Yuen’s Automotive

Al Yuen is absolutely the best. I live close by and have been using his shop for my cars for about two years. He is unfailingly prompt with repairs and almost unbelievably honest in his pricing. Twice I’ve brought my cars in for relatively minor repairs and nothing else. On each occasion the car was ready the next day and he did not charge for the service. I’ve had a few bigger ticket repairs as well but I’ve always felt his charges for parts and labor were fair and he explained them to me well. Best mechanic and a genuinely nice funny man.

Al is an honest and very good mechanic. He fixed my car in a couple of days. He told me a prize and at the end he explain me that he didn’t need to do a work and so he charged me half prize. It was a wonderful surprise! After few days I was worried about a strange sound and I let him the car again and he was very nice: he call me back after half hour. (I’ve needed just to pump my wheels)
Whenever I need it he is always available for a free advise.
I’m very happy to have find him. I feel very comfortable to know he is around the corner.

I’ve had a Unilocal account for way to long and have never felt super motivated about writing a review, I tend to just brush off bad service and experiences since I know what its like to have «one of those days»
Anyhow, Yuen’s Automotive was so awesome I actually logged myself into Unilocal to write him a good review (mainly because the review’s he does have are old and somewhat lame in their assessment) Here are some key things that stood out to me about his service
1) The man doesn’t seem to have any help and yet everytime I called (I called 4 times in the course of 2 days) he was quick to answer the phone and was courteous and answered my questions completely
2) He worked on my car promptly and gave me dam good rates! (I actually researched the cost of every part he told me I would need and he charged me at or below market cost for each part)
3) He explained to me what the problem with my car was and why the services were needed (ie what the heck a strut was!) he did so without being a condescending jerk
4) I had to leave my car for a full second day after it was done because I couldn’t get to him before his closing hour– he didn’t even bat an eye, it was a quick «thats fine!» I’ve had places charge me extra for «storage» fees when I couldn’t make it on time.
5) When I picked up my car, he gave me some more information (a certain belt is loose, my battery will die soon if I dont replace it) When explaining these things to me, he didnt make either problem sound urgent (often times mechanics tell you– especially if you are a female, that problems need to be fixed NOW or its doom for your car) Yuen didnt try to pull that on me, he was sincere and honest and told me upfront «your battery will last maybe another 2 months» and the loose belt, you can drive with it like that for up to 6 months before it becomes a real problem. He explained that I obviously dont want to push it with these two issues but he also said I’d be fine for the time being (ie between now and my next paycheck) and that was dam refreshing!
This guy is not out to make a quick buck or fraudulently take your cash. He’s a genuine hard working old school guy, you can tell he enjoys what he does and has so much experience under his belt that he was able to tell me what he thought was wrong with my car based on my pulling up (the noise my car was making as I turned in) Sammy (my car) is no longer making that hideous noise and my breaks work completely now! I’m glad this place is so close to my house and I plan on taking both my cars to Al for my mechanical needs!

Al is an honest and excellent mechanic. His prices are terrific and he is quick and nice. I would take my car to him long after I moved to Moraga and El Cerrito. He is worth the drive. He gets really busy, so try going in the mornings. :)

Al is the most honest mechanic i’ve ever known. It’s so refreshing after years of dealing with dealers and mechanics who rip you off. He has always diagnoses the problem well and only fixes what is necessary. He is not a body shop or a psychic… he’s just a nice mechanic!

I couldn’t help but speak up for Al Yuen after some of the weak complaints here. –1 star b/​c of funky wrecking yard look.
Ditto Jc C’s responses also to Gerry, you probably would have complained if he DID change and charge you for a new water pump complaining he ripped you off «since it was working fine». Al loses either way!
Joon, do you take your broken arm to a Gynecologist? well good luck if you do!
I’ve been taking my cars to AL for the past 10 years (as do many locals who don’t Unilocal) and know him to be super honest, reliable, very experienced and an excellent auto diagnostician. He is friendly, straightforward, and tells you if he cannot fix a problem or if the car is not worth it.
I think of him of the understated, zen master who just does his work, has nothing to prove, and doesn’t let others drama and ignorance effect him.
IMHO he is great local secret…

Last Friday, I went to Al since it is convenient for me. The dealer or my usual mechanic is in Berkeley.
I haven’t used Yuen’s Auto but Al appears to be honest. He changed the rotor/​brake pads and his price was lower than others. I haven’t checked the rotors if it’s new or my old ones machined down… I’ll check them with calipers and verify his honesty… lol.
To Gerry D… there’s no way a mechanic can tell if a water pump will fail… I’ve had cars over 100k miles without any water pump failure. Then I had one that leaked at 60K. Both are exactly the same cars…’01 Grand Cherokee LTD.
To Joon Y… Al does not make his money on body work so you pay for his time…$ 60/​hr is very very cheap… He’s a one man operation and he schedules you… good you went to a bodyshop.
Funny how people blame mechanics for failures that are really designed to a certain life cycle. I befriended a BMW mechanic manager; and talk about being ripped off by independent BMW mechanics. Wish I knew him before I got my cars routinely maintained. These honest sounding guys changed parts that do not breakdown. BMW doesn’t even stock these parts… geeze!

I used to ONLY take my Camry here.
He is a very nice guy and reasonably priced.
However after spending nearly $ 500 for a timing belt job and then having to come back about month later to have my water pump replaced I will never trust him.
Why? Because it is right friggen there and cost just as much for labor due to location. A good mechanic would have suggested a replacement at that time regardless of condition. I almost wonder if it was rigged even since I hear this is a common practice to get you to pay labor twice on this part.
So now it was nearly a grand all together for double the work that did not need to be done.
I now have a new trusted mechanic closer to home.

Whoa — I’m the first! This place do look a bit on the sketchy side, but when my ex-​girlfriend bought a lemon of a used car (a honda civic), a friend of hers recommend the place. I was pleasantly surprised. Yuen is honest and upfront – unlike, dare I say, all dealer mechanics.
Update — I had a broken door handle. I even bought the part, but the freaking guy didn’t want to deal with it unless I brought the car in the morning. Now, I brought the car in at 1 pm. What the hell? He also said it will take two hours at about 60 dollars an hour. I decide the guy was out of his mind. I went to Karry’s Auto Body Center (another Unilocal find) and the guy charged me 60 bucks. They had it ready in about 2 hours. Now that is 5 star service.