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Tune Craft Auto Centers
Categories: Automotive Auto Repair Automotive Towing Auto Repair, Towing [Edit]
3904 Clairemont Dr(between Balboa Ave & Chippewa Ct)
San Diego, CA 92117
Serving San Diego and surrounding area
Neighborhood: Clairemont
(858) 270-5512
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 5:30 pm
23 reviews for Tune Craft Auto Centers
23 reviews in English
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Review from Tom B.
San Diego, CA
11/9/2011
Everyone wants a mechanic they can trust, and Shawn at Tune Craft is that guy for my family and I. We've been taking our vehicles to him for over a decade now, and couldn't be happier with the quality of services offered.
Just an example of how Shawn, Rick, and the rest are different from other mechanics:
I recently had my car stolen. Shawn has always pushed for our family to invest in a Honda or Toyota. When looking for a replacement vehicle, I called him daily for his advice on what to look for and what questions to ask sellers. With little to no notice at all, he would always agree to check out cars for me. Rather than go into a full pre-purchase inspection, he would open the hood, check out the insides, and test drive the car with me. From that point he would advise me whether or not the asking amount was a good deal. No charge, just invaluable, straight-forward advice.
When I settled on a 2002 Civic, I took it straight to Shawn for a full inspection. Of course, the "eye-ball" diagnosis he gave it originally turned out to be spot on. He then detailed work that needed to be done, work that could be put off for a bit, and work that was more optional than necessary.
That's the great thing about Shawn and Tune Craft - he's all about working around your budget. He may take in less by being honest with people now, but he makes it back later because of the loyalty that grows between he and his customers.
I wouldn't recommend anyone else. If you live in Clairemont, Tune Craft should be your go-to spot for maintaining your vehicle. -
Review from Leah S.
San Diego, CA
1/29/2012
I hate having to bring my car in but these guys made it super easy for me.
Often times when I bring my car in to be serviced I feel like I'm getting ripped off and being talked down to, but not here! They were super nice and didn't try to upsell me. This will be the first place I go next time my car decides to crap out on me. Thanks guys! -
Review from David C.
San Diego, CA
12/23/2011
About a month ago I was looking for an alternative from the dealership and wanted a second opinion on what could have been some major service for our 2005 carrolla and rav 4. I am really glad I went here. The service was great and we ended up saving a great deal of money on service our cars really didn't need. If you are looking for a trustworthy mechanic, I really recommend this place. I can see why its AAA appoved.
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Review from Daniel G.
San Diego, CA
12/29/2010
I must say, when I came on here to review this location, I was shocked to see so many positive reviews. I must have just shown up on a bad day. Here was my experience:
My car was having problems which led my partner & I to believe it was related to the alternator. After taking it to the dealership service first, our suspicions were confirmed -- the alternator was bad due to oil having leaked on it. Unfortunately, being a dealership, the service department wanted to charge an outrageous amount for parts and labor.
So we researched and found we could buy a used alternator online with a year warranty. Ok, great. So we contacted a few different places and Tune Craft actually wrote back (that's why I'm giving them 2 stars instead of just 1. It's a pet peeve of mine when you contact a company by email and they never respond!) In our emails MORE THAN ONCE, we explained the situation and that we wanted to have them install the used alternator we were planning on purchasing.
We sent emails to both Shawn and Rick, but mostly dealt with Rick. After purchasing the used alternator, (the week before Christmas), we sent an email stating "We finally received the refurbished alternator today" and explained we wanted to leave the car at night so they would have it first thing in the morning. To which, Rick replied, "I'll do my best, this is short notice.." Ok, that's perfectly fine. It was before Christmas, and we were grateful they were able to help.
The next day we received a call from Shawn. My partner spoke with him first, and then I had to call him back because Shawn didn't want to talk to my partner anymore since I'm the primary driver.
Shawn was very curt on the phone. He told us he absolutely would not install a used part because they cannot warranty it and they cannot make money off of it. I have a great deal of experience in customer service, so I know how it can be when you have an angry customer. Because of this, even if I am frustrated with a companies service fail, I remain calm while expressing my frustration. I explained to Shawn that after several emails back and forth, not once was this mentioned to us. He didn't seem to care or believe me. He stated he is a very "straight forward" kind of guy. That's fine. And maybe he and the rest of the employees know a great deal about car maintenance. Yet, based on my experience I would say they know VERY little in terms of customer service.
I left the conversation feeling like I had done something wrong and was the "bad guy" for bringing my car in in the hopes they could repair it. He even stated to me when I told him I was frustrated because we already bought the used part "That's not my problem." Wow.... way to make your potential customer feel valued.
He did listen to me describe the symptoms the car was having & suggested it was not the alternator, but instead an electronic throttle body. The first step I was going to have to take was to pay them $96 to diagnose the problem & then go from there.
I understand their aversion to warrantying a part they didn't obtain. But if I were in their shoes, I would want to please the customer and say, "I will install this part, but I will need you sign a waiver that we cannot be held reliable for the part not working." If he had done this, I would have been completely understanding. I'm not an unreasonable person.
If that's outside their realm of service options, then I would have at least apologized for the confusion regarding the emails and any frustration the customer experienced.
In the end, I went and picked up my car. Another repair shop nearby was able to replace the alternator for me the very next day after confirming that yes, it WAS the alternator. They could not use the part I purchased, but were upfront about that.
Shawn, apparently is the owner of this shop. He may know a lot about cars, but perhaps they should consider revamping their customer service experience. -
Review from sarah k.
San Diego, CA
9/26/2011
Shawn and his team are always great. They take care of my car needs no matter what they may be.
I would highly recommend Shawn's shop! -
Review from Adam C.
San Diego, CA
2/28/2011
Is there anything more important than finding a good mechanic you can trust? Not much, anyway. I moved to the neighborhood 6 years ago and very fortunately chose Tune Craft when my truck needed some attention. Now I find that whenever I patronage another reputable car-related business within 20 miles, they all know the guys at TC. The word of mouth with this place is both amazing and predictable.
Shawn and Paul are Indiana boys who took separate paths to San Diego many years ago. Shawn's the honest family man, and Paul's always covered in grease and stories. Both have great senses of humor; even when the Bolts beat up the Colts. They have contacts all over the city for every component you can imagine, and are also a great resource for buying and selling cars.
As others have said, the work provided is always top notch, but what really sets them apart is excellent communication skills. Upon examining a car, Shawn will take great pains to first make sure you understand what *should* be done and why, and then what *could* be done and how much it will cost. You're involved in the whole process every step of the way, and it is empowering to know the ramifications of the choices you are making. I can and do recommend this place to everyone I know - especially women. You will never be up-sold or taken advantage of at this establishment.
They are somewhat victims of their own success in that they are always busy, and certain times of the year can take a little longer to get the job done. But it will be done right, with the correct parts, and no surprises on the very reasonable bill. They're my favourite people that I don't exactly want to see too often. =p -
Review from Tyler L.
West Linn, OR
8/12/2011
I had a very good experience at this center. Rick was very helpful with my car troubles and explained the things that needed to be fixed in a way I can understand. I also felt he didn't want to fix things just to rack up the bill.
I highly recommend them. -
Review from Phillip N.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 5/4/2011
Being the lame person I am, I tried to open the hood last Saturday for stupid reasons. I couldn't find the latch or knew where to even start. I went to them and they helped me. Didn't charge me. Didn't want a tip either. Always nice.
Listed in: Amazing Service Experiences
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/30/2009
I feel the people who work here are very honest people.
Here is my experience:
My car randomly burst… Read more »
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Review from Nadine S.
San Diego, CA
5/25/2011
I didn't get any service but I did call over the phone and they gave me a straight forward and HONEST answer that required no service!
I have a Scion TC and the brake pads were down 2mm. The dealership told me it was URGENT that I replace them. I called here and told them the situation and Brian informed me that they cannot legally sell used Japanese cars with less that 1.5mm left on the brake pads, therefore I was still 0.5mm over and I had 3-5K miles left to drive, depending on how I drive. -
Review from Robert T.
La Jolla, CA
9/24/2011
Towed my girlfriend's Volkwagen in with a flashing check engine light -- it was repaired and back in our hands without an appointment the very next day. Very reasonably priced and very courteous service. A+
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Review from Jenn A.
San Diego, CA
11/7/2010
They saved my baby!
Long story short, State Farm was leaning towards totaling my car BUT I took it to Tune Craft and they were able to fix it for way less than I expected and I get to keep it!
Not only were they VERY reasonably priced, but they were also super friendly, nice, and helpful. I HIGHLY recommend Tune Craft to anyone. They have officially replaced my old mechanic and I will be going back there for all my car care needs. Ask for Shawn! He's the best! -
Review from Alicia A.
El Sobrante, CA
2/11/2009
I was referred to Shawn by Bob from World Pak who supplies my NorCal mechanics at Oceanworks. I just needed an oil change before I drove 900+ miles back to the Bay Area for the winter break.
I drove up and I at first thought I had the wrong place but as luck would have it the little shop that is a former gas station on the corner of Clairemont was Tune Craft Auto.
I parked my RAV-4- named Pearl and walked on in and asked for Shawn. Shawn was very polite and kindly asked for my keys. I then was told to hangout in the waiting area that is supplied with a comfortable black leather or pleather couches, a coffee center and even better a HUGE bucket of peppermint paddies to savor as I waited.
As I waited I was able to watch Shawn give advice to another customer over the phone regarding their car. I noted that Shawn was 1. very knowledgeable 2. respectful regardless of a persons gender and 3. unwilling to give up quality for quantity when it comes to repairs.
He specifically told the customer on the phone that it will cost more initially to have better quality parts than poor ones but that in the long run the brakes won't warp as fast as the cheap chinese ones that had been put on prior to coming to Shawn's shop.
I liked that Shawn told the customer what his options were and priced out everything prior to installing the parts too. How many dealerships or repair shops do you know anymore that have the prices right on the office wall for the majority of the basic car repairs? Can you name even one? I can Tune Craft Auto!!
The price for the oil change was around $40 dollar which is less than the dealership charges at Mission Valley. I am willing to pay more for quality especially when it comes to repairing my car.
I like the honest, frank and high quality service at Tune Craft and I highly recommend this place to anyone needing repairs done in San Diego. -
Review from Robert P.
San Diego, CA
6/23/2009
I was referred here by a friend a few years ago, and I couldn't be happier. Shawn and Paul take the time to explain what's happening with my car, and what my options are to solve the problem. They know when factory parts are needed, and when cheaper aftermarket parts are just as good or better. They routinely check for the latest service bulletins, and let me know when the dealer is obligated to fix things for free, when I'm sure most mechanics would just do the work themselves and charge me for it. Plus, Shawn always follows up with me afterward to make sure I'm satisfied with his work.
Contrast this with my most recent dealer experience: when I went to pick up my car after a head gasket replacement, the mechanic said only, "all done bro!" and took off, leaving me holding the keys, mouth agape. -
Review from Mister D.
San Diego, CA
6/11/2009
I just brought my aging Volkswagen into the shop for yet another busted part. This was the 4th time I have come back to the guys at Tune Craft; Shawn and Paul. They are probably the first auto mechanics that I have ever trusted. I actually feel comfortable with what they tell me has to be done to my car. I know for many its not easy to find a good honest mechanic, but these guys are the real deal. For as long as I am living here in SD I will be taking my car to this shop.
My Jetta will now make the road trip to San Francisco! -
Review from Mike S.
San Diego, CA
7/22/2010 4 Check-ins Here
After getting my first American-made car ever, I needed to find somewhere new to take my car for checkups and repairs. Mike at Wolf's Foreign Car Service (another five-star business) recommended TuneCraft, and he didn't steer us wrong (no pun intended). Shawn and crew are simply fantastic. If I've ever met a nicer person than Shawn, I sure can't remember it, and he's as straight-forward and no-bull as it gets. We've had a great experience every time we've gone, and they always manage to go above and beyond. If you're looking for a place to take care of your car, you won't go wrong with these guys.
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Review from Bryan B.
San Diego, CA
5/1/2008
If your looking for an honest Auto repair facility, that does good quality work, take your car to Tune craft, in Clairmont. I started going to Shawn at Tune craft after being referred to him a few years back, and have had several repairs and services done on two cars. They do quick and thorough work, and are vary friendly. Though they might not be the cheapest in town, they are vary reasonable and get the job done the first time.
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Review from Sara L.
Washington, DC
12/17/2008
The guys at Tune Craft on Clairmont do great work on my crappy car, and they honestly care about the work they do, the vehicles they repair, and their customers. Shawn treats me more like a friend than a client, and is very thorough in his work. I would recommend him to absolutely anyone.
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Review from frances h.
San Diego, CA
9/20/2011
we heard about tune craft from auto club. we too our car there to get brakes fixed. they called us the next morning and told me they were having promblems with one of the lug nuts that someone had put on with a machine gun and had put on so tight they couldnt get off. told me how much it would cost and that they had done everything they could and that they were sorry for the extra cost they had to charge to get off so i agreed to have it fixed. they had it fixed like they said they would that friday afternoon and when we went to get it it was less than they had thought it would be they tried to do it so they wouldnt have to charge anymore. i appreciate them being honest and telling me the truth. i would recommend them to all my friends, they are honest and i am happy with their work. i will definately go back when i need car fixed again.great work
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Review from Julie B.
San Diego, CA
10/23/2010
This place is the best!!
I went in thinking my trucks problems were shock and strut related, they spent the entire morning checking and rechecking so they could properly diagnose the problem (which turned into multiple issues) Shock and struts tune up coolant flush (because of some morons) brakes and struts and THEN the kicker CALIPERS!! Dealer wanted 400+ a part. Paul called around until he was able to get a better price, and an alignment.. Shawn stayed in contact with me throughout the job and informed of the status the entire time my truck was there. Very NICE HONEST TRUSTWORTHY and KNOWLEDGEABLE and I felt comfortable with the decisions Shawn made and suggested. They promised it before the weekend and were able to get ALL the work done before closing on Friday evening!! AWESOME!! I can't thank them enough for all of their work !! These guys are DEDICATED mechanics that have the EXPERIENCE to KNOW their jobs!! Not HS kids who took a class and got a job. As long as we are stationed in San Diego this will be our small town mechanic in this big city!! -
Review from Tim T.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2010
These guys are the greatest! Shawn is an impressively honest and caring guy and all of the mechanics I've dealt with there (whose names I unfortunately don't know) have been kind and patient with me.
If my car breaks down anywhere within 50 miles of these guys, I'm having it towed there! -
Review from A B.
San Diego, CA
8/23/2010
The guys here are great. Honest guys and very experienced. I like this place a lot. Shawn helped me out, very courteous and kind guy, he explained everything to me, and got my AC fixed the best and cheapest way possible. Once they got the part in, they fixed my A/C quick. I picked up my car from Paul, he was very helpful too. Wolf's Foreign Car also referred me to Tune Craft to check out my A/C. I appreciate and highly recommend this plae.
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Review from Justin M.
San Diego, CA
9/9/2008
Shawn is extremely honest, direct, and fastidious regarding the car of your car. While flexible, he recommends the best for your vehicle, with great decorum. They are upfront about their prices, which aren't the lowest, but cheaper than the dealer and I believe the quality of their work commensurate with the cost of doing business there.
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Review from DIANA W.
San Diego, CA
2/20/2010
The service was great. They really are good at explaining what you need done. They email you a copy of the estimate so you can review what your car needs. They even called a week later to make sure my car was running smoothly. Very happy with the service!
