Lawrence Automotive Diagnostics Inc

I just needed an oil change and came in without an appointment; they completed that within an hour, despite having other cars to work on that had appointments. When changing the oil, I also asked them to look at my rear windshield wiper and replace the blade. When I came back, he told me it would be a waste of money to replace the blade because the actual wiper was broken. He saved me $ 15 for the blade! It’s not much money at all, but most other places would’ve done it anyway knowing they could make a quick buck even though it wouldn’t solve the problem. The men were so friendly and honest (and I am clueless when it comes to cars). Will definitely go back for whatever else I need!

I received estimates for a variety of services that my car needed. In total, LAD wanted to charge me a sum of $ 2200. After reaching out to different shops around the area and back home (Chicago) I was able to find another shop that did all of the needed work for a total of $ 600. I got all of the work done at another reputable shop and so far, everything in my car has been running great. I assume LAD regularly gets away with high maintenance costs, luckily I was able to avoid their scheme. LAD has definitely lost my business, and I will make sure to encourage friends and family to avoid this place.

WARNING! Steer clear of Lawrence Automotive Diagnostics. Sadly, there was more wrong with my vehicle after they ‘did repairs’ than before I brought it to them. True. I had them do another ‘diagnostic’ on it just to confirm my worst fears. Another expensive estimate! Sketchy! A word to the wise is sufficient.

After having LAD take a look at my car after an oil change by them and a replaced PS pressure hose, I’ve spoken to several friends who are vastly more car savvy than I am and was advised that I could do most of the repairs my car needed on my own with a fairly small amount of knowledge and tinkering. So I read up on how to replace spark plugs and ignition coils in my car, and they were right; it’s really pretty simple and it cost FAR less to do it myself than it would have if I’d taken my car in. All of that said, I understand the markups and labor costs incurred when you take your car into the shop. I get it; that’s the business.
HOWEVER, after learning how to do it myself, I also learned that the shop priced me for new spark plug boots in my vehicle. My vehicle doesn’t even utilize spark plug boots. LAD could very easily see that it wouldn’t even be a little hard to pull the wool over my eyes; until I took the time to look into it, I wouldn’t have known any better.
I will no longer be returning to these mechanics. They’re nice people and the work they DID do on my car was satisfactory, if highly overpriced, but those things are the only qualities saving them from a one-​star review.

Lawrence Automotive Diagnostics was recommended to me by another mechanic (who didn’t service Mazdas), and I thought that was a pretty good recommendation!
As a woman who doesn’t know much about cars, I had a lot of positive experiences with LAD and I felt they treated me and my car fairly and respectfully. I had a few problems fixed there without incident (spark plugs replaced, oil changes, body work after I was hit by another car). I tend to be a hypochondriac about my car, but they always took me seriously and never suggested outrageous services. Prices seemed a little high, but I don’t mind paying a little extra for quality service.
However the last time I took my car there would be the last time ever. I brought it in because it was shaking pretty seriously, even when in neutral. They told me a fan belt needed replacing, and it seemed that it was about that time, so that seemed fair. But when I got my car back, the shaking hadn’t reduced at all. I brought it to another mechanic (Garber Automotive) who told me 3 (of 4) motor mounts needed replacing, and that’s why my car was shaking so badly. They told me it was a pretty obvious problem when they saw my car, and when they replaced the motor mounts, lo and behold! The car stopped shaking!
I’m disappointed in LAD for not fixing the problem and not testing my car to even see if their work had solved the problem. I had liked them, but I no longer trust their quality control and I won’t be going back.

If you’re a woman or a college-​looking student, this place is a huge NOPE!
I have had problems in the past after moving to Lawrence with mechanics/​repair shops. It seems to me that the people that run these shops see this college aged woman needing help and probably thinking that it would be easy to get me to overpay on a small repair.
So I took my car here two days ago after my car started shaking and the check engine light came on. I had a sneaking suspicion that it was a spark plug. So I called, made an appointment and told them I thought it was probably a spark plug. I took my car in, everyone was friendly, and told them to call me before they made any kind of repairs.
The next day I called to check up on my car since they had not called me yet. They said that I needed a new spark plug, along with wires, and with a TON of other repairs. I specified that I wanted the bare minimum, knowing full well what they were doing. For just spark plug replacements they quoted me a price of $ 302!!! Are you kidding me?!
So I had my Dad call other places (heaven forbid if they hear a woman on the phone) and get quotes for the same exact repair. I got quotes from $ 90 to $ 130.
I picked up my car that same day and drove it back to my place. My dad changed all my spark plugs for less than $ 50 and also can replace the wires them to for way less.
I can’t help but feel violated over and over again by these repair shops trying to make an easy buck. Especially on the someone who is vulnerable and doesn’t know much about cars.
What makes me sick is that this is not the first time I had taken my car here. I mindlessly had trusted them before and I cannot imagine how much I have overpaid. I will not be returning to this shop. If possible I will wait to have all repairs done back in my hometown, simply cannot trust these shops in Lawrence anymore.

The employees at Lawrence Auto. Diagnostics are definitely very friendly, and they give the impression that they’re only interested in what’s best for your car. That’s great if you’re just taking your car there for periodic oil changes, and maybe an occasional tune-​up.
However, the second something goes wrong, they’ll be the last to admit responsibility.
When my car had roughly 160k miles on it, the factory catalytic converter started giving out. I had it replaced at Lawrence Auto Diagnostics, to the tune of around $ 1,000.
Less than two years and less than 30k miles later, the converter failed. (If you do a quick web search, you’ll see that this is FAR from normal.)
However, this is not the main reason for the 1-​star review I’m giving these guys. I could imagine a good shop, upon learning that the converter they installed less than two years earlier just failed, would offer to look into possible explanations for this, and maybe even offer a discount at replacing the converter again (as, again, converters are meant to last well over 100,000 miles). When I called Lawrence Auto. Diagnostics, however, and asked them why this could’ve happened, they rudely said,
«Well, ya know, sometimes you buy a refrigerator and it breaks a year later. That’s just the way it goes.»
They refused to do anything for me (other than install another converter for another $ 1000).
Before this incident, I recommended Lawrence Auto. Diagnostics to a friend. He told me they recommended LOTS of repairs (i.e., over $ 2000 worth) to his car. Being smarter than I am, he decided to take his car somewhere else, where they performed roughly $ 600 of repairs. This was 5 years ago, and his car is still running fine (and he hasn’t had anywhere near the level of repairs they suggested in the interim).
So, if you enjoy spending money on unnecessary things and if you hate people who stand behind their work, maybe Lawrence Auto. Diagnostics is for you. Otherwise, I’d recommend going elsewhere.

Avoid at all costs. You will end up paying A LOT and have more problems with your car.

I can only echo the overwhelmingly positive reviews here. Terrific service, very fast, very knowledgable, very honest, very friendly, very fairly priced. Take your car here for service.

I have always had a great experience at LAD! Danny and the guys have taken into consideration that I don’t have a lot of money every time my car needs attention. They have always let me know what needs to be fixed and what can wait. I walk out knowing I was treated fair. I’ve been going to them since it opened (now, driving from KC because I know I can trust them) and have never been disappointed.

Writing another review because my last one was erased for some reason. I feel so strongly against taking your car here I am taking the time to write another review. This place charges $ 100 for a diagnostic check, first off any autoparts store will do that for free. They are lazy, did not call me for three days and said they couldnt get ahold of me. I do have voicemail. They are dishonest, they told me I needed a new engine for $ 5000 for I should sell my car for whatever I could get. After paying them a $ 100 for this service I took it to Mass St auto and got my car back the same day, coolant resovoir $ 326. STAY AWAY, I would sooner let a monkey bang on my car with a wrench than ever take my car back there again. I will forever blasphemy their dishonest establishment. I wrote them to refund my money, no response but as soon as I write a scathing review here’s Danny on the message boards apologizing but neither offering compensation nor a discount of any kind.

I definitely would take anything they say with a grain of salt and make sure to grab a second opinion.
Long story short. We took my boyfriends car in with the idea that a couple things needed to be fixed before driving a long road trip. My dad had previously warned me saying something like «these people are going to see you and assume they can take you for a fool or make some money off of you, beware that they may call you and claim somethings need to be fixed when they really don’t.»
Which is exactly what happened, we asked them to check the oil, the gas gauge, and fix the alignment. All of which was supposed to be under 200 dollars. They called me back with over $ 1,500 worth of repairs and said that my boyfriends car was not safe to drive at the current state that it was in. Taking my dads warning I said thanks and that we wanted a second opinion before we proceeded with any repairs.
We took his jeep to the dealership that same day and received a call back telling us that none of the repairs they claimed «needed to be fixed to make the car safe» were actually an issue. They basically tried to scam us out of almost $ 2,000 because they thought we looked like morons.
And they actually charge way too much for «labor» when I asked what an oil change would cost they said $ 20 when I got the oil changed they bill was $ 55 claiming $ 35 dollars for «labor» meaning that an oil change is not $ 20 its actually $ 55.
I would definitely find someplace else in lawrence to take your vehicle for any type of repair or service. Avoid them at all costs, or it may end up costing you wayyy too much.

Very professional. These guys are awesome. They are very affordable with tires or any other work you need. They were so nice and faxed a copy of my receipt for my insurance company 2 months later!

The best place to take my car too. Not only are they honest and fair-​priced, but they take the Give Back cards.