Stanco Automotive Air

Michael at Stanco is AWESOME! Helpful, friendly, prompt — things that you don’t often see at Automotive Shops. Thanks Michael!

I didn’t think I’d do it but I did. I got the modding bug and am slowly souping up the ‘stang. I remember telling my good friend and muscle car enthusiast when I bought this thing that I like it like it is, that I won’t change it. His response was along the lines of ‘Pffft HAHAHA, RRRIGHT!’
First order of bidness: update the front brakes. I am active on a mustang forum and have gone so far as organizing meets and cruises with some of the members… I am active. I learn tons. Therefore, Brembo brakes are a must.
I found them at a reasonable price online and asked my dear Julio at Kearny Pearson Ford how much they’d charge to install them. $ 475. With heavy heart I tried a few more Ford dealerships all the way up to Vista and was (in a way kinda pleasantly) surprised to hear they all quoted me the same price; with the exception of one older gentleman who initially quoted something insane (suffers from «stupid female syndrome») until I informed him that the young man who sold me my car and who now works at his dealership gave me his name.
It then occurred to me I should call Tom! His quote not only was $ 75 less than the dealership, he was clearly more than happy to take it on. He was pretty excited with things at the time; he was vacationing, and when he would return he would be moving into a bigger space in Point Loma. Things were looking rosy.
Before the official shop grand opening, he was ready. Drove KITT down to him and dropped her off, with her boxed Brembos and some braided, stainless steel brake lines to go with, which Tom felt were overkill, but it was what I wanted. I am not sure why, but I thought this could get done while I wait. Thus, I had failed to make transpo arrangements; DH was at work. Tom kindly drove me all the way back to La Jolla in crappy traffic!
Next day he had bad news. One of the fancy new brake lines was leaking. Badly. He texted a pic and even attempted a video of said leak. I sighed and called the vendor in FL about a replacement but they would not overnight it. It was such a hassle even though the vendor was friendly enough.
Tom actually wanted to talk to them himself! I gave him their number and he and the vendor spoke a bit. Shortly thereafter, Tom called me, instructed me to return the junky things (even explained what exactly made them junky), don’t even bother with replacements, the stock lines are plenty adequate! Wow!
Tom texted me a pic of a freshly installed caliper later in the day, like your grease monkey cousin or brother or uncle probably would do. I promptly shared it with my car enthusiast buddy, who approved.
It was time to pick up KITT. She was parked directly out in front in all her glory. Tom and another man and I were standing around discussing future plans for her. DH and I had already decided Tom would be the man overseeing the installation of a supercharger and all its essential accompanying doodads hopefully this spring. He has various manufacturers in mind to comparison shop for my needs (wants) and has reached out to one already. He cannot wait to get his hands on KITT and now I am all stoked, too! Stay tuned for what happens next.
(Oh, yes… to the gal who left Stanco 2 stars: Judging from the thorough, professional response you received, looks like you’ve been pwned; and to the other Unilocaler who left 2 stars: You are correct in suspecting your review may be unfair.)

I took my 2007 Toyota Prius to Stanco about three months ago to get my broken AC checked out. After waiting two weeks I was finally able to get an appointment and they quoted me $ 600-​$ 2000. When I decided to wait on the work and take it somewhere else for another quote I was charged $ 65. I ended up taking my car back to Stanco about a month later (after waiting another week to get an appointment) and he quoted me $ 900-​$ 3000! A friend of mine told me about a guy named Mike Pridgeon of Mike Pridgeon Racing Engines (619−571−2349) so I took my car to him to see if he could figure it out. He flushed my system and restarted it and BOOM my AC was fixed!!! It’s been over a month now and my AC still works great! If you need any help with your AC I’d skip Stanco and give Mike Pridgeon a call!

Stanco installs energy efficient air conditioning systems, and the installation is professionally performed. I had an air conditioner installed by them in my 1988 Toyota 4Runner five years ago, and it has run effectively and efficiently since the installation. I was unable to detect any significant decrease in my miles per gallon. My regular mechanic was impressed with the installation, especially a special device that they installed to adjust the idle when the air conditioner is turned on. Stanco also stands behind their work. When the belt driving the compressor started to slip recently, they adjusted the belt and fully checked over the system to make sure that the compressor wasn’t having problems that might have caused the belt to slip, all at no charge. I would recommend them highly to any one of my friends.

A little over a year ago, Michael at Stanco Automotive Air Conditioning in San Diego, designed and installed an aftermarket system for my beloved, and meticulously restored 1987 VW Vanagon Westy Campmobile.
Anyone familiar with these vehicles knows how poorly the original air worked. Most of these machines that are still on the road today do not even have systems that function at all. Since I live in the heat of the San Fernando Valley, I insisted on Michael’s expertise for the install.
The system is elaborate with a dual speed blower system that cools the entire van very efficiently. I ran into a little glitch a few weeks back that my regular mechanic couldn’t figure out, so, I made the trip down to Stanco’s today and Michael fixed me up in short order, and was nearly brought to tears when he handed me the invoice. $ 0.00
Although the system was slightly out of warranty, he still honored it and got me back on the long road home in plenty of time to beat the afternoon rush hours.
It’s rare these days to find someone as honest and trustworthy as Michael and the folks at Stanco Auto Air. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You !!!

It’s probably not fair to rate a place that has never done work for me but here goes. I took my old Honda civic in because the A/​C was not cool anymore. They said the next available appointment was about 3 weeks out and it would cost $ 800-​$ 1,800. The car is worth about $ 800 IF the A/​C is working. The same day I took it to Pacific Honda and they fixed it in 4 hours for $ 230. It works great! The only thing I can figure is that the Unilocal reviews have made Stanco so busy that they can charge people whatever they want and people just keep coming. In all fairness I just can’t figure this out.

I figured the best way to thank Michael was to write a quick review. I really appreciate him walking me through the AC system in my 1986 Porsche 911 and outlining the various options available to me. This guy really knows his stuff and I would feel 100% comfortable letting him work on my car. Thanks again

Someone else wrote it very well. «A big fat relief. Finally, a mechanic to trust.» I will say that getting in or out of their driveway is a bear, and parking is almost non-​existent, BUT the service is very good, the work is great, and the pricing is fair. They’ll drop off and pick up when they can, which is nice. They’ll tell you like it is, they don’t charge for work they didn’t do, and they don’t up-​sell. They’ll also send you someplace else if they can’t help you.
My brother had 2 catalytic converters sawed off his Toyota yesterday while at work in Mission Valley. Dealer said $$$$$, which brother does not have. We called Stanco after hours and seriously lucked out when they answered. They couldn’t help us, but they knew someone who could that they trust. They gave us the other garage’s number, and everything was taken care of less that 8 hours later. And for ¹⁄₃ what the dealer quoted, complete with tow. My brother had called around, and hadn’t gotten any where close to Stanco was able to find. Although the other garage did the work, Stanco’s guys have been worth their building’s weight in gold.

Reliable honest and practical. Love them! Is there a 20 star option?
My ac/​heater was stuck on floor/​windshield. Had two people look at it but without being inside the console could only guess at the problem, 200 to 600 dollars. estimated. Had pulled the stereo out to do a replacement so took it by while I had everything exposed in the center console. He fixed it with a zip tie saving me tons of money. Didn’t even charge me for his time, which was about 20 minutes, and did it as a walk in.
And don’t even get me started on how sweet their dog is. love bug. I would go there just to visit their dog.

Its great to find a place that offers honest advice. I came in to get an estimate of what it would take to fix my AC. Mike let me know right off away that he had repairs set up through the end of the month, but gave me the time to take a quick look at my car. A quick look at air conditioning system and he was able to think three moves ahead on the repair process. Ultimately I didn’t go with the service because a full fix of the system would cost about 75% of the car’s KBB value, that being said I learned a ton and felt welcomed even though I interrupted him on a tight schedule. Further, Mike even got down on a knee and took the time to do some on-​the-​fly bumper repair in a matter of seconds. I would recommend Stanco to anyone in need!

I dealt with Michael the whole time. My A/​C was out in my civic, and I set an appointment for a diagnosis. He told me me it the cost would be more because my issue sounded to be electrical. After he had my car for only a couple hours, he called to let me know my issues. Unfortunately, to fix my car would have exceeded my budget quite a bit. He said he can fix it, but told me accurately about the costs. I chose not to move ahead with repairs. He responded kindly be saying «no problem, I already have your car put back together, you are more then welcome to come get it whenever you are ready.» When I got there, he let me know that my issue was not electrical, so he LOWERED the cost of a diagnosis. First time a mechanic has ever lowered the price! I had nothing but pleasant dealings with them. I definitely recommend them for any A/​C issue!!!

We love our 2001 GMC Yukon XL. It is our main commuting vehicle to our home 400 miles in to Baja, so when the AC went out we were in trouble. It was bad news when we arrived at Stanco: the compressor had self destructed and filled the system with metal pieces. Not good on a vehicle w/​123k miles on it. The cost of repair was going to substantial, half the cost of the Bluebook. I am a big believer in fixing rather than throwing away. We decided to go ahead. It worked fine for two weeks then a loud bang hissing. The whole system had discharged. Stanco replaced an o– ring that had blown out and recharged. No charge. It worked for another two months then went dead. The Rear a/​c unit went out. Stanco fixed it for the bare cost of parts. Picked up the truck, worked for two days then no rear a/​c. Back to Stanco. They replaced what must have been the last unchanged part in the system and recharged it AGAIN. No charge for the fix.
It has been 6 weeks since the latest fix and it is blowing ice child after almost 2,000 Baja miles.
My takeaway from this at times frustrating evolution is that a/​c systems are very complicated mechanical systems, and that repair parts are sometimes not that good of quality even when new (read offshoring).
The most important thing I got out of this though is that there are still top quality, honest repair shops out there that DO care about their customers. Even though we spent several thousand dollars on this repair, I would be surprised if they didn’t lose money on our job. That is how far they went to make sure my wife and I are happy.
These people have earned our business and will be visiting them for a check-​up soon (they asked us to bring it in after using it for a while.)
They also do all other kind of vehicle maintenance there and we will be trying them out with that as needed.

I took my Toyota Corolla here to get my AC fixed.
Tom was really nice and very patient. I immediately felt like I could trust him. He asked me questions like, «When did it go out?», «Did it go out suddenly, or was it a slow death?» The fact that he took a good history about the problem (like a good doctor would do) helped him get to the root of the problem faster, and made the repairs take less time, consequently saving me more money.
I dropped my car off at 9am and picked her up with working Air Conditioning by lunch time and it cost less than $ 200. I can’t stress how impressed I am. They are full-​service, and will likely have my lifetime business now. Thanks, Stanco!!!
(If anything, just come here for Casey, the ADORABLE shop dog!

The A/​C system on my ’93 Honda hasn’t worked for years. To get it converted and fixed, estimates for other auto shops were between $ 200-​$ 400, and no one could guarantee that it could be fixed. I was referred to Stanco when another auto shop realized that they couldn’t fix it. I needed to get an appt. asap and although the shop was booked through the week, they got me in on the very next business day AND gave me a huge discount! The mechanic was very realistic and honest with me, and everyone was extremely nice! They got my A/​C temporarily fixed for a very decent price. I will definitely go back there next time I need service!

Stanco worked on my 90s accord AC system a few years ago and replaced most components.
Unfortunately it broke again recently after being fixed twice. I took it back in and Stanco replaced the faulty parts and re-​pressurized the system at absolutely no charge. They also installed all new O rings. It wasn’t under warranty either. They just took responsibility for it. 5 stars!

OUTSTANDING! These guys treated me like gold! I almost started to think THEY owned my car! Tom has my complete trust. Gives you a detailed list and helps you decide what to do. It was immediately evident these guys LOVE their work and just want to please you. I’m not a big fan of any auto repair joints but somehow these guys reek of honesty, plus their front door is plastered with about 13 Better Business Bureau stickers! Absolutely first rate service! Just hand them your keys and let them work their magic. You’ll be VERY pleased! Thanks again Tom!
P. S. Ask about the magic headlight goo!!!

These guys are the best! I dropped my car off for an AC diagnostic and got a detailed explanation of what needed to be done with a price quote.
I was pleased to find out upon completion, the repair cost less than the initial quote. Honesty and integrity! They got my AC back to it’s usual freezing cold self.
They also found another issue, my harmonic balancer, got the part and fixed it quickly.
I am now happy knowing that for any type of work on my car I can take it to the guys (and Casey the dog) at Stanco. Thank you Tom, Mike and Aaron!
I highly recommend them!

I have never been ripped off at Stanco. And that is saying a lot for a repair shop in San Diego.

I came in here for work on my air conditioning. Michael opened my hood and immediately said, «uh oh». Broken fan blade, and I had literally JUST driven from my regular auto repair shop after a tune-​up and they hadn’t noticed. What? Stanco did such a great job on my A/​C, that when I needed a mechanic, I decided to call Stanco to get a recommendation. That’s when I found out they do more than A/​C! They do it all!
First off, they do quality work. They’re thorough and it shows. They know their stuff. This is where I’m going from now on. I had a series of car problems recently, and Tom was amazing – he even came in on the weekend to help me out. Seriously? Above and beyond customer service. Michael drove out to my house to give me a ride back to the shop. I am so happy to have found these guys. They also work with other shops so you can get every kind of work done at this one-​stop-​shop. I just got my car painted there, and it looks way better than I even anticipated, and at a very affordable price. Next I’m going to get my headliner done, and maybe new carpeting. Yes, they can get that done for you too. Amazing, right? This is a terrific find. Highly highly recommended.
And Tom is a handsome devil ;)

Update: 01-​16-​2013
About 6 months ago I was giving a friends daughter a driving lesson in an empty parking lot. She hit a tree and all the air conditioning gas ran out. I called Stanco and I picked up a used part at the junkyard — the dryer. I bought new green o-​rings for AC and installed the part. I took it to Stanco an they replaced a few common valve parts at the AC compressor and recharged the system and tested it for leaks. Now my the AC on my 1997 Saturn SW2 is back up and working great.
My background History and first call to Stanco: 06-​06-​2009
I have always performed most of my own maintenance including changing the serpentine belt on my 1997 Saturn SW2 — a car that I have owned since it was new. About a week after putting the belt on I got a chirping /​whirring noise. The noise sounded like it was coming from the Air conditioning or AC compressor. I started shopping around and got quotes as high as $ 1000 or more!
I looked for places that specialized in Automotive Air conditioning because I knew this could get really expensive and I wanted it done right. Also, I sold my motorcycle in June so this is my only form of transportation. Hearing the noise and knowing it could lead to a break down and leave me without a car made me really nervous.
I checked Unilocal but there few reviews for auto repair. I went to yellow pages online and found and started calling only places that listed AC as a specialty. When I called Stanco I spoke with Michael. He was listened carefully and took my information and said he would call with an estimate. A day later he called with a range of options from used to new parts. I think he realized the car is older and is in its sunset years so he didn’t try to pressure me. So often when I call for quotes in San Diego people are rude or just want you to come down in person so they can sell you something.
This place is one of the few places that will change a bearing or clutch — every other place I spoke with said «yeah, we don’t do that anymore» because it might not last. My car is 13 years old with 136K and doesn’t have many years left. I got laid off in the spring — translation? Now is not the best time for $ 700+ repair.
When I called Michael today, he suggested I use a special test to determine if the noise was coming from the belt /​pulleys or the ac compressor. I tried it and the noise went away completely. This means the compressor bearing is had nothing wrong with it. This saved me a lot of money and no one else I talked to on-​line, off-​line, at the auto store knew this trick.
Bottom line:
there is no substitute for experience, honesty and the willingness to listen to the customer. I told Michael I repair computers and said he could have two hours of my time whenever he needed it and I would post a review on Unilocal.I now have a place that I feel confident about recommending for automotive Air conditioning work.