PepBoys Shoddy work and Scams Bloomington, Indiana

You are correct. The insults to the inspector were uncalled for.  I apologize for that.  As for checking the dipstick.  I did do that as that's how I discovered how low on oil the car really was.  (Too low to even register on the dipstick.)  As for not taking the car to a "real" mechanic.  I was under the impression that PepBoys employed "real" mechanics.  If not perhaps you would be kind enough to tell me where I can find a "real" mechanic.  Preferably an honest one.  If such a thing exists. 

The OP's insults to other poster(s) here was uncalled for. You are being insulting and combative with folks who did nothing to you. Inspector's post was not calling you names or insinuating you're stupid. YOU are the one who got suckered on this car - not us! YOU are the one who went to a Pep Boys to get this done, instead of a "real" mechanic - NOT us! When I see OPs get needlessly and unjustifiably obstreperous with other posters, my hackles start to stiffen and I pretty much begin to take on a who-should-give-a-crap-about-what-happened-to-you attitude.

Why thank you!  I can also tell the difference between a maintenance minder indicator and an oil level indicator which is a dipstick you moron.  If you give enough facts in your lame rantings maybe someone can make heads or tails of what your talking about. 

"I agree with you that I know very little about cars."

   Yet you seemed to be quite the mechanical detective when you thought you knew what you were talking about.

"  If it is a gauge of the number of miles driven until an oil change is due, why did it change when I put oil into my car? "

  Very simply : It didn't.   The only thing that indicator is connected to is the odometer.   Adding oil based on that indicator is nuts.  You never once mentioned the dipstick, which is actually designed to tell you how much oil is in the engine. 

getting home after an oil change, to find "no oil" in the car.  The only thing that saved them was the oil that was in the filter that the place neglected to change.

I agree with you that I know very little about cars.  That is why I took it into a shop before I purchased it.  If it is a gauge of the number of miles driven until an oil change is due, why did it change when I put oil into my car?  Although all of that is irrelevant.  PepBoys should have checked the oil regardless. 

  Your basing your assumptions on how you think the "maintenance required" indicator works.  The problem is that you have no idea what that indicator is trying to tell you.    It has nothing to do with the amount of oil in your car.

" At the bottom of the gauge for the drive there is one called, "Maintenance Required".  As the oil gets lower the red piece slides to the side to the right.  When the oil level is full the piece doesn't show up at all."

    It's simply a mileage based reminder to change your oil.   It gets reset (if the tech knows how) when you get your oil changed, and slowly gets more red as the odometer clicks off the miles.   If you were to hold in the trip meter button and start the car, it would reset the maintenance indicator back to clear, without having done anything.

    If this simple instrument is beyond you, I have trouble believing you have any idea what you're talking about.  

    I have to agree that Pep Boys is probably the last place I'd want to take a car for a pre-purchase inspection, but not for any of the reasons you state. 

The Car is a 2000 civic lx.  At the bottom of the gauge for the drive there is one called, "Maintenance Required".  As the oil gets lower the red piece slides to the side to the right.  When the oil level is full the piece doesn't show up at all.  As for your doubting it was 3 quarts low, I put 2 and 1/2 quarts into the car the day before my oil change.  The red bar still showed although only partially.  Also, at the oil change shop I was told I was a little low on oil.  A half quart or so.  Hence with the 2 and 1/2 quarts I put into the car it equals 3 quarts.  Figured I better do the math for you don't seem like the type able to do simple math. I'm impressed you can even read and write.

Were you with someone from the dealer while at Pep Boys? If so, maybe they took a payoff from him to clear the car? Or if not, maybe they called the dealer to arrange a payoff for a pass. When doing things like this you need as much as possible to go to someone you feel you can trust. Better yet, marry someone, or marry off a child to someone with a close relative who's a mechanic.

3 quarts low!  I seriously doubt that.  I don't think your engine would have made it to the shop.  A red plastic piece for an oil indicator?  What kind of car is this, please tell us.  If your car is all wheel drive it may need all tires replaced or damage may result.  I had this problem on my Honda CRV and one dealer told me to only change the bad tires,  not good advice.

My report deals with as said before my partner forever as well as dealing with benaughty.com.  The mix up is understandable so please return the report to where it originated with the author of the report which happens to be me!

However I have one suggestion:  Can you add more categories to the rip off report than the ones that are already there?