Gary&#x27;s Auto Service

(30 reviews)

Called and got a quote that was VERY reasonable, called a lot more shops that only wanted to upsell…read moreme a "built" transmission because of what's been done to my truck. Sparks told me "look, it's been strong for the last 130k miles, all you need is a stock rebuild to get you another (at least) 120k miles" I don't tow anything with it, it has an intake and exhaust, no power adders leveled in 35's. It's not a monster truck doing heavy hauling. It's been about 2 months so far and it rejuvenated my love for the truck...now if I can afford the fuel bill to drive it But it came with a 3 year 36k mile warranty and they said if anything happens just bring it in and they'll take care of it. Oh, almost forgot. I had some upgraded parts and new parts to install and they did that for no extra charge when they put it back together .

Had to buy a used tranny from pick a part. When removed from the vehicle the mechanic I hired at…read morethe junkyard parking lot pulled the transmission for $150 (cheap). Cali, did a decent job but did not know the trans had a drain plug installed. Smashed my overdrive. John and his crew put me on the road and i'm still running strong today 5 years later. Professional& prompt, Worth the extra dollar for quality work. When it comes to transmissions don't 2nd guess, call sparkeys!! Thanks John.,

Certified Transmission Santee

(68 reviews)

My 2012 Acura TSX auto transmission was having some slipping issues between 4th and 5th gear. They…read moreinspected and evaluated and gave me a good price and warranty. Great customer service. Keeping me up to date on any issues or delays.

First time customer with these guys...I was kinda skeptical on these kind of places BUT after…read moredealing with Dennis through emails and the phone it gave me great trust in their product and service...Dennis was super responsive with all my questions that I asked him etc....The staff was awesome as well. ,,,Overall the whole experience went smooth...If I ever need another Transmission I will come back,

Import Auto Service

(229 reviews)

I own a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie. I liked the looks of the TRX steering wheel, so I purchased…read moreone and had Import Auto Services install it for me. They were very professional and did the job pretty quick. Tim, the owner took care of me immediately when I went in for my appointment. Value? I definitely cannot complain. There were other shops that wanted to charge me double and even triple for what Import Auto Services did for me. One company I wouldn't recommend going to unless you have lots a money or only own a Mercedes or BMW is "Minsky Mercedes." When I asked why they charge so much more, there answer was quote, "Our name suggests we specialize in BMW and Mercedes, we can work on other makes but it would be the Euro pricing." Unquote. It is funny, Import Auto Service specializes in Euro vehicles as well but they did not price gouge me! Thank you very much Tim & Cindy. You guys are great!

Took my Mercedes in to be serviced. They were quick and fair priced. Even had a desk to work at…read more It's a family owned business. Dogs are running around the shop. I would recommend.

Advanced Automatic Transmissions

4.1

(36 reviews)

So I have been trying to find a good honest mechanic, one that wouldn't gain my trust and the stab…read moreme in the back, these guys remind me of my own personal family, honest and up front, if there isn't an issue they don't try and sell you an issue, they do what needs to be done and will give recommendations. Personally had them service my truck and add a deeper transmission pan because when I tow my temps get hot. They not only installed the part and serviced my transmission , they kept it at the same price they quoted me, not like some of these other shops that give you a quote and then it changes after service is completed. Highly recommend would definitely come back.

I took in my 1999 Chevy C1500 with a first to second shifting issue. they did a complete diagnosis…read moreof everything externally that it might be, well everything was good so they threw it on the bench to dive in internally. I was shown the oil and the crappy stuff that was in the oil which happened to be clutch material. So we decided to rebuild it. After that Joseph test drove it and it still had the issue, so they put it on the bench again and took it apart and found that the valve body wasn't working with the old housing so I guess that mine to be that one in a hundred housings the one so we decided to go ahead and get one off the shelf from either performance products Jegs or Summit so that's what we did and they put that in and I guess the one they put in had been put on Dyno for which is really a plus and has a three-year one million mile warranty, so I was jazzed about that! The transmission is awesome!!! Thanks to Ian, Joseph , and the rest of the crew at Advance Transmissions!! You guys ROCK!!!!

Total Care Transmissions & Classic Restoration

4.9

(64 reviews)

I brought my vehicle into Total Care Transmissions thinking I had a failing alternator. We've been…read morecoming to Julio and his family for a few years now for our everyday cars and once to rebuild our family's classic car. He did a quick preliminary diagnosis and gave me a fair quote for the alternator parts and labor. A few hours later, instead of just doing the expensive repair, he called me and explained that the alternator was actually fine -- the real problem was a wire that was shorting out and causing the symptoms. The repair ended up costing significantly less than expected because they were honest enough to fix the actual issue instead of replacing parts I didn't need. I also had them change the fluids and filters while it was there. He said it looked like my spark plugs needed changing as well. Everything was completed quickly and professionally. It's hard to find shops that are this honest and transparent these days. Highly recommend Total Care Transmissions for their integrity, communication, and quality work.

Like other yelpers I had a terrific experience for the critical service of getting our 2009 Honda's…read moretransmission fluid changed. I've learned this service is not offered by many general auto shop's ( like Firestone where we go normally for routine repairs). I learned it's recommended every 40-50K miles. .....and we were really overdue. JULIO got me in/ out in less than an hour. He's really professional, efficient, knowledgeable and GOOD PEOPLE!!! Now I have to get our other Honda in ASAP Look no further than this great business for specialty tranny works !

Sams Quality Auto Care

4.9

(92 reviews)

They were the 1st company to reply on my project on yelp and by the 1st hour. With a flat rate and…read moreto the point. Others took days, or asked me to show up before coming with a price. And also their prices were a lot cheaper than others. I'm the kind of person who takes service seriously so I made sure to do my research around 5-7 of them and even their reviews. Although location they were the furthest out of mine, El Cajon , I went for it for their dedication, rates and even they check on me again days after while I was waiting to make a final decision. When I showed up to the place I got a bit nervous cause their spot seemed like a flee market of a group of mechanics all together and their own expertise areas, but also kinda amazing you can find all of there at the same spot. But they were really nice, honest and direct with what they could do and quick too. The lady in charge of the appointment and admon was amazing., explained the procedures, the tinning and I felt secure and that I could trust these hard working-honest people. Usually I wouldn't even write down a review but thought I'd make it easier for the next person would is in the same spot I was before making my mind. And also credit to those to deserve. It.

Brought in an 09 corvette and had them install the complete C&S corvette front engine kit. While…read morethey were in there they also checked and did a repair on my power steering line and checked any oil leaks. It was very reasonable pricing for the work. Im about 6 months out already and the car is perfect.

Karoomi's Auto Center

(87 reviews)

Adam and his team are very knowledgeable and friendly. Adam is honest about what needs to be done…read moreand is very reasonably priced. We have been taking our cars to Adam for 10+ years and will continue to bring our cars to him for any service. I always recommend him to all my friends and family!!! He treats return customers like family!!!

Awesome service. Was able to see me quickly, quite was more than reasonable, and service was…read morecompleted in a timely manner.

SD Transmissions

(44 reviews)

Just got back home from SD Transmission in El Cajon. It was time for a routine transmission…read moreservice. They did a great job. They treat you like family and fair prices. They rebuilt my transmission several years ago and is still going strong! I highly recommend them for any driveline needs. Thank you Richard and Vanessa and your entire crew!

Went to get my transmission drained and filled and they are so nice and professional. Didn't take…read morelong at all.

Volker's Auto Repair

(80 reviews)

I did not find Jay to be honest. My check engine light was on so I called and scheduled an…read moreappointment. They called me after a day with the car and said the oil was low. They changed the oil, charged me $200 and told me the problem was fixed. Two days later the check engine light came on. When I called they hung up on me. They RIPPED ME OFF!

A +1 shop. Had a problem with the headlights on my car…read more Worked with Jay (owner) on scheduling for the repair. Drop off the car and shortly after, he called me and said that the car is ready for pickup. Low cost repair and they work great. I will always take my car back to them for repairs.

AJ Wheel Repair-

(438 reviews)

Arturo did such an amazing job on our Tesla performance wheels repair. His pricing is really fair…read morefor the quality of job he does on the repair. Looks like nothing ever happened to our rim now! Thank goodness!

I'm just giving my expectations because I have high ones and they were unfortunately not met. I…read moregot minor curb rash on my wheels and had Arturo repair it. I will give concessions and say that he was a pleasant guy and really did try his best. Responsiveness is also a plus and mobile service also good. Arturo explained to me with this type of damage and the wheels that it was the best he can do. I Understand. I had some complex curves I understand, but the end results drew more attention to the area because of the rounded blending and spray paint to the area. Prior to fix the damage was almost hidden by the wheel lines. I've seen the companies work on other cars, which look amazing, which is why I decided to go with this company. I keep wondering if I should have just gone with a fix it kit for this. I'm sad to say for me this it wasn't a home run. Maybe AJ would have had another outcome. I cannot say. But paying $200 for 30 minute repair you don't expect perfection but results that are consistent with cost. I cannot confidently recommend but I am open to being proven incorrect.

Team Power Tires

(232 reviews)

Ruben & his partner are the best in the game! There beyond…read moreexperienced and aren't trying to scam you they do amazing business and get you back rolling on the road in no time! Thank you for the amazing service for years compas

I've been coming to this tire shop for a while now (about 4 visits so far), and they've been…read moreconsistently solid every single time. It's honestly hard to find a place that's this reliable. The moment you walk in, you're greeted with a smile and real professionalism--not the fake kind, but people who actually care about helping you out. Huge shoutout to Kenneth, Ruben, and Alex. Those guys seriously know what they're doing. They work fast, but they don't cut corners, which I really appreciate. Every time I've come in, they've taken care of me quickly and made sure everything was done right. You can tell they take pride in their work, and that kind of service stands out. Fair, efficient, and just overall good people. If you need anything tire-related, this is definitely the spot. I wouldn't keep coming back if it wasn't worth it.

One Stop Tire

(31 reviews)

Excellent service and value! I've been coming here for years. I am never disappointed in the…read moreservice , professioalism, and accuracy.

So my old tire finally cracked and I came home from a long weekend to a leaking tire that my…read morehusband assured me couldn't be repaired. Like I said, I'd just come back from a long weekend and didn't have a lot of extra money to throw at new tires so we decided used was the way to go. Thanks to Yelp, I found and called One Stop Tire. I have sort of special tires so I was pleased when she told me they had them available and for half the price of new. I arrived as soon as they opened and was out and on my way to work 30 minutes later. My tires cost $120 each new, but I paid $60 for a practically brand new Pirelli. My husband was proud of me. Tips: * Just pull around to the back and the office is right there. Don't bother parking in the front unless they're really busy and tell you to. *Bring some cash so you can tip the guys putting the tires on. * If you need a tattoo, ask the cashier. She's opening a tattoo shop in El Cajon!

Firestone Complete Auto Care

3.3

(125 reviews)

Great customer care, plenty of different tire brands to choose from, and timely service! The…read moreservice manager, Joshua, has been very helpful in getting me the best tires for my car within the budget I was happy with! Joshua is a great asset to this local Firestone store in Santee! Very friendly and knowledgeable guy who always goes the extra mile to help customers! I wish him all the best and hope he gets to stay at this Santee store (92071) for years to come! He was able to get the best tires at the price, which I was totally happy with for my 2014 blue Mustang!

The Good: Points for being fast. I replaced four tires and got wheel alignment for a little over…read moretwo hours. Some understanding during our communication when I pointed out a price discrepancy. The Bad: Nickel and diming. I've been going to Firestones since 1999 and every location I've gone to just applies all the active, applicable coupons. No games. It's why I've kept coming back even though the prices have steadily gone up (it's gone up to $270!). This location did not do that. I bought 4 destination tires, which has a coupon for a $70 discount. Because I spent over $600, another $100 was deducted. Because I bought the wheel alignment, there was a coupon for a $40 discount. Total discount: $210. Josh initially applied only a $40 discount to the tires. When I showed him the $70 coupon, he was about to say something but ended up just applying the the $70 coupon. He then indicated that he applied the extra $30 off. When I picked up the car, I was told I would get an email with the invoice and Josh indicated again that the extra $30 was applied. The following day I called for the invoice and saw the invoice only reflected $180 off. I called Firestone and spoke to someone who put me on hold for about 10 minutes then transferred me to Josh. When I pointed out the discrepancy, he stated that he applied the extra $30 discount by removing a TPMS Valve Kit charge, which was $30. There was no reference to this TPMS Valve Kit Charge on the invoice. I told him that this was not reflected anywhere on the invoice and asked how a customer would know that there was an accurate deduction when there was no reference to this charge that was removed and instead said a $180 discount was applied. When I asked why he applied the $40 coupon instead of the accurate $70 coupon, he did not have an answer and just said he would send a different invoice to show what he did. Josh then emailed a separate invoice that looked like it was made on the spot that applied two "PRT-DISC Customer Expectation Discount (Promise not met)" discounts totaling $140 and the TPMS Valve Kit Charge for $28 ($7 for each tire), which was not discounted and therefore made the invoice $30 higher. I thanked him for the explanation but noted it caused me to waste my time because he never explained what he was doing in the shop or on an invoice and I, instead, had to call because it looked like I had been cheated $30. He replied that he hoped he would get the benefit of the doubt that he was being honest and I responded that this isn't a reflection of my thoughts on his character but no one gets the benefit of the doubt. We're strangers making a transaction, this is why invoices exist. He then said he had to do it this way because could not apply the correct $70 coupon because he had already entered the $40 coupon in the system and that he went above and beyond for me. I explained he didn't do anything more than he was supposed to do: apply the applicable discounts and accurately process the transaction. If we're being 100% accurate, he didn't do these things or even explain what happened until I called, which is why I wasn't happy with the experience.

Discount Tire

4.1

(429 reviews)

Wow Kenny and his team made me feel great. Bought a set of four new tires and price matched the…read moreInternet price. I drove home and got a screw stuck in my tire the same day. They fixed it the next day. Always go to discount over Costco in my opinion. You will save $ and have better customer service. Pro tip: always get tread wear rating above 500 If you want your tires to last.

After being made aware of my concerns. The Discount team worked to make sure I was…read moreMade happy. They refunded me and all is well:) Thank you Rich:)

East County Lube Center

(410 reviews)

Employees are available, and very friendly, super knowledgeable. They have gone above and beyond…read morefor my service, and has helped more than words can explain.

The best! They always do a fantastic job! Fast service, clear communication, friendly staff, and…read morefair pricing without high-pressure upsells.

Sparky's Transmission

(30 reviews)

Stability Alignment & Brakes

(108 reviews)

Highly recommended for alignment and brake servicing. They quickly troubleshot and provided much…read moreneeded help. Stability went above and beyond to ensure my car's safety. They are true professionals who are detailed-oriented and extremely knowledgeable. Stability is superior. They are forthright and honest. Stability is recommended by many auto mechanic shops in San Diego. If you want a strong, independent, assessment of any kind, including an assessment of the frame and the alignment, as well as the brakes, you have come to the right place. Stability as well respected in the community. After I was involved in an auto accident. I brought my car here to the professionals for an assessment of the alignment. When the dealership did a brake job that needed attention, Stability did wonders to ensure the safety of my vehicle. They definitely live up to their name!

Great customer service Did an inspection and wrote…read moreeverything out so it is easy to understand and revisit later when needed

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Lisa B.

10 years ago

Gary's auto is awesome. As a female...I expected to be taken advantage of, as I have been in the past. The technician " Curtis" explained everything to me and even showed me the the bad parts in my car and I totally trusted him and my truck was finished on time and ran better than when I brought it in. The price was even less than the quote !! I would recommend Gary's auto to everyone especially to women..you can trust them, Gary will take great care of you. read more

Mary C.

8 years ago

This place rocks! good prices and honest boys working there!

Mike W.

10 years ago

Good Service...Work as agreed, pricing good.

Gary's Auto Service - autorepair - Updated August 2026

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Brittany and Ron at Greg's Automotive treated me exactly how Customer's love go be treated. They…read morewere kind, caring professionals. Brittany went so over the top to help me out and figure out a solution to my problem. Ron told me that nothing was more important than helping me get back on the road to do my job! They were both so incredibly kind! Thank you so very much for being such incredibly wonderful people!

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Battery was failing and needed new one installed. Sadly, it's nearly impossible to work on modern…read morecars. No appointment needed, they had me in and out in about 2 hours. Excellent car shop.

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Ban worked on my 1977 Chevy stepside, on two occasions…read more Good work and resaonably priced.

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(126 reviews)

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Best Alignment Shop in Santee! Quick…read more Done right. Fair price. In and out in 1 1/2 hours. Highly recommend!

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