Yen’s Auto Service

Review deleted

So, I’ve got very little experience with Yen’s, having gone there for the first time last week based on the re3commendation of one of my friends who does in fact have a clue. My problem, it turns out, wasn’t really a problem (aside from me being a neurotic), so nothing really happened. I can speak to a few points, though:
1) The guy seemed honest, and that can be worth its weight in the precious metal of your choice. He also had the air of someone who knew what they were talking about.
2) Diagnosis and the call back where almost immediate. He also spoke to me like I was a real person. That was refreshing
3) He charged $ 20 for the diagnosis, and another $ 20 to bleed the clutch. This may seem like a princely sum for those of you who do your own work, but for the mechanically disinclined among us, it’s waaaaaaaaay cheaper than other places. Also, he could have tacked on anything he wanted, and I wouldn’t have been the wiser.
When calling, speaking to him on a land-​line may be the best option. I’m a little hard of hearing, and when he called back I spoke to him on my cell. English is his second language (he’s near-​native in English), and he’s got a bit of an accent which I had difficulty penetrating in spots. The content was good, but I really would have had an easier time with a better quality connection, that is to say, a land line.
I can’t give a higher rating than 3 stars since my experience with the shop is so limited, but I will be going back based on my one experience.

really great and in the neighborhood! thanks Yen for helping us every single time and doing it right!

Mark and his team do not take the time to listen to why you brought your car into them. They talk very fast and rush you when you drop your car off. They fail to road test the vehicle on the freeway after work and state all is fine, but when questioned a number of time he then says «we only drive it around the block». How do you check if the car needs rotors if you do not go over 20 mpg? They appear to be in such a hurry to get cars in and out that they have lost their way and forgot the reason why they are in business. One word review… Mistake

Booooo!
Shameless behavior.
I brought my Miata in with a check engine light ON.
He spent 20 minutes with it though I was charged $ 85.00?
I was given a invoice diagnosis of «Engine no good»…that’s it.
He said I would need a whole new engine or his service for $ 2000.
Took it to a real mechanic… and was charged $ 200 and told my engine is great???
Not a bad engine… not a whole $ 2000 service…1 valve was stuck???
He should have noticed this as soon as he pulled the valve cover off which is part of any cylinder misfire diagnosis.
They suck–

It was a chilly Monday morning but I was all ready to drive in to work. Unfortunately when I turned the key in the ignition the engine did not turn over. Panic. Battery dead. Called AAA and the next call after was Yen’s.
I was referred to Yen’s before by a car repair consultant who recommends Yen’s to all his clients when he’s too booked.
Mark Yen (owner) said «bring it in» and I drove on in at 9:30. He estimated it would take 1.5 hours to finish up. And at the price he gave me I said «add an oil change and replace my headlight bulb». By the time I walked back from breakfast, the car was done, battery installed, bulb in and oil was changed. They filled up the air in my tires and the car runs like new. After all the panic before, I was pleased with the cost. Mark Yen and his hard working crew are my go to guys. Can’t live or drive safely without them.

This guy (Mark) is AWESOME! I mean where can you find an honest mechanic? Right here! This guy has the most honest place I have ever been. He told me one time, «no, you don’t need a tune-​up, just an oil change for now. Tune-​up can wait.» I have been his customer for over 15 years and he has worked on my Mitsubishi Endeavor, several vans I had in the past, my wife’s Kia car… and I tell my friends that he is cool!

Mr. Yen is an honest mechanic. I’ve brought several cars to him over the years and his service has always been top notch. He’s fast and gives a fair price too.

Called them this morning, right after they opened, and asked if I needed to make an appointment to get a couple repairs (fan belt needed adjustment – squealing – and power steering wasn’t working so well). The man on the phone said no appointment was needed, just bring in the car and they’d check it out.
About a half hour later, I arrived went over the issues with them. The man at the desk was fast, efficient, and good-​natured. In less than a half hour I received a call regarding my options – the power steering fluid was really dirty so he suggested replacing it, and let me know it may or may not improve the issue. He also said they’d make the adjustment to the fan belt and look into the check engine code that pops up now and then.
Within two and a half hours I returned to check on my car, and found it had been taken care of – the squealing was gone and the power steering worked just fine. The man at the desk explained that the check engine light was on with a code indicating the transmission temperature sensor needed checking – the same code that has popped up now and then since I’ve owned the car. I paid a reasonable/​affordable amount for these minor repairs, and went on my merry way.
I’ll definitely be back!

I brought my friends here who are new to the neighborhood to get their brakepads replaced on their Honda Accord. The owner was nice, efficient, competent, and honest. The estimate was fair (something like ¹⁄₃ of what the dealership charges) and he stuck to it 100%.
I will definitely bring my own car here if it needs work done.
Oh yah the owner can speak Mandarin, I know that’s a big plus for a lot of grad students and visiting scholars in the area.

Amazing customer and mechanic service! I called and he was able to get my car in right away and 3 hours later it was done! I will definitely take my car back next time it needs to go into the shop.

Speedy and friendly service! This is efficiency and customer care at its best! I’d definitely come back!

They found an unrelated issue with my car and fixed it absolutely for free when I was getting a smog check done. Potentially saving me hundreds of dollars. Can’t speak highly enough of these guys

I can’t speak highly enough about them. My car had failed a smog test elsewhere, so I brought it to Yen’s. Mark (sp?) found and fixed the main problems, but was left with a baffling, intermittent Check Engine light. He drove me round the block to show that the light didn’t come on in normal running, then put the car on his dynamometer and revved it up, to show that the light then came on, but there was no error code. I had to go to a different, STAR test center to get it retested, so he told me to do that, and if it failed, to bring it back to him. He refused to charge more than the flat diagnostic fee. The car passed, thankfully.

My wife and I said we’d be back, and our first wonderful experience was happily repeated!
Our ’86 Camry developed an idle problem: it would stall out while in drive! We took it to Yen’s and he discovered a leak in the hose from the air filter. Due the age of the vehicle and the discontinued part needed, it could not be replaced. However, Yen said he could fix it, which meant binding up the hose with duct tape. We were a little surprised at such a simple solution, but hey, we can’t afford a new car right now, so we’re happy that this worked!
The spark plugs and oil were changed, and on the drive home we were both very pleased. The idle was steady as a rock! Now we can take road trips again without any nagging concern!
I should say that if you are the type of person who doesn’t know much about cars and wants your mechanic to explain everything down to the tiniest little detail, you may wish to go somewhere else. Yen is a VERY busy man, and will get the job done right, but he won’t hold your hand. The proof is the pudding, as they say, and Yen’s service is fast and fantastic.

5 stars all the way!
Went in with my Audi and just needed a quick smog check. No appointment needed and my smog check was done within 20 minutes.
I was then able to go online and pay my vehicle registration.
Too easy!
Great service!

Yen is pretty rad! My 97 Mazda Miata was leaking oil all over the place and even though I changed the valve cover gasket, he found the true problem was behind the timing belt in the crank shaft and in the oil pump. He and his crew put in way more labor than they charged me for and even took pictures of the mangled old pump to show me what exactly was going on. He’s honest, reliable, and VERY communicative. He’ll explain everything if you let him and his wife gives great customer service too. Totally a family business and he even let his staff off of work for the Chinese New Year! 6 stars for real! You want to go to there, trust me :)

When all is done, $ 50 is what is owed at this Mandarin-​speaking business.
They gave me a 35 minute turnaround time for smogging my vehicle. Enjoyed the sun and got a tan reading.
Courteous, friendly, professional. Right on time! Bingo… on my merry way this afternoon of errand-​slogging in A+ weather!!!
Will come here for any big auto issues. Seem very honest to deal with.

I was a bit scared to let somebody work on my car since its my first real deal car that im still paying off and it wasnt given to me so i def wanted to make sure i didnt pay too much for a service nor did i want to pay close to nothing for a service and get a crappy job.
THiS AUTO SHOP SAVED MY BEHIND!
Thank you so much for having good prices and GOOOD PEOPLE WORKING HERE!
I will return for any service my car may need. even if that means taking a day off and driving from San Pablo!

Yen’s to the rescue yet again!!!
He fixed a horrendous rattle from a lousy brake job free of charge because I thought it was from his previous work. Glad to be wrong again and double glad I have a great and honest mechanic!