Hillcrest Smog Test & Auto Repair
Categories: Auto Repair, Smog Check Stations [Edit]
Neighborhood: Hillcrest3864 1st Ave
San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 297-4059
14 Reviews for Hillcrest Smog Test & Auto Repair
So, the DMV says I need a smog. I honestly can't remember the last time I had a car smogged. Anyway, I pulled up 'ol yelp and people seemed to love this place, so I was in the area, and gave it a shot. Low and behold, just as promised, Hillcrest Smog Test and Auto Repair was quick, friendly, and efficient. When I arrived, they told me they had one other car in front of me and that it would take about 40 minutes. Well, jump ahead 20 minutes, im at Peets Coffee and I go the call that my car was done. So, all said and done, I was in and out in 30 minutes. $40 and not a cent over. Should I ever need another smog test, i'll be back here.
They are very honest and friendly, I have had them work on my cars many times over the years. Recently when my check engine light came on I stopped by to make an appointment and Quan checked it on the spot told me it was nothing serious and turned it off for free!!!!!! I had stopped by Pearson Ford earlier in the week and they wanted 90 dollars to do the same thing, thank god I passed, and went back to Hillcrest Smog!!!!!!!!!!!!
This place is honest to a fault - after my battery had gone dead, the AAA tow shyster had told me that over half of my cells were dead and that the battery was distended.
It didn't look to distended to me, so instead of letting him stick me for a new battery at whatever price he felt like making up at the moment, I went down to Hillcrest Smog and Auto, without appointment, and RIGHT AWAY they took out there volt meters and then and there told me that I had nothing to worry about and the car battery was fine.
This fits in with what I've always heard about this place - that it is impeccably honest - and next time my car throws a fit down in San Diego, I'll take her her.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
As I have to smog my car I had a look on yelp.
A good mechanic is quite a challenge to find so I choose to believe yelp reviewers and went to the place.
The place looks really....poor. And people are not so nice. But it's really good because they are honnest.
When I arrived, they told me it would be 50$ because of the year of the car.
They take my car immediately.
1st, I didn t ask anything but the guy had a look on the oil just to control it. Nice
2nd, they did the smog in only 20 minutes. Quick.
I asked them if I need anything else for the car and they just said "oh if you want us to check you can come back later" that ' s nice and fair, because usually mechanics want to have a look in your car and add many things you would pay for.
So indeed, it was only 50$, no more cents !
First of all - smog test? What the hell is that all about? We don't have this shit in Jersey, so I am CONFUSED.
Regardless, after finding out that I needed to have this done before getting my car registered, I went here, because it's close to my home. I didn't make an appointment, and was helped right away. They gave me a quote, and charged me what they quoted. They told me my test would be done in 15-20 minutes, and as I returned from my quick walk to CVS, about 17 minutes later, I got a call on my cell telling me that my car was ready and that it passed.
HOORAY!
Automotive strife frustrates me, and this was strife-free. Quick and painless. Therefore, I'm a happy customer.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
I agree with my fellow Yelpers. Hillcrest Smog is fantastic! Needed a smog test right away, so I went in on my lunch hour and they were done before I could walk to even get some lunch. Where else can you get this friendly, fast and profesional service for only $40 out the door? I will recommend them to anyone & everyone!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
This place is awesome. I took my car in for a smog test. They were friendly, honest, quick, and the price was very competitive too! There was no wait and it was finished in less than 30 minutes.
I will be going back for other maintenance on my car and recommending them to my friends.
They didnt offer to sell me windshield wipers? I was already practicing my rejection speech on the way over, but I didnt even need it. It was a nice surprise, and I was really impressed. Normally, I get coaxed into buying things for my car.. may they be wipers, or an air filter or even a new transmission. So I've learned to come prepared with a defense mechanism, which this time was completely useless. They seemed honest and to the point. I came in for a smog check and oil change, and thats all I got.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (5)
Cool (1)
Hillcrest Smog is A # 1, FER REALS FELLOW YELPERS!!!!!
O, to the N, to the ES, that's rt., they be HONEST. I take my car here for every kind of repair I need. I only have a Civic, so it's fairly easy to repair, but they only fix what's needed and give you a timeline for everything else.
How honest are they? I had taken my car into their office and a month later my "Fix Engine" light changed from green to yellow. I called Quan, who does the intake on repairs and she told me "Jason, silly that's just a standard 100k mile repair that the auto-maker puts on all cars and it means you have to change (insert some belt name that I can never rmember). It's not an emergency, just get the work done that we told you about and it'll be fine."
Hell yeah, they're cool. You know I could've brought my car in to any other mechanic and they'd charge me $80 to "diagnosis" some standard maintenance repair.
Hillcrest Smog, as good as it gets!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I love them. They have great prices, they are fair, fast, & friendly.
I had to have my serpentine belt replaced. I bought the part and asked a friend who had worked in an auto shop for years what I should expect to pay, she said about $80-100 for labor.
I went to here & they charged me $30 dollars and it took 1/2 hour. I went to another place to get my oil changed a couple of days later & they tried to tell me my serpentine belt needed to be replaced. I'm not stupid & I love that I can trust the people at Hillcrest to not try to upsell or lie to me. I won't be going anywhere else anymore.
The place looks like an old tin can, but the proprietor was super courteous, and they had my smog check done and transmitted in no time!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
This place is AWESOME! Don't mind the exterior apperance. I called 10 local Smog check places and this one was by far the best price ($40 total for the smog check and certificate for 1997 Camry). They have you walk in and they really do take care of you right away! I was in and out of there in 35 minutes. They are very courteous, knowledgeable, efficient, and seem like totally honest people. It is a family run business.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
Smack in the middle of Hillcrest. I've gone here 3 or 4 over the years for both smog checks and preventive maintenance-type repairs. Friendly, honest family-run business. No BS, they quoted me on the repairs and stuck to the estimate.
If like most of us, you're fearful of taking your car to be repaired, give these folks a try. You'll be relieved and happy.
Really wonderful people ... and I trust them completely. The owner has screwed himself OUT of a lot of money, by being honest with me about what I really needed, what could wait, and what I could do myself for a fraction of the cost. I had a bad run in San Diego with corrupt car repair places telling me that I needed stuff done, even though it was okay. But the owner here was the opposite: Nice, clear, competent and, most importantly, honest.
Also, a small, family-run place, which I like. The owner does most of the repair work. But his son is his assistant and his daughter works in the office.
They also do smog tests. And my guess is that they'd give your car an honest test ... not fail you just so that they could sell you the repairs necessary to make your car pass. (That actually happened to me somewhere else. Really. That state consumer affairs office actually investigated and made them pay me back. But that just goes to show the importance of going to a mechanic that you trust.)
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Hot and New
- Sarah's Smash Shack
5 reviews
Neighborhood: Downtown
- Tea Upon Chatsworth
13 reviews
San Diego, CA
- Devine Pastabilities
67 reviews
Neighborhood: Midway
- Cafe Chloe
121 reviews
San Diego, CA
- Bite
108 reviews
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
