Universal AC & Auto Repair in North Hollywood

The smog check was super quick. Fair price too. Avo was a true professional! Definitely recommending this place to anyone that asks me.

I've been coming to Universal AC & Auto Repair for 23 years and can not recommend them enough. They have repaired my very old ford pickup truck, my Jetta for almost its entire life, and my 2012 Honda CRV, which is still running. Heck, I even brought my leased Buick here instead of the dealership because we all know dealership service departments are the absolute worst and will rip you off royally. I have recommened them to numerous friends and coworker and I wish I could give them 10 stars. The guys are honest, fair, and all around great guys. You can't go wrong bringing your car here.

two stubborn guys complaining that your AC is all messed up so you ask them to fix it but they actually don’t know how. not so “universal“ AC Repair

I could not be happier with the work done by the people. I received a quote from my dealership service department and did not trust their work/honesty. I called Universal AC & Auto Repair and was able to talk to Avo, who -listened- to my situation. When I voiced my concern of going to his shop for an inspection, he reassured me he was capable of helping me with my problem (AC repair) that the dealership had found. He wasn't just just trying to get me into the shop for an inspection. They were able to see me that day, and I left my car for inspection. He texted me after the inspection, and we talked about what would need to be repaired. His price was competitive to the previous estimate, but I felt I trusted him more than the other shop. The other shop had done a diagnostic and caught some more problems, but Avo was confident we could fix it with less repair parts. We talked about the potential of the extra work and came up with a repair price that beat the other shop. I did not receive a email or printed quote, we just agreed over the phone. When he was working on the car, the extra repair was needed and Avo kept his word on the quoted price over the phone. The extra work wasn't time easy, but I can tell he worked extra to make sure I had my car for the weekend, which took extra effort. He was honest, truthful, and genuinely nice throughout the entire process. I was very happy with the outcome, and will recommend him to anyone that needs a trustworthy mechanic. Thank you guys.

Very grateful for the brothers who run this place! Needing the AC checked on a hot day in LA is no joke... luckily, Chris was able to run diagnostics upon arrival for a quick fix! Friendly efficient service! 🤘

They have been fixing my car and my van for many years. They are honest reliable and very professional at what they do. They always guarantee their work and I highly recommend this place.

Great guys here. I spoke with Avo and he really went the extra mile to help me out. If you're looking for a go-to spot that is trust-worthy and knows their stuff, this is the place.

TLDR Scammers! I was having issues with my car A/C. A year ago I had recharged the AC, and all was working until a few weeks ago. I saw a mechanic who added some Freon to it (40 psi worth, I saw him do this), when done, the AC worked for a few days. After the fourth day, the system was no longer working. I presented this information to this mechanic, he offered to diagnose the problem for $120, and if I fixed the problem there, the diagnosis was free. He claimed he needed 2hrs to diagnose the problem, he did not indicate what steps he would take, just that he would find what was wrong. They did not call me back 2.5hrs into the “diagnostic”, so I went back to figure out what’s up. His “diagnosis” was that there wasn’t a leak. He suggested that I let him re-vacuum the system (though that doesn’t explain why the pressure is down), but he told me it would be $120 for the “diagnostic” and $120 for the repair. I asked why the diagnostic wasn’t free if I got it fixed with him and he said that re-vacuuming wasn’t a repair, so of course he was going to charge me for the 2hrs of his time“diagnosing the problem”. Now, if I’m paying $120 for the 2hr “diagnostic” I want to know what I paid for. I asked what steps he took in “diagnosing” the problem, even though he hasn’t found the root of the problem. I asked if he had a diagnostic sheet/printout or anything, he did not. He said that he did a lot, he claims to have visually inspected the system, drained out the existing freon and oil, and put it under pressure to see if there was a leak. He went on to say that there might be a leak, but that would be in the evaporator, but inspecting that isn’t part of the “diagnostic”. Keep in mind that he didn’t mention any of this beforehand, or go into detail of what the “diagnostic” consists of, I just assumed by the high reviews, that he was a pro and would find the problem. I’ve never been scammed by a mechanic before, I didn’t know the signs… I wanted to get the A/C repaired that day, but I wasn’t ready to pay $240 for something that he admitted doesn’t address the source of the problem. So I continue to ask why the “diagnostic” isn’t free if I’m getting the repair done? We both become frustrated, he can’t explain to me how his “suggestion” fixes the origin of the problem, he won’t inspect the rest of the system for leaks, and he won’t do the repair for just the cost of the fix because “it’s not a real repair” (yes, he said that). Finally I tell him to put the car back how it was and I’ll pay for the “diagnosis” and leave. However, while he claimed earlier when justifying “2hrs of work” he drained the freon/oil, now he says that there was never any of either in the first place, and he won’t put it back, because it was empty. This baffles me, if there was no freon/oil, why isn’t that the diagnosis, instead of “there’s no leak”. If the system’s empty, how on earth can there not be a leak? Nothing is making sense, and the scam is on full display. I suspect, when he found that the issue was more complex, he decided it wasn’t worth it and he would do an extra $120 service, charge the $120 diagnostic (since it’s not a real repair), and since the AC might work for a bit, I’d leave and he'd be $240 richer. Later, my A/C wouldn’t work again, and maybe I’d even be stupid enough to go back. When it was clear I wouldn’t be a victim he did what scammers do. He continued to deny that his “diagnostic” was nonsense,that there was any fluid in the system to begin with, and kept pushing his “fix” that isn’t a repair, so I have to pay for the “diagnostic”. I paid him for his “diagnostic” scam and left without him restoring the freon/oil to the original levels (you know, when he drained it, which he now denies) I spent time on this review, because people who are scammed are usually ashamed and won’t leave a review. I share because I don’t want others to fall into this trap, and the confidence I got from reviews helped lure me in. If they continue to run their business like this, no one will work with them in the future. Check other review sites.