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Allen's Wrench
Category: Automotive Auto Repair Auto Repair [Edit]
1620 Grand AveSte 8
(between Pawnee St & Rancho Santa Fe Rd)
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 744-1192
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 5 pm
39 reviews for Allen's Wrench
39 reviews in English
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Review from Robin J.
San Diego, CA
5/15/2012
The best repair guys EVER!
I live in downtown San Diego (92101) and drive ALL THE WAY TO SAN MARCOS to get my car serviced by them. They will "tell it like it is" and NOT jerk you around. They will let you know exactly what needs to be done with your car and give you a reasonable price. No matter where you live in San Diego, you should go to these guys before any one else. Any time lost in driving there will be made up by the money you will save. -
Review from Christine H.
San Marcos, CA
1/26/2012
I've been taking my Honda and Acura cars to Allen's Wrench for over 8 years. This is an honest, friendly, and professional repair shop. I trust Dennis and Steve's honesty and expertise whenever my car needs maintenance or problem-solving. Prices are fair, and there is no up-selling. In fact, they will let you know if something is unneccessary. Needless to say, my cars live long, healthy lives due to excellent care from Allen's Wrench. Thank you!
PS: Allen's wrench has a clean, pleasant waiting room with lots of good magazines. -
Review from ikoi h.
San Diego, CA
1/3/2012
Dear Allen's Wrench,
I know I'm not the prettiest car in town. In car years, I'm also gettin' up there in age (I'm a '93 Honda Civic). The dings and dents that result from drivin' on the freeway of life... Well, I can't afford the plastic surgery.
Yet, you always treat me well. You never try and stuff parts or service into me that I don't need, and I'm mighty thankful of such courtesies. I get just what I need and nothing' more, and you never try and gouge a lady's wallet. Y'all aren't the cheapest mechanic in town, but your prices are incredibly reasonable for the excellent quality of work. Not all mechanics are old-fashioned gentlemen like your staff.
Every time I leave your shop, I leave feelin' and runnin' better. I'm a quarter of a million (that's 250,000) miles old. I'm gettin' up there in age, but you keep me runnin' so well I feel almost new.
*bats lashes*
I feel like I will easily keep tootin' on the road for 'nother 5 years with your help, and for that, I'm mighty grateful.
Thank you and much love,
Bunnster the Civic -
Review from Jay R.
Carlsbad, CA
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Thanks Yelpers! Prior to our visit to Allen's Wrench, we had the very basic membership coverage from AAA (Triple A). This membership level did not include many towing miles. This was fine since we did not have an allegiance to a repair shop for our automobile to be towed to...until now! We will now be upgrading our membership to AAA Plus so in case of an emergency, we can have our minivan towed directly to Allen's Wrench wherever we are in So Cal.
Steve is so refreshing! After sharing our price quote from Evans Tire, his cost was $300 lower. Upon his initial evaluation, he resisted doing the service based on his assumption that Evans Tire misdiagnosed our issue. He felt the cause was merely due to an old transmission belt. He was right and saved us over $1,000. -
Review from Lola B.
Vista, CA
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I found Allen's Wrench on Yelp after I had been given an estimate from the dealership that would have broken the bank. When I called to make the appointment they were super friendly and worked with my odd work schedule. I brought my car in and had the oil changed and the transmission fluid exchanged. The cost of which was less the half off of the dealership quote. They had everything done in a hour and never once did they try to upsell me. This will now be the place I take my car without question and I will tell anyone with a Honda, Acura, or Mazda to go here.
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Review from Kate M.
Oceanside, CA
11/9/2011
Went here for a 2nd opinion after my 93 civic started acting up. Was previously told it would need between 800-1600 worth of work. That didnt seem like a reasonable reccomendation for a car that i paid 1000 for two years ago. I found Allen's Wrench on yelp and got it in the next day. A couple hours later I talked with somdone who said that it may need the work that the other shop said but they woulsndnt do it because it would mot be worth it. The cost of repairs would exceed the value of the car and then more than likely something else would break.
That is exactly what i thought and was so glad to find a mechanic who would hinestly tell me the best thing to do instead of reccomending hundreds of dollars worth of work that could be used on getting a new vehicle. I will def be going back and passing along the rec! -
Review from Pablo P.
San Marcos, CA
2/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Friendly, very honest, and great service. Thank you for taking care of my Element
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Review from John W.
San Marcos, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was looking for a place to fix my brakes and I went to yelp to find Allen's Wrench with 27 five stars. This place is awesome! The customer service here is outstanding. I had ordered the wrong part for my car and Steve the service advisor called me to let know. They went ahead and got me the right part in less than 30 minutes and also charged me the same price I brought it for. They also finished my car in less than 2 hours when I was expecting it to take longer since I had ordered the wrong part. I think i found my new auto repair shop in San Marcos. Their shop was also very clean and had very professional technicians. Highly Recommended... You won't be disappointed.
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Review from Danny C.
Escondido, CA
10/3/2011
Found Allen's Wrench through Yelp, went and wasn't disappointed. Steve and Dennis (owner) were both very helpful and friendly. I went in to get my brakes serviced (brake pads replaced, rotors resurfaced), for what would've been $300 at the Honda dealership cost me $198 at Allen's Wrench. They made time for me right away, the service itself didn't take long, they directed me to the nearest restaurants since I decided to wait, and Dennis gave me some helpful information on maintaining my brakes and what I might need to do the next time my brakes need servicing.
Would highly recommend them to anyone. -
Review from brett n.
San Diego, CA
2/23/2012
We have been coming to Allen's Wrench for a couple of years now and across the board they have been great. They service our Lexus and Toyota and have gone above and beyond on several occasions.
If you are looking for an honest mechanic with fair prices, this should be your place. -
Review from jen g.
Vista, CA
2/16/2012
We own two Acuras and will probably always own Acuras because we love taking our cars to Allen's Wrench. The are extremely fair, honest and our work is always done in a timely fashion.
Just yesterday our car was stalling, we called late that morning, got our car in by lunch and it was fixed by the end of the day. Fair price and our 10 year old MDX is back to running like a champ.
We tell everyone we know about Allen's Wrench. They do great work and you can always trust them. Keep up the great work! -
Review from Cheri S.
Encinitas, CA
3/25/2012
I first took my 2000 Echo Allen;s Wrench last May. The check engine light had come on in Santa Monica. A great place called More Joy Auto Repair reset the light but it came back on when I got to Vista. I found out about Allen's on Yelp, so drove on over.
They took the car to one of the repair shops in their little automotive repair enclave that had smog testing equipment and pinpointed the problem instead of just hooking it up to the little portable do-hickey that gave a number of possibilities.
They ordered the part, replaced it and voila! Good as ever!
I also took the car back there a few months later when it was acting sort of sluggish one long inclines. They found that the wrong spark plugs had been put in (by inferior mechanics) but instead of just installing the iridium plugs that the manual recommended, gave me the option of using normal plugs that would work just as well and were considerably less expensive (the reason being, the car had 180,000 miles and didn't need plugs that would outlast it.)
Great place. Glad it receives outstanding reviews by everyone! -
Review from B. B.
Escondido, CA
12/15/2011
This is THE BEST auto mechanic I have ever been to. I found them on Yelp, choosing them due to their great reviews. I WAS NOT DISSAPOINTED, and as long as I live in the area I will never go to another mechanic.
I called because I have been having issues with my 98 Honda Civic since I purchased it three months ago. It has been one thing after another with this car and I have spent over 2,500$ trying to fix it.
After the most recent diagnosis (misdiagnosis) from the Honda dealership I called Allen's Wrench to get their opinion. They were immediately skeptical of all the work I had done and asked me to have the car dropped off with all of the paperwork/receipts.
Dennis, the owner, told me it was Steve and Jesse's quest to find the problem. They did (after taking the entire engine apart). They gave me an incredible deal for all their work (they felt bad that so many companies in their industry ripped me off).
I am so grateful to have found them, and to have a car that is running great!
*** -
Review from Greg T.
Vista, CA
2/19/2011
I was referred by a colleague and have been extremely satisfied with Dennis, Steve, and the Allen's Wrench crew. They are wizards with Japanese cars. They have done excellent work on my two Hondas.
I like bringing my car in the morning, grabbing some hot coffee, and getting a ride to work from Dennis. They are quick, honest, and really listen to my needs. Steve is outstanding with assessing, estimating, and working with me to take care of my Hondas. I totally trust them.
If you got a Japanese (or any Asian - I think) car, consider Allen's Wrench. -
Review from Michael S.
San Marcos, CA
2/23/2012
I know a few things about repairing cars but there are some things I leave to professionals. Allen's Wrench is excellent when it comes to just about anything I can't figure out. They have yet to misdiagnose a problem I've thrown at them. They are very trustworthy and come highly recommended by a lot of my friends who have gone there. Anytime an issue comes up on my Honda I take it there and it gets fixed right the first time for a very reasonable price.
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Review from Escondido C.
Escondido, CA
4/21/2011
Excellent service, highly competent and very honest.
HIGHLY recommend it. -
Review from Chris A.
San Diego, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
My name is Chris and I took my Honda into Allen's Wrench after looking for a mechanic through Yelp. After having the same problems with many other mechanics I found these guys through yelp and decided to give them a try. Just from my first visit I can tell anyone who is looking for honest, reliable, and wholesome mechanic that this is the place. They give you 10% off if you check in and their prices are very fair. I liked them so much after my first visit I went back for another problem that I had been putting off for fear of paying extra money to not have my problem fixed. Well, they fixed it and more. They were so nice they even helped out by giving me a ride to and back from work when I didn't have anyone else to do so. During the at ride I got to know Dennis, the owner of Allen's wrench, and he is an amazing person. He is very insightful and caring which translates into how he does business. This is what brought me to tell my experience on here. I highly recommend going here for your next visit. Thanks!
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Review from Ryan D.
Oceanside, CA
4/4/2011
I don't think five stars does this shop justice! I am usually very skeptical of car mechanics but Allen's Wrench is not your normal mechanic shop and it is the only place I will take my vehicles (Honda Accord and Nissan Xterra) to. They treat my cars like they actually care about them, because they DO care about the vehicles they work on and their customers!
I had some regular service done on my 01 Honda Accord that came with their 12,000 mile/1 year warranty (which I was very grateful for) and almost a year later, I took my car in to have them check out a strange noise. It only took a few minutes before they found the problem and ordered the part that was covered under their service warranty! Also, they noticed my battery was weak from the car sitting for awhile and they charged it for free. Like I said, they take care of their customers. The next day, I had a Honda that ran as good as new!
If you have a Japanese make and you want honest and skilled mechanics working on them (who doesn't) then you should take your vehicle to Allen's Wrench. Dennis and Steve will take care of you. -
Review from R H.
San Marcos, CA
2/19/2009
I found this shop by reading great reviews at a number of mechanic review sites. So took my Honda here for service a few times before yelping, just to make sure I had some solid info for a review. Well, the verdict is in and it's a thumbs-up.
Dennis, the owner, is a great, plain-spoken, nice guy who really knows his stuff. Steve at the front desk is as professional as they get. Their service has been great and at a great cost. To top it off, the shop has the vibe of an honest hometown business with an old-fashioned "give your customer good service" attitude. -
Review from Bryan F.
San Marcos, CA
4/4/2010
Very glad to have found these guys.
We recently moved into the area and needed an honest mechanic. Thanks to the people here at yelp who have reviewed them, we were pointed in the right direction.
Dennis and Steve are always very friendly and their charges are very reasonable. My recent service was $200 below the quote from the dealership. Best of all, they have never recommended any service that wasn't necessary. I trust these guys wholeheartedly and have no problems recommending them. -
Review from Sarah G.
Vista, CA
6/21/2011
I came here through the recommendation of a coworker - and I am so glad I did! These guys are honest and trustworthy!
I previously was taking my car to the Nissan dealership and when I went in for a check engine light and had some weird shaking in my engine. It was critical, and early in the morning so I dropped off my car and hitched a ride to work with a friend. Hours later I am told it's spark plugs, and a cracked something-or-other. I said, fine, fix it... I will never go back to Nissan Dealer again!!!! SEVEN DAYS LATER, they gave me my car back. They didn't have any of the parts in stock and tried to tell me I needed brake and steering fluid flushes, air conditioning tune up and hoses, new struts, and a belt ---- oh and $2,000 to do it all.... !!!!!!!!!
I didn't let Nissan do anything else except the spark plugs... I took my car to Allen's Wrench and they looked over my entire car, and found NO ISSUES. They said I had taken very good care of my car.
I don't trust the dealerships anymore... I am now loyal to Allen's Wrench. They practice good business and don't try to rip you off. -
Review from greenhouse g.
North Pole, AK
10/25/2010
These guys are super....very helpful and didn't try to sell me anything I didn't need. I went to a guy named Stormy in San Marcos who knew I was on unemployment and still gouged me for a brake job....boy I wish I would have gone to Allen's for that and not just an oil change.
Thanks guys, you're great. -
Review from E B.
San Diego, CA
3/8/2011
I went to Allen's Wrench after reviewing recommendations in Yelp...and I am very glad that I did. The service was amazing. Dennis and Steve are genius with everything Japanese (in my case it was a 15 year old Prelude).
The team is helpful, polite, exceptionally accommodating (need a ride to work?), and very, very reasonable in their charges. I had spent nearly $300 with another mechanic, and they could not resolve my brake issue. It took Dennis just under an hour to sort me out.
If there was a 6 star rating, they have earned it! -
Review from Danielle A.
Murrieta, CA
12/28/2011
I've been taking my car to Allen's Wrench for about four years. They've done oil changes and major servicing to my Scion and Camry. I've never paid so little for great service! All of the mechanics are very helpful and friendly. Steven was also very helpful, and he's kind of hot.
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Review from Mr. A.
San Marcos, CA
1/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
I recently had a problem with my 2004 Honda Accord and after reading reviews on a couple of different websites, I decided to give the guys at Allen's Wrench a shot. I sure am glad I found this place. The guys there are all older and professional unlike those quick lube places. They didn't try to sell me a bunch of crap that I don't need, they did however fix my car. They also explained to me that they only use factory Honda oil filters and the one that was on my car is the "one dollar" brand.
Overall I had a great experience with this shop and I will be back again. I would not hesitate to send anyone to Allen's Wrench, they treat people right, tell the truth, and use quality parts. I plan on keeping this car for a long time, I am so happy that I found an honest shop to take it when it breaks. -
Review from Meera D.
San Marcos, CA
4/4/2011
Great service, truthful mechanics. These guys are the real deal. Our next car purchase will be based on if they service that make.
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Review from Abbey S.
Vista, CA
7/18/2010
I moved to Vista, CA from Washington DC a month back. I interacted with Steve quite a few times when I had some questions about coolant leaking from the bottom of the car which turned out to be radiator leak. He was patient, answering the million questions that I had and understanding my concerns about safety+cost. Very nice guy and extremely pleasant to interact with. Although in his own words he is the service advisor and not the mechanic, his in situ diagnostic checks are methodical and acurate. Dennis is the owner and a master technician who fixed my Idle Air Control (IAC) problem by just cleaning the IAC valve. I was extremely happy that I did not have to have the IAC valve replaced which would have cost me like $500. Very trustworthy place with reasonable rates but done right the first time.
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Review from Marisol L.
San Marcos, CA
1/31/2008
If you have a Honda, you must take your car here. I have a 22 year old Accord and they treat it like it was the newest model. Also, this is only mechanic's shop that will tell me "nothing is wrong, we won't charge you" for when I have brought my car in for some weird sound. And, they take the time to show and explain everything they do. You will not get ripped off here.
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Review from Lisa C.
San Diego, CA
9/8/2009
I have been taking my Honda to Allen's Wrench for years. I am very comfortable walking in and doing business with them. I never feel as though I'm being taking for a ride :) Everyone is very friendly, they've always done great work on my car, and their estimates hold up. I don't think you'll be sorry if you pay them a visit when your car needs repair or maintenance.
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Review from M V.
Vista, CA
8/30/2011
My boss helped me find this place on the internet after I was towed to a place that couldn't fix my car and gave me a bad part. Not only did Allen's Wrench help me get the other company to replace the bad part, they found the real problem with my car. I was skeptical about all the 5 stars on this place, but agree with another reviewer that 5 stars isn't enough after my experience with them.
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Review from Erin C.
Carlsbad, CA
5/28/2008
My family and I have been going to Allen's Wrench for as long as I can remember. I truly trust Dennis and his team. They are honest, hard working and patient. If they tell you something needs to be done to your car, you know it's the truth. They aren't like the mechanics we've all heard about who nickel and dime you and scare you into spending more than you need to. Take your cars to Allens Wrench... You won't be sorry!
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Review from Rick B.
Mt Vernon, WA
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best auto shop hands down. We moved up to WA state and when we visit CA we get all our car work done here. We know that we will always get honest info and work from them for a great price! You guys rock! :)
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Review from Veena P.
Carlsbad, CA
3/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very impressed. I went here after being somewhat unsatisfied (read: feeling slightly ripped off) with previous places that I took my car. Dennis and Steve made me feel completely taken care of.
Even when I called in to make an appointment, they patiently listened to all the issues my car was facing, and diagnosed each one on instantly the phone. Then, after I took my car in, they said hopefully all it would need was brake pads and not rotors. Dennis gave me a ride to work, and 30 mins later I had a call from them saying it unfortunately had very marginal rotors. They explained what the costs would be if I chose to either replace or not replace the rotors immediately, and left the choice upto me. I didn't feel pressured at any point. They were exceptionally accomodating, and even sent my car next door for a smog inspection when I asked if they do smog (and they don't do it). They helped me get a discount at the smog place too. I'm very, very impressed. After just one visit, I feel like I really trust these guys. -
Review from Jennifer F.
San Diego, CA
6/19/2011
Allen's Wrench is the most honest auto shop and they are very good at helping you diagnose car problems, and fixing them! I wish all companies ran their business with such high quality standards and customer care. I started going to them 10 years ago, and even when I moved a half hour away I continued to take my car there when possible. Even when I was a teenage girl they explained what they were doing so that I could understand. They treat their customers so well!
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Review from p m.
Carlsbad, CA
2/23/2011
This is the only honest shop that I know. Dennis is just a great person all around and you really can't go wrong with him and his crew. 15 years and counting and never once did I ever think to take any of my vehicles anywhere else.
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Review from David R.
Vista, CA
8/7/2009
I have taken both of my Hondas to Dennis' shop ever since I've lived in North County. Everyone at the shop is very helpful, and the cost for all work done never went over the original estimate. Very honest and highly recommended.
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Review from Mike G.
San Marcos, CA
7/29/2010
Honost Repairs, Fair prices. I couldnt ask for a better shop if you need any repairs allens is the place to go!
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Review from John N.
Carlsbad, CA
2/28/2011
I took my civic lx in the other day because of some maintenance I needed and because of the sound my engine had been making for some time. The work I wanted done was done quickly at a very fair price. On top of that, Dennis (I believe was his name) told me some things I needed to look out for and broke it down very simply for me as I don't have a lot of automotive knowledge. This place is great because the prices are good and they will give you an honest review of what your car needs and fair prices if you want to get it fixed. I love the low pressure atmosphere because they don't try to sell you on a bunch of stuff you don't need like many other places out there. Fantastic shop to go to especially if you are unsure of exactly what your car needs. They even checked out my girlfriend's car for free! Can't say enough good things TAKE YOUR CAR HERE IF YOU NEED ANYTHING DONE. Thanks again guys.
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Review from Radhika R.
Encinitas, CA
9/10/2010
I highly recommend Allen's Wrench. My partner and I moved here recently and they have been like a rock for us-- through routine stuff, car trouble, buying new cars, totalled cars-- everything! They're very honest and will always quote a fair price (compared to dealers and many other mechanics in the area). They're good with diagnosis and never over-prescribe repairs. They are respectful of your budget-- If a repair can wait, they will tell you so. Even though we're still fairly new drivers and car owners, they have never tried to take advantage of that and their prices are always reasonable. If you own a Honda, Toyoto or Acura, go to Allen's Wrench before going anywhere else! It may seem like an overstatement but I actually thinking of always buying hondas over other brands because I know I"ll always have AW to take care of the car. Plus, Steve is super pleasant, there is always tea/coffee and a TV so it's a fun place to wait while your car's in the shop.
