LAGUNA VIEJO AUTO SERVICE INC.

I went to them as the AAA truck driver recommended them. But this was a big mistake. I had trouble with my car starting...I had already taken it to be looked at by a Firestone Dealer who ran a diagnostic and said they weren't sure what was wrong but didn't think it was the starter. But, they were booked solid for 2 days so The Triple A driver recommended this place and since I didn't have any other transportation I decided to go there. They initially told me that it was the starter and that they would replace it .. two days later.. it was the crankshaft.. then a key problem.. then a $1000 computer problem. 7 days later: I told them I could not afford $1,000 in addition to all the work they had already claimed to do and said I wanted to take the car back home and would have it towed the next morning. But, as of the next morning they said they still had to put the car back together. (Made no sense since i actually saw them pull the car out of the bay..drive it around the building and park it back in front of the building). Another day passed and they still said they were working on it. Again I drove by the shop and my car was sitting out front .. never moved from the day before. And now onto the 3rd day..it was still sitting outside in their parking lot - I called, while standing next to my car. I asked if I could pick up my car and he said that my car was in the bay and they were working on it right then and there..well that was impossible since I was standing next to it. I went straight inside to advise them I was taking the car. They told me I couldn't take it because the manager wasn't there and ten more excuses. It took them over two hours to allow me to take my car. (which was sitting in the parking lot) They were trying to kill time while they tried to cover their tracks of what they said they did to the car and really didn't. I was eventually able to take the car, but they would not allow me to take the parts they claimed they replaced without paying $60.00...and when I agreed they couldn't find them. Once I got the car to the new shop they diagnosed the problem within hours. It was a blown fuse panel! They fixed it and I had it back the next day. There was nothing wrong with the starter, the crankshaft they said they replaced was never touched and there was no issue with the key. And there was absolutely nothing wrong with the computer which they wanted to charge me $1000.00 to replace. Bottom Line: I can't believe this experience. I have heard of places ripping people off but this was quite upsetting and shocking. I doubt this was a fluke and suspect many customers paid for something that was never done but never knew it!

unknown

I'm writing this review because of something that I read in another review that caught my attention as the same thing happened to me. I had a car that wasn't starting. I called for a tow truck. When he showed, he helped me out with my problem, and we managed to get the automobile started. He told me that it was a starter problem (it was sticking). He said that I should get it over to my mechanic very soon and have them replace the starter. So, I drove over to Laguna Viejo immediately. I explained to them how the tow truck driver suggested that it was a starter problem. I also asked them to inspect the brakes. They didn't appear to be overly busy and waited to get the word. I sat in their area for about an hour. Eventually, the owner went out to my car and drove it. Then, he took it into the bay. After about another hour, they said that it was a battery problem and that I needed to replace the battery. I asked about the starter and got the response that the battery was the problem. They told me that the rotors (I may be using the wrong terminology as I don't remember the exact conversation) were bent, which caused the shimmy in the steering wheel but that the brakes were fine. I asked them to replace the rotors as my daughter drives the car. They said that it wasn't needed it. As I waited for them to wrap up the work, I remember standing next to the doorway into the bay and next to the cash register, trying to ask if they checked the starter or what. They never bothered to asked me what was up; they would just walk by me. Eventually, they gave me the invoice. I noticed that the AAA discount was not on the invoice (I showed my card when I arrived to make sure that I got the discount as I didn't get it the previous time I was there). They told me that the discount was wrapped up into the battery (I wasn't told that when I was given the price of the battery at the beginning). I blew it off. Well, it has been 1-2 months since then....now, the car is not starting again in the same manner as before. This time, my daughter was in Ontario. Luckily for her, the car eventually started. I don't know what is up. Customer service appears to have gone down. I have been taking my cars to them back when they were on Cabot.

Car: Toyota Camry 1998 with 110,000 miles Issue: Car had starting issues often and the air-fuel ratio sensor light on so Smog test failed Fix: New starter and Oxygen Sensor were installed. I was also recommended to replace the oil valve gasket to avoid leakage under the hood that sometimes was causing smoke from under the hood but the price asked was aroung $1000 so I decided not to do. Also the initial estimate few months back was in the rane $300 for starter replacement but was charged $500 for the same. Otherwise 2 years AAA warranty was given and I have no issues for the service performed since then.

I had my car towed to Laguna Viejo Auto Service as recommended by AAA because it would not start. Prior to it being towed I had Firestone test the battery just in case that could have been the problem, it tested at 100%. After two days I was advised that there was a problem with the battery and it had to be charged before they could do anything. They decided the problem was the starter and replaced the starter. That did not solve the problem so they advised me after many days passed that there was a problem with the key, but were never clear on what that problem was. They then decided that was not a problem and said they needed to replace the crank shaft sensor. At that point nearly two weeks later they still had not solved the problem. At this point they decided it was the computer and it would be $1000 to replace it. I asked if I could purchase a computer elsewhere and have them put it in but they did not want to do that. I was not prepared to pay $1,000 on top of all the expenses that had already built up so I told them I would have to take the car and pay for what had been done to that point. I asked to pick it up that day, however, I was told that they would have to put the bill together and that the person who did that was not available until the next day. As it turns out that was a Thursday and it was not available for me to pick up until Monday. I called on Monday morning and they said they were working on putting the car back together. I went prior to their opening to their location on Monday morning and my vehicle was sitting in the parking lot and didn't appear to have been moved for quite some time based on the dust and dirt that covered it. When the shop opened I called again, still with my vehicle in view and asked to pick it up and again was told they were working on putting it back together and told not to come until after noon. I called to arrange for a tow truck driver to meet me there so that I could take my car and when he arrived I went into Laguna Viejo Auto and asked to pick my car up. I was treated quite disrespectfully and told that they had not had time to prepare my bill. I said I would wait. Just for Clarification I asked what they had done to my car that morning and he told me that they just pulled it out of the bay and had put it back together. An obvious lie because I had been there since before they opened and my car had never been moved. I also asked for the parts that they had replaced which was the Starter and the crank shaft sensor. I was told I would have to pay $60.00 for my old starter and that they did not have the crank shaft sensor as it was misplaced somewhere. I reluctantly agreed to pay the $60.00. In further conversation I was told that they actually did not replace the crank shaft sensor. After waiting an hour for the bill, the ? manager came out and said "you seem to have a problem". In all the time I stood there I never said anything, nor did I complain about the service, because I had every intention to follow up with AAA when I left. So I found it interesting that he approached me. So my response was "I am not happy that after 3 weeks time, my car is still not running, and that it took me nearly 5 days for you to allow me to get it back. and that you now want to charge me an additional $60 for my own part and advised him that I had a tow truck driver sitting there waiting. He made some remarks about how it was not his fault and that he had to wait on me and walked away. When he returned he said "I will remove the starter we replaced and not charge you". I was surprised but said okay, and asked if he would do it right away and he said yes. An hour later I left with the car and did not pay for the services. I had the car towed directly to another AAA service center and within hours was told that the battery was perfect, I did not need a computer, nor did I need a starter. The problem was a burned fuse panel which they replaced. I have had no further problems and it is running perfectly. I am unhappy for the following reasons: I was without transportation for near 3 weeks and had to pay for a rental car. I was treated disrespectfully each time I talked to them when I would question them on what was going on with the car. I was lied to on the phone and directly to my face when they made claim to be working on the car and it was sitting outside in the parking lot. I was told twice that my car was not the only car they have to work on. I firmly believe they knew that there was nothing wrong with the starter and that is why they were so willing to remove it. And so unwilling for me to take my old part..which after 15 minutes of back and forth decided to tell me it would be $60.00 for me to take it with me. Which means if I am correct they were intentionally going to charge me for something that did not need replacing. They initially claimed they replaced a sensor they did not replace. And to top it off they were going to replace the computer, charging me $1,000 when in fact there was nothing wrong with it.

It is family owned. Very excellent and friendly service. You talk directly to the owner. It is a husband and wife at the front desk, they own the business. It is family owned and operated. They have an excellent professional attitude. They have a discount for repeat customers. I take all of my cars there. I have 4 cars. They will tell you up front or call you if the estimate is above what the technician told you. They will actually work with you on how best to get the repair done, the part replaced, or whatever it is. They are a good company.

Excellent service, reliable and reasonably priced.