Yeah, I'm an idiot

[Nitefox]

But I have an excuse.

I took the '97 Olds I just bought to Jiffy Lube on N27th since I'm working 7 days a week, and it's cold and rainy out. I have no idea how long the car has been sitting, how old the gas is in it, or anything else for that matter. The only other times I've really been to Jiffy was when I handed them my synthetic and a filter and had them change the firebird to save myself some time.

Anyhow, they saw that it had old red/brown antifreeze in it, which I never use, and recommended flushing it. I know the pressure flushes are basically just a guaranteed way to blow holes in the radiator so you have to buy a new one, but really didn't want that corrosive red crap in there, and hoped it was in decent enough shape to live through it.

After 30 minutes or so, I go to pay the bill, which is much higher than it should be, and take a close look at it. They also charged for an "engine flush", which I never saw them do while I was walking around, and wouldn't have let them do if they asked. Unfortunately, I had to be all the way across town for a fundraiser, and didn't have time to argue.

I stopped home for a few minutes to change clothes, get back in the car, and the service engine light comes on. It seems to run fine, I don't smell antifreeze or anything out of the ordinary, don't see any leaks or rainbow colored rain under the car. They did overfill the power steering, so once it warms up it's hard to make full lock turns.

I'm going to stop on the way home and borrow a computer to see what code it's throwing. Since I never actually saw them hook up an r2d2 engine flusher, I'm thinking it shouldn't be in the engine, but who knows. I don't think the radiator or power steering would cause the check engine light to come on either.

Now I get to sit at work for 8 hours wondering why I didn't just change the oil myself and call it good.

[Hibs]

the "engine flush" was probably some sort of intake cleaner.

Everytime I seafoam a vehicle it sets about 8 different check engine lights, so there's a good chance if they did some sort of "engine flush" it was an intake cleaner which tripped an O2 code or missfire code.

[Nitefox]

I might go on my lunch break and have the code checked so I'm not sitting here wondering.

Hopefully they just threw the charge on there without actually doing anything, lol, because I'd rather donate $50 to a bunch of buffoons as charity than pay $50 to have my new beater turned into a paper weight.

[swaggy853]

....idiot.

[ADV1]

Jiffy Lube is the center for all evil in the automotive world... why oh why would you ever stop in a **** hole like that?

[86Shelby]

I'll be honest, I felt a little bad for you when you stated you went to Jiffy Lube and likely had problems. All my sympathy went out the window when you admitted you paid for services that were not approved or completed.



Paying for services you don't recieve is stupid. Paying for services you don't approve or recieve is really stupid.


I'll stop by later this evening, I could use $50. I would give you a candy bar for the $50 but you appear to enjoy getting nothing in return; so you won't be getting a Hersheys bar.

[ADV1]

I'll be honest, I felt a little bad for you when you stated you went to Jiffy Lube and likely had problems. All my sympathy went out the window when you admitted you paid for services that were not approved or completed.



Paying for services you don't recieve is stupid. Paying for services you don't approve or recieve is really stupid.


I'll stop by later this evening, I could use $50. I would give you a candy bar for the $50 but you appear to enjoy getting nothing in return; so you won't be getting a Hersheys bar.

I stopped feeling bad for him the second I found out he pulled into JIFFY LUBE!!!

[Nitefox]

lol. I have a big jar of M&M's mixed with Reece's Pieces on my desk, but thanks.

The dude didn't even go over what the charges were, and I couldn't recall how much the radiator flush was, though I know antifreeze is getting pricey, as much as I've dumped in the blazer lately.

I didn't even look at the receipt until I got to the Wilderness Lodge, and saw the tacked on amounts for an "engine flush" and then extraneous crap like "radiator cap" and "wiper blade". My wipers were brand new, but the one clip wouldn't snap on so he said he'd replace it free, and I have no idea why it would have needed a new radiator cap or where the original went.

I wouldn't have left if I had seen the receipt before driving across town.

Anyhow, I just want to know what the stupid code says.

[AWeb80]

PM me....I know quite a bit about those cars.

i can help you.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's an O2 code.

[Nitefox]

You're right, O2 sensor is throwing codes. I didn't write them down, 134 and 135 maybe. I reset it to shut the light off, but it came back on about 10 minutes later after I stopped to get gas.

What's the secret to getting it to stay off?

Hopefully that's the only thing I'll find wrong from last night's visit. I checked oil and power steering fluid, both are fine. The power steering pump has been making noise since I bought it, so more than likely it's just on it's way out the door. It doesn't look to be too difficult to replace.

$50 to spray some crap into the intake, thanks for that. I was reading the horror stories from Jiffy Lube Problems.com (http://www.jiffylubeproblems.com) and thinking the worst. More than likely they just found an expensive sku number in their computer relating to engine cleaning and are trying to pawn it off on everyone that comes through the door to boost income. Are lube places commissioned?

[86Shelby]

Many are.

[AWeb80]

You need to see if it's the up or down stream O2. the codes won't go away till the problem is fixed. the up stream O2 is easy to get to btw. i'd take them out and blow them off and put back in and see if that fixes it. make sure junk isn't covering them.

[c0z]

shoulda bought something a lot cheaper and more reliable.... your purchase isn't helping gm out unless you buy new :p

[Nitefox]

Alright, I'll take a closer look when it's not raining and crappy out.

Next week is supposed to be halfway decent. Maybe I can wash the firebird, and fix the leak on the blazer in case I have to tear the power steering apart on the olds. I need a day off. :ohnoes:

[Hibs]

You need to see if it's the up or down stream O2. the codes won't go away till the problem is fixed. the up stream O2 is easy to get to btw. i'd take them out and blow them off and put back in and see if that fixes it. make sure junk isn't covering them.

what is "blowing them off" going to do, that the exhaust flow wouldn't all ready take care of?