Various problems with service at shop (green coolant and accelerator rattling noise)

[LilyOfTheYaris]

Thank you. Interestingly enough....I had this done in January and they were trying to convince me to get a new cabin air filter installed for $60, so I said no. Then they brought it out to me to show me how dirty it was. I said no, I could get it someone else done for free (I can do it myself). This was back in January. I bought a new cabin air filter a few days ago and I opened up the place to install it and to my SHOCK there was nothing in there. The technician took out the filter but never put it back in. Really, the worse place I could have gone.
As for the drive belt, I may sound ignorant but every time someone says drive belt I assumed it's the serpentine belt? If so, I HOPE that is it and nothing major. I will have it checked out somewhere else, this the shop I went to can't do anything right.

My only concern is (since I have been driving without a cabin air filter since JANUARY thanks to the incompetent shop) that nothing might have gone in and harmed my fan. I really hope it has nothing to do with that rattling noise. It's sad, I went back on one of my countless times to get a full inspection but they could not catch a MISSING cabin air filter!!!

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by LilyOfTheYaris

Thank you. Interestingly enough....I had this done in January and they were trying to convince me to get a new cabin air filter installed for $60, so I said no. Then they brought it out to me to show me how dirty it was. I said no, I could get it someone else done for free (I can do it myself). This was back in January. I bought a new cabin air filter a few days ago and I opened up the place to install it and to my SHOCK there was nothing in there. The technician took out the filter but never put it back in. Really, the worse place I could have gone.
As for the drive belt, I may sound ignorant but every time someone says drive belt I assumed it's the serpentine belt? If so, I HOPE that is it and nothing major. I will have it checked out somewhere else, this the shop I went to can't do anything right.

My only concern is (since I have been driving without a cabin air filter since JANUARY thanks to the incompetent shop) that nothing might have gone in and harmed my fan. I really hope it has nothing to do with that rattling noise. It's sad, I went back on one of my countless times to get a full inspection but they could not catch a MISSING cabin air filter!!!

Correct on drive belt = serpentine belt.

You mentioned in your other thread that the "cool" light stays on much longer since the coolant change was done. Did they by any chance replace the thermostat while changing the coolant? If so, they may have either installed the wrong one or installed it without its gasket (hence rattle noise). This would also prevent it from blocking the flow of coolant until the engine warms up, which would make the cool light stay on longer.

For the cabin filter, running for a couple of months without it should not cause issues (unless you live in an area with a lot of airborne stuff {pollen, leaves, pine needles, etc.}). Even then, the worst cause would be a plugged condensate drain for the A/C, which would cause water to back up in the air box and potentially a bit of a smell from the A/C.

[LilyOfTheYaris]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Correct on drive belt = serpentine belt.

You mentioned in your other thread that the "cool" light stays on much longer since the coolant change was done. Did they by any chance replace the thermostat while changing the coolant?

No, they supposedly just did a coolant flush, not like I can trust that place. They put sealant on it too, so who knows what else they did.

I must say, when you said it could be the drive belt causing that gas pedal noise, it opened my eyes. I went to an actual reputable shop and they tightened it and now the noise is almost gone or faint. They said if the noises are still there after what they did, it means the belt is low quality. But the fact that tightening it actually decreased it tells me it's the belt.

So THANK YOU!!! :D