Car Diego Auto Repair

Thank you so much for helping my mom today! They fixed her muffler which could have potentially started a fire, even though it was after hours & they could’ve just told her they were closed. Also offered a good price. Great customer service!

I brought my 2003 Subaru Forrester in on a Saturday due to the check engine light coming on. Found that a couple of the spark plugs were bad, they did the fix and an oil change and had it back to me later that day. Great service, fast turnaround. A+++

Great service. Guided me through a smog check with a check engine light on. They were successful in repairing/​cleaning the part at fault. Saved me around $ 300. Highly recommended!

I want to give Car Diego Auto Repair in Normal Heights a BIG 5 star review. A family owned business, Nick and Steve, father and son are honest and upfront. They tell you exactly what needs to be done at the best possible price with no extra fees or hidden expenses. The Car Diego team are excellent mechanics and very knowledge. They are fast, efficient and trustworthy, I can’t say enough about them. I always leave Car Diego with a smile on my face knowing that my car is repaired correctly and I never feel overcharged. And if you think Normal Heights Is far, let me tell you they are worth the drive. You guys are the best! Thanks guys!
This review is on behalf of my mom and her experience here, as I have already reviewed this amazing auto repair shop.

I came in for a smog. I called before hand and was given a quote. When I came in, they charged me the same as the quote, didn’t try to upsell me. They were able to get me in right away like they said on the phone. Smog check only took 15 minutes and was sent over to the DMV.

This place is good if you need basic maintenance. the owners are very friendly and seem honest if you need brakes, alternator ect done I say go np. but I had a very poor experience when I had my engine rebuilt. after $ 3,500 I got a total of 4,000 miles out of it. When I first received it .It overheated immediately apparently there was air gaps in the cooling system. they fixed that np. Then there was other issues that needed attention so I brought it back
was repaired once again. I drove the car about a year and half and now the head gasket seems to be blown. I wonder if it had anything to do with the overheating issues in the beginning. Its well past the year warranty so theres nothing I can do but I really expected to get more than 4,000 miles out of this engine. Pay another 1,700 to fix that which isnt gonna
now I basically gotta scrap the car. All in all I think they’re descent and well priced but I think they should of never took the rebuild job it was over there head. I’m very disapointed I’ll never go back.

I don’t know what they did to my car but they fixed the issue that no other mechanic could figure out. They provided excellent and friendly service and I’m more than happy to stay with this facility for my car only.

Excellent service I the owner helped me with my smog check and I was in and out within 20 min!!! Def coming back

These guys here are so good. The shop isn’t anything fancy but they do an excellent job of explaining what the issue is with the vehicle. They also do an excellent diagnostics job, they don’t just hook it up to a sensor and tell you what it says. They are very thorough. I highly recommend this place for a thorough job at an honest cost

I am now on my 3^rd vehicle that I have taken to Car Diego. I can’t say enough good about this place. The quality of work as well as the timely nature in which it is completed is wonderful. Nick continues to go out of his way to make the experience of doing business with him as good as it can be. I live in Hemet (1.5 hours away but from San Diego), and I am still coming all the way back to San Diego to have him do my automotive repairs.

Fast honest and great overall service! These guys are upfront and honest when it comes to your car needs! And they offer their services at affordable prices! I have been here a few times and I will keep coming back!

This is the most honest shop I have ever taken a car to, I live in the Phoenix area but visit SD often. I was in town and needed a shop, Steve has now helped us out on three different occasions and after today will be the one who takes care of all mechanical needs! I trust and highly recommend Car Diego! I will have all of my car care done here whenever I’m back in town! These are down to earth honest guys !!! Not trying to rip anyone off, in fact if it doesn’t need to be fixed they tell you just that.

I tried to drop my car off a week ago to a different repair shop down the street and they weren’t there when they said they would be open. You know, because everyone has time to waste when they should be on their way to work.
In comparison, my experience with Car Diego was a DREAM. I called Car Diego earlier this week, dropped my car off for brakes, and got my car back within three hours. I was positive that I was going to need front and back brake pads replaced. Let’s just say I drive assertively. Not only were they completely honest and told me that I didn’t need the back brake pads replaced, they didn’t try to upsell me. I got an oil change because I was due, but that was it. The oil change was about $ 10 cheaper from the oil changers I usually go to. Everyone was incredibly genuine and professional.
Oh yeah, the brake pads + labor was $ 35 cheaper than the place down the street. If I had needed to replace both front and back, that would have been $ 70 in savings. I could definitely find more things to do with $ 70 than spend it on brakes. Let’s just say I will be back, as it is not every day you encounter a business that is professional, genuine, affordable and honest.

My husband found this place a couple of years ago, and we’ve been coming here ever since… Today I went in to get my brakes and smog check done. Steve is very helpful, courteous, organized, and has good time management. I’ve been referring people to come here. Thanks Car Diego for your honesty and good work! :)

My gf just moved to San Diego and her Nissan Versa was giving her major issues. We called around and other auto shops were either plain rude or they wanted to charge 20 – 50 just to look at her car.
Thankfully we found this place just down the street from her place. They told her they would take a look at her car for free. They were polite, honest, fast and overall incredibly efficient.
¹⁰⁄₁₀ in fact, I think I’ll bring my car in for a tune up soon: P

I had nearly run out of gas on the way to work the other morning and my damn gas tank door wouldn’t open… IN THE POURING RAIN. Called here and they saw me right away, had it fixed in like 10 minutes for nothing. I was so thankful! And they were so friendly! Businesses like this — no — PEOPLE like this make the world a better place, I really believe that. I will absolutely be bringing my car here for any future repairs. You guys are stars and have a customer for life!

They have done most of the work on my car so I should have gone here first! Had issues with my car starting intermittently and after much frustration and orher shop hours not fitting into my schedule I brought my car back here. Steve was very kind and welcoming and made sure I understood what was wrong with my car, the price and how long it would take. He even called me exactly in the time frame he said he would to give me updates! Will definitely come back and not make the mistake trying a new place.

Amazing customer service !!! Awesome job & price! These guys really helped my daughter & I out of a very ruff spot in a timely fashion!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SHOP! I have been singing Steve’s praises since our first encounter … Thanks again Steve !

Car repair/​maintenance par excellence. Friendly, professional, high quality work. Timely and at a reasonable price iv’e been taking my cars here for almost 20 years and recommend many others. Always a positive experience.

Take your car here, period.
I have been bring my cars here for almost 12 years now. I have tried on occassion some of the other shops on Adams or Park, don’t bother. I mean you can if you want, but you cannot beat these guys. Nick, the owner, his son Steve, and the rest of the crew are honest, good, inexpensive and fast. They will tell you everything, show you everything, never do work that isn’t needed. No trickery, just honest, hard-​working people. I would give them 6 stars.
For the past ten years, I’ve had a 1994 Mazda Protégé, I bought for $ 1700, with 115,000 mi on it. It now has 254,000 miles on it! One time, one time, I took it to another shop, never again. Nick’s prices cannot be beat. I’ve had a used manual transmission installed for $ 600 at Car Diego. Completely installed, parts labor. That was three years ago and still running strong. Lot’s of other work, but I’ve saved over a grand I’m sure, easily, by taking it to Car Diego.
And get this.
I just drove this car from San Diego to Boston and back. With many side trips. I took this car over the Rockies, up to 13,000 feet!
I told the guys I wanted to make the trip and they got it ready. Didn’t really do much, as they said it looked good. Gave me the good advice to check my fluids daily, which I did, and it mattered. Saved my butt in the desert.
My car, named Zippy by the gf, is still running strong and I will take it in for tune up soon. I just returned from that massive trip, 7000 miles, and Zippy is just scooting along. He desevers a day at the spa.
Then get ready for another epic trip, Zip!
My girlfriend also takes her car here, and feels exactly the same about them as I do. Honest, friendly, fast and inexpensive. Never talking down because she a woman and she might not know everything about cars, and always explaining everything. Never doing unneeded repairs.
So, if you are a guy or a gal, and you have a car, then this is where you take it.
Honest. Good. Inexpensive. Fast.
What else could you want?
plus, tons of good food on Adams Ave if you are going to wait around.