Carlsbad 76 Fuel & Smog Testing Facility

So happy that the smog testing is back at the 76. I guess Ray opened it back up 2 years ago. He is always professional, friendly, and efficient! I was in/​out in a little over 15 minutes. He gave me the coupon that was on line even though I didn’t have it. Great customer service!

Bait and switch smog testing. Website claims to take most competitors coupons however tried to charge me more then double of the coupon I brought in. Of course, they weren’t up front with their pricing until I pulled my car into their garage. Never do business with people who aren’t up front with their pricing.

My car had a hard passing the smog test. The gentlemen that helped me referred me to people who could help fix the problem. Then when I got it fixed, I still had trouble with one part and the gentlemen took time and looked on the Internet with me and helped me fix it. This place has excellent service and prices. They genuinely care about people.

I wish there were more than 5 stars, because this isn’t enough for Ray. Let me break this down for you… I’ve had trouble with my car since day one. When the time finally came to get it smogged, my service engine light was on and had been on for almost a year! I’d been into the dealership twice for other random issues, but they never could figure out what was still setting the light off. Needless to say I was seriously stressed out. Ray took a look, had me pop the hood and in literally 30 seconds spotted the issue. He was so helpful, told me the exact part I’d need and he offered to replace if for me and then do the smog. His prices were totally fair, he was so helpful and made me feel extremely comfortable. It’s so great to know that there are still people out there who genuinely care! This is the only place I’ll be taking my car to in the future!

This Is a great place but compared to other Arco it is over priced and beware of the prices for what your buying because the clerks will overcharge you…

In short: Ray is an awesome, friendly, and knowledgeable guy who wants nothing more than to help you out and make sure you have a smooth smog check. Quick, great location (immediately to the East of the 5 on Tamarack), great price, and great experience. As long as I live in San Diego, Ray’s testing facility will have my business as my go-​to smog test station. If you want a longer review, read on.
I called Ray because I had a check engine light on my car and was going to get my car checked at his station as it’s the closest to my house, but had heard that any check engine light at all was an instant smog failure. He said this was true but told me to bring my car down anyways and he’d check what check engine codes my car had and see what we could do from there.
At no charge, he checked out my car’s codes and told me what it probably was, to drive 50 – 80 miles to see if the code ran out, and then to bring it back if the light came back and see where we’re at. I do as he said, and the light unfortunately comes back on, so I bring it back to him. Again, at no charge, he checks the codes and goes through what it could be. He solved one of the codes for me (I just needed to crank my gas cap down tighter than I had been) but for the others he suggests I take it to a mechanic because I’ll probably need to have work done to get it sorted out. He actually suggests the absolutely great mechanic shop I regularly take my car to, which just made me trust him even more.
I wind up getting it sorted out, take it back to Ray, and within ten or fifteen minutes my smog check is complete and I’m back on the road. On top of me probably taking up at least 45 minutes of his time aside from my official smog check, none of which he charged me for, he throws on a discounted price onto my smog check making it cheaper than any other smog price I’ve found in the area.
All that aside, Ray turned what would have been a nightmareish check engine light/​smog check ordeal into a quick, simple, and stressless experience, and for that I am deeply grateful. I don’t think you will find service at any other smog station as you will find here. Ray truly cares about his customers and will do all he can to ensure that they get what they needed done in as stressless an experience as possible. Best automotive related experience I have ever had.

I have been going to this 76 to get my cars smogged since I moved here 7 years ago. The guy that works there has always been a no b.s. kind of guy, get u in and get you out, which I really like.
So the last time I was getting gas there, my check engine light was on. I asked the smog guy about it and he ran some test and told me it was my gas cap that was old and not making a good deal. He didn’t charge me anything and saved me a couple of hundred dollars easily! This guy comes off a little hard at first but is legitimately a good guy and I will always take my car here if I have any questions.

I just had my car smogged here at Carlsbad 76 smog station off Tamarack ave. Ray is a great guy and very honest with an outstanding service and very reasonable price. I would highly recommend him to everyone for sure.
Address: 945 TAMARACK AVE. CARLSBAD CA 92 008
Tel: 760−729−8012
Website:

Excellent service. Ray is a super nice guy. Even gave me a discount when I complained his price was higher than the smog check in vista.

Ray is so nice. Came here early, got right on with my smog check. Made sure I had a comfy seat. Fairly priced. Will recommend to my Freinds for sure.

This place was awesome! Ray was really nice. Super helpful! I’m sending all my friends here!

Smog guy is super nice! He even moved me in front of a customer since I was in a hurry. Probably not the cheapest place but very convenient. This place is STAR Certified baby!

My husband had stopped here last week to fill his company vehicle after doing some work in the area before hitting the highway back to Portland, REALLY BAD EXPERIENCE…
The Manager, a foreign speaking man, refused to let him FULLY FILL his work truck with gas, strange as you are a gas station, the man stated if he didn’t have cash he could not fill the truck, ??? his truck usually takes about $ 160.00, he has the company’s credit card which is a 76 fuel card with no limit, and the rude manager refused his fill request…
Good thing there is a Chevron station right across the street, my husband was upset — left this 76 Gas station and went across to the Chevron, where he was greeted by a very nice lady who said no problem, we will fill your truck, so he got his gas, hubby purchased some snacks for the trip back home to Portland…
My husbands company will issue a complaint to the Corporate offices of Conoco Phillips regarding this station and its Manager, after the treatment of long standing customers…
With such competition with gas stations you would think customer service would be the priority… guess not with these folks…

My boyfriends tire exploded on the 5 right off of tamarack and he pulled in to 76. We had great, helpful service and they are very reasonable with pricing. Will go there for future services and will definitely recommend this place to friends and family.

HOLY SERVICE BATMAN!
Tim the service manager is back from retirement, and me and my Subaru are so grateful! This place hasn’t always been known for being awesome, but it’s on it’s way to be!
Grab a coupon in-​store, and for around $ 30 you can get your biannual smog done (you know you love it!), $ 20 for brake service, and absolutely FREE smiles from Tim. He’s from Wisconsin, the friendliest state in the world, and will chat you up… let him :)
This place is just off of I-​5 and Tamarack, you can’t miss it — Plus, he’ll give you referral cards that grant $ 20 off of any service to a friend PLUS earn you a $ 20 credit every time one of your referred shows up for a service. Win-​Win AND a friendly, honest place to take your car.
Thanks for keeping my Sube purring!

Close to freeway, got gas and went to the bathroom and was back on the road. Bathroom needs a little bit of work to get it up to standard levels. They also were out of paper towels. Amazing to have a credit card machine that works and a pump that works — imagine that!

Is there a way to give zero stars for this sham smog test station? They sit there all day long with an empty test bay, but try pulling in and they’ll manufacture an excuse not to test your car… or offer to test it for an outrageous amount of money, as another reviewer mentions.
I had gone to this station for smog tests for YEARS under previous ownership. I went to them last time, after the change in ownership, and the new people seemed a little sketchy, but the station is very convenient and they did the test.
This time the tech (Scott Anthony Soares) opened the engine hood, took one look at some minor seepage from the radiator temperature sensor, and freaked out saying the car was likely to boil over on his dynamometer. I tried to explain that the seepage is minor, has been present for years — including once when they smogged the car previously — and I would be happy to sign a waiver in the event it did boil over.
I think they just could not get over the fact this is an old and cosmetically ugly car, but I don’t think that gives them the right to turn away someone for a state-​mandated test over a bogus excuse.
Unfortunately, as I filled out the state BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) complaint form, I saw that I needed to return to the station to get their state license number. Which hey refused to provide, repeatedly.
From there, things got ugly. While I kept my cool (can’t help it that my hands shake when I get upset), suddenly they were threatening me with the police and saying I had threatened them with physical violence. At that point I asked them to call the police and (of course) they chickened out.
I did finally get that license number and have filed a complaint with BAR. Don’t make the same mistake… find a different place to have your car smogged. It’s a shame now that I won’t even buy gas there — they usually are a couple pennies cheaper than the guys across the street.

Good, quick and inexpensive. I have an 02 volvo, I had 2 cars ahead of me, it took less than an hour. I got a coupon off their web-​site, including tax the total out the door was less than 40 bucks! Overall good experience!

Quick cheep service. Only $ 40!!!

Conveniently located right off the 5 and Tamarack exit in Carlsbad. If you’re heading north and you make a right, it’s the first drive way.
There are other surrounding gas stations within feet. There’s a chevron across the street, but much more expensive. Also, an Arco across the bridge that’s a few cents cheaper.
This 76 is pretty reasonable, and yes when you do leave, there is a stop light for ease of traffic.
Clean and well lit.