Not a car expert and I really need some advice about Fuel Injection Services.

2002 Suzuki Aerio
I got a fuel injection cleaning service called (Pure Power Plus Fuel System Cleaning Service) from Jiffy Lube in Jan of 06. I watched them do the cleaning and it was done in about 10 min.
After putting some stuff in my car they pulled my car out of the garage and put in in park and the guy had my gas pedal to the floor causing some smelly black smoke to exit my muffler. They said it was part of the process and that that's suppose to happen.

That same day my "service engine soon" light came on.

I took it back the following day and they checked the code that came up and it said it was a "P0420" and "P0451". They reset the sensor and said if it came on again then to bring it back but that it happens sometimes when they perform this kind of service that it may set a sensor off. They said it was probably no problem.

I took it back again a few days later due to the sensor...they reset it again and said I would just need to go get it checked.

This service is advertised to "safely and effectively remove harmful deposits" with their Heartland Automotive Products.
That was not the case.

I got a refund 3 months later...and got it checked in May (2 months after that). It took me so long because I knew it would cost and I didn't have the money.

The service place found that my system was clogged so they did another FIC.

The light came on again a few days later so two weeks after the FIC the repair place did I took it back and they replaced an O2 sensor. They said if the light came on again then the next step would be to replace the catalytic converter. $600 part.

It came on again and I waited 2 months before I could get the money to repair it.
My car failed emissions so I had no choice but to fork it over and repair it.
I replace the catalytic converter and fuel pressure sensor as well.

The other catalytic converter was under warranty.

Over all it cost me $1600 in repairs and now I need advice as to how the fuel system works in a car. I have heard that if you are not careful in removing the deposits then it can really damage you engine.

Jiffy says they are not responsible...I say they are. Now I am filing a lawsuit in a small claims court and I don't want to look like an idiot.

Please help...I am stressed and don't have time for all this but I know they did me and my car wrong. I am a college student and I work full time so this is really the last thing I want to deal with but I have to.

If you know any professionals willing to give me a written statement that would help me out a lot.

Lily

Lily, the carbon deposits in your combustion chamber were cleaned out by the cleaner Jiffy used. It is obvious from the scene you describe, that the car needed it. These cleaned out particles fouled your oxygen sensor, and your catalytic converter. They didn;t really do anything wrong. I have seen this stuff work fine with no bad results. I am not saying you should not pursue your goal here. Jiffy needs to be held responsible for the possible negative results of a product they are pushing on guilable clients. This is the way they make their real money. They cannot make much on oil changes. You pay about the same for a Jiffy Lube oil change as you would if you bought the oil yourself at an auto parts store. When they come in and say you need this, or that, take it to a real mechanic. When they hit you up for extras, they start rolling in big profits.

In the future, put a top end cleaner of some kind in on a regular basis. Keeping it clean should not damage anything. The other approach is to use a better grade of gas, and drive it a little harder once in awhile to blow out the carbon. My guess is it is an automatic, and you never take it over 3500RPM. Am I right? It is OK if I am wrong. I have been before. A small engine like that needs to operate in the upper RPM ranges once in awhile to keep the carbon deposits from building up. It is a catch 22. Driving it easier is easy on gas, but lets the carbon build up, and you eventually have to deal with that.
Sam

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