Instant Smog Check

I went in for a will lol change and smog
My car is a toyota so there is nothing else to do
The guys and Marco especially were very nice and friendly
He gave me a ride home up the block and was ready again for pick up
40 min later alike they said
Great to have a service like that :)

Don’t try to catch these guys at the end of the day, they will turn you away. They might as well cut an hour off of their hours. Needless to say I am annoyed when I showed up with 45 minute until close to get my smog done and was turned away because they close at three and the new guy takes at least an hour to smog a car.

I went here for an oil change. They were out of the $ 20 standard but gave me a discount on synthetic. Quick and friendly! It’s across from the co op so I usually grab groceries while I wait!

Great and honest service. Take both of our cars are here for oil changes and other car problems. They are knowledgeable and you never feel like you’re being overcharged. Going to continue coming here as long as I’m in SD. Oil changes are usually done in 25 minutes.

$ 60 for a smog check. Didn’t pass and told me it would be 200 – 300 dollars worth of repairs. Pressured me into doing it, I said screw it and ended up going back to Midas in PB where it passed without a problem. Obviously do not know for sure, but its easy to assume they purposely failed it which I have been told is a common business practice. Avoid.

REVIEW UPDATE: IF AFTER READING THIS REVIEW, AND YOU GO TO THIS LOCATION FOR SMOG OR ANY FULL SERVICE MECHANIC WORK… MENTION THAT YOU READ THIS REVIEW TO GEORGE THE MANAGER AND RECEIVE A DISCOUNT OFF your smog check& certification!
DO not consider any other reviews below mine. George (Jorge) the manager, is not the owner, and as anyone knows who runs a business, owners must be accountable for bad reviews. If the price is too high, it’s the owner’s decision. If the service is nonexistent, it is the owner that made that limits the manager on hiring.
George has always been on top of his game, but if the owner has failed to keep the team up to industry standards, he fails his team, and his customers, and his business. This store is under new ownership, and it shows. BAM! It shows in the respect and power he gave his existing team. When I walked in for my biannual smog, George explained to me, that a change of ownership requires a «wait-​time» with The State of California, and the DMV for proper standard paperwork to be approved before they can conduct STAR-​APPROVED smog-​checks, and that it might be a couple of weeks wait-​time. Well, since I’d done business with them in the past, and had excellent service (plus, I believe in spending my $$ in my community) I decided I could wait, and since they are a service oil change and tuneup garage as well, I asked them to tune my car in the meantime.
Before any work was done, George’s mechanic checked (by my request) all fluids, plugs, and lines, called me on my cell#, told me the cost to see if that was agreeable.
I thought the price was more than fair, and guess what happened when I came to pick it up? The bill was actually $ 15 less! George said his mechanic found no reason to replace the spark plugs I thought needed replacing per MY REQUEST.
THEN…GET THIS… I had some challenges with what I thought was my alternator, as a couple of other mechanics quoted me replacement thought I’d give George and his team a shot again, and he said «Oh definitely I’ll be able to replace your alternator, but just like last time, I’ll call you before, to let you know the cost involved, so you can make the decision from there, OK?» …Got a call 3 hrs later and he apologized for the wait, but explained to me that the challenge I had was merely some lines needed adjusting, that my alternator was fine, but the lines were draining the battery, making the appearance of a bad alternator, and that I owed him NOTHING! He also explained that the final paperwork had been approved for the STAR CERT and that THEY ARE NOW READY TO ROLL ON SMOG REGISTRATIONS!!! AND AT A FAIR PRICE .
Since I didn’t procrastinate to get my car smog certified he rewarded me for waiting and not taking my business elsewhere. He rewarded me with a 10% discount ! IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN to ISC in O.B. GO! If you were unsatisfied way back. GO BACK, it’s a BRAND NEW DAY THERE FOLKS and it’s there to stay, and getting better as now they are are full service mechanic repair as well. Go in ask George for your 10% discount because you read this Unilocal review!

I have been to this place a couple times… why, I’m not sure. At least it gives me the ability to state with some accuracy that the poor customer service and high prices are not a fluke. On more than one occasion when I went to get my oil changed or car smogged, I was told that «it’ll take 20 or 30 minutes.» No prob, I say, I’ll just run over to the Co-​op in the meantime. «We’ll call you when it’s done,» they reply. One of two things then happens: they actually manage to get it done in 30 minutes and fail to call me, so I don’t find out I could have been outta there much sooner until I walk back over after an hour to see what the heck is going on. OR, two, they actually do take an hour or more and fail to tell me that it’ll be longer than expected.
Prices are pretty outrageous, too. $ 60 for a smog check, and $ 55 – 65 for an oil change (they reel you in with their «19.99 Oil Change» signs). I’ve paid half that at other locations.
Finally, on one occasion they failed to screw on the oil cap correctly. Today they managed to not close my hood completely, which I found out as I drove onto the 8 when heard a loud rattling noise and noticed my hood vibrating violently. I pulled over on the side of the highway to see what the heck was going on. The only thing preventing my hood from flying up in my face while driving was the little safety latch.
If there was a way to give zero stars, these guys would get it. I’ve learned my lesson and will never ever go here again. Please save your $$ & time, and stay safe by NOT GOING HERE.

I had been here before and came at 5:55 pm, right as they had closed up. They brought me in and gave me an oil change right away. I was out in 10 minutes! I’ve had one from here before and nothing has gone wrong on my car afterward. They have great mechanics and good service.

Things have changed in the 4 years since my last review! I walked in, and stood there like an idiot for about 3 minutes before being greeted by the employee that was looking at the computer. I knew I wasn’t a valued customer immediately.
A smog check would cost $ 60 – 70. A lot, but I figured that was just the normal price, so I was still willing to pay it.
They said it would be 20 – 30 minutes, I said that was good. Then they said actually a Corvette was before me, so it would be an hour. I said I can’t wait that long today, I’ll come back another day. They said okay.
I went around the corner and got a smog check in 15 minutes for $ 42, and was greeted immediately! I won’t ever waste my bucks at this place again.

Avoid this place for smog checks. Failed my car over a check engine light that not only obviously worked but was verified by an actual mechanic to have nothing wrong with it. When I returned to talk to the manager, I got a whole lot of attitude and BS about it being the state’s computer not being able to communicate with my car’s computer. Either way, a waste of my time and money.

Ever wary of car mechanics, I had my boyfriend take me and my car here for a desperately needed (overdue) oil change. All seemed well, as they weren’t very busy and had an extremely friendly and professional disposition, but I became complacent too soon.
I had forgotten that many a grease monkey has mindlessly overfilled my engine, and I didn’t double-​check it until I got home. Looks like they automatically added 5 quarts when my engine only requires 3.5. That’s over a quart too much! I feel foolish for trusting them so quickly… those bastards!
I could go complain to them, except I don’t know that I have any real recourse as my car is an old ’99 and not exactly a shiny and new off-​the-​lot investment.
must a girl change her own oil? what is this world coming to?
sighhh… :o/​

Brought my ’06 Gmc in here for a smog check a couple months ago, they got me in and out in about 15 – 20 minutes for around 50 bucks. No complaints at all, they did what they advertised without any bs. Someone was in there giving them hell for something, but the guy seemed like a dick and I would have been hesitant to give the guy great service too. By the looks as long as you are friendly and courteous to them, they will return the favor.

Very friendly, got me in and out in about 15 minutes. Probably not the cheapest place out there, smog cost about $ 60, but still was a great experience

Open on Sunday monrnigs, convenient location, staff was courteous and they got the job done fast. That works for me!

CHUN P = Procrastinator = Last minute Smog «Test Only» check
I came here on accident.
I slept in Saturday morning and missed my appointment at another Unilocal reccommended smog place in Kearney Mesa. I was in a rush and had to get to the OB Octoberfest for the 5K Braut Trot in time.
Well I got to OB sooner than I thought and saw this place coming in. I only saw two cars in the lot… Why not?
CHUN P: «Hi! How long of a wait for a smog check and how much?»
WORKER: «About 30 minutes and $ 60.49»
CHUN P: «$ 60.49? Thats kinda high… uh, nevermind bro, thanks anyway…»
WORKER: «Alright, don’t say anything to anyone, but how about it if I knock off $ 10 and make it $ 50.49?»
CHUNP: «Well…alright thats good enough!» (I didn’t want make another trip and had to meet a Oct 14 deadline!)
19 minutes later and $ 50.49 later, my vintage 2000 Ford Mustang Convertible graduated from Smog University 2010. Fast service. Nice employees. But you can probably save yourself $ 5 – 10 going someplace in Kearny Mesa.
Thanks to Instant Smog Check, I made it to the OB Octoberfest in time for the 5K, a giant brautwurst, and 40oz of beer! :)

Didn’t get any work done here, so I can’t speak to that. But my girlfriend’s car had a slight problem, and two different employees offered tools and let me work on it in their parking lot. Nice guys.

Worst place ever! I went for an oil change and smog check. I told the employee to do my oil change first so it would be better for my emission but he decided to do the smog check first. I failed the smog and the employee didn’t even help me out to find a person to fix the emission problem. when i left, i realized at home that my oil filter was not changed. I went back and asked how come you didn’t changed the oil filter and he told me it was still good! that is a No No! I didn’t bother going back for my re-​smog. I went to a shop somewhere in Clairemont and passed right away! WTF!

Wish I could give zero stars. This place is a scam. I went in with a check engine light on and they went through the entire emissions test (which it passed) but then told me that due to the light, it did not matter if it passed, the check engine light on is an automatic failure… Great news! Why not tell me that before the half an hour test and 60 bucks? The «technician» or person with 80 IQ they taught how to use the machine stated that it was illegal for him to «pre diagnos» problems. I am sure he would not pass a drug test but he’s not too worried about those laws, only the ones safegaurding the DMV emmisions standards.
Needless to say, I got the light fixed (turns out it just needed to be reset from a prior repair) and then i went to smog test place in PB. First thing the lady asked when I pulled up? «hey, can i check to see if your check engine light is on? if it is you won’t pass.» That’s just nice, good karma behavior.

Gary and his staff here are pretty great. I was treated respectfully, they honored the competitor’s coupon I brought in, and were very fast – 15 minutes max. I did jump out of my chair several times at the loud noises coming from the garage, but it’s not their fault I am high-​strung.
One thing I found humor in, but also pushed me to deduct one star was the following: there is a sign on the wall that says «We sell windshield wipers – free installation.» Mine are horrible, so I asked one of the younger guys how much it would cost to replace. He kind of thumbed through a book, couldn’t find the ones he thought would fit, and then said «Well, they aren’t in here, which means I have to go look at yours, THEN go into the garage to find them, THEN go in the back and look at the other parts, THEN add it all up.» And then he gave me this look like I was supposed to sympathize with him over the amount of work that would be and say «never mind.» I just raised my eyebrows, and gave him my Stern Lady Look.
After that, there were no more comments from the peanut gallery.