Joel Grover goes to EZ Lube

KNBC's undercover camera has caught more car repair scammers. This time, Grover's web snared EZ Lube, "California's fastest growing lube and tune chain." Says the Channel 4 website:

Under the hood of KNBC's undercover test car, cameras are watching mechanics from every angle. Like at an EZ Lube on Pacific Coast Highway in Lomita, where they recommend a transmission flush using a high tech machine to suck out all the old fluid.

"And you guys said you use a machine, right," an undercover KNBC customer asks the technician.

"Yeah, that's the machine," he replies.

But they never used a machine and instead just drained and refilled a few quarts of fluid. That's a $39 service, but they charged the NBC undercover customer for a $99 Machine flush....

Another day, at a Costa Mesa EZ Lube, they tell an undercover NBC customer they're going to change a fan belt....But all they did was polish the old belt and leave it on. Something the manager wouldn't talk about with KNBC Investigative Reporter Joel Grover.

"You said you put a new belt on that car and you never did," Joel asked the manager. He had no reply.

Tonight's investigation: A new look at the fire protection system at Staples Center, on the news at 5 and 11 pm. The first installment in December won a Murrow award for KNBC.