My 2018 Ford Escape with the Titanium electronics package had to be jump started regularly since I purchased a new battery from Les Schwab in June of 2025. In late April it became two to three times daily. Rather than return it to Les Schwab and be told for the fifth time that the battery was fine and that my car had Parasitic Battery Drain, I used Claude (AI) to research shops that specialized in automotive electronics in our area and was pointed to these people for their glowing reviews. The following day Terry assured me that the car had no parasitic drain and that the battery would not hold a charge. I highly reccomend this shop and the people who work there. They are honest and direct unlike Landmark Ford that assured me the cost to locate the faulty module causing parasitic drain could cost thousands of dollars and that my best bet would be to trade it in and cut my loss or the Westside Les Schwab that repeatedly assured me my battery was fine. A new AGM battery, required for the Escapes trim package, was installed and I've not had to use my jump box since. THANKS! read more

I first encountered this service when I was having problems with 2004 Honda CR-V. I mentioned my issue to the owner over the phone & instead of bringing my car in, he gave me advice of what to do first that most likely would solve my problem and not have to bring it in. It worked and I didn't have any issues!!! Fast forward, I sell my 2004 Honda CR-V and buy a 2017 Acura RDX. Now after a month plus of having my car, the battery is brand new, but begins dying & I'm having to jump my car all the time. I do so much research online and see common issues with my car & begin to think that maybe I bought a lemon. So, I call Auto Electric Specialties, make an appointment & hope for the best. Long story short, best experience ever!!! It turned out with them doing so many tests, the dealership I bought my car from put on a tracker that was draining my battery. This made me mad because I bought my car outright and wasn't financing it. Auto Electric Specialties had my car close to 2 hours and only charged me for an hour of labor. I was on top of the world and the peace of mind knowing that my battery is fine and I won't have to worry about being stranded was euphoric!!! If ever I have any electrical issues with a car again that a mechanic can't address, I know exactly where to go! read more

Auto Electric Specialties - Auto Repair Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This business is so professional and so much BETTER than a dealer's service where you NEVER get to speak to the mechanic who works on your vehicle. Their prices are reasonable and everyone who works there is so polite, personable and helpful. They are like car detectives that really want to help you--not just treat you like a number and replace parts to make money. Our 2006 Honda Odyssey minivan has an intermittent "door open" warning alert which Bob and Terry worked on. Because we could not get the problem to be reproduced they helped us by putting a switch on our battery terminal so that when we leave the car for long periods (like at a trailhead), we can switch off the car alarm which seems to trigger--probably because it believes the door is ajar. They researched and found it is not possible to disable the alarm because of the way it is connected into the computer. If they hadn't found an easy way to stop the alarm, we were going to replace the vehicle. They also made sure to tell us that whenever that door open alarm occurs that we should bring it to them pronto. They took care of 2 other problems that were not wholly related to the electrical system. The engine fan would run excessively after we parked the car. Bob determined that it might be because our radiator was compromised. When we went to pick the car up, he showed us the old radiator which had many leaks. He also blew out the roof drains which might have been the cause of an intermittently wet seatbelt. We highly recommend them for auto repairs and intend to have them do whatever future repair and maintenance if possible. read more

If you have a tough electrical issue these guys can help you. I had other shops look and not fix it, I took it here and they resolved all of the problems. I highly recommend them! read more

Excellent service. Excellent humans. These folks helped me out in a pinch. Would go back in a heartbeat.

I have a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser...as such, 95% of the time I need to go to a specialty shop that deals in just Land Cruisers...but I had an electrical issue which needed special attention. Auto Electric Specialties was recommended at the HIGHEST level. I made the appointment and the shop was booked solid for a month and a half...to me, this is a good sign. About a week prior to my appointment I called and spoke with the woman who helps run the shop...very nice woman by the way. I confirmed my appointment and then came in a few days later. he shop has been there for near 40 years and the guys who work there have a combined knowledge set of over 100 years in the auto repair industry...so, I KNEW I was in good hands. Stephen was the guy who was given my Land Cruiser and we ran down the list of items: Sunroof not opening (not even a sound of an attempt when depressing the button) Cigarette lighter (for charging) not working Light in ashtray not working All window buttons not working DS lock working but not the rest Clock not working Stereo not working Rear dome light not working Antenna not working Right side instrument panel lights not working (But left side of panel lights up) Side mirror controls inop Green ring around ignition stays on ALL THE TIME it shouldn't He dove right in...he pulled the dash apart and chased wiring, and three hours later, BAM! the problem was found and resolved. The problem? Water corrosion...mostly. Which was due to the sunroof not being sealed due to it not having power. All of the behind the dash, at the kick panel, and at the fuse box electrical points were cleaned, and with power restored to the sunroof, the 1/16 inch that was opened (and flex taped) is now sealed...so, electrical connection points were cleaned of corrosion, a relay that was bad was replaced, and we found WHY the P.O. placed a circuit breaker buss in the fuse panel; a wire in the door panel wiring loom came loose and was leaning on the sharp edge of the door sheet metal under the panel...after almost thirty years, the vibrations cut through the insulation and when the hot wire hit the metal, BAM! it finally fried everything. Hence the breaker. Before finally frying everything it would make contact and simply short things out...hence the intermittent stereo and clock. Short story long...Stephen (and Terry on an assist) were able to get my Land Cruiser power where I hadn't had power for almost EIGHT YEARS...no one had been able to find the issue, which was laying hidden in an arc'd wire in the door panel loom. If you're looking for outstanding work on your car/truck and no one else has been able to figure it out...and at an extremely FAIR price...go and see the guys at Auto Electric Specialties! You won't regret it! And when everything is finished, go back up to the store and get a couple dozen donuts and take them back...it will be super appreciated! Thanks! read more

See all

Staff was attentive and diligent about learning the symptoms described by me and readily offered to investigate the matter on the date agreed upon. The head scratching effect of my descriptions did not pose any problems for the delightful service writer, Joanne, who was most welcoming despite the hustle and bustle around her. Once the vehicle arrived on the appointment date, a total of three professionals, the owner among them, took immediate care to understand the symptoms as described by me in halting autotech-english, whereupon the diagnosis was professionally communicated to me before the end of the business day, which afforded me the opportunity to make a confident decision to proceed with the necessary repair. The business is a quality hometown operation with dedicated personnel who still find the time to produce an ambiance of cordial yet professional service experience. No doubts arise my mind when prompted to award a five-star review. In a nutshell, these folks figured out my "ghost in the machine" and made the start to my holiday season truly awesome! Thank you, Joanne, Terry, Stephen, Adam, and all the feisty folks at Auto Electric Specialties on 14444 SE McLoughlin Blvd! read more

True / outstanding expertise and disposition to render quality service. Friendly support and professional, effective communication while the vehicle is in their shop. Ms. Joan, Bob, Terry & Co. will accommodate one's car (albeit taking several weeks to book, they're just understandably super busy) and perform excellent repairs. Very satisfied as a return customer [I live 20 miles away] with the work they did on my '94 Buick. Highly recommended. Many thanks! JV read more

I wish I had come here first! My 2009 Honda Element had an issue with a ghost charge draining the battery when it was parked. I had Honda run an analysis a few years ago for a fee and it just got worse since then, so I was determined to find a solution. I started back at Honda... Stop 1 - Honda - $185 for an analysis and couldn't find anything. Recommended a new starter, alternator, and battery. I said, "no thanks," but I lost the $185 for nothing. Stop 2 - Uncle Al's in OC. He was really good and honest, but his analysis only went so far. Charged $268 for looking at it and for a new battery. I also recommend him for service overall. Stop 3 - Frustrated after I continually encountered a dead battery, thus rendering the vehicle unreliable, I sucked it up and went back to Honda to get the starter replaced. That was $1023. Huge ouch. Regret.... Stop 4 - Uncle Al had recommended Auto Electric Specialties and I had to wait 6 weeks to get an appointment. But it was totally worth it. The first thing they did was mourn with me that Honda had told me I needed to get a starter, which was totally not accurate and just a way to make a bunch of $$. On the morning of my appointment, they called me around 10 a.m. to say they checked each of the fuses for a draw, followed one to try to test 3 different possible sources tied into that fuse, and had found an aftermarket alarm that was located under the dash that was drawing current when the vehicle was off. I had bought the car 1 year used and I wasn't even aware that the first owner or dealer had added anything to the car. For this discovery, they charged $130, and I have not had a problem since. These guys are such pros and worth the wait. I so highly recommend them!! read more

Folks, it's been years since I last bothered to write a review for an auto shop, but this place is a gem. No, it's not fancy. Yes, it's all the way out past Milwaukie. But my car's electrical troubles were above my pay grade and auto electricians are thin on the ground in Portland, so I journeyed down dreary McLoughlin Blvd on the faith of raving online reviews. When I got there, a 67 Camaro, an early 70s Mopar wagon and a very old unidentified woodie were having their electrical gremlins zapped. That perked me up considerably, and I got a feeling that everything was going to be just fine. And it was! Issues diagnosed, problems fixed, codes gone, and a bill that was reasonable as can be. These folks are HONEST, folks! Highly recommended. read more

This is a fantastic business that I recommend to anyone needing electrical work on their vehicle. Their combined years and years of experience shows, as they get it done right the first time every time. Their prices are more than fair, and their customer service and overall friendliness always shines through. I will continue to bring my vehicles here as long as this shop is still standing. read more

This is a great outfit for electrical malfunctions in your car or truck. I have used them myself and everybody that I know of the who has used them say they are honest reliable and economical. Hard to find. read more

THIS PLACE i-s the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Terry clearly knows his trade and what he is doing - very quick and efficient from the very moment you tell him whatever is wrong with your automobile ! Joan, his assistant in front office, is also quick & efficient - she knows what to order and so forth. his prices are super reasonable, and labor costs !!! i highly recommend this place. they replaced the starter this morning in my 1992 Olds (an oldie " but a goodie" ( I pray ! ; ) as well as other work about a month ago now. A-l-l excellent workmanship ! YOU really couldn't ask for more ! Oak Grove has a big winner ! Thank you again, terry, for all of your expertise & help !!! And so nice, too ! one very happy customer here ! : ) : ) : ) ! read more

My review has gone from a 4 to a 5 after picking my car up yesterday after getting my starter replaced. I took my car in last week, after I had a hard time starting it a few times, but the mechanics at AE couldn't find anything wrong with it and didn't charge me. They suggested a new starter, but made no guarantees and gave no pressure. After thinking about it for a week, I took my car back in to have the starter replaced. The estimate was $380. When I picked it up yesterday, they informed me that they made some inquiries and the starter was still under warantee. That meant I only got charged for labor. Talk about honest! I would have been none the wiser had they charged me for the part. This is the single best reason to use this family owned auto repair shop - because they will never charge you for anything other than what you honestly need. read more

I would like to thank the incredible folks at this business. Absolutely top knotch. I would highly recommend

Not impressed at all. Was charged $191. and told my 2006 Corvette needed a starter which I already knew and was the reason for car being there in the first place. This shop also told me my Corvette needed a alternator, and a Body control module as it was the source of a parasitic drain on the battery. Then this shop went on to tell me that they were not interested in putting in the starter as it was to hard and the exhaust had to be removed to install a new starter. The shop claimed they inspected the starter yet they didn't and if they had they would have seen a hole in the starter at the connection point to the battery, and they would have known that the exhaust didn't need to be removed to install a starter.. I went to a shop down the street and that shop fixed the problem and didn't have to drop the exhaust and didn't need a alternator or Body control module either, all the car needed was a starter as the BCM detected a electrical malfunction and shut down the alternator to prevent further damage that could have resulted from an electric problem.. read more

The Lincoln dealer on 122nd. told me I would be charged an obscene amount to fix my blinker issue. I was not in the mood to be swindled so I kept looking for help. I came across AES and talked to Terry. I immediately felt at ease talking with Terry, and within just a couple minutes he was confident that he knew what my issue was. I was told to pop in right away, and that the fix wouldn't take long. That I did, and then I met Joan and another gentleman. They both picked up where I told them Terry left off. Terry showed up towards the end of the repair and he was just as genuine and kind as he sounded over the phone. I was in and out of the shop within 40 minutes, with working blinky blinks, and a bill under $100! Wooop!! You guys saved my life. I've been traveling to Seattle regularly to work as an "essential worker". I had no time to leave my vehicle, nor a ton of extra money laying around for dealership donations. I was truly stressed and concerned, and AES made everything better within an hour. I will go to no other repair shop as long as they are in business. Thank you AES, you are definitely a group of unsung heroes. read more

I cannot recommend Auto Electric Specialties too highly. I had a mysterious, seemingly complicated electrical problem that my regular mechanic, who is reasonably proficient with automotive electrical matters, could not fully resolve. It got to the point where, if the car could not get fixed, we would sell it and wash our hands of the aggravation. Terry at Auto Electric Specialties solved it! He modestly suggests that a bit of luck was involved. Maybe. But talent creates its own "luck". Really, this is the place to go and has my highest possible recommendation--and my gratitude too. read more

If you're going to charge one hour labor of $115 for a check engine light inspection that takes maybe ten minutes, at least let the customer know in advance. I've gone to many places that don't even charge for that service. Oh, and where is your mask or plexiglass during the pandemic? I got financially raped and didn't even get a kiss! read more

These group is better than David Copperfield. After explaining the problem, within 10 minutes he had isolated the problem. The previous shop charged me almost 300 and wanted to charge more because the couldn't find the problem. I have incredible confidence after speaking with Terry and JoAnne. And Terry knows his business, I highly recommend these guys. I feel very fortunate. There is not much worse, automotively speaking, than trying to find a short in your electrical and not being able to know where to look or identify stuff. I am pretty stoked about my find, Also they have been in business 33 years and is family owned.. read more

I never write reviews, but I just had to say how great my experience was. I was renting a Uhaul trailer just down the street, getting ready to leave on a week long camping trip with my family of 4 kids. But I discovered that my trailer lighting was not working, so (understandably) U-Haul couldn't let me take the trailer, and we were supposed to leave on our trip in an hour! I was majorly deflated. The Uhaul guy recommended I see if Auto Electric Specialties could squeeze me in. So I did, and explained my urgent situation. The guy at the counter said that their schedule was already pretty booked for the day but he'd see what they could do. A few minutes later, Tony came over and began looking at my wiring, taking things apart, testing, etc. He was a very clean and kind person and all the while he was humming a tune. :) He tried a couple of things, discovered the problem, and said he could get it taken care of that day so I could be on my way with my family on our trip. Just 2 hours later we were on our way to Mt. Hood with working trailer lights and I was charged a more than fair price. Great service! Great people! Saved our family vacation! read more

Bob at Auto Electric Specialties is as good as it gets. I recently moved from California to Oregon City and have been looking for a good mechanic, Bob is the one.. honest, professional, and practical. I brought my 2002 PT Cruiser and he diagnosed the issue in a quick straightforward manner. If you need auto electrical solutions., this is the place and Bob is the man. read more

Love this place. Took my 84 Ram Charg er there in June. Had 6 places in Spokane who tried to find why the turn signals kept blowing fuses. No turn signals for almost a year. Took them about 10 minutes to find the problem and about 15 minutes to fix it! Moving back to Canby next month and will always check with them first. And so very nice on top of being so efficient. I am now spoiled rotten! Don't hesitate, call them first. read more

I have been here a handful of times for various reasons with various cars and Terry is always nice and will try to figure out what's going on with whatever. Probably 4 out of 5 times he hasn't even bothered to charge. They always have a lot of cars in and out of there and sometimes it seems like he's being pulled a million different directions and solving another million issues but he's always got a good attitude about it. Definitely the place to go for expertise!! read more

Long term customer. They just have been a bit too busy to go above and beyond like they used to. They replaced a battery for me about 18 months ago and weren't even willing to confirm the issue when we advised that the battery they recommended failed after such a short period of time. Thus they didn't stand by their product. They told us to go to a different shop.... They also tried to charge me way too much for a really quick fix so I did it myself in 5 minutes to save $120. My review 1 year ago would have been a 5 with some great comments. read more

I had checked all the fuses I thought I had, Bob took about 4 minutes and got my stereo back up and running. I'm so thankful for these guys

I do not like Electrical repairs, just because they suck! So, I leave it to Terry and his crew. I have brought numerous electrical issues to their place and they have done perfect work all the time. I seen a sign at a local shop and it states.. "A Mechanic does mechanical things, an Electrician does electrical things... A SMART man knowest the difference!" SO TRUE! Thanks guys for all the work you do... and have done for us at GET BENT! Exhaust and Mandrel Bending! read more

Great place, super nice and very reasonable! It's a busy shop and I can see why! I was recommended to them by another shop in the area. They have fixed my car twice (two separate electrical issues), good turn around, honest pricing. read more

Magicians hiding in auto mechanic clothing. These guys have diagnosed and fixed E V E R Y issue I could throw at them from my thirty year old Toyota Land Cruiser wiring harness to a new to my wife Miata with a butchered wiring harness. You name it, they have never let us down. I would recommend them whole heartedly. They keep their promises, they do excellent work, their prices are reasonable. read more

I stopped in thinking I was going to make an appointment to find out why my power windows would not work on my truck. Bob said they were pretty busy, but if I could drop it by next week and let them have it a couple of days they could work me in. I would have been fine with that other than needing the truck so agreed to come back later when I could. Bob then said he would check something really quickly just in case so that it possibly could be fixed then. He proceeded to spend at least an hour checking different things. He eliminated several things that it could be, and while we don't have a fix yet, he does have it narrowed down for my return visit. He did not charge me anything for his time at this point, and wouldn't take anything, just trusting that I come back, which I will for sure. This is the second time I've had great, friendly service here. read more

These guys are the real deal. They saved me big money that the dealer was charging and even did the work on the same day. I feel like they are honest and have integrity so I'm going to use them for all of my auto needs. read more

Been going here for years, good old fashion service, that's the way I like it, trustworthy!

As a local body shop owner, I have used Terry and his crew at Auto Electric Specialties for over 20 years.. They are always extremely reasonable, never overcharge, and can diagnose problems that other shops cannot even attempt to locate,even the dealers !! They are my one and only choice for auto electric repairs in the area, and I refer all my customers to them as well. Keep up the good work you guys! read more

I took my car to them at the suggestion of my coworker, who has had good experiences with them. I needed a new alternator, which brand new costs $160, but they charged me $300 for a rebuilt unit, with no explanation, and without my approval. This is (of course) in addition to the installation labor, which was charged separately. I asked for an explanation, and they just ignored me. The work is good, considering it was a simple part replacement, but price gouging because people are in need, unauthorized replacement of rebuilt parts for new ones without even a phone call, and then ignoring customer complaints--it all adds up to poor people skills. Basic common courtesy requires at least a phone call to make sure the customer knows what he's getting, and barring that, at least an apology. God forbid there should have been a complicated job that needed to be done! read more

I have had this shop work on several vehicles for me, and I am totally impressed with their work. I have built and raced several NHRA drag cars and done quite well. I also built and raced a Formula 2 car. I have had this shop work on some very complicated vehicles, always with great results. Being in my mid 60's, I no longer am able to do, or want to do, some repairs myself. I however, am quite knowledgeable about auto mechanical functions. These people are very good at what they do, and extremely fair! I recommend them to all my friends !!!!!!!! read more

This is a well-known shop in the area which I have always heard good things about. For my experience I had a connection issue with a headlight. Bob was very friendly and helpful on the phone suggesting I retrieve the part he didn't have on the shelf then stop in and he could fix the issue ASAP without appointment. Within minutes of arriving Bob diagnosed, explained and fixed my problem. No new part needed, no long wait, no phony diagnosis to get money from me, no charge whatsoever. A handshake and a warm "merry Christmas" ended our encounter. It's the honest, friendly service we hope to find in auto shops. I will be back for any problems large or small. read more

I have had them work on my lemon of a car several times and they have been very quick, thorough, honest and affordable. They have stuck to (or even gone under) quoted costs and have been very understanding to a customer like me who knows nothing more about cars than "it just doesn't work right". I have never felt looked down upon or felt like they were looking to cheat me. For the things that other mechanics have failed to fix on my car, they found and fixed easily for me. Definitely recommend for engine and electrical problems. read more

These guys are AWESOME! My girlfriend has a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 that would drain the battery by just sitting. After unable to diagnose on my own, we took it to 2 different mechanics. One stated it was beyond his expertise. We then took it to a former Dodge certified mechanic who diagnosed it as a "cluster" replacement needed: $1200! While it didn't make sense to me, I'm not an expert. So we decided to get a 3rd opinion. These guys found the issue: the horn pad was defective! Not the $1200 misdiagnosis that we received but a $200 part that was installed reasonably. These guys are awesome and I recommend them to everyone! read more