Tuneup Masters

I am attaching the entry of judgement which clearly shows that we won a judgement against Alex Fara/​Tune Up Masters. To this date Alex Fara (aka Al Faramandi) has not made a single payment towards paying his debt to us.

Since my last review, I have talked with the owner Alex and victor and they took very good care of the problem. We communicated very well and they stepped up to the plate and acted very professionally. My car is still having problems, but I can drive it. I guess it’s time to get another one. All in all Victor and Alex are great kind and caring people. I know this personally. I think once They work out all the kinks, Tuneup Masters will be a great place to take your car. They are already on that road.

I dropped my GSXR off to them on May 21^st to have a head gasket and a head job completed on my bike and was quoted a week. Instead I sit here a full 5 weeks later and still no bike! The worst part is that these guys told me no less than 10 to 15 times that the bike would be ready tomorrow or the next day or the following week — and would never call me to tell me of a delay but instead i would have to call them to make sure the bike was ready before i drove 20 minutes down to their shop to find it wasnt ready… like i had already made that mistake twice and I still don’t have my motorcycle!
The big sign out front saying «WHILE YOU WAIT» haunts me everytime I go by to check on the status… because that is all I have done… WAIT…AND WAIT… AND WAIT! THIS BIKE WAS RUNNING FINE when I tool it to them — originally for a once over… and now I feel like I’m missing the entire summer– mind you I only had the bike for 3 weeks before I gave it to them to «tune-​up»! So they have had the bike longer than I have!!!
I have begged them to call me and update me on the status (asking no less than 10 times) and each time I am told they will call me… no phone call. And on Day 36 they tell me that they can’t find a gasket for my head!
Are you kidding me? You’ve had 35 days to order the damn thing! Not to mention that THE FIRST ITEM THAT COMES UP ON EBAY IS THE PART THEY SAY THEY CAN’T FIND!!!
I could not be more dissapointed in the guys that call me their friend! I will update– when and if I ever get my bike back!

WORTH THE READ IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING TAKING YOUR CAR HERE:
I wouldn’t give any stars if I didn’t have to in order to write this review.
I went back and forth with Tune Up Master for 9 months. During those months, I probably drove my car for 1 – 2 days about 5 different times before having to bring it back again. Every time they claimed my car was «fixed and ready to pick up,» I would drive off and a couple hours/​days later my check engine light would come back on or a problem would arise and I had to take it back.
One occasion, (I had just pick up my car the day before) I was driving on the 405 freeway on my way home. All of a sudden, my car made a loud «POP» sound and stopped accelerating. My car wouldn’t move, it just stopped working, and I had to pay $ 250 to get my car towed from Santa Monica back to their shop for review and fixing. Apparently, one of the Mechanics «forgot to reconnect a setting on the computer for the gas accelerator.» Who forgets something like that?
Another occasion, (I picked up my car that day) I was driving home on the 5 freeway and my car started to shake when I would accelerate or be at a complete stop. THIS IS WHAT I TOOK IT IN FOR ORIGIONALLY and its happening again. Keep in mind, I already paid $ 3K in repairs and the main problem I took it in for is obviously not fixed.
Instead of taking it back to Tune Up Masters, I went to another repair shop. This repair shop said the mechanics who worked on it before didn’t know what they were doing. They put the head on backwards, they duct taped valves together, etc. This repair shop wrote an estimate for me to bring to Tune Up Masters for them to pay for the repairs the other mechanic was going to do.
Alex said he would only pay ½ or fix it himself for free. I chose for him to pay ½ so I could feel better about someone reliable fixing my car instead of him. What actually ended up happening was that the other shop didn’t want to fix the car after taking a further look because they didn’t want to be liable for all the damaged that Tune Up Masters had done to it previously. Alex ended up taking my car back for a free repair.
Time had passed and I called to get an update on my car. I was speaking with Victor but I could hear Alex on the other end saying «tell her to pick up her car, its ready. The check engine light is still on but mechanically it runs well but electronically, it doesn’t.»
After 9 months of having my car, he was really going to try to give it back to me with the check engine light still on. Is this a joke?
I told him I don’t want my car back until the check engine light is off and completely fixed.
He had it for another week when I finally called and said…“I am done waiting, just give me my car back.” Alex said, «oh, funny you called, your car is ready.»
I picked up my car and the check engine light was, in fact, off… but Alex didn’t want to print out an invoice of what he did because he wanted to wait for Victor come back (Victor was off that day-​Thursday) because he «doesn’t write up anything, only Victor works with the computer.» Alex is the owner and he doesn’t create invoices… so strange.
A couple days go by and my check engine light is still off but I am noticing it isn’t coming on even with the preliminary start when I turn my car on (all my lights flashed but the engine light). Something wasn’t right.
I took it to get a diagnostic testing at the dealership and come to find out, Alex disabled the check engine light. So, if I ever want to get my car smogged, it wont pass.
With all that being said, my car is still not fixed.
I filed a complaint with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. The provide services as a mediator in helping with my request to get my money back. After the BAR investigator met with him initially, to date, Alex has not made himself available for the follow-​up meet with the investigator.
Please do not go to this place. Save yourself from a headache and debt.
You’ll be better off going to someone else.

A+++++ GREAT SERVICE! GREAT PRICES! I was a 1^st timer… I will definitely be back and also highly recommend Tuneup Masters to anyone seeking feedback from Unilocal

I came into the shop 3 times for a flat tire and the guys filled me up for free and with a nice smile. When time came and I found my car not feeling the norm I decided to stop in for a check up. I am hesitant about mechanic shops being that I am a female. The guys explained to me what needed to be done and gave me a quote. I contacted my father in law and he said not to use these guys because the quote seemed way to high and was afraid I was going to get ripped off. I ended up driving my car from long beach to the OC where the family mechanic could take care of me. After leaving my car over night I was given the same explanation and same quote!!! Long story short I was not being taken advantage to my surprise.
I felt guilty for not trusting ALEX! He was actually honest and beyond fair. I called him that afternoon and apologized and also thanked him for being honest. I may not have given them my business this time around but if and when the time comes I know who I’ll be going to!
Thank you

Tune Up Masters
I have been a customer of Tune Up Masters of Long Beach for several years. Let me start by saying that everyone who works in the organization is extremely friendly and highly professional. In many repair shops the mechanics are unfriendly and aloof. In contrast, at Tune Up Masters of Long Beach everyone is very gracious, welcoming, and responsive to all of the customer’s needs. They have a surprising open door policy — in which you can talk to all the mechanics and the owner no matter how busy they are! In fact, it is not uncommon to see customers chatting to the mechanics while they are busy working on cars or doing paperwork.
Victor is a very knowledgeable and friendly master mechanic who immediately makes the customer feel welcomed and comfortable.
Alex (the owner) will literally explain every detail of your car’s needed maintenance step by step so even the layperson can understand.
Additionally, the price of repairs is exceedingly reasonable and fair. I have recently had a new clutch put in on my 2006 Saturn Ion — and the price was by far the most reasonable of any repair shop anywhere! Also, I am definitely the type of customer who does his research online to find estimates and price quotes as well.
Furthermore, I called many places for estimates, and Alex gave me a price which was approximately $ 800 cheaper than the average competitor!
Alex is indisputably the most honest, trustworthy, and affable owner of a repair shop I have ever met. Moreover, I have dealt with countless mechanics and repair shops throughout my 43 years of existence. In terms of friendliness, truthfulness, professionalism, and price, Alex and Tune Up Masters are by far head and shoulders above the competition!
Excellent work done by outstanding professionals!

Came in for a diagnostic on my car, thinking it was my axle and my wheel bearing, they got to my car as soon as possible. They figured it was not my axle at all but my wheel bearing. Their original quote went down more than 100 dollars. I’m glad they found what was wrong and didn’t have to change both the items and called me to tell me about the problem was and how they figured it out. I’m driving happy for the moment now. Good job.

I had a Tune up done 2 months ago… and I still feel that I was over charged… I paid $ 225 total… what gets me is that the guy said I needed to have a Head gasket sealer put on my car which would cost another $ 200 + …however the car has no overheating issues as I explained to them when I was there… So Here I am 2 months later ready to take the car in for the sealer when I decided to get a second opinion as I think everyone should and the other mechanic said I have no head gasket issues… I’m glad I saved my self some money…

They are the best. Went to them to get alternator replaced after the dealer wanted to charge too much. Saved at least $ 300. And they did some minor fixes at no charge.

Weak smog check place. Told to come before 9:00 am for immediate service and did and then told I would need to leave the car (not an option). Suggest taking your smog check business a mile away to JB Smog Check at corner of 10^th & Junipero. I was in and out in under 20 minutes. Thu place sucks-​steer clear of it is my suggestion

I have gone to Tune Up Masters since I bought my first car years ago. They’ve always given me great service at an exceedingly low price.

I wish I could’ve given these guys 5 stars but plain and simple they didn’t do they work I paid them to do. The story is that I took my ’87 Honda to be smogged at a different shop and it failed due to EVAP leak, high RPMs and the timing was off by a few degrees. So I took it to Tuneup Masters with my smog report and they charged me $ 150 dollars to address these issues so that I would pass. After I took my newly repaired car to the smog shop he failed me again because the timing was still off. I took the car back to Tuneup Masters and they said it should’ve passed and that the smog guy was just a pain in the ass. Well, I ended up taking it to a place that passed my car but the problem is that the timing in a car is very important and Tuneup Masters got the timing as close as they could to manufacturers specs but not at the optimal positioning (it was still off by several degrees and although the car runs, I can tell that the engine has some strange behaviors). Bottom line, if I take my car to be serviced I expect to get what I pay for; $ 150 to wrap some electrical tape around a valve in my engine to prevent EVAP leak and then get the timing as close as they could (the mechanic admitted it was a pain in the ass the get it perfect) but not accurate enough for optimal engine performance is just basically a half-​assed job in my opinion. They were very friendly though and willing to talk to me as opposed to some mechanics who are silent or seem to be trying to take advantage of the customer. All in all I won’t go back because there is a trust issue. If someone pays you to fix a car, just do it right and don’t half-​ass it, Tuneup Masters! Thanks for your time.

I love these guys! I really do! I brought my car in for an oil change on a Monday afternoon without making an appointment. Although they had work orders for many cars lined up that day they still somehow managed to work on my car the same day and gave my car an oil change and courtesy check for 70 bucks — full synthetic for a Mazda 3 that is, regular oil would run only 30 bucks, how crazy is that?!? they are super friendly, very competent and bs free. Highly recommendable!

Just took my car in this Friday for a smog check I didn’t realize I needed until registration was due (uuuuumm, yeah due on Friday). Called them, they were honest and pleasant. Took car in and it was done, on the spot. It was the most reasonable price I could find (which is sometimes risky) but thank goodness I took my car there! The mechanic/​smog check tech. was great! Victor was nice and another man was there too who was chatty and friendly and an alumni of CSULB like me (Go Beach!) Would definitely take my car there again!

Good rate of service. No trickery on tacking on extra cost. Fixed issues I forget to list in my initial estimate. Victor a honest business owner. Parking limited & absolutely pitiful waiting area (outside on rickety plastic chairs that peel skin under no shading). Empty space inside that’s would be ideal for waiting area, if they cleaned it out & fixed it up a bit. Spent a lot if time looking at that space because I waited FOREVER to pick up my ride. Other employee couldn’t find my paperwork & had to wait for Victor to return from a business run. Plan on having another ride available because it took 4 days to complete what should’ve taken 1&½ tops. I own a hoopty, so I’m familiar with service schedules. Won’t return, unless absolutly no other available option.

I just returned from getting the oil changed on my car. Having called ahead, I knew what to expect price-​wise. The guys there were friendly and true to their word. They did not try to up-​sell me or recommend things I didn’t need. I will definitely return and refer my family and friends (who all just happen to live very close). I’m excited to have found someone to take care of my baby!

The rates here are very reasonable. The staff members were friendly. I didn’t expect to find a bike rental attached to the building but it’s something to keep in mind the next time I come here.
There is no waiting room here except for maybe a few plastic chairs outside under the baking sun. However, there’s a donut shop around the corner, Viento y Agua five minutes away (walking distance) and a nice nail shop four minutes away (walking distance). There’s also an Italian restaurant across the street if you’re hungry.
Overall my experience was nice and i will come back for another tune-​up. I just kinda wish they had an indoor waiting room but they said they’re working on it.

AWESOME SERVICE AND NEVER A DISAPPOINTMENT! These guys I completely trust with my car. Victor is always so nice and the owner Alex, (I think that’s his name) is just a wonderful!
They are reasonable and have always kept me informed of work that I may need in the future. Never do they try to up sell me or suggest service I do not need. So happy I found a repair facility that I can trust!

AWESOME!
Honest, professional, extremely friendly and did I mention honest.
I’ve been here more than twice already and I am so happy I found them!