My car was getting old and had a plethora of issues to get fixed before I could safely travel out of town. I took it to Frank and he helped me get everything fixed very quickly and for an extremely reasonable price! When I got the car back, the difference in how well the car drove was like day and night! Definitely the best mechanic in the area. read more

Frank is a fair and honest repair meister. He has serviced several vehicles for me over the years, and I recommend him and his team highly.

Frank is wonderful. I've been going to him for years for my old VW Passat with no issues. When I got a Mercedes, I made the mistake of going to the Mercedes dealership who sold me the car and who charged me $500+ to just diagnose a problem, and then quoted me $5000+ to fix some of the issues they identified (but not all). Frank was able to fix all of the problems for $3500+ less, and explained all the work for me to make sure I understood everything being done and why. Frank is the best, and I will never make the mistake again of not going straight to him when an issue arises! read more

Frank's the best period! If you have any auto care needs or repairs and need someone you can really trust and take the time understand the best solutions to your car needs, Frank's team is the answer! I had a MX-5 that sat in the garage for 4 years with a completely worn out clutch. I didn't know what to do with the care because I wanted someone I can trust to really take care of the repairs and spot anything else that may be needed to ensure the car is safe to drive after sitting for so long. Well, I was extremely pleased with Frank's team. He called me and kept me updated on every step of the way. Something that is rare these days is Frank called me when he said he would call me to give me an update. Many people these days say they will call but forget for one excuse or another but not Frank. He was also conscience of his customers' budget and made the best recommendations and solutions that served the customer's benefit. He is very approachable so I was not intimidated to ask him very basic auto repair questions and concerns. That's something I really appreciate. He saved me money and his team is really the best. I'll be going to Franks' with all my future auto care needs. It's hard to find the gems and Frank's Engineering Clinic is one of the rare gems. A team you can trust and be assured your car is in the best hands. read more

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Frank and his team are incredibly skilled, reasonable, honest and have excellent customer service. Best mechanic! read more

Frank's Engineering Clinic - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

Frank's is the best! I live a block away, and they've loaned me a jump starter on two occasions where I've stupidly left my lights on overnight. My 2011 Ford Fiesta had been making a grinding noise, and after it got really bad and I could no longer pretend the problem didn't exist (I'm obviously a super-responsible human being), I took it to get repaired at a different shop near work. My husband told me right off the bat that I should've gone to Frank's, but I wanted the convenience of being able to drop off on my way to work in East Oakland and pick up on the way home. Well, that place charged me $145 to replace a belt, and it didn't fix the problem in the slightest. I thought about bringing it back and demanding they find and repair the ACTUAL issue, but at that point, I just wanted the damn thing fixed accordingly. Frank not only drove around the block with me so he could hear what was going on with me in the car, he dropped me off at BART! Super nice of him. Turned out it wasn't a belt or the brakes, it was a rusted and therefore defective wheel bearing. Unlike the other place, he drove it around after the repair to ensure the car was in good shape. He charged me a good price for the repair, and I had my car back the next day! And man, does it sound and feel "like buttah" now. Moral of the story, if you're thinking of bringing your car anywhere else....don't! read more

I was unable to remove my key from the car ignition. One mechanic and two locksmiths were unable to do so as well and told me that it could cost several hundred dollars to remove the key. One locksmith referred me to Frank's. Frank removed the key in about two minutes and did not charge me anything. Frank seems quite sincere and honest and has very reasonable prices. I'm going to go to him when I need mechanic work on my car read more

Frank is so kind! He didn't actually do any work for me because my husband and I do our repairs at home, but he helped us diagnose a tough issue and bought a part on our behalf that we couldn't get as members of the "public" without affiliation to a shop. He's direct, honest, and generous. Give him your business if you cannot wrench it yourself. read more

I have been taking my cars for the past 25 yrs. from my 66 mustang. (rebored the 289 to 302 so the engine and vin matched.) My 2000 LS 430. now just took my Ls 400. witch I took to another mechanic due to distance. witch i regret and end up doing the job all over with frank. at 30% lower cost with original lexus part. ENGINEERING is not just a MECHANIC. that's why it's called engineering. read more

Frank's Engineering Clinic - that was my 66 mustang - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

Had a great first experience here. After my car battery died, I dealt with two tow people who tried to get me to let them change my batter for over $300. One of them even commented that I had the wrong battery. I know nothing about cars but didn't want to rush before I could google some things. I ended up taking my car here where they initially ran tests to see if it was my battery or my starter. Concluding it was the battery, they changed it for me and I payed $250 which is perfectly reasonable for this type of job. They were quick, honest and friendly, everything you want from an auto shop. I asked about the battery and turns out, I had the correct battery all along, but it had reached it's time. I will be taking my car here from now on. read more

I brought in my '98 dodge about a week ago because it's been making this really weird jerk/sputter thing when in idle. I just happened across Franks on a dog walk and stopped in to see if they could take a look under the hood (heh) any time soon. Michael listened intently and promptly asked to bring it in any time. I did bring it in and mentioned that the car may need a tune up, as it had been a while, but that I was not certain what it needed to stop that crazy idling jerking thing. They would call before doing anything with an estimate. They did in fact call a few hours later with the diagnosis, and the price. a lot. i can't even type how much, that's how much. So, fine I say, if that's what it needs done for it to run smoothly. I pick it up later that same day. They did the work as said and it cost the price as said and they also made recommendations for things that are in need of repair in the future. They very clearly explained everything and the estimates of the future repairs. But, when I got into the car and started it up, it was still doing the crazy jerking thing! The car runs great when I'm driving, but sitting at a light is intense... Now, the whole reason I brought the car in was to have that jerky thing fixed and the damned thing is still doing it... I feel that we didn't quite connect on the problem I was having with the car. -----UPDATE----- The check engine light came on a week later and the sputtering thing got worse. I took it back to them and explained. They said they would recheck it and cover the cost. (gee. how nice) I got a call three days later from them explaining that the part they needed was on back order and no one in the area has one. Oh - and that they had already taken apart my car rendering it undrivable. good one. So two weeks later it's ready. I picked it up and they explained that there's still a sensor that needs to be replaced but it wasn't an urgent repair. They also said not to go on any long trips. I told them I was heading to San Jo in a day, would that be fine? "Just don't go to New York, ok?" they said. "No problem." So i'm driving to San jo when the car gives a huge jerk and the check engine light comes back on. Dammit. I pull over (barely) before the engine quits. The CHP checked on me while I called AAA for a tow. This is not how I planned on spending my Saturday. The tow truck guy mentions that all of the radiator fluid has leaked out of my car. Sweet. WTF????!!! I just had my car checked, worked on, rechecked, and worked on again over the course of 3 weeks. How the fuck does this happen now? So obviously Frank's did not do a good job on my car or "look after me" because I wound up stranded on the side of 880 outside of Fremont. I will not be going back here again. ---UPDATE UPDATE---- i had to scrap car for $100 and buy a new car. thanks, again, for not properly fixing my car. read more

I've been going to Frank's since 2003, and love them. Frank and his dad are really easy to talk to, and, because I have a very involved boyfriend, father and boyfriend's father, any car issues have to be explained at least 4 times. They are always thorough and honest. The one time I ever felt uneasy was when they quoted me $150 to fix my driver's side lock that was jammed w/ plastic from a disposable key. I sold the Civic to a friend, and she got the lock taken care of for $10 at a locksmith in Berkeley. Other than that, the customer service is excellent. They even hooked my friend up with a free repair on the Civic since I had been such an *ahem* frequent customer. Thank god I have a new car. read more

I have a 2002 Toyota Tacoma in pretty good shape, but the AC had stopped working several months ago. Usually not an issue in the Bay Area, but I was taking a road trip with mom in July, and it was hot. So I wanted to see what was needed to get it fixed. I went to Frank's based primarily on Yelp reviews. The employees were super friendly and attentive- that wasn't the issue. In addressing the AC, they first tried replacing hoses and refilling the Freon. The service took longer than the 4 hour window they gave me (I waited an extra 2 hours to get the truck back), but that's not the end of the world either. While working on the AC, they discovered that my original radiator needed replacing and showed me the damage. Not an expert, but it made sense to me. Replacement would run me about $500, in addition to $180 for the AC. Not cheap, but I understand that cars need regular maintenance and budget for it, so I was fine with this. The AC was effective for a couple of days, then stopped working. When I called, Frank said to bring it in and he'd take care of it immediately. I brought it in, he looked at it for less than 2 minutes, and told me I needed a new air compressor, a $400 install. Not worth it as far as I was concerned, but further, I wouldn't have paid for the original AC work if I'd known the compressor needed replacement. Maybe they were trying to do the simplest thing first and hope it worked, but based on how quickly they diagnosed the compressor issue, I'm skeptical. I wasn't angry at the time, just bummed I'd spent the money, and was feeling discouraged about returning to Frank's. On my way out, Frank pointed out a rattling that he said was coming from my catalytic converter, said it would need to be replaced, and asked if I wanted to schedule the service. I declined. But kept it in mind. I've got smog coming up in a couple of months, and decided to take it to another shop (great review for them coming next). The other shop hoisted the car up and showed me that the rattling was a loose clamp, the catalytic converter was fine, and didn't need replacement. I don't know for certain that Frank's was being purposely dishonest to get more business, but it did appear that way, and I do know for certain that I'll never go back. read more

I always and only come into Frank's auto shop to get my car checked up and gotten an estimate for my recent (first) accident. I got rear ended and I knew Frank's would be very informative and helpful. The people that work here are very nice, they will not trick you for your money. The prices here are up to par in consideration of the awesome job and service they provide. They will work with you to make sure you are satisfy with the product and service. Frank have gained my commitment and business here. The people here are honest and have great customer service; they will try to get to know you and not make you feel like "you're just another customer." I will definitely recommend this place to my friends and family. read more

Best car repairs around! Frank is a great guy who took over the biz from his dad, who is still involved. They are always busy (sign of a good mechanic) but somehow manage to have the time to be gracious, helpful and appreciative of your business. Someone whined that Frank's didn't do justice to her souped up hot rod, so if you have real special needs ( car, or personal) just ask him about it. I have always had great service and excellent work done on my '84 Honda. I found the shop when I lived up the street and trust him completely. Tell him I sent ya!! PS- they will service RV's as well, as long as they fit in auto repair bay ! read more

So after seeing the glowing reviews for Frank's on Yelp, I decided to check them out when the check engine light went on on my corolla. They diagnosed the problem and charged me $550 to change the evaporation canister. I cringed at the price, but I figured it had to be done. I got my car back on Monday. Today is Thursday. I don't drive my car much so it has been driven about 10 miles since then. The check engine light just went back on! WTF!?!?! SO, I am really not impressed right now. This shouldn't be that difficult. really kind of pissed that I just spent a lot of money to NOT fix my car. I will be calling them in the morning. Hopefully they make things right. However, they screwed up pretty big in my book. ********UPDATE****************** So I called Frank's and told them that the problem was not fixed. They had me bring my car in immediately and they took 3 days to fix the problem. It appears that the part that they ordered from Toyota was defective and they had to replace it. The 3 days was them waiting for the replacement part. The car has been driven for quite a few miles now and it seems to be working great now. They were really good about communicating too. I will bring my car back here and update my experience as appropriate. They still only get 3 stars because it wasn't fixed the first time, but that could change with subsequent experiences. read more

Frank is really great! He is always really friendly and helpful! I got to him with anything car related! I got into a little fender bender and I called bunch of different places for quotes and Frank beat all of the places around Berkeley by a couple hundred bucks. I definitely feel that he is trust worthy and gives advice that he probably would follow himself. My check engine light went on for some gas balancing thing in my car and he told me that I probably wouldn't have to worry about it unless my light went on again. When he checked for the engine light, he also gave me a list of parts in my car that are getting old that I should watch out for. Doesn't try to make you fix everything when you don't really have to. He really likes students and he has a picture with Chancellor Birgeneau! How cool! Once, he gave me and my friend a bag of baked goodies when I waited for my car. Take Home Message: Ask for a student discount! read more

Frank is great. When we got our RV, he did a full major service, including getting a machine shop to fix our exhaust manifold for I don't remember, but way super cheap. A lot of mechanics don't want to deal with RVs because they don't fit on the lift or they'd just rather not deal with RV weirdness. Frank and his crew worked on it on the ground and brought it into the yard every night, treating it with loving care. A second generation family business with integrity and a level of service that's hard to find any more. I'd *really* rather not bring the RV or our honda anywhere else. read more

Frank is a great person, mechanic. We drove our car around with him and he could tell immediately what was wrong. After spending thousands on other mechanics and weeks without our car. Frank was able to identify the issue and told us about a recall within minutes. The dealership is currently doing the recall repairs. But, I will forever be grateful to Frank for knowing the issue and referring us. Thank you Frank!!! read more

Frank's engineering clinic is professional, fast, and friendly. My old Honda had electrical problems and they were able to diagnose the issue and fix it for a reasonable cost within a couple days. They kept me informed throughout the process in terms of next steps, cost, and progress, and they showed me the burnt out sections of my electrical system once the repair was complete. I would highly recommend this shop. read more

I have been taking my '97 Acura to Frank's for over 4 years now and they've taken great care of it. They take the time to explain everything they need to do, and seem very thorough. My husband started taking his Mini there too, and he's been happy with their service. Bonus- I do home visits to clients for work, and my car's paint job recently got to the point that I was embarrassed to park near clients' houses for fear they would see my shameful ride. Frank sent me to his relative's shop, which repainted the whole thing for half the price another shop quoted me. My car looks beautiful and runs as well as it did when I got it! I never thought it would last this long, and am thankful to have Frank's nearby. read more

Frank is great. My boss has been going to him for 20+ years and recommended him to me. I went once a few years ago to get my tensioner (?) belt changed. I dropped off my car in the morning and Winston drove me my office in downtown Berkeley. When my car was ready, they picked me up at the end of the day and drove me to get my car! Even though Frank has only worked on my little gold Saturn once (like 2 years ago), I took it by last week and he instantly remembered my car and remembered exactly what the problem was last time. unfortunately, Frank's is always packed so I was supposed to come back the next day but ended up being too busy. read more

I love this place. They are not cheap, but the work is fast and I have only had one issue out of the numerous times I have had Frank and his team work on my car. He tried the simple cheapest things to fix my overheating problem, and ended up overheating again after a 14 hour drive to New Mexico! Turns out I needed a new radiator, but his was not the only shop that missed this problem. I'd give them a 4.5 if I could... but their service is pretty darn good. Remember, usually you get what you pay for! read more

I broke down two blocks away from the shop, they quickly sent a mechanic over to diagnose the car, after much back and forth trying to fix it on the street to no avail, they sent 3 more guys over to push the car to the shop, then the owner gave me a ride home himself, with my dog and groceries in tow. The best experience I've had breaking down ever! read more

Frank's Engineering Clinic - I broke down two blocks away from the shop, they quickly sent 4 guys over to push the car to the shop. Saving me money on a tow. - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love my experience with Frank every time I make a call. I am a needy customer. I am resurrecting a 77 Plymouth Voyager that has been sitting for 12 years. I live in Oakland and park it near his clinic so that we can continue to pan out these kinks before I hit the road with this vehicle. I have to move it frequently as I am working on the resurrection to avoid towing. It's worth it, though! I started having carburetor issues, and Frank showed me how to work and operate my vehicle with attention to detail as I locate the correct part. I was within a mile, and his mechanic came to find me. I feel so much peace when I call Frank. I will always be grateful I found him. read more

After the great job Frank and the crew did in diagnosing and repairing my electrical, I want to agree with the other good reviews. I lost my longtime mechanic to retirement and needed a new one. My vehicle refused to start even after I'd done the easy tests. It became obvious very quickly that Frank is reliable,sharp, punctual, ,very reasonable and experienced. He did a great job of communicating what I needed to know concerning the repair. As I'm a retired full-service plumber, I'm well aware of what entails quality repair jobs. That's what I received...I look forward to getting more fixed here in the future. And don't be surprised when Frank does something to be really nice for you, because he's a good guy in the community! read more

Finally! I have found my "go-to" car repair place in Berkeley! I can't say enough good things about Frank and the work his team does there. I had two major oil leaks repaired at the same time, ones of such difficulty that two other garages locally wouldn't even touch it. After it was fixed, a couple of the "idiot" lights came on. So, I called Frank up and he said to bring it down in 30 minutes for them to take a look at it. Within an hour, they had inspected the vehicle and told me exactly why the lights came on, and that the engine needed to recalibrate after having oil leaks for such a long time. (My engine had probably been leaking without my knowledge for over a year!) Oh, and this second visit cost me nothing, by the way. Two weeks later, I had an unrelated problem with the engine overheating, and turns out it was a minor issue and required a small heater hose replacement, which they also did for nothing! Granted, in my first visit I spent a pretty big chuck of money because of the difficulty in fixing the oil leaks. But in the car repair world, this kind of return service is simply unheard of! Bottom line: If you want a place that REALLY knows their stuff, respects the customer, and has great customer service, go to Frank's! You will NOT regret it! read more

the most lair owner i have ever seen. Service was bad, not friendly and said I needed to make an appointment to get brake works. The service was all together horrible. read more

I can't say enough good things about Frank's auto repair! We were stuck in a Target parking lot, 350 miles from home with a hydraulic hose problem (no steering, no brakes) in our pickup, pulling a cargo trailer. After an hour and a half on the phone with various repair services who couldn't accommodate us (closed, appointment next week, ...) we found Frank. His personal attention to our problem was remarkable! He found room for our cargo trailer, his brother drove us to where we stayed that night, His mechanic Dave had the repair done by the next morning and we were invited to share an excellent Chinese lunch with them. The price was reasonable as well. Quality repair, with superb service! read more

Frank's Engineering Clinic - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have been very pleased bringing my car (a 2012 Ford Focus with 87,000 miles) ) over the years for reliable, professional honest work. But this week something extraordinary happened. My engine light came on and drove into Frank's who diagnosed the problem quickly -- and depressingly quoted me a price of $3,000 (!) to fix the transmission. Depressingly, I agreed to the work. But 30 minutes later, Frank called back. He had done some research and discovered that this 6 year-old-car might still be under warranty and suggested I take it to the dealer. It did. And voila -- the Ford Dealer in Richmond fixed it. For free. Frank could have easily done the work, earned the $3000 and I would have been none the wise; instead, he was an honest man, saved me thousands of dollars, and made sure I was a customer for life. Well done - nice to work with someone with so much integrity. read more

I've took my car there twice this year the fist time I have bought 4 brand new tires and 4 months later they the two front tires have gone bad due to camber wear I thought okay maybe some bad luck so I go to the same place and got a wheel alignment and two bran new tires and what do you know 2 months later the same dam problem these guys at this location really don't know how to make your problem go away they just take your money and do a crappy read more

Frank is the man! He is honest, fair, and beyond kind. I've been going to Frank with my cars for about 7 years. He's worked on my Jeep and MDX and done a great job everything. I would recommend him to family and friends and of course the help community. Many of my family now go to him as well. Frank and team does great work! read more

I went to Franks with a problem that could have cost me my whole vacation I had planned , because of a wire that became disconnected in my air conditioner . I can't handle heat and was headed up to Sonoma for 3 days. I am so grateful for their service and experience. Allana Beauchamp FRANKS AUTOMOTIVE IS THE BEST ANYWHERE!! Great service , great people read more

Frank is the best mechanic I have found in the East Bay. He will always find what is wrong, and find a way to fix it within your budget. You can't go wrong with Frank and his team. read more

I called Frank earlier in the day to ask if I come come by to get an audit on how much it would cost to get a scratch removed from my car. When I came later that day Frank was extremely kind and welcoming. He simply buffed out the scratch and it was done and over with in just a few minutes. I highly recommend Franks Auto Services for anyone wanting quick, affordable, and friendly service! read more

Frank is the absolute best! he will take amazing care of you and your car and do his best to give you the best price! he went above and beyond to help me get to Bart and clean out my car when I was in a pinch. his service was timely and reliable. called me when he said he would and my car was ready in less than two days when it was in pretty bad shape! he is definitely my go to mechanic I would recommend him to anyone (my car is at 97 Mercury sable) read more

Frank was my saving grace today, First off its pouring raining and I run out of gas across the street from the Shells gas station. I walked over and asked to borrow a gas can and he let me borrow it with no hesitation. He supplied me with gloves a funnel and a towel. I had to walk 2 blocks up because the shells was closed and got gas. When I came back , car still wouldn't start I left the hazards on because I wasn't parked correctly. I walked back to Frank and returned the can but now I needed a jump. He told me give him a minute and he would get someone to help, the guys were on lunch. A few minutes passed and he comes back and says I am going to help you myself. He drove me to my car and gave me a jump and I was on my way. I really appreciated him taking the time out to help me because he didn't have to. I have never been a customer but for him to have so much compassion to help me says a lot for a business man. Thank you so much Frank those small kind gesture lightened my load when it mattered the most to me read more

Frank and his business are the best. We bought a lemon that started having problems a month after buying it from a dealer. Frank's clinic found the issues immediately and helped us by taking photos of the damage, and writing up a detailed report of the car's issues. He wouldn't let us pay for any of it. We ended up negotiating for a much better car from the dealership, and have been taking it to Frank ever since. After having been swindled, it's nice to have a mechanic we can really trust. His work is always top-notch and cheaper than anywhere else. read more

Do NOT have this place look over a car you are about to buy if they are friends with the seller. I did, and I sorely regret it. Frank's convinced me to buy a car I normally would not buy, charged me a fortune and left me with expensive unfinished repairs. I feel like a sucker. A private party advertised a 1992 Honda Accord for $1,700. The person recommended Frank, his friend and mechanic, for the inspection after I test drove the car. I was uncertain about the car because none of the four windows worked. I should have turned it down immediately. Frank said the car had a normal oil leak and he could cheaply fix all of the windows, so it was ok to buy it. Two of the windows only needed to be *lubricated.* Frank emphasized the seller is a wonderful friend of his, and I was getting a great deal. After paying $100 for parts and $600 for Frank's estimates and repairs, two of the windows stopped working within a week. Frank then said none of the windows were covered by warranty, and I actually needed to install a regulator for one of the windows he had previously said he could *lubricate.* I really did not look over this car closely enough. Within one week, I had to also scrounge through junk yards to replace parts like the front turn signal light, rear view mirror, dome light, air conditioning knob, clock and even the rod to hold up the hood! I will also be spending hundreds to fix the windows Frank had worked on. And Frank mentioned I would need to replace the bad muffler later. So I really paid close to $3,000 for this car. If someone is selling you a car, and says only Frank can look at it, do NOT do it. RUN! Update 8/29/13 Mechanics that see my car emphasize I should have never bought it. It was previously in an accident, so the hood doesn't even properly shut! Furthermore, it has had a horrible oil leak for years. Frank and his friend charged me thousands for a beat up lemon! read more

Frank and his crew are everything I want in a great mechanic! They are extremely thorough and Frank takes the time to explain and educate you about anything they find while they are working, without any pressure to do extra work on the car. They do high-quality work at reasonable prices with terrific customer service. As long as we live anywhere in the Bay Area, Frank's our guy! read more