Allied Engine & Auto Repair

Allied is an honest repair shop that treats you fairly. I’ve been here twice — once when my gear shift went out and again for a checkup before a road trip. They went above and beyond to make sure my car was top shape. My bill was reasonable and they completed the work the same day. I received regular updates as to what was needed and there were no surprises when I received the bill. I also got some very useful maintenance tips. These guys are like family. Their hours are convenient (even open on Saturday). On a side note, ask them for one of their little calendars for your dashboard. Nice touch!

Just a note for others doing research — It can be hard to find shops that do HVAC /​air conditioning system flush and rebuild.
I called up Allied and while they do perform AC system work, they won’t use parts that you provide if you happen to have any on hand. I tried to ask about using their parts, but they hung up on me… guess they didn’t want to make the sale.
I didn’t bring my car in, so I can’t comment on the work, only what I learned over the phone.
Other shops that do AC include Walsh Bros in Berkeley and Torchios in Oakland.

I love this place. I called about changing out a head light bulb in my 2002 Subaru. Paul gave me a quote over the phone. I brought it in, work was done immediately and for a very reasonable price. I will bring my second car here. I have experience with many garages in SF This shop is knowledgeable and is willing to work with you on your problem.

This place is amazing. Great, honest prices, and sweet people. I’ve gone to him for all my car repair needs for 8 years and counting. Paul is a fantastic mechanic who knows everything from old cars to the latest models. Couldn’t say a bad thing about this place.

I collect old cars and this is my go to place. Paul and his staff are knowledgeable and old school. When I first went there I noticed all the classics he was working on and I knew this was the place.

I can’t believe I’m reviewing a mechanic… and here I am reviewing a Mechanic. When my Smog Check was due this was one of the few shops that popped up as «DMV approved.» I called the # (which is actually linked to Paul’s cell phone when they aren’t in yet) and they told me to come on down.
While Ellis street doesn’t go on my list of favorites, this place certainly makes it worth my while. Paul and his wife are ADORABLE. This woman can absolutely talk your ear off– so be prepared, but she’s always very friendly and likes to get to know their customers.
Paul has a crazy good memory for people and their cars. I’ll forever be known as the «dirty bug girl.» It drives me crazy that he remembers that I suck at washing my car.
I’ve been to Allied for Smog Checks, a new temperature gauge, and when my license plate had to be put back on my car. (Thanks fix it ticket!) The last time I went, Paul and one of his loyal customers were washing my car when I arrived to pick it up. So unnecessary, and so unexpected! (Well, then again, they do know me as «dirty bug girl.» May not be all that surprising…)
While I still go home to my mechanic in the East Bay for servicing, Allied has been SO GOOD to me for all the acute pain-​in-​the-​ass issues with my 15 year old VW Beetle.
These guys rock.

SO appreciate the excellent service here! Altho my car is nearing 20 years old, I don’t worry about it at all because it receives TLC from Paul. He is very knowledgeable, experienced and cares about quality and customer service. Both he and Maryann have been nothing but friendly and cooperative in all of our dealings. It is such a relief to relax and trust my car to Allied!

s being ‘self taught. You see back in the day, we ‘old schoolers’ didn’t have little class in comunity colleges, on the internet, or in books. If you’ve met Paul consider your self lucky, as men like he, and I will not be around forever — learn what you can from him.
This is a family man (like I), a great mechanic and as knowledgeble a man as you will find.
He won’t sell you anything you don’t need, and will not waste time fixing your car all the time charging you more labor — no that’s not him.
If you’ve given him anything less than a 4 star you owe him an upology, and a retraction.
Yes I am a real person, not a Unilocal put up.
My name is Ken Cresci @ KCEgineering

I’ve been going to Paul for 15 years, first an old Ford van that had been converted to run on Propane. He was the only guy in town who could massage it through its annual smog test. Around that time I brought my friend Monica there and she’s been going there ever since. I stuck to motorbikes for a few years but went back to using his services when I inherited a 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix in 1997. He nursed that baby to 160,000 miles until the State paid me to take it off the road. Then it was on to my (previously-​owned by one little old Lady) 1988 VW Jetta and my wife’s 2002 Honda Accord. We still have the Accord and we’ve graduated to a 1999 VW Jetta, and Paul is STILL looking after all our cars and now our kids know him, too!
He’s fantastic at making things work, completely honest, and has always been generous with his pricing. His delightful wife works the front office and between the pair of them and his other three mechanics, they will perform a stellar job on your car.

This is the first business I visited when my car’s check engine light went on. The worker that saw me walk into the establishment told me I should talk to the ‘old man in the office’.
When I explained to the gentleman about the check engine light, he rudely asked me what was the «code». I told him I would have no way of knowing because I don’t have the equipment to read the error code and that that is why I had come to him. He then very angrily pulled out his device, read the code, barked it at me, said it’d be $ 120/​hr to diagnose the problem and that it probably couldn’t be solved anyway — and walked away from me.
If that is how they treat their prospective customers, I wonder how they stay in business.

Found this Auto Repair Shop by default in that I questioned the advise of another shop.
Attended to me without a reservation, diagnosed the problem, identified and ordered the faulty part, and ordered it for next-​day delivery.
When I returned the following day there they were again — Paul Grech, obviously a very experienced and knowledgable mechanic who apparently enjoys working on ‘older’ model cars, but he and his wife/​office manager, Mary Ann, have adapted to our computer-​ruled electronic as well. They make a very efficient team.
Got me ‘back on the road.‘
I am a very satisfied customer. Not only does Paul do great work, but Mary Ann is a real bonus: She is not only helpful but very personable. She has a lovely sense of humor.
Highly recommend this Auto Repair Shop. It is conveniently located at 751 Ellis Street (between Polk and Larkin), San Francisco 94 109, 415−474−7323

If you have an older classic car, this is the place to go in the city. I recently brought in my 1957 chevy convertible — it caught on fire — these guys quickly saw it was only a hose that bursted around steering fluid. it was fixed in less than an hour. she showed me in their computer logs of 17 other 1957 chevys they have worked on so they know these cars.
I came back a few weeks later when my top wasn’t going down all the way. they inspected it and instead of tinkering with for a few billable hours gave me a recommendation to go Wally’s as he specialized in this type of work. All around a great experience. Unfortunately with old cars, I’m sure I’ll be back but I wouldn’t take it anywhere else.

Excellent work Paul! Honda dealer told me the engine is no good (blown head gasket) and I have a melted radiator etc. I was very close to replacing the engine — ~$ 4,000 worth. Paul said it’s only a broken cap on the radiator which was causing the car to overheat — fixed it and now my car runs very well. I wouldn’t recommend going to Honda SF for maintenance work and check ups.
Just replaced a starter with him as well today as I’m very happy with his service and same day turnaround for fixing up my car.
Thanks Paul!

I brought my Saab to a Planet Saab and they told me I needed a new engine= ~$ 3,000.
I brought it to Paul and he got in there and found there was only a loose wire=$ 120.
The guy is car god. Trustworthy and with a true gift in understanding automobiles.

What a fantastic place. I’ve taken two cars to Paul and his guys. First time was for a check engine light that wouldn’t go away. It turned out to be a major repair, but they were so fast! I wasn’t long without a ride. The second was a major issue with the engine of my VW Beetle. When I decided to sell rather than replace the motor, he helped me sell the car and let me keep it at his garage until it sold. He also made sure I had the right paperwork when it sold. Paul goes above and beyond for his customers. He will always have my business.

Allied engine was a great experience. When our van died a couple of months ago, Paul was able to service our car for a good price. Not only that, but when I thought that our van would be in the shop for days, he was able to call us in five hours with a brand new fuel pump and fuel filter installed. I really appreciated the service.
Later on, when the fuel line got separated, we went in, and he re-​sealed it for no extra charge. He was able to drop everything and attend to us. He’s a great neighborhood mechanic and we’ll continue to see him so long as we have issues.

Wow is mostly what I have to say about this place. I had my Van checked by Paul and his mechanics and they did an incredible job of telling me everything I needed to know and quickly fixed what was wrong. I felt my Van was in very good hands, their price is hard to beat and they are all very professional and polite people.
I highly recommend this place and it is now my Mechanic of choice.
Thanks guys! ;)

Paul and his business are direct and up front. Came in seeking an answer to my overheating issue that I thought was caused by a damaged radiator. As I visited a mechanic before seeing Paul, I wanted a second opinion to ensure I wasn’t getting ripped off.
While the mechanic before Paul took 2 hours to inspect under the hood for the cause of my problem, Paul pulled out his handy flashlight, looked under my hood after taking some time off from working on another persons car. In under 5 minutes, Paul checked under the hood, looked around and gave me a diagnosis: «Need a new radiator» and showed me the proof.
He did not charge a dime for this simple check and was kind enough to try and find the most affordable parts for repair. Unfortunately, his shop rate was out of my by budget in addition to the cost of the part, but nonetheless, his friendly service and quick diagnosis is a big reason Paul is trustworthy. A customer even told me up front «you came to someone dependable whose good at what they do».
Paul is the man.

The dreaded check engine light came on in my car and after some online research, narrowed it down to about 14 possible root causes, ranging in possible severity from «go ahead and ignore it» to «pull over and have it towed to a mechanic».
Unilocal once again served its purpose in presenting several auto repair shops for me to consider. After calling a few garages, I finally decided on Allied Engine & Auto Repair due to their positive reviews, 35 years in business and numerous certifications.
I drove in and Paul sized up the car, then disappeared into the back of the garage, returning with a huge owner’s manual. That momentarily made me wonder if he was already stumped. However, he was able to spend a minute looking something up in the book, then peeled back the passenger floor mat, pressed a hidden button which generated a engine error code that narrowed down the possible causes.
He gave his recommendation of replacing the oxygen sensor. I stepped outside to call my old trusted mechanic that I went to for five years back in my hometown out-​of-​state and gave him the code. He agreed with Paul’s assessment and then I asked him what he would charge me for the part and labor. With that figure in mind, I asked Paul for his estimate of the part and labor. Paul’s estimate was 40% less than my «trusty mechanic».
Great feeling to find an actual trustworthy mechanic in a city as expensive as San Francisco. Not so great a feeling to find out my old mechanic had been putting the squeeze on my wallet for years. I recommend Paul for your next auto repair.
Side bonus: When Paul called to let me know that my car was ready, I told him I’d catch a bus and be there in about a half hour. He said hold on a minute and he’d call me back. A couple minutes later he called to let me know someone was coming to pick me up and give me a ride down to his shop.

Who knew there was a place in SF that’s full of pre-​68 cars!
I was totally was blown away when I walked in here, not only does Paul work on vintage cars he welcomes them. Not to say that they won’t work on modern cars, you can just tell what he’s passionate about!
With most other shops you can’t trust with your vintage ride or they won’t even touch them, Paul totally took care of my 54 Chieftain and at fare, honest price. Actually I would trust Allied Auto with my first born.
And to top it off, a complimentary car wash!