Mary’s Auto Repair

I brought in my newer 2008 used car for a check over this was $ 59 Had it for 3 weeks, but I wanted to be sure everything was good with it. They check it out immediately and recommended an 2 types of flushes for the car, plus some other services. I read about flushes this type of services are not needed for the car. They where trying to charge me $ 149+ for each services. From what I see the car was services at dealer most of its life, and i’m not a mechanic. The oil itself was not terrible, but after after couple days my car warned me of low oil, I put in a qt. Next day the car told me again low oil, and underneath the car was a puddle of oil, my car had lost few qt of oil. Leaked from the filter as it was loose. A mystery to me. I immediately went back and ask for basic oil change and to see what may cause the leak. Mary tried to push me into the other recommended services, to sell me dye to see where the leak was from and seemed discouraged I did not do it. After I had my oil change, I was billed $ 43. The special is $ 23? I waited for 2hrs for service I would think a quick oil change would not need to wait this long. I got the service agreement after showing the cost. I question it, I was told it was for 4qt, and mine took 5 qts, and other misc charges. It seem $ 8 on the extra qt of oil. I really hate being cheated by Auto Repair places, offering one thing and billing for another. I was a ongoing customer, and was looking for a more honest place to go to. After trying to sell me services I don’t need and charging me more on an basic oil change, this I don’t this I can go back. it hard to find a honest auto repair place, as it seems most are not. After getting my oil change the car did not leak oil again.

I think Mary is a straight shooter; but her crew is apparently not that skilled.
I took my truck in because sometimes it clicks and doesn’t start. I’d already bought a new battery and changed the starter, and checked that good current was coming back from the alternator… but it continued. So, I said to myself, I am at the limit of my knowledge and experience, I need professional help, and this sucks, so I am willing to pay for a real mechanic to figure this out and solve it. Dropped the truck off, and $ 100 later had a new negative battery cable. But the next day, clicky clicky clicky. And the next day. So, I took it back in. They looked at it again and concluded my battery– the new one– wasn’t holding a charge. Go get a new battery, she says. We’ll see about that. Right or wrong, I’m out $ 100 and not a damn thing fixed. WE DO IT ALL? Well, apparently not; off I go into the sunset with my still clicking truck. Also, the truck also has a leak, with water coming in. ‘Probably a windshield; go to a windshield place.’ Mary doesn’t know that I already had the windshield replaced when this started. Again, I come to the «pros» when I can’t figure it out. And so far with this garage, they can’t figure it out either, and they don’t really want to– they charged me $ 100 to tell me to go elsewhere. So… maybe a fine garage if you have an easy problem.

O’reilly’s recommended Mary’s Auto Repair to me because my 1995 Honda Accord was lit up like a Christmas tree in all sorts of lights on the dash. O’reilly’s couldn’t find out what the problem was because they ONLY carry the OBD2 (II) tester to check the codes the car is giving that indicates the issue of the car, when or if the dash say’s «check engine, SRS, ABS, etc.» My car wouldn’t start after an interview on the worst day of the storm last week! No one had the OBD1 (I) tester. So I called Mary’s Auto Repair, and went over there. (I did have someone jump my car, which started up fast.) The car wouldn’t start even when I arrived at Mary’s Auto Repair Shop, so the guys in the garage pushed the car, and then started to work on it by testing everything! Battery, wires, anything that had to do with the problem! Come to find out later after 30 minutes, that someone DID NOT disconnect the «car alarm wire.» Which is extremely dangerous because it can cause a fire! HENCE, why when the machanic showed me under the floor mat the cluster of wires that had BURNED a hole in the carpet were still connected to the battery! They pulled everything off and I had realized the car would of CAUGHT ON FIRE, if I hadn’t had my battery shut down and get to Mary’s Auto Repair.
Note: They DID NOT charge me, for looking or checking the issue on my 95′ Honda Accord.
Problem: The «check engine» light was due to the EGR valve and O2 sensor needing replacement.
I was curious as to why the price on the parts were so high and why they wouldn’t give me the codes that I needed that tells me the issue.
So, what did I do? –I researched online how much the parts would be, and whether or not the shipping would be free to ship to my home. Then I researched on «how to install _​_​_​_​_​» You can fill that in, for your own use. And it turns out I could easily do it myself (DIY.) I just looked on Youtube.
The parts and labor were $ 400 + Labor Cost.
My method: $ 130 Parts + Free Shipping. (Labor = FREE.)
Mary’s is a great place and she’s honest but, I wouldn’t charge customers so much for parts when it’s not necessary. There are just some things YOU CAN do yourself.
Here is a guy who I watched tons of his videos and got a lot of information on things I could do it myself (DIY) and save money, and time with on my car. He’s pretty good.
LINK:
***GOOD NEWS was I passed my emissions test without having to pay the $ 150 dollars to Mary’s Auto Repair so I could still register my new vehicle, I just purchased.*** I did pray to Jesus with my new friend in the car as the car was getting emissions testing, which Mary’s Auto Repair said it wouldn’t pass, but ended up passing! I thanked Jesus as me and my new friend high fived! It was a true blessing to be blessed like that, since I had no money for the $ 150 dollars.
I liked that you can watch your car being fixed and asked questions. Everyone is polite and very relaxed. Just don’t get angry at their prices. Their service was great overall! I just would say that it’s TOO COLD inside. Since it’s a new shop a lot has to be done still, so space heaters near the seating area would be nice. I made friends with another customer while there, and we hopped in my car and went to get some warm food and drinks at McDonald’s until his car was done being fixed. University Place, Lakewood, and Fircrest, are small and most of know each other and are friendly, so I wasn’t just picking up any stranger to hang out.
Overall Score: 8 ½
Improvements: Heating, and Prices.
Great: Service, and Place to watch your car be worked on.

I called myself stopping by on my way home to see how much they would charge me to replace my belt. While there I like the price and they were able to get me in almost immediately. They had good customer service which for me is always a plus

My vehicle was inspected and charged $ 49.28 for and estimate given approximately $ 1500 without giving any details of part cost and labor cost.
⁶⁄₂₇ In the morning handed over the van and asked to make most necessary repairs costing around $ 1000.Rest repair to be performed in phases as I will have money.
No authorization taken and detail of cost of parts and labor given to me.
I found it is law to give detailed estimate.
In the evening I came to collect my van and was presented a bill of Total.
$ 2153.16, after discount and adding tax
Parts 1202.99
Labor 1110.36
I paid without getting into any detail trusting the shop.
I noticed that the engine light was still on. Sunday and Monday shop being closed I came on Tuesday morning. After inspection it was found that spark plug was defective.
All the 6 spark plugs and wire was changed on ⁶⁄₂₇ and was billed as below
Cost of 6 spark plugs 80.82
Cost of wire 66.90
Labor 224.88
Total 372.60
The problem fixed but by afternoon the engine light was on again.

⁰⁷⁄₀₁ I went again in the morning and this time it was another sensor. I bought the O2 sensor. Paid $ 43.81 total with tax from my pocket and it was replaced.
I checked the bill and noticed I was charged 150 for this part
.
When I asked how you can charge 150 for a part costing 40, I was refunded $ 80.
I noticed that I was charged 300% on pars and Unnecessary
Labor charges.
For coolant tank costing 40 I am charged 170 only for part.
If I had gone to a an honest shop my bill would have been maximum 1300 not more.
.
.

Really good service here! Mary is super friendly and has great customer service. We originally went in to find out where our engine was leaking oil. She explained that for about $ 30 they would put a dye in the oil which sounded great to us considering we know nothing about cars. Unfortunately they didn’t have the dye on hand and even after coming back an hour later it still had not been done. However Mary was very apologetic and and polite so it wasn’t too big of a deal.
The reason I gave this business 5 stars is simple. Everyone has that fear of the mechanic that quotes you $ 500 then ends up getting $ 1500 after you return with even more car trouble. Mary’s is not that kind of shop! Originally she quoted us $ 834, but wen we came in she informed us that when they got into the motor one of the parts wasn’t damaged and didn’t need to be repaired. Our new total ended up being $ 650!
So far the car is running great. Mary guarantees all work for 12 months. They are even dog friendly and keep milk bones behind the counter for furry four-​legged customers!

My son got stranded on his way to work one morning and being unfamiliar with the area asked the tow truck driver where to take the car and he said that he’d heard good things about Mary’s Auto Repair. When I arrived to pick him up they seemed a little disorganized and I was a little nervous with the quote but he decided to go ahead and let them do the work.
I am VERY happy to report that Mary is extremely nice and runs a good business here, the actual cost was much less than the quote and the work was done super fast. If I lived closer to Tacoma I’d definitely have Mary’s Auto Repair on my short list of places to get my car fixed!