Jim Ludy’s Motech Automotive

Santa Cruz, United States

4.7

Closed now

15 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 831-426-5848
Website:
www.motechautomotive.com
Address:
501 Soquel Ave Ste A, Santa Cruz, CA, 95062
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
320 ftSoquel & Ocean east
420 ftSoquel & Branciforte
570 ftSoquel & Ocean west
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes

Today

Today 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Santa Cruz) 5:33 AM Friday, November 29, 2024

Business hours

Monday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

ASE Certified Master Technician

Smog Check, w/​Two Certified Inspect & Repair Technicians

Check Engine Light

Computer Controls

Custom Tailored Factory Scheduled Maintenance

Select Motorcycle Diagnostic Services

VW/​Audi/​Ford Specialists

Steering Columns

Heater Cores? Oh Yeah, We Got This!

History

Established in 1975.

Motech:

The Santa Cruz independent technical diagnostic service and clinic Santa Cruz shop owners and mechanics have been calling on for 15 years.

Jim Ludy’s Automotive:

The iconic, independent Santa Cruz import specialty shop 40 years running.

With the acquisition of Ludy’s, the fast-​growing Motech/​Ludy Auto team is now poised to handle all import and domestic car and light truck services. From basic, factory-​scheduled maintenance items to expert, undercar brake, steering and suspension services Santa Cruz has come to trust under Ludy; to the most complex electronic diagnostic challenges and disarming Smog Check regulatory navigation Motech built their name on, we can now say with a grin of welcoming confidence…

Motech & Jim Ludy’s: We Got This!

Meet the Business Owner

Stephen A.

Business Owner

Steve’s been fixing things all his life. From model cars and toy robots as a kid; to the bicycle repair and sales business he and his Great Uncle Roger established when he was 10 years old; to mini-​bikes, lawnmowers and go-​carts as a teenager and onto motorbikes, boats, cars and trucks for a living, he never encountered a broken mechanical people-​mover he felt he could not fix.

His approach has been the same since that first Rudy the Robot broke down when he was 6 years old. He spent hours on a hallway floor with a butter hnife and some pliers taking Rudy apart to figure out how he works so he could see why he’s not working right.

That core philosophy remains today, one he stands by throughout every element of his profession, and teaches to all who study under his tutelage.

«The true diagnostician must understand the theories of operation completely before he can expertly determine what is causing the failure.»

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15 reviews of Jim Ludy’s Motech Automotive

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Martinez, CA
Me and my boyfriend are visiting from out of town this week. Out of nowhere my driver window wouldn’t roll up! We tried to fix it ourselves but couldn’t figure out the mercedes machinery. We called three other places that wouldn’t take us, because it was about 5:45 PM on a Friday and they were closing at 6. I called motech and Steve answered and said he could take us if we got there soon, luckily we were down the street. He stayed after hours to fix my window even though it was cutting into a date with his wife. He was super nice and fixed it quickly. Great customer service! Thank you Steve!
Place rating: 5
Burlingame, CA
I am really happy with the work of Motech. We had a motor heating problem due to a ruptured hose and what other companies deemed as a 200 $ problem, Motech fixed it for only 60 $. That was amazingly cheap and effective and honest service. I really appreciated their cunningness and would like to recommend this company to anyone in Santa Cruz. Great people, keep up the good work!
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
Great service! I dropped in to get my car smog checked. It only took about 15 minutes in total, the person was very helpful, and it was a very decent price!
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
Great, friendly service. Got a Smog check at the last minute and Steve was quick to get me in. Highly recommended!
Place rating: 5
Sebastopol, CA
Santa Cruz is a blessed town because there is at least ONE honest, knowledgeable mechanic there in town. Steve Arnold, the new owner of MOTECH & Ludy Auto, is a dear friend of mine. I’m telling people looking for honesty in Automotive repair, that this man is your Best Bet. Steve is Honest, period. Additionally Steve loves the challenge of getting to the bottom of a car problem and making it right, He takes each car that come into his world as a personal challenge (We’ve talked about this perspective often) it results in Him going out of his way regularly, to resolve the problem. HIs Motto «We got This» is classic Steve… He ‘s the most knowledgeable car person ive ever known. (and Im 60 years old!) Santa Cruz is Blessed because they have an honest hard working Auto Tech… and his staff is top notch too, because Steve demands the best of his staff, and pays them more, for that.
Place rating: 5
Miami, FL
Steve has been servicing my (along with my friends’ and family’s) vehicle’s for years. He has always made time to smog them, and his diagnostics/​repairs have been on point every time. He explains what the car needs and why without trying to confuse you or using too much technical jargon. He’s been able to repair every smog failure I’ve taken to him. Since moving away I have not been able to find another mechanic that comes anywhere near his technical abilities. My friends and family continue to take their cars to him and have nothing but good things to say.
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
I would highly recommend this auto repair shop. There efficient and reasonable, always tell you up front what you’re vehicle repairs will cost, and then keep those costs at or near the original bit. they show you the parts that have been replaced and the old ones they have removed after repairs are done. They also treat you with respect and kindness.
Place rating: 5
Bend, OR
If you are looking for an honest mechanic who you can trust to give you the real story, then look no further than Motech’s Ludy Automotive. Steve Arnold, the new owner is as stand up a guy as you could hope for. He excels at diagnosing particularly difficult automotive issues and will give you the straight answer for how to fix the issue the correct way. No more worrying about whether or not the mechanic is spinning a story to get you to spend more. Steve will give it to you straight and do the work the correct way to ensure it is fixed right the first time.
Motech/Ludy’s Automotive is highly recommended!
Place rating: 5
San Martin, CA
I used to take my car to Jim Ludy’s years ago when I was still in the Santa Cruz area. Awesome place, you don’t have to worry about getting ripped off. Ken is a honest guy and will treat you right.
Place rating: 5
Tipp City, OH
WOW… An HONEST auto mechanic. YES, it is possible! It exists at Jim Ludy automotive. The current owner Ken worked with the original owner (Jim Ludy). He obviously learned the finer points of customer service (he already knew expert auto care).
The stereo-​typical «crooked» mechanic looks to point out additional items that must be repaired IMMEDIATELY! But these guys are so busy (with return customers) that they don’t need to create artificial needs. If they notice something getting old /​thin /​tired, they give you an HONEST opinion of how much longer it will last. NO lies about the need for EMERGENCY repairs of a reliable car.
20 years & two owners later… Still THE ONLY CHOICE!!!
Place rating: 4
Santa Cruz, CA
I usually reserve my Unilocal reviews for negative reviews, which I have given to other auto repair places. But the fact that I have no bad experiences with Jim Ludy’s says all you need to know. They say what they do, and they do it right. And Ken the owner always goes out of his way to politely help me with any questions.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I just noticed that I have neglected to review my auto mechanic! I need to take care of that oversight:
If you are a single woman, you need at least two professionals whom you can trust implicitly: a good OB/​GYN and a trustworthy mechanic.
I’ve been using Jim Ludy’s for over a decade and through two Hondas. I thought the original Jim of Jim Ludy’s was a great mechanic and I remember being worried when Ken Jenkins took over… but I ended up even happier with Ken. Ken is honest, kind and calm. His estimates are accurate (and I track average maintenance costs through the online Honda forums.)
Through the years, I have recommended him to many friends. Ken just takes the stress out of car ownership and maintenance for me.
This review will probably be filtered for being too positive, but my feeling about this business really is «Woohoo! As good as it gets!» I hope you will have a chance to read it and to check out the good work that goes in at Jim Ludy’s.
Place rating: 5
Felton, CA
I’ve been going to Ludy’s for years. Both Jim, and the current owner Ken have always been great. I have never had a problem getting an appointment for my car to get serviced. The service there is super friendly and straightforward. They will not tell to get services that you don’t need. The garage is centrally located (though they don’t offer shuttle service). The garage is not part of some mega chain. It is locally owned. I highly recommend this garage.
Place rating: 5
Scotts Valley, CA
Ken, Shawn, and Gary are the best! They’ve been working on our cars for over 10 years and we have appreciated their attention to detail, integrity, and friendly customer service. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone and in fact have done so many times.
Gilroy, CA
Great news that Steve Arnold from Motech Auto Repair has taken over this shop as the new owner
Steve has fixed more cars, bikes and cab over trucks for me than I could possibly count.
Honorable, skilled and gets the job done quick!
I also don’t know how many times I’ve called Steve with a broken down vehicle and have had him drop everything to help me sort it out. Having Steve on my speed dial helps me sleep at night. three thumbs up!