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California Auto Centers

4.1 (82 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Services - California Auto Centers

Check engine light

Engine oil light diagnosis

Auto general diagnosis

23 More Services

Auto noise diagnosis

Tire Pressure Monitoring System diagnosis

Auto no-start diagnosis

Auto vibration diagnosis

Auto diagnosis or inspection

Auto pre-purchase inspection

Auto maintenance

Auto fluids and filters maintenance

Fuel system cleaning

Oil changes

Auto repairs

Auto battery or electrical system repair

Auto brake repair

Auto engine repair

Auto exhaust repair

Auto HVAC repair

Auto light repair

Auto steering and suspension repair

Auto transmission repair

Auto wheel and tire repair

Routine automotive maintenance

Smog check

Transmission leak inspection

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Recommended Reviews - California Auto Centers

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Mitchell N.

I have been a customer at this shop for a number of years. Unfortunately I have had multiple issues with the last one being big enough to have me writing this review. In 2021, this shop replaced the timing belt/water pump on a Chevy Sonic for me. After picking up the car I found a bolt about 4-5 inches long on top of the windshield wiper cowl. This was probably a bolt that goes in the timing cover they forgot to reinstall. In 2022 this shop replaced an AC compressor in a 2003 corvette. This repair had no issues. This year on July 5th 2024, I brought in my 2008 Corvette ZO6 to have the AC system recharged with Freon after I rebuilt/restored the entire car. 287$ dollars for an AC recharge with no diagnostics required is very steep in my experience. With it being 1 day after the 4th of July, they told me they only have one mechanic on staff, their newest guy, as all the others had that day off (Friday) Unfortunately when I picked up the vehicle about 3 hours later, I noticed a large curb rash damage area on the passenger side rear wheel. These are forged monoblock wheels that cost about 2,000$ per wheel. I called the shop, spoke with both office employees and the owner. He claimed they reviewed the camera footage and there was no evidence of them damaging the wheel. The owner Joe didn't seem to make the same connection I did.. their newest mechanic working by himself on multiple jobs all day, may have accidentally scrapped the curb when parking the car. This car is a high end toy that doesn't drive many miles, if the damage was there before going to California Auto Centers, I absolutely would have been aware of it. If you find yourself in need of service or repairs on a vehicle that you care about, I recommend avoiding this place entirely. They lack basic professionalism, attention to detail, business ethics, etc.

Rat in engine
Jaynee L.

Welp, it's rat season! So thankful to have came across this Gem of an auto shop. Some of the kindest genuine people. Most definitely will be using CAC for my car/ future cars. Thank you!!

Ford Fusion Hybrid
Peter T.

Mike, Connie, and the whole team here are a pleasure to work with. They have many years of expereince, have lots of resources and really know what they are doing. They communicate well (which is important) and are very customer-focused. For us, they worked on the cars shown and we were 110% satisfied!

I'm a parts delivery driver I just had to come do a review on this business owner Joe he's a straight racist I've been delivering to this place for about 8 months all was good until I started coming in contact with Joe the owner on five separate incidents with him calling me Boy! And try to belittle me I asked him multiple times to call me by my first name which I told him multiple times what my first name was so Last week I delivered a 5 gallon bucket of oil when I pulled in the parking lot he was talking to a customer. He walked away from the customer just run up behind me and say hey boy! Hey Boy! I don't want you to put that over there put it over here boy!. And by the way, I'm 53 years old not a boy! So today I took a delivery there as I was pulling into the parking lot He was pulling out once he saw me he made a U-turn just to come up and make contact with me just to start running his mouth with the boy thing again I asked him to back off. I've already talked to you multiple times and I asks him what's wrong with you? Why do you feel you need to make contact with me every time I come to this establishment then he tries to play victim and blame it on his age‍then tries to offer me to 2 writing pens like that's supposed to clean up his mouth once I refuse them he threw them towards his business establishment turned around flipped me off and called me the N-Word I still can't believe We still have people like this!

This is the part that needed replacing. Only two bolts, two hoses and a filter attached. $1650 worth of work???
James B.

I broke down on the 15 north towing my 40 foot fifth wheel with my 2004 Chevy Dually. I've been having some issues with air getting into my fuel line when it's hot outside and sure enough when I hit a dead stop at the traffic in Temecula my truck died. I tried restarting it but there was too much air in the line for it to build any pressure so I ended up killing the battery. I called triple A and they sent a tow truck. The tow truck could only tow my truck since the trailer wasn't covered on my coverage. I asked the driver to bring it to the local dealer and he said he'd have to back track a bit and it might be over my 7 mile coverage so I asked if he knew a mechanic that was honest and wouldn't try to take advantage of me. I already knew what the problem was so I figured I'd try a shop besides the dealer since it was a pretty easy fix. I called them to confirm it had arrived because I couldn't leave my trailer on the freeway and I told them I'd give them authorization over the phone and she said it was gonna be about $150 for a diagnosis. I told them what the problem most likely was so I figured the the diagnosis would go towards the repair like a lot of shops I know do. 2 days later I get a call telling me their diagnosis was exactly what I said low fuel pressure and they recommended changing the fuel filter housing, she said she'd call me back with some pricing. Few hours later I get a call saying to change the fuel filter housing would be $1650. Wow, in my head I was like the fuel filter housing is like two bolts and two hoses and a filter attached and it's easy to access, why is it $1650 to do the jobI couldn't believe the quote being that high the part must've been well over 12-13 hundred bucks. I called the local dealer in riverside and asked for a price and availability on the part and list price from them was $163, good in stock. I was dumbfounded on why the hell they were charging me $1650. I understand the $150 diagnose fee, she told me 1 hour of labor to change the housing which I thought was fair, it's literally two hoses to disconnect and reconnect , two bolts and the fuel filter. and their labor rate is about $150 /hr so they were charging me 1350 bucks for the part that the dealer lists at $163 and I know they get it cheaper than that. I understand shops need to turn a profit and make money but come on, It left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. I told her I'd call her back and when I just kept thinking about it I just kept getting more and more upset. I called them back and said I couldn't afford the repair and I'd pick up the truck. I paid for the services they did over the phone cuz in my head I was like who knows what they might add on to the bill. I ended up taking an Uber from Riveside to murrieta to get my truck. I walked in to the shop, it was nice and clean and the ladies were nice in front. I wasn't there to cause any commotion just wanted to get my truck but it bothered me so much I had to ask why it cost so much, I told her I called in the part at a local dealership and it only cost $160. They kinda looked at me like I was crazy. I gave her the number to the dealer and she called it in and sure enough and they confirmed it was. They said World PAC was who they get their parts through and they gave them price way off from that. Idk what happened but as a professional shop they should have knew that the price they were given was off. This is such a common issue on these trucks I'm sure they've done a job like this before. I know for sure that World pac is a lot cheaper then the dealer price. I mean even estimating and invoice programs sometimes give prices. All I had to do was google it and I found some from $100 all the way to 500 dollars. She asked if I wanted to get the work done but I said no, I already paid for my Uber to get me there and I just had a bad taste in my mouth thinking they were just taking advantage of me. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and believe that they were given the wrong price but as a professional shop and something so minor of a job they should've known that price was a bit inflated. They did get my truck started but all it needed was to get the fuel pressure back up, the only reason why I couldn't do it was because my battery died from turning it over too much. I don't like bashing businesses because I'm a business owner myself but I really felt Ike I was getting taken advantage of. I even tried having my wife call the shop to speak to the owner so I could tell them about my experience just so I could get some explanation but they haven't called back so I'm here on Yelp. I even would like to let triple A and tow company that towed my truck there about what happened. I feel terrible writing about this but maybe this review will change things around. You can find prices and labor times for certain repairs at your fingertips with your phone nowadays

My youngest son playing with the legos in the waiting room.
Jessica h.

After a ski trip to big bear on Dec23, my family and I were headed back to Chula Vista, when our van started shaking horribly. We quickly pulled into a Honda dealer, who told us it was an axle and we could safely get home. No sooner than 10 minutes later the shaking began again and we realized it was getting worse and also getting dark out. Still far from home, we pulled off the highway while we debated what to do. We were simply driving and discussing options when I saw California Auto Center. my husband decided to pull in and just ask their opinion on if we should drive the rest of the way. We were still about 1.5-2hrs from home. They had a sign on the door that said they closed at 11am for the holiday, it was now around 3:30pm....But there were people inside and we were desperate so my husband opened the door and asked if anyone could help us. This is when he met Joe (owner). Joe came out and took the van for a test drive and proceeded to get the van lifted in the shop. He spent the time finding out the actual problem with our van. This took a couple hours and they had to stay much later than planned because of us. Right before their holiday break. In the end, Joe and his staff got us back on the road, safely and with full hearts. They could have turned a family of 5 away easily. Could have suggested we tow it and call someone for a ride. But they didn't. They were honestly out Christmas miracle this year! The service they gave was amazing, of course, but the generosity of their TIME is what I am most grateful for. Now on to the shop: My dad was a master mechanic while I was growing up so I have spent a lot of time in garages and repair shops. So I feel qualified to say that Joe's shop is the cleanest I have ever been in. There are Toys for the kids, that are actually clean. Books and magazines for any interest and age group, and again, they are clean. Now ladies, here's one you will appreciate. An immaculate bathroom! Multiple hand soaps to choose from, a hook for your purse and room enough to bring in your stroller if needed. A stocked vending machine is there with lots of options, not just candy. And there's coffee and water if you need them. My husband and I keep saying we wish we lived up in near Joe's shop because he would not only take care of our cars (Honda odyssey and Mitsubishi Montero) but we see them as friends now.

Joe doing some custom fabrication for my old Jeep

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6 months ago

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2 months ago

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4 months ago

Great and honest service! Always my go to when I get in over my head and need some help.

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8 months ago

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7 months ago

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10 months ago

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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2 years ago

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Joe B.

Let all that you do be done in Love. Corinthians 16:14

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3 years ago

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14 years ago

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Ask the Community - California Auto Centers

Review Highlights - California Auto Centers

That shop kept failing to fix the problem they caused, but Joe mentioned he had his own shop and could help.

Mentioned in 35 reviews

Read more highlights

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Just got an oil change and had to stop by to leave a review because I'm genuinely so appreciative…read moreof these guys who do everything. I've been coming to Synfast for a while now and honestly they're the best. Every time I pull in, Jovany is there and he's just super helpful and knows his stuff. He actually takes the time to explain what they're checking and answers all my questions without making me feel dumb, which I really appreciate. The service is fast, like usually 10-15 minutes, but they're not rushing through it or cutting corners. I even got my brakes replaced here and they walked me through everything step by step. My car is literally at 200,000 miles right now and running so smooth. Like that alone should tell you how good they are. They top off all the fluids every time, including windshield wiper fluid, so I literally haven't had to buy that in forever. My tires stay good and they fill up the air whenever I ask. Like respectfully, my car is just thriving now. What I love most is there's no pressure or weird upselling vibes. Just honest service at good prices. Plus after every visit I get an email with my receipt that tells me when I need to come back based on mileage, which is clutch because I'm out here driving everywhere and would 100% forget otherwise. I've honestly learned so much about my car just from asking them questions and they're always so patient about it. Not to be dramatic but if you're in Temecula and need an oil change, just go here. Jovany and his guys are genuinely so solid and I'll definitely keep coming back. 10/10 no notes.

These 5 start reviews are obviously paid for DONT BUY THE GROUPON!!! I purchased a Groupon for a…read morefull synthetic oil change (up to 5 quarts) for $60, expecting to pay a reasonable difference since my car takes 8 quarts. I completely understand paying extra for additional oil but what I was quoted was outrageous. When I arrived, they told me it would be $180 total for the oil change. That's nowhere near a small up charge that's triple the price and completely defeats the purpose of the "deal." It felt extremely misleading and honestly like a bait-and-switch. I declined the service and will be requesting a refund from Groupon. Transparency matters, and this experience was anything but that. Save your time and money go somewhere else.

1st Choice Autoworks - John is working hard!!!!

1st Choice Autoworks

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I became a customer / client of 1st Choice Autoworks through Chris Tusow at SubiWorks, next door…read more Chris has been the only mechanic to mod, work on, or do anything with my heavily modified, camping, overlanding, off-roading builds...I'm really particular and developed a really close working relationship and friendship with Chris. Last year, he decided to branch off and focus primarily on mods, custom builds, and speciality work on Subarus whiling changing the name of the business to RFC Industries. In doing this, he sold the service side (oil changes, tire rotations, basic repairs, etc.) of his business to 1st Choice Autoworks. So I've been coming to them for the non-off roading specific stuff that Chris still does for me. Luke and everyone else here is incredibly kind, knowledgable, and professional. This past weekend, I panicked since I'm leaving for an extended work trip (1.5 months) which involves my heavily modded Subaru Forester and I had an axle issue days before I was supposed to leave. I texted Chris over the weekend and he said come to 1st Choice by 8:00am on Monday. I didn't have an appointment, and just showed up. And this isn't my style. I'm usually so highly organized and do my best to be respectful, schedule appointments, and go through the proper channels. But I woke up at 6:00am and was in Murrieta by 8:00am. I explained my situation and they were so accommodating and understanding and kind. It took all day but they helped me out and got my car back in good health and I'm so thankful they were cool with me just showing up. This shop is trustworthy, professional, and now is really familiar with off-roading and modded, lifted Subarus due to SubiWorks' and Chris' involvement. Please give these guys your business if you're in the area. They also work on non-Subarus. Thank you, 1st Choice dudes. I appreciate you!

This shop has my trust. It was easy to get an appointment and they seem knowledgeable and honest. A…read moreprevious (questionable) shop had given me a pricey quote for some suspension work they said needed to be done. I didn't like that first place so I waited on it (and I worried about it a lot!). My friend referred me to this shop, where they had done his brakes at a good price. I took my car in and one of the owners (Luke) helped me out. I told him the story of the previous quote, but said let's start from scratch, bc those last guys were sketchy. Luke put the car on the rack, then came back in with a look on his face as if to say, "you're not going to believe this." I had no idea what was about to happen. I was dreading how costly it might be - I had delayed the repair by months. We looked under my car to see these supposedly cracked & leaking tie-rod boots and other issues... and everything was IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. Which makes sense bc my car has only about 50k miles. Saved me tons of money (that would have been wasted if I had trusted the other place). Needless to say, I'll be returning to 1st Choice to get my brake pads and other work done when it's *actually* due to be done. Thank you guys. I can see why many folks appreciate you.

Pro Auto Service Centers - 11/15/24

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11/15/24 Friday 12:30 My Grandson had passed his road test…read moreand now it was time to give him our car. I was in a pickle for time so I did a real quick YELP search and came across Anthony at ProAuto. The review from the guy that says he comes all the way from SD to see Anthony, really stood out. I called immediately and arranged an appt for an oil change, rotation of tires, engine and cabin filter replacement, and a brake inspection. I do not want to deal with dealerships if I don't have to. This office was soooooo quiet, and calming. Overall, I really appreciated Anthony and the work he performed on our car. I will teach my Grandson where he needs to go when he needs service. I am also advising my daughter to check this place out. Anthony, you are a diamond in the industry. Don't ever change. Thank you again. I will drop off the Guam License plate, that came off of our car. I noticed you don't have one hanging. LOL!

Finding a good, trustworthy mechanic hasn't proved itself an easy task. Too many times I've taken…read moremy car in for an oil change and suddenly there are so many things wrong with it that they want to replace. It's truly a dreadful feeling. That was until my fiancé met Anthony. We happened to both need oil changes and my car had a check engine light on, which I was dreading finding out what is was and what the cost will be. We took one car, had some lunch and hung out in the area then took mine when when it was ready. We got the call when mine was ready and found out what the check engine light was for; my gas cover was loose so he just tightened it. He could have said it was so many other things and taken advantage of that but he was honest. Pro Auto became out go for all car things and we won't look back. Anthony and his team are incredible and I couldn't recommend them more. Side note: I peaked into the shop floor and it was SO dang clean! I feel like them keeping it tidy is a huge deal.

California Auto Centers - autorepair - Updated May 2026

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