Automobile Repair

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biz_speedee2.jpgSpeedee Oil Change & Tune Up

Automobile Repair can be a fact of life for most of us in California, like death and taxes. And looking for a qualified mechanic can be like searching for a new dentist — you want a recommendation before you go under the knife and shell out big bucks. If you've had an exceptional service or consistent experience with a business in town, help the rest of us as well as that great mechanic you trust with your car and your life: add your experience to the business' page.

Please note that while many repair facilities may specialize in a specific service, such as tires, they often also provide general automotive repair and are listed in both sections. However, since most auto repair shops can and will provide oil changes, only those shops primarily providing tune-ups and oil change service are listed under that specialty.

  1. Reference Information
  2. General Automotive Repair
    1. Oil Change/Tune Up
    2. Smog Check
    3. Tires
    4. Transmissions
    5. Rear Differential Work
  3. Body Repair
    1. Auto Upholstery
    2. Auto Glass
    3. Window Tinting
  4. Auto Parts
  5. Auto Towing
  6. Motorcycle Service/Parts

Reference Information

General Automotive Repair

Oil Change/Tune Up

Smog Check

California residents must get their cars smog checked every two years. Most cars can be checked at places that both test and repair cars. There are also [WWW]test-Only stations, which are government sanctioned to check smog, but are unable to give any advice or perform repairs. If you fail your smog test, the repairs can be pricey. The [WWW]Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) can subsidize your repairs for up to $500 if you have low income. CAP also applies to the ~2% of randomly chosen people who are required by the DMV to go to a Test-Only station. If you have expired registration, you need a No-Fee Special Moving Permit, described in the [WWW]Handbook of Registration Procedures. After failing a smog check, submit a CAP application and wait about two weeks to hear back from them. If approved, you can only use your CAP subsidy at a [WWW]Gold Shield Station.

Woodland generally has cheaper prices than Davis in this category; In both cities, coupons are widespread and provide noticeable cost savings. Many can be found in the Consumers Guide.

Price comparison for cars as of 05/05/2009:

Business Type Price Coupon Total
Davis Shell Regular 54.50 10.00 39.95
woodlandYolo Smog Test Only 59.95 15.00 44.95
Aggie Smog Test Only 66.75 20.00 66.75
Davis Smog Test Only 75.00 20.00 55.00
Express Smog Test Only 75.00 20.00 55.00
E-Z Smog Test Only 75.00 15.00 60.00
Advanced Auto Repair & Towing Gold Shield Station,Test & Repair and Test Only 46.70 10.00 36.70
George's Auto Repair not sure 88.20 (certificate included) not sure —

Note: These prices do not include the $8.25 for the smog certificate, which you'll need if your car passes. Also, some places charge more for older (pre-1995) cars.

Tires

Non-motorheads may be interested to know that according to a [WWW]2002 JD Powers report, "in both the passenger-vehicle and light-truck categories, Michelin demonstrates strong performance across all the customer-driven measures... Michelin has ranked highest in customer satisfaction for its replacement tires among passenger-vehicle owners for the past four years. Following Michelin in the passenger vehicle segment (which includes cars and compact vans) are: Toyo; Uniroyal and Kelly (in a tie); and Cooper and Goodyear (in a tie), respectively. Tire brands performing at or below industry average, in alphabetical order, include: BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Dayton, Douglas, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Sears and Yokohama. Following the top-ranked Michelin and Cooper brands in the light-truck category is BFGoodrich. The remaining brands performing at or below industry average, in alphabetical order, are Firestone, Goodyear and Uniroyal. Also check out [WWW]Tire Rack for reviews of many tire models. You can go to a local store and ask them to order a specific model for you.

Transmissions

Rear Differential Work

Body Repair

Auto Upholstery

Auto Glass

Window Tinting

Auto Parts

Auto Towing

Motorcycle Service/Parts

See our Motorcycling page for a complete overview of local motorcycling and scooter resources.

See also Car Dealerships

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