Rick’s Auto Repair

I just wanted to write another review. My car was making the most atrocious sound. I called and they told me to drop it off and they would look at it. Apparently my exhaust pipe was falling off or something (not a car person), so when he called me to have me approve the cost. I was a little nervous. He charged me only $ 50 and had it done within a few hours. A rock had shattered my dad’s truck, and even though they aren’t a body shop, they called in a favor with another body shop and charged me only $ 180 for the repair and new window. Other places were quoting over $ 300 and it would take a week to fix. Thanh is amazing, and although the place is a little bit seedy I appreciate that they have low overhead costs and pass on the savings to me. I will always bring my car repairs here!

I’ve taken my cars here over the years. It’s close to where I work. The owner (Thanh) has always seemed upfront about what’s wrong with the cars. Recently I acquired a truck. The truck needed the rack and pinion replaced. So I had Thanh take a look to confirm that it indeed needed to be replaced. He called me and said, it had 2 cracks and a leak, so approx 600.00. It would be done by the time I got off of work. So I go to pick up the truck, I had to wait about 30 minutes. He brings out the truck I pay, then he says, oh, there was a nail in the tire so we had to put on the spare, you need to get your tire repaired. I said, there was no nail in the tire when I brought it, what happen? He said I don’t know when we test drove it, just take it to repair it will not cost that much. I said you need to pay for this, he said, okay I’ll take 20.00 off. Fine. I went to get the tire patched. The guy at the tire shop shows me this big slash in the tire and says there’s no way they can repair it. I asked are you sure. The guy shows me the slash again. I go back to Thanh, I said, why did you lie to be about the tire? You knew when you sent me off with the truck what condition the tire was in. He tried to say he didn’t have time to tell me about it. Mind you, I was there for 30 minutes waiting for the truck and when he gave it to me, he mentioned that when they test drove the truck they drove over a nail. Needless to say I am extremely disappointed, this is a place that I trusted for many years but I will not be returning there. I also say for those that continue to use this place, be careful cause something has changed with him and the integrity that he once had is now gone. I now even question did it really have the cracks and a leak? He now says he’ll pay for it but that remains to be seen.

This shop is crap. I went in with a check engine light and asked I’d he can check what it is and see if they can clear the lught. The guy told me what was wrong with it and said he can’t reset the engine light and told me to go to another shop and to leave. Like seriously rude as can be would not recommend this shop. I ended up fixing the problem myself. This shop us horrible.

Wow, is all I have to say. I drove up to UC Davis med school from Los Angeles and started having car problems once I arrived. I wanted to get a diagnose to make sure it was safe to get home. I found this place through Unilocal and saw it was the closest to me, walking distance. When I got there around 11:30 nobody was there, I walked over to the garages and 1 guy was sitting inside. I asked if he could help me and take a look at my car if I brought it in, he said no, I asked if it was because I needed an appointment and he said no. I asked if i could make an apoointment and he said we are busy come back tomorrow at 4pm because his manager isn’t there. I understood where he was coming from about the management and said ok and turned around to see another employee walking towards me. When I asked him the same question or if could make an appointment he asked what kind of car I had. I told him, a Jeep, and he responded saying «oh no I hate those cars, I don’t like working on them I won’t look at it» and walked in a haste away from me. What kid of service is that??? Never experienced a place like this before. I don’t understand how they can have an auto repair business when they refuse to repair them? So I called another shop near by and they very kindly are willing to see my Jeep.

I have not personally been to Rick’s, but my wife has been multiple times. She has had nothing but good things to say, and he is honest, which is obviously something people look for in a good mechanic.

Fixed my brakes same day, great price. Thanh is personable, kind of a scolding elder type personality but he means well and is actually quite pleasant. Great option for those near the hospital with car issues.

Thanh has been my GO TO guy for years but his poor attitude has really hurt his business. I work down the street at the hospital and its convenient for employees to leave our cars with him and just go to work. But lately, he tends to put people off. Even if its just for a simple oil change, he wants your car for 8 hours and gets mad when you have to pick it up at your lunchtime. He also over quoted me for a radiator repair, $ 260 over other local mechanics.
I am a little disappointed with his poor customer service when he has been SO GOOD over the years. Recently he tried practically scoding me because I didnt do a full tune up on my car and also because I took my car somewhere else for an oil change.
I think I will save myself the time and drama and go elsewhere.
i feel bad because he used to be so good!

I dislike giving this business two stars because it isn’t reflective of the amazing service I’ve received over the last decade. However, it does reflect the service I’ve received in the past year. Thanh, the owner, has historically been a very honest and competent mechanic as well as a very nice man with an exceptionally helpful and accommodating attitude.
For whatever reason, in the past year, his attitude has taken a very ugly turn. He’s become short tempered and has been blatantly rude, including raising his voice at me. I also witnessed him, bite the head off another female customer, after she misunderstood something having to do with her SMOG check. I was shocked to say the least. Still, life can be challenging. I had no way to know what sort of stress he was under so I gave him the benefit of the doubt and returned a few months later for my usual maintenance and to have my distributor replaced. He acted like I was putting him out, every step of the way, even when I was paying him.
The last straw occurred yesterday, when I took my car to a Test Only Smog check station and it failed for one reason, the timing was off by 4 degrees. On the recommendation of the Smog tech, I called Thanh and asked if he could reset the timing (it should have been done when he replaced the distributor). He said he would, but that he was busy and that I’d have to wait two days. I said, I couldn’t wait two days and asked if I could bring it in that afternoon or the next day. He was adamant that he was way too busy, with other customers. If this was a big job, I’d understand but it was a quick fix (10 to 20 minutes tops) and it was something that should have been done correctly, when he installed my distributor. I was simply asking him to correct HIS mistake in timely manner so I could get my registration processed on time, YET he was rude and unaccommodating. Instead I paid another local shop, $ 30 to set my timing. The entire process took 15 minutes.
For years, Thanh at Rick’s, has been my primary mechanic. He routinely provided me with great service on all my vehicles. It’s even been a pleasure watching his little boy grow into a pleasant young man but frankly, it’s time to move on. No doubt, there are other great mechanics out there WITHOUT the attitude problem.

It’s so nice to find a guy who is an honest mechanic. Took my car in for a check engine light issue another mechanic couldn’t seem to fix without it coming back on. Thanh quoted me a diagnostic fee. The next day he called and told me it was good to go. He popped the hood and personally walked me through what he found and what he fixed (turned out to be a simple overlook by the other mechanic). No attempts to get me to pay for extra fixes or gimmicky things like the others. All I was charged was $ 75 and two weeks later still no check engine issues. I’ll be taking all my cars here.
Update #2
Took my wife’s car in for her 100K tune up, prices beat all the quotes elsewhere and once again, he only fixed what needed fixed and didn’t try to get us to pay extra for unnecessary fixes (i.e. We already had the transmission fluids changed about 10K before, and another shop tried to get us to change it again).
So glad to have found an honest mechanic.

Rick, if their IS a Rick Thanh lost you not one but several potential customers today! After moving next door LITERALLY next door I finally remembered to sit down and call to see about taking my car in to your establishment. Of course, I checked Unilocal first and saw several GREAT reviews so I felt assured I was making a good decision BOY was I WRONG! First I called with a simple question: how much is a Diagnostic Fee and does the amount go towards repairs if I get the repair? The answer no no fee go just $ 75.00 Wait WHAT?! I honestly thought I misunderstood the response after asking the same question a little different I got the same response. Frustrated I thanked Thanh and hung up. After taking a moment and explaining to my friend the situation she told me she used to take her car and her sons there and they are great. After taking a breather the two of us walked over to ask the question, since maybe the guy didn’t understand the question BOY was I TICKED by the time I left that place! I walked over and asked the first guy who walked up *Coincidentally THANH* and asked how much the Diagnostic fee was and would it be applied to my charges if I get the repairs done there? To which he RUDE damn near yelled NO! Charge is $ 75! oooook! Well umm thats a lil strange, normally the fee gets applied! Not here go there! $ 75.00 charge! Ok douche! –SIDE EYE– Needless to say I am NOT going to be taking my car there, the service I received is RIDICULOUS and really WHO THE HELL DOESN’T APPLY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO THE REPAIRS! I have NEVER been to shop that hasn’t! Good Luck if you go here but BEWARE you’re paying $ 75 just to for them to tell PLUS whatever is wrong! Rick I WILL be telling ANYONE that steps foot on next door about your service please work on this! :/

So I went to a repair shop for a minor problem (loose plastic piece under a Mazda 3. They told me they needed me to leave the car the next day and that it would have to be replaced and they might find other problems and it was going to cost $ 400 and maybe more. On my way back to work, I passed Rick’s and figured I’d grab a quick second opinion. Pulled in at 2pm and was a little concerned the place looked kinda run down. Tranh came out and asked what I needed — I explained, and he said he could take a look at it and probably just repair it that afternoon. I asked how long he needed; he asked when I got off work (I was wearing my ID badge and work two blocks up the street). He said he’d give me a call once he looked at it. Before I got back to my office, he called and said it would just be labor. I didn’t even ask how much as there was no way it could equal the $ 400+, and he could do it right away and right next to work. I told him to go ahead, and came back at 4:30. He told me it didn’t take him much time so I didn’t need to pay him anything. ZERO DOLLARS.
I grew up in farm country, and this was the kind of honest, professional, friendly service you could get out there, but after my years in Chicago and now Sacramento, I hadn’t experienced this kind of service from a mechanic in two decades. I just couldn’t have been happier. If you don’t take your car to Tranh for repair, you’re a moron. Seriously, you’re insane. The shop doesn’t have a fancy waiting area with stale coffee and a grainy television, so don’t plan to hang out while he works. But if that’s important to you, let me know — you can head over to my place and watch TV and drink coffee while I take your car to Rick’s and pocket the savings from an honest, friendly, knowledgeable mechanic in this day and age.

So my wife’s car broke down ironicly in front of Rick’s Auto (She works at the hopspital accross the street) and she said that Thanh saw her in distress and came over to help. He ended up doing a quick fix for her to get her back on the road and didn’t charge her anything. He told her to come back anytime… My wife is a young attractive girl, so for me it sounded alittle fishy. Some random Mechanic helped her out, out of the goodness of his heart? Yeah right! So I decided to pay him a visit becuase one of my other cars was having issues and boy was I wrong about him. Thanh is the nicest and most honest mechanic I’ve ever met. He doesn’t cheat you and is up front on the costs. He’ll always give you the best price hands-​down and customer service. I trust him completely with all of my vechicles and consider him a friend. It’s been 5 years since my wife’s random run in with him and I think that unfortunate breakdown was the best thing that ever happened to us because we found Thanh!
I would not go anywhere else. Thanh is someone you can trust, even if you don’t know him.

This place has always done right by my car. I’ve had my Saturn for 6yrs. After dumping my old mechanic, I found Rick by accident. He is always has a great attitude.
He is always busy, the best time to take your car in is in the morning. He will only fix what you can afford to pay for and he won’t fix it until you give him the go ahead.
The shop is kinda old, I wish he still had the fish tank. Plenty of places to eat while your waiting to have your car repaired.

I came in with an automatic window that was stuck halfway down. He at first quoted me with replacing the entire part, plus hours of labor, to get the window to get back in its place.
After about an hour he came out to tell me that he had not only fixed the problem much faster than expected, but he was only going to charge me $ 50 flat for the whole thing. He took care to explain it to me and give me some advice for future maintenance.
The only thing I can complain about is the waiting room. Boiling hot with no fan or ac, and only Maxim and sports car magazines. But worth enduring for cheap, honest service.

Thahn is awesome! He’ll take the time to explain what he is planning and why. He is super fast with quality work. Low labor fees, good advice and honest work. I like this shop and so should you! Definitely recommended!

My piece of shit car has been in and out of his shop. In my recent escapade, he «fixed» a solenoid. The car broke down within the same day. I went there expecting to have to fight for my money back. No. He understood the circumstances and we both realized that my car is probably better to just dump. He gave me a full refund without getting the part back or going through any more hassle.
He is an honest mechanic and even though he wasn’t able to fix my car, he was understanding of my circumstances and refunded what I shouldn’t have invested into the car in the first place. Thanks Rick’s, you are awesome.

This is a very honest and helpful mechanic. I have been to this shop a few times and always feel respected and spoken to like a person, not a woman. Rick is often quick with his repairs and when he is not he explains how and what will happen and when. I would recommend him to single ladies and men folk alike. If you get stuck here for an hour or so walk to Orange Freeze and get a pastrami sandwich or a freeze, yum.

And, this is a review I wish I wasn’t writing… but…
Sometime on Sunday ⁴⁄₁₀ night between 12AM and 6AM someone hacksawed the catalytic converter out of my 4-​Runner in my driveway right under my bedroom window (which was closed, unfortunately.) To make a really long story short, my entire exhaust system had to be replaced. All for a measly $ 2,398! Yep, it hurts… it hurts realllllly bad.
But, on a lighter note, I called Tranh and my car was completely repaired in less than 24 hours. The parts were $ 2110. He charged me $ 288 to pull out the entire exhaust system, plus all the wiring for O2 sensors, etc., plus all the mounts. I can’t recommend a better place to take your car. Honest, reliable, sound human being that Tranh is. He is not in it to take advantage of you. Take your car here! He deserves (in italics and bold) the business.
Thanks for reading. If you have a Toyota and you park it outside, be very careful. Tranh has done this same work 20 times in the past couple of months. I’m just warning y’all.

We have had a spendy history with the Subaru. Every time something goes wrong, it’s $ 1500 and I am sick of that. I scoured Unilocal for a decent mechanic this time as it wasn’t a roadside emergency.
Dropped the car at Rick’s with the thought that it was a cv boot/​axle issue at about 12:45pm on a Friday. Dude called to confirm that at about 2:30. At 4:30 he called and said it was done and ready to be picked up. The damage…$ 354 after tax and labor. I love this place. Oh, also, the Orange Freeze place is just next door. :-)

Honest, friendly service.
Instead of wondering if I’m going to get ripped off, I get a good feeling when I go here. I always go here and recommend it to my friends too.
The best!!!