Kar-Tech Auto Service

These guys were $ 600 cheaper to fix my muffler than CarX down the street and they were extremely accommodating to my schedule and even threw in a free oil change. My Dad took my car in somewhere in my hometown while I was abroad for a maintenance check up and I ended up with a huge bill, check engine light on, and a mess up timing belt!
Took it to Jose and he got me fixed up for less than the other guys charged for the whole maintenance package (messing it up), and I sent the bill to the other garage.
I’m not going anywhere else in Chicago!

My car was inexplicably stalling and my usual mechanic couldn’t figure out why. Jose, the owner of Kar-​Tech, called me an hour after I dropped off the car to tell me I needed to come back and discuss what he’d found (his english is a little rough, so phone conversation isn’t the best for him). He briefly mentioned that there was a recall on the Civic’s ignition switch, and when I came back he had a print-​out of an Internet search he had done explaining the recall (which I’d gotten notice of years before and paid no mind). He then let me drive off for free to the Honda dealership where I had it fixed free due to the recall. Months later, I needed brake work, a new timing chain, and a new starter. He was my first choice, and he did not disappoint. Jose is hands down the best mechanic I have ever used. Yes, he borders on being a little gruff, but I’ll take that over a friendly place that robs me blind (I’m thinking of Ashland Tire and Auto when I say that). Don’t be put off by its divey exterior/​interior. This place is smart, fast, efficient, and won’t talk you into stuff you don’t need to have done. The other reviewer’s bad review was unfair — I think it was totally fair of him to ask her to come back when the check engine light was on.

I needed both side mirrors replaced on a Ford Taurus. I already had the parts, so I just needed the labor. Jose @ Kar Tech got me in the same day I called, completed the repairs in just two hours, and charged about $ 100 less than Pep Boys quoted me. When the duck tape isn’t working for you anymore — Jose is your man.

I live about 2 blocks away from here, and this place always looks closed. Anyways, my car failed the emissions test and they have a big sign outside that says «Failed Emissions Test?» so I decided to go here. Bad idea. I showed the guy the printout that said what was wrong with my car. He look a look under the hood but said he couldn’t tell what was wrong and he had to erase the memory. The told me to drive the car around for a couple of days, and when the Check Light came back on, to bring the car back. Well, it didn’t come on after 2 wks.
So I went to Pep Boys on Elston and when I told them him another place erased the memory and the light hadn’t come back on, he said it was a bad idea. CRAP. Pep Boys charged me $ 90 to run a diagnostic to figure out what was wrong. So my question is, why didn’t this guy run a diagnostic to figure out what was wrong, instead of clearing the memory and waiting for the light to come back on? The light was ALREADY on! So I’m assuming that he didn’t have the ability to run a diagnostic and figure out what was wrong, thus why he had to erase the memory and wait for the light to come back on. So I’m just pissed because I would have gone to Pep Boys in the first place and have them figure out right away what was wrong. Will never be back here unless I break down right in front of it or something, but then they’ll probably be closed.