Walnut Hill Smog Test Only

Eddy did great work with me. I came in with a 2004 Honda Civic from out of state that had been modified by the previous owner with a custom air filter system not permitted in CA. He helped me see what I’d need to do and pointed me to a place where I might find used parts. It turned out that place didn’t have what I needed, but with a few phone calls I found a place in L.A. that specializes in Japanese cars that did. I put everything together, and when I returned, Eddy retested without my having to pay again for the retest. I saved at least several hundred dollars. Whew!

I had called this Smog Check Station to find out how much they charge for a smog test. During that phone call I was told that it would be $ 40. When I arrived to have my car tested, the gentleman running the smog tests insisted that I sign the estimate before he had written in the cost. My car failed the smog test due to a check engine light and a fault code for «Insufficient EGR flow». The car passed all other aspects of the smog test. As previously stated by another reviewer, a fault code due to the exhaust system will prohibit a vehicle from passing a smog test, something he did not explain to me. The gentleman running the test told me to get the issue resolved and come back within ten days for a free re-​test. The ten day free re-​test policy was also on the estimate I was asked to sign. He then wrote in an amount of $ 50 for the cost of my failed smog test. I explained to him that I had called ahead and had been told over the phone that the cost would only be $ 40. He reluctantly changed the price to $ 40.
One week later I returned with the appropriate work done to the car and the check engine light no longer illuminated. The same gentleman ran the smog test again. Again I was asked to sign the estimate before the cost had been written in. The car passed with no issues. When the gentleman gave me the certificate, he also gave me a bill for $ 10. I asked him why I was being charged an additional $ 10 when I was told that the re-​test was going to be. He said the $ 10 was for the certificate. I had received a certificate during my last visit. The only difference between the first certificate and the new one he was charging me for, was the status of the engine fault code. When I asked why this certificate cost $ 10 and the last did not, he pointed out on the previous receipt that $ 10 had come off of the original cost. He claimed it was for the failed certificate and walked away. It was the $ 10 he had dropped from the cost to honor the price I had been told over the phone. I followed after him to explain why the original receipt was less expensive. When I found him, he dismissively gave me the same explanation he had already given me, before I was able to say anything. He then sent me to the counter to pay the bill and again he walked away.

I had a smog check for $ 40. They even gave a free car wash!

I have brought both of my vehicles to this guy and he has done star certified smog on them. My old chevy truck didn’t pass, brought it back the next day so he can work on it and was able to fix what was needed to have it pass. Of course paid extra but who does work for free these days. Anyway was happy to have it pass with minimal work instead of crazy expenses. Brought my daily driver in this week and he gave me a good deal over the phone, I recommend you call ahead. Anyway the gas cap was defective, instead of failing me on the spot he had some for sale, boom! Bought it on the spot and passed with flying colors. I’m definitely going back to this guy. Seems like a nice, honest, genuine old school kind of guy.

Do Not Go Here! — Dishonest and SCAM ALERT!
Summary:
I learned the hard way that an honest Smog Check Station will never run a smog check if your Check Engine light is ON. *I went to this place NOT knowing this information. My check engine light was on and yet they still ran the test and charged me.
Full story:
I went here during March 2014. The elderly man who works/​owns the place took my keys and told me to go pay the car wash cashier $ 50 and wait in the waiting area for about 30 minutes. When I came back he told me that my car did not pass the inspection because the check engine light was on. He said if I give him $ 60 CASH he would try fixing the issue by resetting the check engine light. He told me to come back in a couple of hours — I made it clear to him that I would only give him the money if he would assure me a full if he couldn’t resolve the issue. He said of course. deal!
I came back and the elderly man said he reset the check engine light and that I would need to drive 100+ miles and then come back. So the next day I drove 50 miles east on the 210 and then back to the place. wasted $ 20 of gas. The man plugged a computer in to the ECU and it showed that the car would still not pass the inspection. The man then told me that If I took the car next door they could fix it for $ 400.
I decided to take my car to my trusted Auto Mechanic in the Valley. They ran a diagnostics and found out that my Reed Switch needed to be replaced. The part only cost $ 60. with labor and the new part i was charged $ 90 total. I told him what happened at the Smog Check place and how he asked for $ 60 cash upfront and then said his family could fix it for $ 400. All the mechanics said it was BS and that an honest Smog Check place would never smog a car if a check engine light was on.
So after getting my car fixed for for $ 90. I drove it back to the Hill Smog Test located inside the car wash. The car passed the smog test and the elderly man said he would refund me $ 20 even though he said he would give me a full refund. I didn’t want to argue with the guy because I was the fool for trusting him.
End of the day Walnut Hill Smog Check (located inside the gas station) charged me:
$ 50 Smog Check
$ 60 Cash to fix the problem
$ 20 Gas to drive 100 miles
$ 20 to redo the Smog Test — which means I didn’t get my partial refund
Most Importantly they wasted my time. Oh wait I forgot to mention the guy said he’ll give me a free car wash — Which I’ll never use.
That means I paid the guy $ 90 extra to do nothing and waste my time. When that $ 90 could have been used to pay for the actual issue. I’m just glad that I didn’t take the car to his family members auto shop where they would have charged me $ 400.

Great smog test place! The owner is very friendly and courteous. The shop is nice and clean, part of the large car wash. Reasonable price, $ 50 including a free car wash!

The gentleman who smog test my car was polite, friendly, and helpful. I highly recommend this place. Make sure your gas cap is in good condition.

These guys are scam artists! My car didn’t pass and had to have some work done before the retest. They said that the retest would be free. LIE! The guy acted like he knew what the problem was and told me the wrong thing. After I finally had the right issue fixed he would NOT honor his word to me about the retest and told me that they had to pay some fee to the state again for the retest and so I had to pay the full price again. I looked into this «fee» and it was total BS! I was saving the «free» car wash for after my car passed smog so that it would look nice for its sale and they denied me the car wash because of our disagreement even though I had already paid once. I tried to speak with the owner of the car wash (that also owns the smog center) because my family has used this car wash for years and he basically told me «too bad». My family will NEVER come here again because of this experience and between the 5 of us we were probably spending hundreds of dollars a year here. Smart business decision guys! You don’t have to take my word for it. Just go and have a look for yourself. It is quite obvious that the smog guy is shady. BE CAREFUL! He will undoubtedly screw you over too if he has the chance.

It’s true i am a fan of this place, I had to get a Smog check done and this was the cheapest place and they include a car wash with your Smog check i was like hells yes!