and the Assistance Manager immediately sided with the mechanic. I didn't agree with the answer, and told him, "nothing wrong with my car when I brought it in. You are a Certified Service Professional, when you see something wrong like that (the misthreaded bolt), you should show me right before you touch it. You took it off, drained off the oil and misthreaded the plug when you screw it back and now claimed that it is an existed problems".
I disagreed with the answer and Art Flores told me he will fix it. They unscrewed the bolt and this time, they forced the bolt all the way in with wrench along with sealant (glue - other mean). They reved the engine to see if it still leak, and Art Flores told me, "it's done! the bolt goes in all the way now". I asked him why? Art responded "I don't know why, but it's in now". "why didn't it go in at the first time?", I asked. He responded "I didn't know either". He took the car the parking lot and told it's "no more leak" and handed to me the paper.
Since they already misthreaded the plug, I requested him to unscrew the bolt and put it back with supervision by myself, I explained that they already misthreaded, and forced the bolt in and sealed with sealant to cover-up the problems, I want to see the bolt goes in smoothly without any of forces, to ensure that they not just cover up with sealant. Then Art told me it was too late, they can't do it and told me to bring back if it leaks again. He touched around the oil pan and told me just water since they hosed down the oil stick on carriage when they drained the oil. I asked about the fee, and Art said, "we don't charge anything, since nothing done, we have to put the oil back because we drained it out, so we have to put it back", then he walked back inside.
This time service report shows: WAL-MART TIRE & LUBE EXPRESS: CANCELLED - UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT". Customer Comment (I think it should be Technician Comments): "PLUG CAME OUT TIGHT.<new line> WENT IN SMOOTH BY HAND ABOUT HALF WAY. <new line>LOOSE THREAD VISIBLE INSIDE OIL PAN. <new line>PLUG TORQUED TO 30LBT.<new line>CAME IN WITH NO VISUAL LEAKS.<new line>PRESSURE TEST GOOD. NO LEAKS.<new line>ADVISED CUST. OF DAMAGE PRIOR TO SERVICE.<new line> CUST. DID HIS OWN SERV. LAST<new line>ADVISED CUST. TO TAKE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE FOR INSPECTION."
I called my Dad over to take over situation since I have appointment with others at 5:30PM to leave town for take care some businesses and my Dad arrived at the time Art parked that car at the parking lot around 5:00PM, I didn't leave and stay around to inspect the problems.
After 10 minutes of waiting around the parking lot, I noticed the oil dripped out AGAIN (I also recorded on my camera), I went back inside and talked to Art. Art took the car inside worked on it again. I left the service area at 5:40PM and handed the case to my Dad. They replaced the oil plug metal gasket and applied more sealant. They certified the work and released the car to my Dad at around 6:00PM.
At 6:50PM of the same day, my Dad reported that it leaked again and called Art (559-297-4176), he said the store closes for Labor Holiday and bring back on Tuesday, Sept 4. (see home phone record)
But at 10:21PM, on Sept 3rd, 2007, I called the store (559-297-4176) and was told by receptionist (Bianca) the Automobile dept was opened on Labor Day (????)(see my cell phone record)
TOTAL TIME: 3 hrs 30 min for oil change? and how long more ?
<<<<<<<<<< CONCLUSION >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I already gave them 3 chances to repair the problems (bolt sticks out at the first try, leaked at parking lot after forced it in, and leaked again after brought home), but none was fixed ethnically. They:
- Made damage by negligent, not take responsibility and blamed others to avoid responsibity.
- Concealled the damage of Consumer property with misthreaded plug and sealant to put consumer, in this case our family, in danger caused by their negligent, vehicle throngs to breakdown anytime when driving.
- LIED: They forced myself to miss a working day, put myself in hardness to lose a day of income to dispute the problems since it could be taken care on the Labor holiday instead on Tuesday (Sept 4 - a day after holiday)
Currently I don't know how many days more this allegation will be done. But so far, they screwed the plug, they screwed my weekend, who else get screwed ? Please post for community to aware!
