The passenger mirror on my Lexus needed to be replaced. After an extensive internet search, I was thrilled to stumble upon Joel's shop because he and his crew specialize in maintaining and making repairs to the Lexus brand of vehicles. Joel is a quick talker who will give it to you straight -- and with unmatched honesty. I made the decision to trust his judgment, paid him the money to order the replacement mirror, then waited. Throughout the week it took for the part to arrive, Joel made certain to keep me in the loop with regard to its tracking. Then a week ago on Monday my new mirror arrived! He reached out immediately and said he could get me right in. I was prepared to leave my vehicle with him for the bulk of the day, but he assured me he'd have it done in two hours. I had time to walk along the trail behind his shop then go eat lunch. When I returned, I sat in his waiting area for less than 10 minutes. To my surprise, Robert (I'm assuming this gentleman is the lead mechanic) was driving my car around to the front. It was ALREADY done!! And in under two hours at that. I give Carcanix my full recommendation to anyone looking for expert auto repairs from a trustworthy business. read more

Joel, the owner, is very professional, honest and straight forward. Joel is a stand-up person. Joel does the right thing for his customers! I needed a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) on a vehicle. Joel was familiar with the dealership where I was purchasing the vehicle. Joel told me that the dealership would deliver the vehicle to his shop. I appreciated this since my other option would have been to have a mobile PPI done at the dealership's lot. Mobile PPIs are not as thorough as PPI's done at a shop, where the vehicle can be put on a lift The dealership sent the wrong vehicle to Carcanix! Joel was not at the shop when the vehicle was delivered. The mechanic that took delivery of the vehicle only knew that a vehicle from the dealership was on its way and needed a PPI. The mechanic presumed that the vehicle delivered was the right vehicle. The mechanic performed the PPI. When Joel returned, Joel noticed that the vehicle received was not the one Joel expected. Joel called me and told me what happened. In short, Joel did the right thing and returned what I paid him for the PPI service. This of course is good business; others would have tried to find an excuse or come up with some reason not to return the funds or maybe only a portion. We had a good conversation about autos, auto industry and dealerships. It became obvious that Joel is a knowledgeable automobile enthusiast. Joel takes care of his customers' vehicles as if they were his own. I live in San Diego; if I lived within a reasonable driving distance of Carcanix, I know who would be taking care of my vehicles - Carcanix. Is Carcanix the lowest cost option, probably not; however, Carcanix is probably your BEST Value and Quality - Top Tier option. Joel, Thank You for your service & consideration. read more

This place maybe the best recommendation I have ever gotten from a friend. Brought my newly purchased Porsche here. The commitment to excellence, straight shooting and quality of work is all top tier. Joel & Carcanix overdelivered huge for me. Not to mention THESE ARE TRUE CAR GUYS. First time I have ever stayed at a shop for almost an hour after my car was done talking turbos. As long as I live in Nor Cal these guys have my business. Call them. read more

See all

Carcanix is hands down one of the most honest and helpful auto shops I've dealt with. I spoke with Joel about an issue with my car, and not only did he give me a fair estimate, but he also took the time to explain everything to me since I'm not very experienced with car repairs. The next day, when I called back after figuring out the actual problem, he straight up told me it was an easy fix and encouraged me to try doing it myself instead of paying the shop to do something simple. That kind of honesty is rare in this industry, and it really says a lot about the kind of business they run. If you're looking for a trustworthy mechanic, I highly recommend checking them out! read more

Joel and Carcanix really went out of their way to take care of us. He's a great guy and we really appreciate his straightforward attitude.

Joel and his team are super patient, upfront and honest. I've used them twice now and I will continue to use them! They helped me find the shirt and helped me get other issues taken care of. I really appreciate you guys! Talk about under promise and over deliver! This is the place! read more

Without a doubt the best repair experience I have ever had. My 17 yr old son and I bought a used Lexus, for his first car. And we subsequently did some mods to it. In addition to what we modded, er, um... botched, we then experienced other non related mechanical issues. Nightmare stuff, that other auto repair facilities would make you regret ever driving a car, due to the time and cost to diagnose alone! Enter Joel the owner at Carcanix. He was FIVE STAR AMAZING!! He communicated thoroughly, and patiently, even though we had endless painfully long questions and concerns. He professionally informed us of possible road bumps and costs before he did any work. He fully informed my son and I of things he suspected could be culprits and become problems, but held off on repair until we could run it for a while (those items are fine btw - he was right). So I left the Lexus there late at night. Joel called me the next morning and informed us of what he confirmed needed repair. So we held our breath and braced for a week of excuses, long repair time, and a nasty bill. Joel finished in a day and a half and charged less than what we figured! What he figured were the problems - he properly diagnosed and fixed, as I said all lower than I expected - and there were mods that WE rigged in there, that he repaired. And while he had to charge for that, the price was EXTREMELY fair, and he didn't do any unnecessary work or charging. PHEEEEEEEW!!!!! Big exhale!!!!!!!! The man and his crew know their stuff. He's a walking encyclopedia for Lexus, Toyota and probably most other cars too. My son, Joel and I, hung out afterwards and talked cars and stuff for over an hour. It was just a cool place, a cool vibe and an amazingly experienced, fair and pleasant owner and crew. Heck, I'm gonna invite the guys over for a BBQ and beers. Never met the guy before, not paid for the review, as I don't ever really write them, but this was different - PLEASANTLY DIFFERENT! read more

Joel and his team are fantastic! The knowledge, attention to detail, and costumer service are exactly what I look for in a mechanic shop. I've had him work in both my Chevy Traverse and my WRX STi and he was fantastic for both. read more

I had to wait 3 hours for an oil change. I had my car inspected about two months ago by Audi and there were only a few repairs. Anyway, when my oil change was done I was told that my front suspension arms were broken. I know they weren't like that before. I believe I was setup for a repair job from Carcanics. I will not be returning. Be careful who you trust with your vehicle. read more

Fantastic service and team at Carcanix! Although it can be a little expensive, it's definitely worth it! Brought my Lexus in for factory recommended maintenance, and not only was it completed well, but the team was able to fix other issues outside of the maintenance schedule. They were very communicative during the process & always asked for my consent for parts, installation that would cost extra. If something goes wrong, they're willing to go the extra mile to make sure you're satisfied. Also, the owner Joel is very friendly too! Highly recommend! read more

Excellent service - you get what you pay for so don't spare any expense. I've never had any second doubts about where to take my Audi for repairs. read more

Really honest shop, fixed all my car's issues and was given a rundown of all the expenses. Joel really helped me save some money. I would 100% come back. read more

Bought a car from Joel here at Carcanix. Very smooth transaction and accomodating demeanor. Had some work done (Headlight install) as a part of the deal and that work was performed very cleanly, without any issues. I just wish his shop was closer to my house so that I can take my car back here for all the maintenance/repairs. I would not hesitate to come here again. read more

these guys are the best. Joel Portnoy, explains everything well, prices are competitive, easy access to shop, I have a EuroVan, sometime hard to find a good honest competent mechanic. I have found this in Joel , his staff and his business ethics. this local business has earned the right be to your go to for all your auto concerns. read more

I've been taking my cars to Joel and team for years now. He has done pre-purchase inspections, helped me prep cars to sells and all the usual stuff in between - brakes, oil changes, A/C repair, check engine light work, etc. Joel is always up front about what needs to be done, what should be done soon, and what can be done in the future and what the risks are if you are working within a budget and want to spread out the repairs over time. Joel is also realistic about his schedule. If he is booked up for the week, he will tell you instead of letting you drop your car off and wondering why it isn't ready. Even though I no longer work in Rancho, I still take my cars to Carcanix because I trust them. read more

I reached out to Joel to get a Pre Purchase Inspection (PPI) on a Mercedes SUV I was considering purchasing from a nearby dealer. I don't live in the area and wanted someone to represent my interests in looking at the car for me. Despite the car not being ready when he first came by to get it, he didn't just give up, but adjusted his schedule and workload for the day to accommodate having to inspect the car later in the day. Joel found several undisclosed issues on the vehicle and explained them all to me very well. I ultimately passed on buying the vehicle, because of how the dealer reacted to the issues found and the extent of undisclosed issues. I think Joel's thorough inspection of the vehicle saved me from considerable hassle and money. If you are looking for a PPI, this is a great place to choose. read more

My truck broke down while on a road trip with my family. You can imagine how troublesome this situation could have been. Long story short, it wasn't troublesome at all cause Joel the owner was amazing. He went above and beyond getting me back on the road. He even drove my truck back to house in the Bay Area twice. Told you, long story. Can't express how appreciative I am to him. Thanks Joel read more

I have to update my review with heavy heart. About 2 months ago they fixed my clutch and saved me lot of money versus what the dealer would have charged. So yesterday I was experiencing issues with my car overheating.. So I thought carcanix would help me with this as well. I had this same issue with my previous car and a new radiator cost about $350. Carcanix came back with an estimate of almost $600 including a $110 diagnostic. I knew their estimate was crazy, so I picked up my car and paid the $110 for the diagnostic. I then took it to Danny's on Folsom at matherfield, where Danny took one look and confirmed I needed a new radiator, which was going to be $350. No diagnostic was needed. Today my car is running great and all is good.. read more

I have negligible oil-leak problem in my Mazda 3 and they diagnosed my car today. Joel told me that we can fix your car but you don't have to do that. He instead could have said that you have to do that but he did not. I really appreciate their honest and professional approach to their job! read more

I have been going to Carcanix for a few years now to service my 2010 prius. Joel and his mechanics have always be kind, courteous, and trustworthy. I haven't ever hesitated going for an estimate, service, or to recommend. In fact, I recommend that you visit the guys at Carcanix now! They will treat you right and follow all the health guidelines in place, a win win! read more

Joel the owner was wonderful to work with when I needed a pre purchase inspection (PPI) done on a car that I wanted to purchase hundreds of miles away that is supposed to be delivered to me so I wasn't going to be able to see it in person before purchasing. Needless to say I really appreciated his help and he was very accommodating as busy as he was so that I could get it in and out and not miss out on the sale. He was very thorough in going over the car and very detailed on the inspection report. I highly recommend anyone purchasing from out of state that they get a PPI done because there are some issues that are going on with the car that needed to be addressed and we wouldn't have known it if we didn't have it inspected first by a independant certified technician. read more

Great guys. Went in for some advice on my 97 Nissan hardbody and they were so straight with me. Joel told it like it is and knew that my repairs would be too expensive to be worth it. Didn't take advantage of me (who doesn't know much about cars) and gave me lots of advice and information. I don't think I've met a more honest mechanic. read more

I wish this car shop was the model for allllll car and mechanic shops. Joel is the best and I am always 1000% confident that he will get the job done correctly and do it well. His business is honest and fair. You can tell he cares about his customers and their cars, his crew included. If you are looking for an honest mechanic shop that knows cars (he is the car guru all knowing master) and is reliable Carcanix is the place for you. Worth every penny!!!! read more

By far the best mechanic service around the Sacramento area. Prices are very reasonable and service is second to none. Ask for Joel. He'll take great care of you read more

Carcanix is a great shop and I always take my car there rather than a dealership. I've taken my car in a few times now and so far my experiences have been positive. Joel is very knowledgeable about car issues and the shop was able to figure out and get the repairs done quickly with fair prices. read more

I have never felt compelled to write a Yelp review before but I cannot say enough good things about Joel and his team at Carcanix. Everybody needs to know what an awesome shop this is. I called about having a pre purchase inspection done on a used car in the area and was just completely blown away by the service I was provided at this shop, even from the very first phone call. I found the ad for the used car on Craigslist and Joel actually pulled up the ad while I was on the phone with him and was looking at it with me and making recommendations on what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for used cars. I brought a car to him that I thought was in pretty decent condition for a used car with a salvage title but they looked over the car with such a fine toothed comb and found many things that would have probably cost me a lot of money later on. Rob, the mechanic who conducted the PPI explained all the issues in a way that even the most car illiterate person would be able to understand. Joel is such a straight shooter and he and his team are truly committed to serving the best interest of anybody that walks through his doors. Cannot recommend enough. These guys are incredible! read more

Joel is awesome!! I would recommend everyone get their car fixed at carcanix. I was sideswiped & as I waited for the insurance people to get their shit together he reassured me everything was going to work out & made sure I was taken care of. I'm 8 months pregnant & it was the last thing I wanted to deal with & he made the whole experience super easy & not to mention in a very timely manner. Take all your friends & family members cars to Joel! read more

Very professional and thorough. Had my clutch replaced; they were fast and maintained great communication throughout the repair process. I will definitely return here for my future repair needs. read more

the owner of this store used to be friend. I trusted him but he end up betray us. he is mechanic and has dealer certificate but he sold my car to someone else without changing title of owner!! I'm having trouble because of him!! 2 years ago old car did not pass the smog after I paid him over 1000$ plus he broke car and he said ' u need to change engine to pass smog. 'so I gave up and got new used car from him. Then I sold old car to him since not working. new used car ( he highly recommended ) is also every month breakdown car until recent. end up to pay more than 3000$ to fix them all. then now I got 2 violation tickets from my old car. I asked him what's going on? he fixed that car and sold his friend without changing title of owner. when I sold it I asked him do I need to do anything to dmv? he said ' I will take care of it don't worry!' when I got first ticket I found out I am still owner of this car. Even release of liability was not done. he said he mailed to dmv. but dmv not revived. same as new used car I needed to go to dmv to take care everything. both register mail got lost?! I don't buy that story. anyway old car is still my name on it. his friend lives NY state. he drives with my register and keep getting tickets. surprisingly I had all this annoying situation because of him, but he never apologize to me!!!! What he did is remove friends list from FB and ignore text. read more

The guys at this shop will definitely take care of you. I feel safe going here, whereas other places I feel like you have to be careful of getting taken advantage of, especially if you are a woman. I recently moved across the country (in my car) and Joel helped me prepare for that. I got an oil change, transmission flush, and one other non-routine issue handled. I was informed of pricing ahead of time and was fine with it, and it was indeed what he said it would be once he was finished. I mentioned being unhappy about having to find another mechanic, as I have been taking my car to Joel for several years now. He said he would be happy to look in to some good places out here for me, which he did not have to do. Issues with my car were always explained to me in a understandable way, yet I have never felt pressured to make a certain decision like other mechanics have made me feel prior to taking my car to Carcanix. Joel will be straight up with you about your car. I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

Carcanix was recommended to me through my friend from work and I couldn't be happier with their work and service. I had an oil change, tire rotation and they replaced a couple broken parts in my wipers. Joel is upfront and breaks down how much everything is down to the parts and service while also being easy to talk to and friendly. He makes recommendations but never pressures you on what you should get and even gives you lower cost options. Highly recommend this mechanic for all of your car needs. read more

Bought my b8 audi a5 used from Highclass Autosale a month into driving the car had a oil leak I noticed on my drive way took it too Audi for a diagnostics to make sure I get an honest thorough inspection. Needed both valve cover gaskets and driver side upper timing cover done as I had active leaks coming from the mentioned parts. I knew audi would charge arm and leg prices so I wanted to take my car to a place that I knew who had experience audi/German mechanics who I can trust and count on. Called Joel at carcanix who is the owner of the place and man did he take care of me like he said. Very heavily focused on customer service. But I've been driving y car for about a week since I picked it up and notice no leaks anymore. Carcanix will now be my permanent home for my audi. Thanks yall! read more

Carcanix - Healthy - Auto Repair Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

Bottom line - if you're looking for an all around excellent, honest and efficient shop for your car repairs, go here. Seriously. I've been shopping around for quotes for my aging 2010 Mazda 6 since March 2020, when I originally spoke to Joel, who runs Carcanix. He was definitely my first choice despite getting over thirty quotes, but I just didn't have the money for repairs at that time. Fast forward six months to this Tuesday. I'm finally ready to pull the trigger and get my prized (for sentimental reasons) Mazda running once more. I needed A LOT of stuff done. Serpentine belt, spark plugs, synthetic oil change, new rotors, new brake pads, flushing brake and steering fluids, cabin and engine air filters (these are things I went in knowing I wanted, not services I was up sold on) and more. Joel got me in THE NEXT DAY, I thought I was going to be waiting weeks. From the moment I walked in, I was happy because masks are required, the lobby is chained off and I didn't have to worry about getting Covid on top of repairing my car. Joel went over my list of repairs with me in detail discussing everything I wanted, including going over repairs that may not even have to be done to try and save me some money. He worked with me on my strict budget, and was able to complete all of my repairs and more within said allotted budget. As an additional customer service cherry on top, he honored my quote from March, which was lower than a current quote would have been. Not only that, but I got my car in at 9:30 am and my car was ready to go by 5:30 pm despite my laundry list of repairs. I'm ashamed to say I didn't get the names of the fantastic mechanics that I presume performed most of the actual labor, but they were extremely kind and impressive as well. As you can see from my other reviews, I haven't made too many over the last decade, and none this thorough, but I feel that strongly about Carcanix. For as long as I'm living in the greater Sacramento area, I will not take my business anywhere else. read more

Seriously amazing customer service. They were friendly and would email, text or call to make sure I knew what was going on. I took my car in for a tune up, alignment and new clutch. Through the whole process Joel would call and confirm the work needed to be done and I authorized the service before they proceeded. That way no misunderstanding could possibly happen. I appreciate that. Even at 149000 miles my Subaru now drives great. The alignment is perfect. Plus my clutch works like the day I bought it. I actually had to get use to it again. Great job guys. read more

Very helpful and knowledgeable. I called last minute to have brakes done and they accommodated me even though I was running late. Asked if I knew differences in pad options and filled me in with positive and negatives for each option. I sat in waiting room and was able to ask some other questions with non mechanic talk. Very helpful and I think I've found a new mechanic. read more

Extremely satisfied with the service I received today. Joel and his crew are very knowledgeable about cars and provided excellent service. I had an oil change completed last minute along with some other small repairs to get ready for my road trip and appreciated the additional feedback that was given regarding Honda maintenance. Joel takes pride in the work he does and how he treats his customers. I look forward to coming back for future oil changes! read more

This place was fast, efficient, and super friendly! They did the breaks on my car and were able to get me in same day and were able to help make it as affordable as possible for me. The owner was super friendly and honestly seemed to care about his customers and was very down to earth. And in a nice change of pace, I didn't feel like I was talked down to etc. Just because I was a woman in an auto shop. I would definitely recommend this place and plan to come back again! read more

Joel is a lifesaver. He went out of his way to make time for me and my car issues before I went back to school. He was very straight up with me and laid out all the options for my car problems, and still managed to give me a great deal. He also gave me great advice for my future car selling/buying process. Joel is undoubtedly the most honest, genuine, and helpful guy and mechanic. I will forever recommend him to everyone in the Sacramento area! Thank you! read more

I took in a vehicle that I was considering buying for a pre purchase inspection. I was very happy with the customer service here. I decided to go ahead and purchase the vehicle after the inspection came back with no issues and I plan on taking it back to Carcanix for services in the future. Glad to have found a great local mechanic. Would definitely recommend Carcanix. read more

We moved to the area and was in need of a good/honest mechanic. Joel came highly recommended and I decided to try him out. He took the time to speak with me about my car issues and my options. He wasn't pushy at all trying to sell me work I didn't need done and was flexible in working with my schedule to bring the car in. Carcanix is now my go to mechanic - thanks Joel and team! read more