Charlie’s Automotive

Be cautious. Yesterday my car stopped at the 76 trying to get a car wash. I called his shop since it’s the closest. He seemed helpful and said he’ll take a look at it and he doesn’t know what it could be. So I called for a tow truck to bring it over to his shop next door at 5 am.
I met the towing guy that morning and he tried to start my car, and he said it might be the fuel pump and it might cost around $ 500 or so and that I should call around, even better, he knows other repair shops he can tow my car. I said no thanks, since Charlie was helpful enough and I committed to him first, and my car was towed to the his shop. I tipped the tow truck driver for his quick response and kept the card he gave.
I get a call from Charlie later that afternoon, Charlie says the cam shaft and thermometer was showing up as a check engine, and it would cost several hundred dollars. I thought it was expensive, but I decided he should include the water pump as well since it’s already there. The cost came out at $ 780. I was like «damn!» But okay that’s fine. At least I get to pick up my car.
After work, he calls and says «im sorry but I made a mistake and I assumed that fixing the check engine items would make it work. It’s the fuel pump, and it’s going to cost an additional $ 475.»
Now I’m pissed. I’m thinking, why didn’t he fix the fuel pump first before making all these repairs??! «I made an assumption and I feel bad about it,» he said.
I told him the whole point of bringing my broken car was to get it up and running. Screw the nicety, make it run damn it!
$ 1000+
Wtf!!!
He has 40 years of experience and a young tow truck driver got it right by in a few seconds trying to turn the engine on, instead of him.
Do I pay a doctor to ask his assumptions to find out what’s wrong with me? Have him charge me surgery, and then say, «oh damn, it’s the liver and not the kidney after all! But your kidney is fixed!»
I got a little upset over the phone and said he should eat the cost of charging me for the fuel pump, and he said «no it doesn’t work that way.» I said, I’ll give him a call tomorrow and that I’ll do my research tonight, and hung up.
I was going to pick up my child at pre-​K but decided to stop by the shop to work it out with him and further negotiate a deal. I walk up to the counter and he gets defensive and starts raising his voice saying that im attacking him. He told me «get your car towed out of here tonight, I need that space and I have enough work to deal with.»
I was appalled. I’m thinking, I just want my car to start to get out here.
«No, go. I’m not going to feel guilty about this, I’m hard on myself already as is for overlooking it.»
Did I do something wrong here?
At this time, I feel like he’s trying to turn the table. I just want my car running. He’s fixed everything else, but my car isn’t running; he neglected to fix the main cause, the one a tow truck driver easily diagnosed in a matter of seconds: the fuel pump. Now it’s caused me further inconvenience since I have to look for a tow service. I said I’ll be back in an hr.
I picked up my daughter and called around car service and tow trucks, finally got a tow service and told the receptionist what happened. She said she’ll dispatch a representative right away.
I go back to Charlie and he tells me to sign an invoice, and there was no cost to the labor, and I thought everything was okay, so I sign both copies. He grabs both invoice and walks back to the office. «Hey, don’t I get a copy?»
«No, you didn’t pay a thing so you don’t get a copy,» im like wtf, «can you give me the old parts you worked on?»
He pauses and starts thinking, «no, I have to do some business with it, you can pick it up tomorrow»
No invoice. No old parts.
The tow truck driver comes in and I walk up to the passenger window and tell him what happened, «so the car isn’t running?»
No.
He does what he needs to and I go back to my wife’s van. A few min later the tow truck driver comes up to my window and explains what should happen, «they should’ve ran a diagnostic and saw that there’s something wrong wth the fuel pump, they should be able to do that with your model.»
I told the him, «if he fixed the fuel pump, and gets my car running and then suggested this or that along with he check engine… I probably would’ve come back to this shop and got the others fixed.»
I get my car towed the second time today.
Tomorrow, in going back to the shop and ask for my old parts back and the invoice. Let’s see what happens. (I’ll update).
I would never expect, as someone who stood out yesterday in my military uniform, serving 18 years, that Charlie would do this not just to someone who needed help, but someone in the military. As a military member and former paramedic, I don’t have time to make assumptions in my line of work. I have a standard of protocol and a duty to make sure I provide the right customer care for my patient or someone dies.
Be cautious getting service.

Worst experience. This guy needs to learn how to speak to people. Would not trust this place to put air in a tire let alone fix a car. There a 4 other car repair places at this location I would use but not this place.

Love this place and the guys who work there. I’ve been there three times in the last three weeks — oil change and two headlight changes (they each went out at different times). Excellent customer service! Could not have been more pleased. Very honest and knowledgeable. Won’t try to charge you for extras you don’t need, plus they let you know about upcoming services you do need. For example, Charlie told me that at my next oil change I’ll need to change one of my belts. Good to know! I highly recommend these guys. You won’t be disappointed!

Charlie and son are the Best!
I am a female and I grew up working on cars. So this chick has some experience and knows a thing or two. ;-) I had a family mechanic for years, but I now live too far from him to keep going to him. For over 2 years I had been looking for a local, honest, and reliable mechanic that I could trust with all of my cars. I had been to a few shops and knew when I was being talked up or «sold» to, all while thinking… if only they knew that I know about cars. I would walk away disappointed, and would take care of things myself. It is very upsetting to find so many liars and dishonest people in this business. Don’t they know that honesty and word of mouth bring the best, loyal customers, and that bad news travels even faster? Well too bad for them, because Charlie is earning all of their customers. A good friend of mine who knows Charlie very well, and as a family friend, referred me to him and so I kept him in mind when the need arose. Well, one morning one of our cars wouldn’t start and I called Charlie, spoke with him directly and he had no issue with taking care of the car the same day. He even cracked a joke, so right off the bat I knew I was going to like him. I called a tow truck company (AJ’s — local to Torrance and excellent!) and we had the car at Charlie’s within an hour. At the end of the day, Charlie and his son took care of everything and then some, checking out a few things and giving advice — advice well taken. I will now be taking all of our cars, both now and in the future, to Charlie — a stand up guy who runs an honest business! Thank you Charlie!
And for all those that know him, get over here and write a review already!

Charlie’s great and did a great job on my Prius very nice I really appreciate his work for all people. I highly recommend him to all people

Charlie did a great job on my Toyota Sienna. In addition he gave me an extremely fair price and I appreciate his time.

I was recommended to Charlie by a trusted acquaintance and I can’t say enough good things about Charlie and his service. He always does a great job, has reasonable prices and doesn’t push you on things you don’t need. I wouldn’t trust my car with anyone else!

As an update — my boyfriend decided to get an auxillary cable installed in my car for Christmas so I can play my music. Even though this is something that Charlie doesn’t normally handle he and my boyfriend worked together to figure it out and pulled it off. Charlie was all about helping him pull off the surprise and was so excited to be involved. Not just a great mechanic but a great guy.

Charlie’s Automotive (formerly Silver Spur Unocal) is the most reliable, honest and trust-​worthy shop in the South Bay. Charlie has been in business for nearly 30 years and there is a reason why — he is an HONEST, master mechanic.
Charlie will fix your car for a very reasonable price and in a reasonable time. He also will not try to up-​sell you unnecessary services just to make an extra buck. You can go to Charlie’s Automotive knowing that you won’t be ripped off and that your car will be running perfectly when you pick it up! It is a great experience every single time.