Meineke Car Care in Tupelo

[Seymore]

Had a $640 brake job done Thursday at Meineke in Tupelo. Was told the computer would reset after a few miles. It never reset, ABS didn't work , and tension on parking brake was set wrong. Learn from research that the computer will never reset until the speed sensor that is broken is fixed and the compute log cleared with a programmer. First in line at Meineke this morning and was told it would be another $600 because the wheel speed sensor broke when they removed the hub and the sensor is built into the hub so the whole hub needs replacing. I ask the service manager whether they have called every GM dealer in town to see if a hub can be found. He point blank tells me yes and there isn't a hub anywhere.

Call the dealer later in the day and they have two on the shelf and it is $150 dollars cheaper. Go to dealer and they show me where Meineke broke every clip holding the sensor wire on the wheel the programmer is showing busted and zip tied the wire back. They state that shows they couldn't get the hub off correctly and forced it which broke everything. They further stated the hub didn't even need to come off to replace the rotor and the damage was a result of Meineke not knowing what they were doing. Then they say the hub isn't even replaced if the sensor is bad, just the sensor. The easy way out if the mechanic doesn't know what they are doing is to replace the hub.

Lesson learned. While going to the dealership may not always be the cheapest, they have the knowledge to know what they are doing and not cover up their incompetence.

To say the least I am not a happy camper. Especially about getting lied to and then the attempted extra charge for damage they caused. And then they were going to charge more for a fix because they didn't know how to fix it correctly. For a National brake shop that advertises their expertise is in replacing brake to do this sort of work just really got under my skin. Just FYI with my experiences for anyone who needs a brake job in Tupelo.

[MudHog]

Document and make a call to the corporate office. Not saying you need to seek damages, but make a phone call. You just might be surpised at what is offered. Now, should they (corporate office) blow you off, then there is your official "x".

I can honestly say that the Meineke down the road from me is quality, but that doesn't speak for every shop across the country.

[DRYLOK]

The owner of Meineke in Tupelo is a member on here. I believe his name is Tony Knight. Contact him

[DRYLOK]

Tknight

[Seymore]

Document and make a call to the corporate office. Not saying you need to seek damages, but make a phone call. You just might be surpised at what is offered. Now, should they (corporate office) blow you off, then there is your official "x".

I can honestly say that the Meineke down the road from me is quality, but that doesn't speak for every shop across the country.

I have already contacted the corporate office.Iwas told each shop is individually owned and there isn't anythng they can or would do other than take the complaint. I contacted one of the owners. Not Mr. Knight but another one. He was more interested in discussing how irrate he was that I contacted him at home about the matter.

[rawalley]

He was more interested in discussing how irrate he was that I contacted him at home about the matter.

Thats sad, what ever happened to appreciating your business and realizing that you can and now will, take it elsewhere.

[Seymore]

He was more interested in discussing how irrate he was that I contacted him at home about the matter.

Thats sad, what ever happened to appreciating your business and realizing that you can and now will, take it elsewhere.

Daughter needs brakes on her car before school starts in the fall. She starts clinicals and will be going to several different places. Won't be going back as that was my first and last time.

[MudHog]

He was more interested in discussing how irrate he was that I contacted him at home about the matter.

[RedEyed Duck]

This could get interesting........ I would recommend finding a local mechanic that comes recommended by others, not a locally owned national chain. Good mechanics are worth their weight in gold!

[tknight]

I am reluctant to post because intent or sincerity never comes across real well but I will try:



First off, I apologize for your troubles at my shop. There are always two sides to every situation, and I had to get our side before responding. The manager did call the dealership to see if they had the parts, I confirmed that this morning, and the dealership told him that he didn’t have them, I confirmed that as well. He may have looked up the wrong part number, I don’t know, but we can only go by what they told us pertaining to availability. They also do not have the speed sensor by itself as you had to order it so we could not have gotten it the day you were here. The vast majority of vehicles have the speed sensor built into the hub and both have to be replaced, you are correct on this vehicle that the sensor can be replaced without replacing the hub and that is our mistake. There are many people out there that do not recommend replacing the sensor without the hub but technically it can be done. I also spoke with the same dealer this morning about the zip ties and he said that it was the clips to a brake hose not the speed sensor. Either way if any clips break: whether it is here, dealership, or anywhere else, a small zip tie is adequate to hold it in place and serves the exact same purpose with better dependability.

The reason Meineke asked you to drive it for a bit was because if the wheel speed sensor was not faulty then it would have cleared itself. Because the speed sensor was faulty, you are correct, the light will not go off. There is a TSB on the wheel speed sensor, Identifix describes it as follows, “The WSS’s are pressed into the wheel hubs. The sensors and sensor reluctors are VERY susceptible to damage when replacing brake rotors, therefore the majority of the time the WSS will have to be replaced”, We were hoping it was good, would clear itself, and not need replacement. Obviously now we all know it was faulty.

Your comment, “They further stated the hub didn’t even need to come off to replace the rotor and the damage was a result of Meineke not knowing what they were doing” is false. You cannot remove the rotor without removing the hub. Not going on experience alone but also looked it up in Mitchell and Alldata, even called some friends at the dealership to confirm. Because my info is copyrighted I found it online for you,
“In order to change the rotors on the Colorado you have to take the whole hub assembly off. ( the rotor is bolted to the hub assembly from the backside so leave the bolts in until you get the whole assembly off) Which means that you have to take off the the wheel ( remove the lug nuts and take off the rim and tire) then take off the brake pads and caliper (the caliper is bolted on with 4 bolts) then you have to undo the wire holding the wheel speed sensor onto the spindle. The wheel speed sensor is the circular black piece of metal with 2 wires going to it. (there wires are in a rubber housing so kind of looks like a rubber brake line going to be backside of the spindle) Remove the wheel speed sensor. Next take out the four bolts on the back side of the spindle that holds the hub assembly on. ( the four bolts are in a square shape pattern right by where the wheel speed sensor is mounted) one you have removed the bolts the assembly should come out. Once you have the hub assembly and rotor out, unbolt the 6 bolts holding the rotor on and replace it with the new rotor. when you have that reassembled then put the hub assembly back in and the four bolts on the backside will pull the assembly back in as far as it is supposed to. Check for damage and reinstall the wheel speed sensor. The WSS’s are very finicky so no guarantee they will work once they have been removed. Re-bolt it back to the spindle and put the brakes and caliper back on and then put the wheel back on.

Again, I am sorry but it does not look like it has caused you any additional money to have the worked preformed. You paid us to have the work preformed here and you are paying the dealer to replace the sensor that all of the documentation says more than likely would have to be replaced anyway. No one was intentionally trying to rip you off nor was you ripped off in the process. The way your truck is designed, it is a hope and prayer that the wheel speed sensor performs properly when re-installed. There are many places online that describe this, just google rotor replacement for your vehicle.

As for the emergency brake resistance we try and find a middle of the road adjustment there so if you accidentally depress the pedal a couple of clicks without realizing it you won’t burn up your rear brakes. You were unhappy with the adjustment and we raised it up for you. The other owner you called does the accounting, he is not a mechanic, and knew nothing of this situation. There was nothing he could have done at 8pm Friday night and He said he would check into it with me when I got back, If he was short then another apoligy is in order and we are sorry for that..

[Seymore]

Per our telephone discussion the dealer has point blank told me the hub DOES NOT come off to replace the rotor. They state if the hub is removed then 99.9% of the time the speed sensor is broken. I have pictures of the damage showing all of the clips broken. Again, the dealer tells me this shows where the rotor was forced off.

I have asked for your company to make good on the damage caused to my vehicle and you have declined. I shall now pursue this matter further. Good Day.

[huntersmky]

I guess I am just a poor old boy, but ive always changed my own brakes. My wife took her escalade to gateway to get the oil changed two weeks ago and they wanted $700 to change the brakes. I did it for $120 myself In two hours. Thats ludicrous to know how much money they make off a brake job

[Seymore]

I have just talked with the dealer again and am being told the hub does come off to replace the rotor. Basically, I'm being jerked around by everyone and am out at best over $800.00 and at worst $1200 for a freaking brake job. If I'm wrong I will freely admit it but I'm not real sure whose telling the truth right now I do know one thing and that is that I'm the one with my pants around my ankles being told to bend over. I don't like that very well. I'm going to let someone else sort it out because I think this is a big money grab from somebody.

I used to do all my all car work to avoid this sort of BS. I'm not able to anymore so I gues it's just open wallet and bleed.

[LODI QUACKER]

for 1200 bucks. ithink i would "do without" the sensors at all!!!!!!

[CBRADGO]

Call a dealer not in your area that is going to have ZERO chance of having a dog in this fight and see what they say. Just my .02