Doc Able's Auto Clinic Inc

Since change of ownership prices have gone up, service has gone down, and I trust their recommendations less and less.

Pete, the owner, took the time and asked me about my driving habits and how long i planned on keeping the car. After he gave me recommendations to ensure i go the best tire for my situation. In addition he looked up the code for the check engine and told me not to worry that it was more than likely an error and he would reset it. If it comes back on he can take care of the problem. It didn't and he saved me from an unnecessary repair

ABSOLUTE CROOKS! Avoid at all costs if you don't want to get robbed! I spent $6,000 on repairs over 3 years at Doc Able's. When they started servicing it, the car was 4 years old. Over those 3 years of Doc Able's "service", I averaged $2,000 per year of repair costs. Most visits for what seemed like something minor turned out to be a $700 job. In the back of my mind, I figured something was wrong. How could a 4-year-old car have this many expensive problems? But it wasn't until several years later that I found and switched to an HONEST mechanic (they do exist). Over the next 6 years that I went to this other mechanic, my repairs averaged out to about $400 per year. So you can do the math. $2,000 per year at Doc Able's vs $400 per year at an honest mechanic. And my car was practically brand new when I started going to Doc Able's, and was considerably older when I switched to the honest mechanic. These guys should be investigated by the FBI.

These people misdiagnosed a fault in the ABS BRAKE SYSTEM and replaced an expensiveand unnecessary wheel sensor after an expensive scan and diagnosis while ignoring the results of an earlier scan I had done by Auto Zone. The actual repair required a short length of wire. As to the wheel bearing replacement their inept mechanic broke a "$100.00" tool while repairing the bearings. The replacements are very noisy and probably subject to failure. Unless I havethe work redone by a competent shop I will have to dispose of the auto. This repair company is dishonest and seems reluctant to make this disaster right. There are many, many negative reviews on yelp regarding this company's scams and dishonesty.

Got a direct mail postcard from these guys for a special oil change deal and stopped in after work one day for a routine oil change. As long as I live in Chicago, I won't go anywhere else. The big bonus is the popcorn machine in the lobby, but the service and professionalism of the staff and mechanics is unparalleled. They did a full check of 50 points on my car. They didn't find anything wrong and didn't even try to upsell me on anything I didn't need, like an air filter. These guys are awesome. Give them a try.

unknown

I took the car to my regular shop for a second opinion and was told almost nothing they said needed to be fixed really needed to be fixed. They are a dishonest shop: avoid!

They are very friendly and capable. They have been in Evenston for a long time. I would definitely take my car back there for a varitey of needs, including tires or mufflers. If it was something that needed more details I would probably take it to the dealer.

Overall quality is great, I've used them before when I had my other car, when I got a new car I was using the dealer. However the dealer wasn't half as good so I brought my car back to him.

Where it started going bad? We had exhaust work done late in fall of '09. A year later when we were having the same problem again and wanted it fixed under warranty, we were told that they could not because there was a gas leak and they could not weld under the car. Fair enough but they told me we needed a whole new gas tank. When I looked at it I found that we only need the hose on the gas tank vent repaired. A $ 30.00 fix v.s. a $ 800.00+ fix. I feel like they didn?t really look at the problem and were just content to sell me the most expense solution to the problem. Then I had them change the oil and they didn't even do that correctly. They over filled by more than 1 qt. and didn't completely drain down the oil. I know that because the old crush washer on the drain pan plug was still there after they said they changed the oil. I don?t trust them any longer to do quality work or do any through diagnosis. No value for me there. PS - No I'm not a mechanic, but I grew up working on cars since before I was a teenager. We have had a few auto repair related businesses in the family. Just because I'm not a watch maker doesn't mean I can't tell time.

I spent approximately $7000 over a period of two years while dealing with this car repair place. They were absolute criminals. I did not entirely understand it until a final incident where I brought the car in -- and then they evidently went and took it for a test drive -- at which point they broke the axle. They then told me that I had to pay to fix the axle, when it was not broken when I arrived. I was told by an employee (in confidence) that the owner had yelled at the employee who had tester of it and broken the axle. nonetheless -- the owner insisted that he was not at fault and would not take any responsibility for the broken axle. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau at the time -- to no avail.

My car overheated, and I had them inspect it to determine the reason. They reported a cracked radiator head that would cost over $700 to replace. They also came back with over $2000 in additional repairs that could be done if I wished, including rusted brake calipers and problems with the struts. Fortunately, I read Angie's List reports on them first, and declined their services. I took my car to the Autobarn in Evanston (the Nissan dealer), and told them about the overheating, requesting also they do a general inspection. They reported only leaking hoses, and agreed to replace the hoses and thermostat, and flush the system. They said nothing about rusted brake calipers or problems with the struts. This cost me $600, so at least I saved $100.00. Hard to say for sure, but it looks like Doc Able's was fibbing about the cracked radiator; a week later the car is running fine and not overheating.

Awesome!

My husband did not like it at all. It took too long, about a week. He said the quote was less last time when he was there, when he had two tires put on, so he wasn't sure if we were charged correctly.

I had a coupon, which is how I got such a great deal on this oil change. I liked that I was able to make the appointment over the Internet, and that the man at the front desk was so courteous. They did the work quickly and I was able to walk across the street to kill time at the library. I'd definitely use them again.

I guess they did a fine job. They were way more expensive than I had thought they would be though. It was just a small leak and I probably could have gotten away with adding coolant to it. However, I was going on a long trip and I wanted to make sure I would not end up on the side of the highway somewhere. I really did not have a chance to shop around. I do not feel that they seemed willing to look for a used radiator; rather they gave me a brand new one. This of course, costs more. I have concluded that anyone who advertises for car repair is going to be expensive. If you find someone that does not advertise, they probably have enough business therefore I do not think they would be that expensive. Now, they were nice and everything here, but just really expensive.

About six months ago my wife took in her car here for a routine service checkup. They told her they needed a variety of work--brake repair, etc. They told us the cost of these recommended repairs would be $1200. We told them to just do the oil and we would get someone else to do it. They strongly recommended we didn't but we took the car elsewhere and very little repairs were needed. They made it up. This is a crooked shop and should be avoided. (Now that I read other reviews on this site, I'm struck by how similar their experiences were to ours, including the $1200 figure for work needed.)

I have been in this place about 10 times for this type of work. Almost every time, I come out with an estimate for additional work they think needs to be done. The most recent estimate was for $1200 worth of work. I took my car over to Midas on Dempster for a second opinion, and they said that there did not appear to be anything wrong with a number of things I was told about. In addition, they said the only necessary maintenance work would run about $200. As usual, I went with them. This seems to be the trend with Docs. It has happened before and I don't like it. Now I just laugh. I have been driving this car for 7 years and it has never broken down and I have never had any problems with the work Midas has done.

AFTER THEY SERVICED OUR CAR ON OUR WAY TO WISCONSIN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE, PULLED INTO A GARAGE, THEY PUT IT UP ON A RACK AND LOOKED AT IT AND DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAD DRAINED ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID OUT. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MADISON TO A SUBARU DEALER, THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW TRANSMISSION, $3,000! WE HAD TO WAIT A WEEK, SO HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR OUR TRIP. WE WENT BACK TO DOC ABLE AND THEY DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND SAID I MUST OF DONE IT. THEY HAD A BBB SIGN ON THEIR DOOR WE CALLED THE BBB AND THEY TOLD US THAT DOC ABLE WAS KICKED OUT AND NO LONGER MEMBERS.

THEY TRIED TO TELL ME BOTH OUTER CV BOOTS (AXLE COVERS) NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS OF THE PREVIOUS OWNER, I DISCOVERED ONE HAD BEEN REPLACED ONLY MONTHS BEFORE. IT SEEMS THEY SMEARED OIL ON THE RUBBER TO TRY TO CONVINCE ME IT WAS BAD. TO CONFIRM THIS, I TOOK THE CAR TO A SECOND MECHANIC WHO SHOWED ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CV BOOT THEY HAD SHOWN ME. THEY ALSO CLAIMED MY OIL PAN WAS LEAKING, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK. MY EXPERIENCE WAS AWFUL, AND I WOULD NOT TRUST THEM AT ALL.

PROFESSIONAL AND PLEASANT FROM THE FRONT DESK ON. THE GARAGE IS SORT OF SMALL IF YOU CONSIDER THE AMOUNT OF LAND IT IS ON, SO IT GETS A LITTLE CRAMPED SOMETIMES BRINGING YOUR CAR IN FOR SERVICE. BUT EACH OF THEIR MECHANICS SEEMED TO REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND PAID ATTENTION TO LITTLE THINGS, WHICH SEEMS RARE THESE DAYS.