A-K Auto Mechanic & Body Shop

I brought in my car to fix a broken headlight and to winterize my car, turns out my right side control arm needed replacement too. Labor is $ 70/​hr (cheaper than the last place I went) car part costs seemed normal, I dropped my car off in the morning and it was ready that afternoon, everything seems to be fixed that they said they would, convenient location by halsted Orange line stop, the people working there seemed nice enough and knowledgeable as well, I’ll more than likely return here in the future

Sam and his crew have worked on both of my cars and helped advise me in the ways of purchasing a new one after my poor Chevy was totaled last month.
Each repair has been sturdy, quick, and comes with a detailed explanation of both the work and the parts involved from the man himself prior to and following the car’s time in the shop. These guys are thorough and very fairly priced. A real gem of a family business in our neighborhood!

I want to add to the many positive reviews this place has gotten! The woman who takes appointments and answers the phone is so delightful, friendly and helpful. The mechanic I spoke with also kindly took the time to explain exactly what needed to be done immediately and what parts were optional. I didn’t know exactly what the problem with my car was so I was worried, and I’m so relieved and feel it’s in good hands! I drive a beat up old Jeep that I love and I’ve had mechanics in the past try to sell me on unnecessary repairs, but I find A-​K to be wonderful and trustworthy. I will update this review when I get my car back, but given how great they’ve been already I’m sure I’ll be happy.

First time here this week I needed an alternator on my truck and it’s hard to figure out who to use in the city. I have a mechanic I trust in the suburbs, but that’s not a convenient option for me anymore. Sam and his wife were very responsive on the phone and were able to give me a quote very quickly. Work was completed on schedule and at the quoted price. Pricing was very reasonable and less than I would have paid at one of the big chain places. Glad to support a local business and I’ll be back.

Very reliable, dependable, and understanding. I took my car in for collision repair without the help of insurance & they took great care of me and my Kia Sportage. Other estimates in the area were much higher! I expected my car to be done in a week as they told me, but it ended up being much shorter. I was out of town and couldn’t pick up til a certain date, but they didn’t charge me for storage! They did a great job on the car, and I will be coming back here as my go-​to mechanic/​auto shop.

I have been coming to Sam for quite some time now. He and Yen (his wife) are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They have always been very patient with me in regards to explaining the problem and the prices associated with each fix/​repair. Sam is not looking to rip you off or take your money; he does what he thinks is best for each individual car.
For example, there was a grinding noise coming from the rear of my Mazda 3. He thought it might be the rear wheel bearings, but he noticed that my rear tires were worn down too. He recommended that I get the tires replaced first, and THEN come back if the noise was still happening. Sure enough, I replaced the tires and the noise went away. This is just one of the many times that he helped me. He such an honest man and I respect him a lot.
If you’re looking for a mechanic who works hard, is honest, and does exceptional work, look no further.

Good work. Good communication. Fair price.

Absolutely reliable. Never fail to do a great job.
I’ve been coming here for over three years and I’ve never had anything bad to say about A-K’s service.
The owner, Sam, is a courteous and honest guy who will diagnose your car problems without breaking your wallet.
Highly recommended auto shop.

Part of my bumper was hanging off the car and flapping in the wind. It started to tear away. I looked up auto body in Bridgeport and found A-​K.
Sam evaluated my problem, made the repair, and had me back on the road in 3 hours. The price was righteous. I recommend A-​K.

I had gone here for an oil & filter change 2 months ago. Sam explained to me that they use synthetic or synthetic blend oil only and they were better for the car in the long run. So I went for the synthetic. It costs more than the regular oil I’ve used in the past serviced by my car dealer but the extra cost is worth it.
I see many customers coming in chatting with the lady behind the desk (I believe Sam’s wife). So it’s nice knowing there are repeat satisfied customers. This is my first time at this shop and will be back for more maintenance work.
If you haven’t gone here yet, drive down Archer Ave. and enter Emerald Ave. His shop entrance is in the back behind Citgo gas station with a decent sized parking lot. Also, a toilet room is by the waiting area.

Reasonable price and trustworthy. Had performed 3 service here and will come back in the future.
Background
My wife ford had problem 2 months ago with stalling when idling. Took to a local mechanic and was told the air intake hose and casing need to be replaced. Took a hefty $ 100 diagnostic charge. But they could not do it dude to parts not available and will take atleast 3 days for fix.
AK comes into play
I used to live in the neighborhood and went there a couple of times, so we drove there and have them looked at the car. They found the same issue but they still performed diagnostic for Check Engine Light, for $ 65…well what can you say.
The Fixed
The replace and repair the intake hose and casing all that in 24 hours. The next day I picked up the car and works great and has been doing so for more than 2 months.
Sam, the owner is great to deal with always communicate clearly and get things fixed right the first time.
Bottomline
I HIGHLY recommends AK AUTO. Not the cheapest in town but get things done right and fast. Will save money in the long run.

Had an awesome experience with A-​K — Sam is very knowledgeable and explains to you exactly what needs to be done! His quote for me was also about $ 300 less than a couple of other competitors in the area, and he’s very good about trying to save you money. Very happy about the work on my car’s body.

I had my car towed to A-​K at a moments notice (with their recommended tow company) and my car was serviced and returned to me within 4 hours. Very helpful and efficient.
You will wait on the phone with them for awhile but it was well worth the wait. I was very satisfied with their solution.
My starter quit on one of those –30 days and would not restart. They were my saviors. My bf did not agree to the assessment charge ($ 40) but I was willing to pay for peace of mind that there was not any other error in the electrical system.

What a great experience! Like many of the other reviewers, Sam and his wife (I think) were genuine, honest, and nice. I didn’t feel pressured at all and they made me feel like they were looking out for my best interest. Sam took the time to examine the damage and gave me several options. In the end, his estimate was less than the nearby competitors and service was top notch. I plan on bringing my family and my future visits to AK

Unilocal did not fail me. They offered fair prices and gave me an honest assessment of what I needed to fix right away, and what could wait. They even helped me do a slight adjustment to my bumper for free! They are great.

Made a appointment for a simple oil and filter change in the morning. When I got in there I was unsure what type of oil I should get, either synthetic blend or full synthetic and wanted to find out a little more about the oil before committing to one or the other. The lady at the front desk wasn’t able to tell me much about it the oil, she didn’t even know which brand they used. In the end I got the synthetic blend which cost about $ 30 compared to the full synthetic which was about $ 55.
Pretty happy about being in and out within 20 mins but I wish I knew what type of oil they used

I’ve recommended AK auto to everyone I know and love. I’ve been going to Sam since ~2007 and he and crew have added years on to my 1995 Tercel’s life. The work has always been a job well done.
Another important selling point is that it’s next to the orange line Halsted station, and one stop from the Roosevelt CTA hub. So while your car is getting its check-​up, you’re not left stranded somewhere for hours without access to transportation. Just hop on the train and continue on with your day.

A-​K Auto is the most trustworthy shop I have ever been to and that is why I keep going there. Sam is excellent with his word and mechanical diagnostic. He will make sure everything is done right and treats repeat customers extraordinarily well.
His wife is now running the operations and office of the shop and she is very friendly to deal with.
I cannot say enough good things about Sam and A-​K Auto.

I noticed a horrible squeaking noise returning to work after lunch. A-​K was the closest shop I found doing to a frantic search on Unilocal open late enough that Friday evening, open Saturdays and open early enough so I was able to coordinate dropping it off with my ride.
The women who answered the phone Friday afternoon and who quoted me for new front brakes was excellent! She recommended the best time to drop off my car to avoid waiting and to keep my car as safe as possible and was efficient when looking up parts and labor.
My car was coincidentally scheduled to go into a different shop 2 weeks later for some more major work (timing belt, water pump, tensioner, pully, sparks) but I thought I might as well get a quick estimate from A-​K while it as already scheduled to be there overnight. Her estimate was about $ 100 less than the competitor’s. Unfortunately, they already had 2 other cars scheduled that Saturday, but based on the saved $, the extended hours, the ability to get me in the following weekend (vs waiting another week at the other place) and her awesome customer service, I scheduled a time for the additional services.
She called first thing Saturday morning (brakes job) to inform me that not only did my front brakes need replacing, but that my rear brakes were beginning to grind after a thorough test drive and asked my permission before moving forward with the repairs on both sets. I really appreciate her reaching out so I didn’t have to schedule yet another trip to the shop. A few hours later I was able to pick up my car Saturday.
The next week (Friday morning) I returned my car for the major stuff scheduled to pick it up Saturday afternoon again. Unfortunately, Saturday morning I got a phone call from Sam saying they replaced all the parts, but didn’t feel comfortable returning my car Saturday afternoon as scheduled and they’d need a few days (Wed) with my car to figure out what was wrong with it. Initially I was incredibly frustrated, but worked out a way to transport myself to and from work and got a phone call Monday morning saying they came in after hours to finish up my car and it was ready for pick up! When I picked it up from the shop, Sam came up to the front and personally explained he stands behind his work and didn’t want me to drive off in my car when there was something ‘off.’ I appreciate his care and courtesy.
Not only are the rates competitive for auto repair, the group of employees at A-​K is stellar! My new auto repair shop!

Came in for an oil change without an appointment. Opps. First time car owner.
The lady at the front desk was very nice. She said they were really busy but they were able to fit me in immediately. I think she moved some stuff around for me since it was such a fast fix.
Anyway, they were great about explaining that they used a better oil than most other places and why it would be more expensive. I really appreciated that because most mechanics see a woman and try to con us into more expensive stuff because we might not know the difference. He was very honest and upfront so I didn’t mind paying a little extra. Plus, I have a 6 cylinder so it was understandable.
Just took a seat in the waiting room and it was done in under 20 minutes. Everyone was super friendly and accommodating.
Only negative is the entrance being hidden in the back. I tried to enter from 26^th street which doesnt go through so I got kind of turned around.