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    Don Henderson Auto Service

    4.8 (165 reviews)
    Open • 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Services - Don Henderson Auto Service

    Auto engine repair

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    Recommended Reviews - Don Henderson Auto Service

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    This is  helpful RJAY- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED at Don Henderson's Auto -2835 Lemon Grove Ave, Lemon Grove, Cal. 91945
    Diane R.

    My name is Diane Ravelle. I highly recommend Don Henderson's auto. I have been going there for many years for most of my auto needs. RJay is the manager . He is honest, friendly and kind and tries his best to get the best deals for us! His waiting room is a clean & comfortable place to wait. RJ is usually right on target for how long he thinks the job will take . I am very pleased with what he has done throughout the years for my 25-year-old car- that is still running strong!

    The old Pontiac.
    J C.

    This review is for you clowns that gave less than 3 stars. You apparently are very hard to live with or just look for something to complain about, or need an adult in the room (yah, that's you miss one star). I have been taking my 2 showroom condition muscle cars to Eric for over a decade. His is one of the few shops one can trust. If I had to get the parts, he allowed it. He could not guarantee the parts or the labor when I provided the parts, but what garage would, that would be stupid. He provided oil changes for my Mercedes and he got the oil and filters from the Mercedes dealer. No skimping. Always did the job right!! About ten years ago I needed new valve guides on my 50 year old Chevy. Eric's mechanic Junior did not have the tool to keep pressure in the cylinder so that the valves would no fall into the block, so I volunteered to get the tool and donated it to Junior after the job was done. Now my over 5 decade old Chevy does not blow any smoke thanks to the great job done by Junior. The last job Eric and Junior did for me was to install an R134a air conditioning conversion kit in my 50 year old Pontiac. Previously (years ago) Junior had got my A/C up and running using the R12 that I had provided. But 6 months ago the compressor seized up. Therefore Eric was happy to install the new R134a kit. One problem, the receiver/dryer in the kit did not fit! I offered to come get the car while I sourced a new part, but Eric said no and kept it inside every night as he knew what a special car it was. I am going to miss Eric, Susan and Junior. I only hope the new owners will be as honest and up front as Eric. Good Luck Eric, Susan and Junior.

    My old engine

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    3 months ago

    RJ and his team did a great job on my engine replacement. Put 2100 miles on it on a recent trip with no issues. Thank you very much

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Great service. Honest and professional. RJ was super nice guy. They got my car back up and running

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Fair, honest and timely. It's a great shop for all of your service needs. I highly recommend the team at Don Henderson!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Eric is very kind and always professional. He's super trustworthy and we bring all of our vehicles to him. I highly recommend Don Henderson!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Front brake pads/rotor , oil change and wind shield replacement. Great price and service quickly.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Good communication skills, trustworthy, honest, and dependable. Everything you could want in a repair shop.

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Brought car here multiple times now and Eric is the best. Cannot recommend this place enough.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Don Henderson Auto Service

    Review Highlights - Don Henderson Auto Service

    “I emailed the shop and Eric responded immediately that I could bring my car in anytime after they opened.”

    Mentioned in 75 reviews

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    Value Auto Repair - Value auto repair made the National City Chamber of commerce!! They receive "the people love us" award from Yelp!! Congratulations!!

    Value Auto Repair

    (1.2k reviews)

    they're very helpful and honest about the problem and what's needed to be fix will really get fixedread more

    After years of looking for a mechanic and only taking my Subaru to the dealership for all repairs…read moreor maintenance over the life of the car (8 years), I decided to take a chance here. I had a great experience with Alex at Value Auto Repair. I originally reached out through Yelp, and he was responsive and answered all of my questions. His pricing was significantly better than what the dealership quoted me, but what really stood out wasn't just the price--it was his honesty. I came in with a humming noise that I believed was a bad wheel bearing but was unsure. Alex was upfront from the beginning after making the same diagnosis and even encouraged me to get quotes from other mechanics if it made me feel more comfortable so I could make sure I was getting a fair deal. That kind of confidence and transparency is hard to find. When I arrived, he was able to get my car in within about 30 minutes to diagnose it. While the part was being delivered, I went to lunch, and once I came back, he had the wheel bearing replaced in about 45 minutes. Before I left, he took the time to show me both the old and new wheel bearings, explaining how they worked and letting me hear and feel the difference. I really appreciated him taking the time to educate me instead of just handing me a bill. One thing I noticed while I was waiting was how many customers came in who clearly knew Alex. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to see him, several appeared to be repeat customers, and there was an obvious level of trust between them. After my own experience, I completely understand why. Alex also has a great sense of humor, which made the whole experience much less stressful. Most importantly, the humming noise is completely gone, and my car drives perfectly again. If you're looking for an honest, knowledgeable mechanic who charges fair prices and genuinely cares about his customers, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Alex and Value Auto Repair. I know I'll definitely be back.

    A&D Automotive Repair

    A&D Automotive Repair

    (9 reviews)

    I really wanted to write a positive review for A&D Auto because the owner, Anthony, seemed like a…read moregenuinely kind neighbor when I first met him. It truly hurts me to write this, but unfortunately, after months of repeated issues, unapproved charges, and unfinished repairs, I feel obligated to share my experience so others can make informed decisions. I first brought my 2012 Fiat to him in October 2025 for what should have been a straightforward repair: installing a brand‑new window regulator I already owned. I had taken the door apart myself, so when he noticed a missing part, that was fair. I ordered what he confirmed (via photo) was the correct replacement (photo below), but when I brought it in, he said it wasn't the right part after all. Again -- fair enough. I then asked him to order whatever was needed, and he agreed (photo below). By December, he told me the window was fixed and even said he wouldn't charge me because he "likes having good neighbors." That kindness meant a lot -- until the very next day, the window fell off the track the first time I used it. He then told me the brand‑new regulator I had provided had "broken." Feeling bad for the trouble, I paid him $100 anyway. At this point, I had spent $195 and still had a broken window.(photos of convo below) After the holidays, I asked him to finish the repair and also check whether my warranty covered my AC issue or the window. Those requests were ignored. I let it go and continued giving him business because I believed he meant well. (photo of convo below) Next, I had him diagnose my kid's Malibu. He quoted me $1,650 with a "discounted" labor rate. -- without calling me -- completed additional repairs that increased the total to $2,178.36. I was out of town and didn't argue, but looking back, that was a huge red flag. No customer should be surprised with a $500+ increase after the work is already done. (Photo of convo below) In April, I returned to my Fiat, which still had a broken window, a check‑engine light, and no AC. He quoted me $263.28 to fix the smog issue and another $425.00 for the AC and window. I agreed. The AC was the only thing he actually fixed. (Photo of convo below) When I picked up the car, he told me the window "works" but only if I push it with my hand while rolling it up because a pin was missing. That was the first time I'd ever heard about a missing pin. The window immediately fell off the track again. (Photo of convo below) At this point, I had spent over $560 on this window alone -- and it still didn't work. He later told me a "hook" was broken (another new explanation) and said he'd order the part. The next day, instead of a repair update, I got a call from a woman at his shop telling me he thought I should take the car to the dealership instead and for me to come pick up the car. This was after months of him assuring me he could fix it. (Photo of convo below) To make matters worse, the check‑engine light he supposedly repaired came back on within days, and my car still won't pass smog. (Phone of convo below) In summary, as of today, May 20, 2026, I have: A window that still doesn't work A check‑engine light still on A smog test I still can't pass Only the AC successfully repaired Over $2,700 spent between two vehicles No follow‑up from Anthony on the unfinished repairs I stayed polite and patient for months because he started out so friendly, but in the end I feel taken advantage of and dismissed. Maybe my Fiat was too difficult for him, but instead of being honest about that, I was strung along, charged repeatedly, and left with unresolved issues. I don't enjoy writing negative reviews, but I wish someone had warned me. Be prepared to advocate for yourself strongly if you choose this shop. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend A&D Auto, sadly.

    I brought my vehicle to A&D Automotive Repair for an oil change. During the visit, the owner…read morerecommended replacing the oil pan gasket due to visible leaks. I was shown the leak areas and agreed to the repair. I scheduled the work during a planned two-week trip since I would not need the vehicle. The shop kept my car for over 40 days. During that time, they were unable to start or turn the engine over. The vehicle was ultimately towed to Volkswagen for diagnosis and repair. According to Volkswagen's service department, the engine timing components had been misaligned. VW technicians explained that if timing alignment is attempted multiple times, the timing chain tensioner (a wear item) can loosen and wear, potentially leading to recurring timing issues. VW indicated that when these types of misalignments occur, replacement of timing chains, timing chain guides, and tensioners is typically recommended. VW also stated that if they had known they were not communicating directly with the vehicle owner, they would not have waived certain replacement parts associated with what would otherwise have been a transmission-related repair exceeding $2,000. In addition, VW replaced the battery due to low-voltage faults affecting the vehicle computer. When I retrieved the car, the engine shield had been placed inside the front seat and the interior leather was scratched. The original oil pan gasket repair was not completed before the vehicle was sent to VW. I paid additional out-of-pocket costs related to dealership repairs and rental expenses. The owner later sent the following written condition before issuing partial reimbursement: "I am willing to pay the $1225, but I need confirmation from you that this will be the end of it... This includes no negative reviews via Yelp, Google etc, prior to me paying $1225 or post payment." When I declined to agree to those terms, the owner later appeared with an attorney and indicated that further action could follow if I continued to pursue the matter. I did not agree to waive my rights or provide a no-review commitment. The $1,225 payment was never issued. What began as a gasket replacement resulted in over 40 days without my vehicle, dealership intervention, additional mechanical findings related to timing alignment, and significant additional expense. Based on this experience, I would not recommend this shop.

    East West Auto Repair

    East West Auto Repair

    (40 reviews)

    Finding a mechanic that is trustful and knowledgeable is really hard to find. I took my Honda Civic…read morefor a start replacement and a CRV for a replacement of key housing. Right from the beginning a I just felt comfortable and was provide with a quote that was very fair. The CRV had a big issue where the key no longer turned.. again the quote was cheaper if I had done it my self (maybe auto shops get a % off on parts,,I don't know for sure) I had done this key housing replacement for my Civic..the part along was @700 from Auto Zone...cost me way less than that here with the CRV and they took care of programming the new key!! amazing. One interesting note here is that for my repairs, labor was less then the replacement parts!! For the most part that doesn't happen, labor is usually 3 to 4 times the amount of parts! A female friend brought her car in cause it had an error light,,she did not know what to do so I sent her here and was help immediately with out charging an arm and a leg! it goes to tell you, just cause your are female you will not get taken advantage. East West Auto Repair is definably a place where I will refer all my friends and families. I just hope he doesn't get too busy for his regular customers but I am sure Andre can manage.

    Normally I have great experiences here but I had my serpentine belt replaced and continued to have…read moreissues for months without resolution because the mechanic failed to troubleshoot the car and refused to listen to my experience with the problem and my video recordings of the issue. I had my serpentine belt replace here and I started hearing a squealing sound only afterwards. The noise never ended up resolving and I reached out to the mechanic afterwards. I went out of my way to drop my car off overnight on two separate occasions where he told me that he found nothing wrong with the belt and suggested that there might be an oil leak but wouldn't be able to further troubleshoot without additional labor cost. I asked him if he could check the belt tension as to whether its overtightened or undertightened and gave very specific details about what conditions the noises came out in. I specified the noise came out when I first started the car despite time of day and temperature outside, and also more likely when the AC is on and that it would almost always come out when I made my first big turn when driving. He suggested that it could be due to something else but I insisted that it was the serpentine belt because it only happened after he replaced the belt and that it was exacerbated only when I turned my steering wheel all the way (my car uses power steering via serpentine belt) and when the AC was on (AC powered by serpentine belt). He continued to insist that it wasn't the belt. I asked him if I could record the sound and show him the video so he could hear what it sounded like. He told me that these things can only be diagnosed in person and continued to refuse to review any video or audio recordings of the issue even to have a better understanding of the problem. This issue persisted for months and is extremely embarassing to deal with because my car would squeal whenever I'd leave a public parking lot or pull my car out of parking. Ultimately, this issue was resolved by another mechanic who listened to my video recordings and my experience and took my suggestion to review the serpentine belt and it's tensioner. The other mechanic was able to fix the problem for free in just one go despite not having been the person to actually replace the belt themselves.

    Ochoas Automotive - Ochoas automotive

    Ochoas Automotive

    (32 reviews)

    A friend suggested Ochoa's after being very pleased with the work (and price) on her older Toyota…read more I read the Yelp reviews (all *5*) and thought maybe they were written by family members--they all raved about the owner--rerliable, honest, humble, respectful, reasonable--etc., etc... I called anyway, after 4 other places either didn't call me back or gave me the run around about my 20 year-old car. Hugo didn't. He answered my questions immediately, and made time for me to come in for him to test drive the car. He took the car out for a drive, came back and gave me an estimate for the new clutch. A few days later it was repaired, no further issues and at exactly the price he had told me (that price was 50% lower than every other estimate I'd gotten). There were a few glitches: replacement parts took longer than expected and the repair did also. But I was so confident in Hugo and his mechanics that I just didn't worry about it. I know these things happen. The car is running great and I'll be returning when the brakes have lived their best life and need to retire. A few notes: 1. There is a small waiting area; very old, has about 5 seats, a few toys, magazines and some coffee. A tv I think, but it wasn't on. 2. This is, I think, a small family shop. Hugo answers the phone, greets the customers, works on the vehicles, handles payment. There's no AI answering the phone, no dealership vibes. Since Hugo treated me as a member of the human family, I repaid the compliment by not challenging him when the repair took 1 day longer than planned. It's only fair. I trusted that things would go well, and they did. HUGELY, highly recommend.

    LONG AWAITED: I have been taking my cars here for over the past 2 years. 5 stars. I always drop my…read morecar off and pick it up later, so I do not remember if there is a waiting room, but the service is always solid. The work is excellent, the price is fair, and they are reliable with the turnaround. If you want honest repairs without stress, I highly recommend this shop.

    Don Henderson Auto Service - autorepair - Updated September 2026

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