Lube shop penalized in trade suit

Friday, March 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas auto repair business has agreed to pay a $5,000 penalty to settle a civil suit that it used deceptive trade practices in servicing and fixing cars.

District Judge Myron Leavitt approved the consent degree with Econo Lube 'N Tune at 7652 W. Lake Mead Blvd., which was sued by the state Consumer Affairs Division.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, whose office handled the suit, said Thursday a sting operation caught the business in a false and misleading advertisement.

Econo Lube would advertise that its lube, oil and filter service includes five quarts of 30 weight oil, a chassis lube, a new oil filter and a safety inspection that includes checking and topping off brake fluid, coolant, power steering, transmission and windshield washer fluids.

Del Papa said during the undercover investigation, Econo failed to check or "top off" the various fluids and did not check the air filter or the tire pressure, as advertised.

"This is only the beginning of the effort to address auto repair fraud in Nevada," Del Papa said. "Undercover investigations across the state are continuing and will maintain priority status in my consumer protection unit."