Autowerks of Forest Lake

I really wanted to like this place.

In August of 2015, I was experiencing some issues with my brakes, and knew I was due for replacements anyway. Not wanting to pay inflated dealer prices, I decided to look for an auto repair shop that could become my go-to shop. I chose Autowerks because they had a great rating and were conveniently close to my house.

I requested that the brake pads and rotors be replaced for both front and rear brakes. They gave me a time estimate, and after a few hours, they called to tell me it was ready for pick-up. When I arrived, they told me that they’d replaced the pads and rotors of the rear brakes. What about the front brakes? The guy told me that my front brake pads were only about half-worn and that he felt they didn’t need to be replaced. Well, okay—sounds like they’re trying to save me some money on repairs that don't really need to be done. I appreciated that.

8 months later (so, April of 2016), I went in to address my very unstable suspension. I knew I needed new controller arms, that my shocks and struts were way past their life span, and potentially at least one coil spring since there had been a recall (the dealer replaced one of them, but I suspected the other might need replacement). I’m not a car expert, I’m not really sure what to ask for—but I requested that they replace the shocks, struts and controller arms, and to take a look at what else might need to be done.

When they called with their assessment, they told me that my front brake pads were extremely worn and my rotors were completely warped, so both needed to be replaced. Okay, but it seems odd that I could go from “plenty of life left in them” to “completely worn out and warped” in only 8 months. If my front brakes were that close to needing replacement, then why didn’t they just do it when I was there, asking them to do it? Then I wouldn’t have driven all winter on front brakes that were increasingly close to being dangerously worn out. That seemed weird to me.

Anyway, back to the suspension. They do the work and call me to say that my car is ready. As I’m preparing to pay, they run down the list—front brakes and rotors, front end alignment, new shocks, new controller arms. Great. “At least the car is no longer unsafe,” he said, printing out my receipt. “Just let us know when you want to replace those front struts.” What? I *did* want them replaced, that’s why I brought the car in!

So. Here’s my problem. The good news is that the work they do perform is done well. It is reasonably priced, and they do not try to upsell me unnecessarily. I appreciate that. But both times I’ve brought my car in, I have made a specific request for a repair. And both times, they have arbitrarily decided not to do that repair, and informed me after the fact, when my car has already been reassembled and my appointment is over. Why? I honestly can’t understand the rationale behind these decisions. Is it to protect me from sticker shock? Do they not have the parts on hand and don’t want to look bad by saying so? I don’t know.

So it’s nice that my front brakes and alignment are solid again, but my suspension is obviously in need of more work, because only a month after my appointment, it is **** near as unstable as it was when I took it in. This means that I have to take another day off work, arrange my schedule around being car-less, and spend more money on labor costs to have someone go in there again, when that should have been done the first time.

Now, I’m not a car person, but I work in a technical job. When my business partners and stakeholders come to me with their requirements, it’s not their job to be fluent in all the technical aspects so they know what to ask for. That’s my job. It’s my job to understand what their needs are, and tell them what I need to do in order to fulfill their requirements. And that’s what I expect from a mechanic. When I bring my car in, I don’t want my car to merely be “no longer unsafe,” I need it to be 100%. I have a 35-mile commute, each way. I need a mechanic who will tell me what needs to be done to make it 100%, and to give me a reliable estimate on the cost, and allow me to make an informed decision. Not one who will unilaterally decide to do 75% of what I need and leave the remaining 25% for another day, creating more work and expense for me. I understand that repairs can be expensive. I’m not afraid of hearing that. The car has 137,000 miles on it. Parts don’t last forever. But it’s not helping me to give the illusion of a lower price by not performing some repairs, when I *still* have to go back and get it fixed anyway, because it needs to be fixed!

And that’s what I’ll be doing—paying someone to look at my suspension, again, and *tell me* what needs to happen to bring it back to 100%. And then actually do all of it, I hope! But it won’t be at Autowerks. Once is a fluke, twice is a pattern, so I’m out. 

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They found the problem, let me know issue and cost and completed in a few hours.

Absolutely my favorite auto repair shop of all time. They are VERY affordable, professional, HONEST, and all around great at what they do. They go above and beyond, and strive to make repairs affordable to everyone. A lot of times, they have even done little minor things they could charge for, but don't because I am already having other repairs done. One time they forgot to charge me for an oil change with my other repairs, and told me just to forget about it, since I already had written out the check. And another time the repair to fix my radiator would have been a lot due to labor, but then he said there was a tool he could get for 15.00 in order to do the repair without taking it all apart, and so I did that instead and it saved me over 400.00! Now that is definitely honestly at it's best. A++++++++++++++++++++

Air conditioner fine - starting problems correct.

The job went fine, the work was done for the price I was quoted and the work was finished on time.

They are really good to work with.

I have been taking all of my vehicles (which are all domestic GM models) to Autoweks for at least 5 years. As I've become custom to over those years, they performed very well, and this visit was no exception. I described the issue to them, and they said they would take a look at it and call me with an estimate and recommendation. There was a slight miscommunication on the phone number to reach me at, so I didn't receive a call that day. But I did reach them late in the day and found out they had a very reasonable estimate to perform the work, and I authorized the job. They had it completed before noon the following day.I would recommend their professional, knowledgeable, reasonably priced and courteous service to anyone.

Very Well, i have gone to this shop for about 3 years now and I refer people there all of the time. My last experience was my van had acceleration problems. took it in to Autowerks and they said it was a bad mass airflow sensor. Instead of charging me to replace it they cleaned the sensor saying that this particular sensor is "quite spendy". Could have easily said I needed a new one, but these guys are straight shooters and will have all of my automotive business.

Tom, the owner, is very curteous, professional, and kind. He was flexible with scheduling my appointment, made recommendations and insight as to what other maintenance my van needed but with no pressure. A majority of his mechanics are ASE certified supporting his desire for quality work. I have three vehicles and they all go Auto Werks for their needed repairs. I have tried the "chains" and felt I was being dealt a "line" and always wondered if the "chain" mechanics had their commission or my car in their best interest. Not Autowerks. Honest upfront forthwright communication at a fair price. I will continue to support this local shop.