Rep Power: 0

I need some objective opinions. I drive a 99 Civix EX, which I have serviced regularly. When I only need an oil change, I go to a local establishment; when I need other work done as well, I go to the Honda dealership.

Earlier this week, I took my car to the dealership for an oil change, and to have the wipers and tires inspected. I got a call from my mechanic, who said that they were trying to change the oil but the drip plug would not screw in or out, just turned freely. This was also causing a leak. He asked me to call the place where I had my oil changed (OC) to find out if they had any problems on record. I did this right away, and OC confirmed that they had done my last 4 oil changes and had not recorded any problems. OC suggested the stripped threads were due to the age of my car. I relayed this information to Honda, who said that they had removed the drip plug, which pulled the threads from the pan with it, and that the drip plug was an aftermarket part and too large to fit properly.

Honda theorized that the person who last changed the oil misthread my original drip plug and stripped the threads, then inserted another, larger and more damaging one instead. Honda maintains that the only explanation is that the last person to change the oil is liable for the damage, and there is no way for that person to have improperly replaced the drip plug unknowingly.

OC claims this is "impossible."

Honda has suggested that I pursue this with OC and have them reimburse me for the cost of a new oil pan ($550 including labor). I have the damaged parts, and I offered to meet with the management at OC to discuss, but I have been hedged for 3 days with "meetings" and "family emergencies." (They quickly offered to have me drop off the damaged parts so they could "take a look when they get the chance," which I obviously refused.)


Before I get ugly and pursue legal action, I would like to be more sure that the only explanation is that OC is liable. Right now it seems to be a case of one mechanic's word against another.

I'd appreciate if anyone could weigh in on this!

 
Rep Power: 244

I would have to say that its the last person who changed the oil that is liable for all cost of a new pan and whatever else is needed.

 
Rep Power: 811

there is no such thing as old age causing it. i have seen original oil pan and bolt still perfectly fine after 300k miles. so long as the place doing the oil change uses common sense and hand tightens it first, there is no problem. most shops will do anything to get out of paying for their mistakes.

 
Rep Power: 189

The age of the pan has squat to do with the drain plug threads getting stripped, overtorqueing the plug will do it and 99.9% of the time that is the cause. It would not surprise me if some kid they had working there tried to cover his mistake by doing exactly what you mentioned. A lot of these quick oil change places hire kids with very little knowledge of how to do things right and then turn around and teach them the bare minimum to get the job done. I have heard nightmare stories about this kind of stuff same for big tire shops that have kids working there who forget to torque lug nuts and have a tire come off a few miles down the road. I have personally tore management a new ahole for this kind of stuff at some of the chains my friends have gone to. I think the worst one was that he had an oil change done at a local midas shop and the kid forgot to tighten the drain plug, long story short he left the shop did a few hour drive to a friends place and ran the car almost dry on oil, killing the engine. I had to step in and get the shop to replace the engine by threatening to get a lawyer involved and prove that I was a journeyman mechanic and knew what the hell I was talking about before they got the kid who I got to admit that he forgot to do the job right before they caved and paid me for the labour and the cost of his new engine.

 
Rep Power: 511

$20 says they took an impact wrench to the drain plug, stripped the **** out of it, then found a bigger plug to try and cover their ***. I would have gone ballistic on the place that did my oil change if that happened.

There's a reason I do all my own maintenance, in case something messes up like that, I have but myself to blame. If I have to take my car somewhere (i.e. tire-related stuff), I watch them like a hawk, making sure they don't take an impact wrench to my lug nuts.

Furthermore, holy crap, $550 for parts and labor for an oil pan...? It's a 30 minute job, at most, and they raped you on the cost of parts... jeeebaaaassssss....