Meineke Car Care Center

1500 E Vernon Ave, Normal, IL 61761, USA

Address:	1500 E Vernon Ave, Normal, IL 61761, USA
Phone:	+1 309-808-6066
Site:	meineke.com
Rating:	3.4
Working:	7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–4PM Closed

Location

Photos 17

Reviews 5

Amanda Harris

I normally take my car to Hellers in El Paso, but my car overheated in Bloomington and I didnt want to pay for the tow to take it to El Paso. I called Meineke because they were close (corner of Towanda and Vernon) and they said they could get me right in. I was able to get my car there without a problem, 2 1/2 hours later they are telling me that it is my water pump and thermostat. I told them that I had just had that replaced within the last year. I called Hellers who had originally fixed those parts and they came down and got me, however it wasnt the water pump and thermostat. My radiator was cracked. I needed a new radiator and radiator fan. My water pump and thermostat were fine. Im definitely glad it worked out the way it did because now my car is running just fine. I asked how much I owed for the diagnosis and was told I didnt owe anything "just tell your friends about your good experience at Meineke". I was super appreciative, but then got a phone call 2 minutes later telling me the owner wanted to charge me for a 1/2 hour of labor. I was irritated that I was told one thing and then now told another. I have worked in customer service my entire life....because of their first response of tell customers about my experience I was going to come back for an oil change or two at the very least and I was going to talk about my experience on social media. However, now that their diagnosis was incorrect as well I was thinking I better post my review (since I rely heavily on customer reviews on if I will trust a place or not) but I still wasnt certain I should until I took a look at the coupon the man at the front desk gave me to apologize for me having to pay for a 1/2 hour of labor. He gave me a coupon for a free premium oil change...kicker is he put the expiration date as the same day. DO NOT GO HERE!

Andy M

***this place has 9 reviews on facebook and 6 of them are 1 star GO SOMEWHERE ELSE*** Would give negative stars if I could. Took my car in on 11/1 for coolant leaking and no heat. They said it was two bad gaskets and replaced them. They said I had 90 day warranty. Today (12/7) I have the same issues so I take the car back around noon and tell them I have the same issues. They dont call or say anything so around 5:00 I call back and the manager tells me that its a pipe has rusted all the way through and its not covered under the warranty. He had no intention of calling me back until the following morning, because being without a car isnt an inconvenience or anything. When I ask him how/why this rusted pipe wasnt noticed 35 days ago he begins to patronize me and talk to me like Im a child. Telling me "well we all wish we could see the future and tell whats going to break on our cars but it doesnt work that way". Like Im unaware that seeing the future isnt possible. After an exchange of words and him talking down to me like I was nothing I went in to confront him in person. Upon arriving he wouldnt look at me or talk to me and made someone else hand me my keys. Any good/reliable mechanic can see/tell a rusted pipe and if its going bad. There is no excuse for this except for the fact they wanted the future business, or just plain laziness. Will not be back for all of these reasons but ESPECIALLY BC OF THE POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Lindsay Trunnell

The fan behind my radiator had popped off and caused the radiator to leak quite a bit. Smoke (or I guess, steam) was coming from the hood. Just the fluid splashing on the engine. I live 2 hours away from where it happened, so I had to take it to an unfamiliar shop. Meineke had good ratings and was open on a Saturday. I called them and they got me in immediately, and figured out pricing for me while I ate at Bob Evans. Haha. This was sweet because I had no car, and Jim the counter guy had me take his car to go get some food. The people are very sweet. Tried to give me to beat deals that they could. As far as the actual repairs go, the mechanic with the long beard (I didnt catch his name) had been working there for about 30 years I think. He said that the brand new radiator that I had in there had been put placed in there wrong by either the guy I bought it from or the previous owners. He said that a professional should have caught it, but it was an honest mistake for anyone trying to do it on their own. He and Jim both were trying to help me use my warranty from the small dealer I bought it from, because they felt that he should have caught this before selling it to me. I dont know, it made me feel good to have em on my side. Jim talked to the dealer on the phone, even. Im going to try to get my warranty back from the guy I bought the car from this week. I appreciated it all, thank you!

raw raw

THIS PLACE IS AWSOMEETC….I live two hours away but my daughter goes to school at ISU her car died and wouldnt start.She got it jumped and drove away then wouldnt start again….AHHH….I looked on line from 2 hours away and found this place ,my daughters friends got this car to parking lot and left it there overnight.I called 1/2 hour before they opened and a guy Jim answered(found out he was co owner)didnt have correct key to read computer my daughter got it to him later in the morning,he was very patient and understanding…..The battery was cracked and that was it!he put new battery in car and tested alternator etc free of charge and said she didnt need one.WOW WOW WOW..a HONEST PLACE….I want yall to know because the service and comfort I got from being away from here was a big relief…..I would highly recommend this place to any student or Parent in the area or away….Do not look at the couple not so positive reviews,THERE ARE TWO NEW OWNERS IN THIS SHOP i found out because i mentioned to Jim that i dont understand some of his not so positive reviews but that was under old ownership……Thank You so much for your Honesty(I know I could have bin easily charged for a alternator with the car was acting but walked away with only a battery……..THANKS AGAIN RALPH WEINERT…..(daughters a sophomore)i will make sure she spreads the word

mopar outlaw

Repair cost and repair issues I took my truck to meineke to have them weld a new catalytic converter up. I bought the parts had everything in hand just needed them to install. they charged me $325 for an hours worth of work and when I got there to pick up my vehicle there was exhaust leaks everywhere so I left it with them to fix it the right way. came back 2 hours later and it was still leaking all over so I left it with them over night and got a call to come pick up the vehicle the next morning. when I arrived I noticed they fixed the leaks but now my check engine light was on (it was not on before) so I took the vehicle to the nearest autozone to have the code scanned. it came back (short in upstream o2 sensor) I had that replaced along with the catalytic converter so I looked at the sensor and the wires had been cut by the technition. so I took the truck back for yet again and had them replace it at there expense telling them I need some sort of refund for all my time and money wasted and the guy said ok my partner gets back next Tuesday. so I call Tuesday and he says his partner declined giving me a refund and blamed me for the broken wires on the o2 sensor when I hadnt even touched it!