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Jiffy Lube Broke My Ignition!
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Etcetera
New User
Jan 17, 2011, 12:29 PM
Post #1 of 7
(2034 views)
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Jiffy Lube Broke My Ignition!
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So the other day I took my '99 VW Jetta in for an oil change and to have a couple of air filters replaced. This car isn't without issues, (a short in the tail lights, sluggish shifting at times) but overall it was in working order, it just needed the usual, most basic maintenance. I left the lobby to get lunch, which was probably a bad idea since these people should really be kept under close watch while they work, apparently. An hour later, which is not very 'jiffy' in my opinion, I get a call that my car is ready. I went up to the counter to pay, only to be intercepted by the manager who stated, "I'm sorry, but we have a problem with your car."
He then went on to explain that my ignition, something in the ignition cylinder itself most likely, had died in the maintenance bay. They literally had to push the car into a parking space. When the key is turned in the ignition, nothing happens, there is no resistance, and the car will not go into position 1 (battery power) or position 2 (starting the engine). Of course, being a normal, well-adjusted human being, I flipped the f*ck out. How could this happen? What could they have done? The manager just kept saying that it was just "the ignition's time to go" and that there was no way anything they could have done to have caused it. . I start my car about 5x a day--if that ignition was going to go, statistically, it would have gone when I started the car somewhere else at some other time. Furthermore, I have never, ever heard of anyone's ignition just "going bad" randomly. The car doesn't even have 100k miles on it!
There was nothing I could do except demand that they print out a detailed receipt explaining exactly what happened along with the manager's signature. Perhaps if the mechanic can find evidence that the other workers are responsible, I might be compensated, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Ugh. The towing alone was almost $80, and the cost of parts and labor for the new ignition is going to be close to $800. I really can't even believe this. What's worse is that they won't even be able to get the part until late this week, so who knows how long I'm going to be without a car.
So, what I want to know from you car gurus out there is A, How did this occur? B, Is Jiffy Lube responsible? C, How can I prove it? The mechanics are currently removing the steering module to make sure it's not a fuse or something else, but most people seem to think that the pins inside the ignition cylinder itself were somehow damaged, because the car seems to be unable to read the key properly.. Could it be that a careless technician shoved the laser-etched key into the ignition improperly, and ruined the pins?
Any insight would be -greatly- appreciated!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 17, 2011, 12:41 PM
Post #2 of 7
(2029 views)
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Re: Jiffy Lube Broke My Ignition!
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There isn't a whole lot that you're going to be able to blame on them. Granted. they may have been a little rougher with it than you are but it had to be worn out for that to happen. Many problem will arise when a different driver uses the vehicle, mainly just because they may do things a little bit differently, turn things harder, pull in directions that are different from you, etc, etc. That doesn't mean they broke it. It just means they pushed it over the edge.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jan 17, 2011, 12:41 PM)
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Etcetera
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Jan 17, 2011, 12:45 PM
Post #3 of 7
(2025 views)
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Re: Jiffy Lube Broke My Ignition!
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So it's normal wear and tear, you think? I respect your opinion on the subject, but it's very hard for me to understand how their technicians are completely free from blame. It's not really something you hear about happening every day--would you mind explaining what exactly wears down to the point of breaking in an ignition cylinder? Is it the pins? How does the damage occur? I'd appreciate it--I might be a little less upset if I understood what happened.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 17, 2011, 12:52 PM
Post #4 of 7
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Re: Jiffy Lube Broke My Ignition!
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The lock is a series or brass pins that slide in cylinders and the detents of the key lines them all up so the cylinder will rotate. These brass pins, the cylinders they sit in and the key itself all wear down and all it takes is just enough pressure in the wrong direction and those pins can get jammed up and lock the whole cylinder. Working it gently could make it last longer but a little force in the wrong direction can trigger the inevitable. It could even free itself up, only to do it again days from now.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Etcetera
New User
Jan 17, 2011, 1:04 PM
Post #5 of 7
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Re: Jiffy Lube Broke My Ignition!
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So it's the combination of wear and tear and someone's careless shove. That's how the cookie crumbles, I guess. It's just mind boggling that something could be so worn out by a simple insert and turn a few times a day--I've had much older cars that never had this problem. Thanks for your opinion, I just wish that if it had to happen anyway that it would have happened to me instead of at someone else's hand. I just can't help but be extremely angry over it--maybe it wasn't their responsibility, but maybe it was.
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 17, 2011, 7:04 PM
Post #6 of 7
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Re: Jiffy Lube Broke My Ignition!
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Etcetera; I'd have to agree with HT. Hard to tell when a bulb is going to go out. Stuff happens. Not much they could have done to cause the fault. Sorry.
Loren
SW Washington
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re-tired
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Jan 17, 2011, 8:55 PM
Post #7 of 7
(2002 views)
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Re: Jiffy Lube Broke My Ignition!
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I did a google on your car and the switch problem >There ar many many complaits on this issue . here is a sample . jiffy and youself were more than likely a victim of poor design .
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1999 Jetta GL Ignition problem - Car Forums - Edmunds
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