Westside auto repair in Santa Cruz

These guys are great. They never suggest unnecessary work and have always been super honest with me. I often feel like mechanics are trying to pull one over on me but not these guys. They have taken care of a 2007 ford ranger for me, as well as a 2017 Subaru forester. I always feel comfortable bringing my vehicles to them. I made a mistake about six months ago cuz I was traveling and needed an oil change in the forester. I took it to a Valvoline and had them change the oil. Recently it was due again and I took it to West Side Auto. Turns out Valvoline had managed to over tighten the oil pan plug and it was totally seized up in there. We thought the oil pan was gonna need to be changed out for a new one, but these dudes put in the extra effort and were able to extract the stuck plug, even tho it took some serious effort. I think most mechanics would’ve gone the easy route and swapped the whole oil pan. Not these dudes tho. They saved me a whole bunch of cash by going the extra mile. I would confidently take any vehicle to these guys!

Called to bring my car in for an oil change and to take a look at the A/C. They were able to get me in and out the next day very quickly at a great price! They were very transparent about what work they suggested for my car, and were understanding that I wasn’t able to pursue it at the moment.

PLEASE READ BEFORE GOING HERE> Terrible service. I got my rotors replaced at this shop and instead of replacing the rotors they just shaved them down. While this is a cheaper option and is sometimes done its only prolongating the process of getting your rotors replaced. They did not explain this to me well at all and the entire experience was very unfriendly. There was just a consistent bad attitude. Fast forward 6 months.. my car's rotors are totally warped again and need replacement. What could have been a 400 brake job turned into a 1200 dollar repair. This was 13,000 miles after the service was done. So they basically charged me for new parts + (120/hr labor fee) and gave me a 6 month warranty or 6,000 miles when you shouldn't need to replace the brakes for 1-2 years or at least 30,000 miles. When I called they were rude and didn't help me at all and told me I was 1 week out of warranty and am obviously driving too much. I talked to multiple auto mechanics in my new community who have all told me consistently that I got ripped off. Please don't go here. There are much sweeter people around Santa Cruz that care about their community and are not trying to rip people off.

I’ve been here twice, and have experienced excellent customer service and fair pricing. I typically get anxious about taking my car in to get repaired, but I trust this shop! Plus, it feels good to support a local business.

An engine light came on our car and it stalled going up a hill. We brought it in around 2 PM for an inspection and they were able to order the necessary part (crankshaft position sensor) and fixed it the same day within 2 hours. The crew were incredibly helpful, attentive, and diligent and the prices were reasonable. Would highly recommend visiting if anyone is in the area and needs a fast repair.

I took my SUV to a different shop at first. Check engine light on and problems starting car after I filled the tank. That other shop pretended to fix the problem, and charged me a bunch for it. I then took it to Westside and got the best treatment from Juan and his crew. They were communicative, respectful, and efficient! My engine has been working perfectly since. I will now always go to Westside Auto for repairs and maintenance and you should to!

I took a vehicle (I ended up buying) for an inspection before purchasing to make sure it was going to be reliable. They noticed two oil leaks ( that I had the dealer fix) they seemed to be fixated on oil problem and apparently did not inspect anything else. The vehicle ended up having a bad radiator hose and other coolant leaks that caused me to break down (luckily in town) and be towed to a shop for repairs costing at least $1,500. I say at least since it is still in the shop and won't be done until tomorrow and I don't know if they will find anything else wrong after these repairs are completed. If they would of done a thorough inspection I would not of purchused this vehicle. I will not go back or recomend them to anyone. The vehicle is a BMW so repairs are more expensive than other cars. The vehicle only had 103,000 miles when I bought it now has 105,000. I was expecting a vehicle that would go at least a couple of years before having major problems. That is why I had the inspection done in the first place.

Zero not one star. I went in because of the good reviews 5 stars. Asked for an oil change, tires pumped up and check the other coolant etc fluids because I’m going cross country and don’t want any problems. While I had just given my keys the next customer comes in and asks for a new starter. The “man in charge” says do you want a good one? Who on earth asks that? Of course you want a cheap and reliable starter. I got a $75 synthetic oil change, and they didn’t refill my tires that needed air. I challenged them on the price saying it was ridiculous and they said synthetic oil is so expensive and I paid. You can get a synthetic oil change at GTS Mountain View for $35-40 and they really inspect your car and care. Plus if GTS finds anything the prices are completely reasonable. I’m sure my other fluids aren’t checked and now I don’t trust my oil change right now. I went back in and told them my tires are still deflated they are to be 35 in front and 33 in back when cool. The front are sagging still. He says “the tires had the right pressure when they came in.” I brought it in because I’m at 30 hot on the front and 32 hot on the back - not ok. So I spent $75 and will go to another mechanic tomorrow as I don’t trust them. Please don’t come here they are completely unprofessional untrustworthy and don’t care - maybe they are great to loyal clients but how can there be any if this is the first experience?