We've put 20,000+ miles on our '85 Vanagon since the folks at Eions did our engine conversion. It's an FAS GenV and we couldn't be happier. We had them replace all of the other running gear too, and have achieved what we wanted... dependability to travel and explore remote places without worry. After owning five Vanagons over four decades, we finally have what we wanted in a camper van! They're the best... thanks Eion! read more

I have nothing but praise for Eion's Automative. My 1990 VW Westy - Della - has been challenged with a host of electrical challenges going back 2 years. I've burned through 2 main batteries and 3 AUX batteries never being able to isolate the problem. That is until I took it to Eion's - and then the frustration ended. He found ALL of the vampire draws - the result of a faulty radio, failing isolator & combiner, and weirdest AUX/Radio wiring seen by man. He pulled everything apart and completely rewired every single circuit, testing as he went. The resulting harness and how he did it is a work of art - and I'm an engineer who REALLY appreciates how he did this. He also went after smaller stuff that has been nagging at me, and got those cleaned up. Simply amazing and awesome - VERY highly recommended!!! read more

Eion's Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I'm happy with the work they did on my Vanagon. Great communication.

Have had my Jetta since high school, 10+ years. Tec Shop happened to be near my house so I took my car there for some maintenance stuff initially; clutch, timing etc. Not only did they do the job right, and within a good time frame, they also didn't charge an arm and a leg. Liked the work, liked the price. Made them my go-to for my Jetta. Had an issue with the wiring and the brake/turn signals switching. Car was at least 12 years old at this point, so they made it a point to save me money but still do a great job and fix the problem. To top it off, Ray spends as much time as it takes to explain exactly what he will/has done with the car, never does a thing until he has the conversation with you about prices, time line, etc. I would never take my current VW or any future VW anywhere else. Everyone gouges prices for European car repair. Not these guys! read more

I had Ray and Eion work on my van for about 2 months recently and I cannot complain in the slightest. They were helpful, informative, thorough, and just an overall pleasure to work with. I was pleasantly surprised by the final invoice, which I am pretty sure was subsidized by them because they spent so much time carefully assessing the cause of the problems I was having. The Vanagon runs like a charm now and I cannot wait to take it back to them when funds permit to make some of the comfort upgrades that Eion and I discussed earlier. I think it says a lot about a shop that I would travel up to Seattle, WA from Portland, OR to get my car serviced by these guys--they know what they are doing and are a pleasure to work with. I hate Yelp by the way. It's a scam and they use their 'filtered reviews' to strong arm companies into advertising with them. Let's see if this review ends up 'filtered' as well. read more

Here is my story: I took my 2007 VW Jetta to University VW because my car was having weird electrical issues. My husband and I had done some initial testing and diagnosis because we're techy like that. I had had good experiences with a VW dealership where I used to live in Montana so I expected I would have good service with University VW, too. WRONG. Basically, the place gave me a crap diagnosis and charge me 160 bucks for it. I don't even know why this place wastes their time "servicing" vehicles. The service department told me I needed to bring it back in for $1,000 worth of service to fix the issue. I was not happy with their customer service so I took it to the VWTecShop. The Tec Shop took the time to diagnose my vehicle and explain the issues to my husband and myself. They gave us a ton more information than University VW. Turns out my car had been totaled before I bought it and had been essentially re-wired incorrectly. So it needed to be re-wired/have a new computer put in. They also did a diagnosis to determine everything that was wrong with my vehicle and what it would cost to fix. After all this the guy at VWTecShop recommended I take it to Campbell Nelson VW. Campbell Nelson fixed the issues with my car and because they (Campbell Nelson) had originally misdiagnosed the issue (what they quoted me for the fix), they ended up charging me less than the actual cost of the fix (my car needed a new computer). Props to Campbell Nelson. I feel like Uni VW just wants to get you in and out and make some money off of you. Horrible customer service. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME HERE! INSTEAD- go to the Tec Shop. The people here are honest and trustworthy and will do good work on your vehicle. I wish there were more places out there like this. ...and Tec Shop...please do not ever close your doors. One more note...unfortunately my VW was totaled not long ago and I now own a Prius. I am hoping I will be a VW owner one day again soon (maybe a beetle?) and will certainly take my car back to the Tec Shop. xoxo to you Tec Shop! read more

I have finally found my go to car shop! Backstory: 91 Vanagon with Subaru engine conversion done elsewhere(see my other review) that has take almost 7 years to straighten out. Yes, that may be more reflective of my character flaws than the competency of the various shops I have visited but that's not the point. Eion and his shop are great. First, they found and fixed some issues with my electrical system that have vexed me since it was discovered but not fixed in another shop a year ago. Second, they found and fixed some front end issues that had been "fixed" before but done badly. (Who knew springs could even be installed upside down?). Third, they gave a quote to install bumpers and a tire rack that turned out to be too low because of some unexpected issues that I should have known about but didn't (old body work and filler where there should have been metal supports) and did not charge me more for the extra 3 hours work. Oh, and did I mention he finished a full day before he predicted? The car drives great now! I dropped fair chunk of change to get the work done, but it appears, finally that I have a reliable van that will take me, well, wherever I want to go! read more

Eion has just recently (2013) taken over the business and I'm very excited for his plans for the future. While Eion has worked there since the beginning, he hasn't been really in charge of how the shop was run until recently. Quality, trust, and good communication are the pillars of what he's driving towards... Eion has installed a bostig engine, and subaru engine, and a diesel VW engine for me in the various Vanagons I've owned. Incredible quality and craftmanship each and every time. Would recommend him to anyone looking for quality mechanical work!!! read more

These guys are trustworthy professionals. I've been dealing with Eion for years and seen first class work coming out of his shop consistently. read more

As a first time Audi owner, i did not have a shop i regularly serviced my car at. Went to a couple in my local area but eveyrone seem very rude and did not explain what they were charging me for thoroughly and if i had any questions, were very annoyed. Always passed this neighborhood shop and figured i'd try it out. Eion is the most sincere shop owner i've met. Him and his staff make an extra effort to not only fix issues, service the car, but to also make sure you are comfortable with all of the work before starting. Prices are always fair, in fact i feel bad at times because he does not charge for the extra things he puts into the work. He goes the extra length to double check everything. read more

Excellent service on my '87 VW Westie. A couple of times I've taken it in to get something fixed, and while doing it they've noticed other things that need doing, and they've just gone ahead and thrown the additional repairs in at no extra charge. Most importantly, experience has shown I can trust these guys to give me an honest story, and do exactly what they say they are going to do. They certainly have no need to try to get me to do repairs that aren't needed, because they seem to have all the work they can handle anyway. read more

I've never been compelled to leave a review about an auto mechanic, but Eion and his crew are one of a kind. Not only did they do superb work on our 1990 Westy, but they saved all the parts that they replaced and showed us exactly what was wrong with each part. He even did one thing for free because it wasn't included in the original estimate. Eion is very nice, and very honest. Thank you Eion and Pedro!! We'll be back, but hopefully not soon! read more

Eion, Carson and Pedro are the best! They take care of my 87 Westy with all the love and care that I would if I could. Not only do they do the job well, they are more than willing to spend time with me as I ask them a multitude of questions. I have called the shop when I have been out of town with some issue with the van. Eion is more than willing to talk me through what to check and how to make the van go again. Now they are expanding the business to take more than VW. I will be happy to bring my Subaru to them . Love those guys read more

After years of using yelp, I finally created an account because I've never felt compelled to share. It takes a truly remarkable experience for me to bothered to write a review, and it has finally happened. Eion's is the best auto shop I've ever done business with, by far. I had a good feeling when I was told to show up early for my appointment so we could get to know each other and just talk about the vehicle for a bit. Never had that happen. Then they called me nearly every single day with detailed progress updates, even if not much progress was made. Every step of the work was explained and they patiently answered all my questions. They even showed me how I should do the work that I didn't want to pay for. Building a relationship with their customers is obviously a major priority here, and it shows. But what really sold me was their solid troubleshooting methodology. Unlike most other shops, these guys won't throw parts at the problem until it goes away. They isolated each component and tested it thoroughly before ruling out a malfunction. They continued on like this even when the error codes were telling a different story! I mean really, who does that? And did I mention they didn't charge me for several extra hours of troubleshooting? Yes this place is great. read more

Nothing but good things to say....have stopped by several times to ask 'little' questions and the father/son combo have been more than happy to give a few minutes of their time. Most recently I had to fix a broken lock/glove compartment. I did a quick check at the local VW dealership and cost with labor was $300 +. Ray and son gave me suggestions/options which saved me over a $100 (I had the Tec Shop do the work and got the part from the junk yard with their help). All in all, they under promised and over-delivered. I would use them again, no doubt. read more

Ok... Long story. So get ready. my dealings with Tec shop began long ago, in their location far far away. ( Ok North Gate) At the time I had recently purchased a 1987 VW Syncro. It was having serious cooling/power issues and I knew it was not going to be good. I did my research; and I became a minor annoyance on VW forums (the samba) I decided that I was going to need a new motor... As I knew I would keep this beast forever. And through my research I found out that Tec Shop was not only respected on the forums, but also the only installer of Bostig's ford based engine swap. (Which I was leaning towards) So, I limped my van to their shop, dropped my van off with a note- "please repair." The owner at the time was Ray. Ray is a crazy man, but the kind of crazy that can only be cultivated from genius. I got a call a couple days later, confirming my suspicions, I needed either a major rebuild: or a new engine. I elected for the Bostig swap; now this was not cheap, all in I was facing a 10k bill (Kit, engine, tranny rebuild and install). But. This is a Vanagon!!! And what better to explore the NW than with a reliable, efficient, comfortable, vanagon. so fast forward 6 years, I have driven my van over 60,000 miles, through the dunes in Moses lake, the mountains in Canada, beaches of Oregon. Though the Rockies, the plains, the coast of Florida, across Texas twice! California's beaches, the redwoods. I even let the van sit for one whole year- untouched... I came back, put a new battery in- and drove across the country. I do not hesitate to take my Vanagon, anywhere and everywhere. Because I trust the work that was done on it at Tec Shop. So, I was driving home one day and saw their new location!!! Ray no longer runs the shop, his son, Eon (sp) has moved it to its current location. He is the evil genius, (look at him! Look again!!!) behind that shop. Today I needed to replace a front Syncro CV boot cover that I found torn as I prepare for a road tip... Oh yeah, road trip is tomorrow. no way I can find that part in time- call Ieon (one spelling has to be right) "I'll have it here by 3pm." So thank you Tec shop! For being awesome. read more

So i was in a pinch and do to my own stupidity messed up the firing sequence on my aircooled. These guys dont even work on aircooled bugs but I was in a hurry and freaking out. This guy kind of looking like a surfer dude who was obviously way too busy to deal with my crap casually fixed it with ease and in a matter of seconds.Shook my hand and sent me on my way. Saved my bacon! Thanks!!!. read more

I have lived in North Seattle for a decade and am on my 3rd Vanagon. Like many VW enthusiasts it is a love hate relationship with these rigs. I feel like I finally got a good runner, but it needs some love. Eion has recently taken over Tec Shop from his father. I have to say it feels like a totally different place. He is a kind and thoughtful guy and seems to always have time to answer a question. He recently did a clutch slave cylinder and master cylinder repair. The van is running great. I am really excited for Eion and his new business and new way of running Tec Shop. He is my mechanic!! Thanks Eion. read more

I have taken my 2002 Passat to Eion, a hand full of times. Each time I walk away feeling good about my decision. Despite the unwanted advice of others to take my car elsewhere because it would be cheaper to drive it down South, I've decided to stay close to home and support my cities local professionals... and I never regret it with Eion. He is a standup guy who gives you an honest and detailed answer about what is going on with your car, in a non-condescending way (especially when you don't know cars at all). Even when I have tried to see what it will cost at other shops, I was either quoted twice the amount of what Eion charges, or wasn't called back at all. Eion is definitely my go to guy for my car, and will always refer people to him. I know I will always drive away with a car safe enough to be on the road. Also... another shout out to him for meeting me early on a Saturday morning since I couldn't pick up my car after work during the week. read more

Eion keeps it real! He broke down all the issues with my Eurovan, and went out of his way to take time driving it in various conditions to pinpoint the actual problem rather than jumping to a conclusion and performing unnecessary costly repairs. He patiently walked me through what needed to happen and stands by his work. He is a busy guy, but his solid work is worth the wait. After my experience, I wouldn't take my van to anyone else in Seattle . read more

If Money is no object the Tec Shop is for you. I blew an engine in my 86 Vanagon, got a quote from the Tec Shop that was reasonable and decided to go with it. However the costs went up by the thousand and before long I was paying more for the Engine Repair than the van was worth. My advise is to go elsewhere, anywhere else... read more

Tec Shop must be the old name and old location. Eion's Automotive is on Westlake Ave., a few blocks south of the Fremont Bridge. Eion was so great over the phone, pre-repair and his work was phenomenal. I won't be going anywhere else for my vanagon care & repair! I had removed the tranny with my brother-in-law for a rebuild and then attempted to put it back in. I didn't know what I was doing and hooked up the shift linkage wrong. Eion knew what I was talking about when I explained, he fixed it all up and then explained what I had done (so I don't do it wrong again). The shifting is like a dream now (much credit goes to Gary Zink for the rebuild). He also let me know the things I'd need to fix up in the future in order of immediacy, but it wasn't pressure to bring it back in and he answered all my questions re: those future repairs. Thanks so much, Eion. AWESOME! read more

Eion's Automotive - www.eionsautomotive.com/ - Auto Repair Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is nothing short of AMAZING! We've taken our Vanagon "Chilkana" to over 12 different Vanagon specialists is 8 years and this has been the best. As soon as you walk in for the first time, you are greeted by friendly and honest people. This is rare in and of itself. The info that is communicated from the diagnosis to the way that they fix everything is concise and understandable. Thanks Eion's! read more

Click on the 'filtered reviews' at the bottom of the page ... once, a pattern does not make, 3 times from 3 different people ... a pattern DOES make. read more

I have never had my car serviced here. I'm writing this because the staff was thoughtful, smart and kind when I pulled in with noisy car trouble. They went under the hood and figured out the problem, a loose fan belt and a tensioner in need of work. They asked where I was going and said that the car would probably make it, which it did. I was able to deliver my Honda Accord to its usual mechanic in Renton. I offered to pay for their diagnosis but they refused. So I've gone to Yelp: Know that they are good people. read more

I just took my van to Eion for the first time under a recomendation of a co-worker. I will never take my van anywhere else except here again.Both Eion and Kristin were a pleasure to work with and extremely flexible. One of the parts I needed I ended up having already, brought it in just to make sure it was the right part and he offered to put it in for me with no extra charge. Also, my transmission was sticking and he diagnosed and replaced the needed part with a used one he happen to have around at no charge. I felt he was very resonable and honest. I will definetly be taking my van back here in the future for more work. read more

I would highly recommend the Tec Shop. Our Golf TDI was having some troubles starting in the cold temperatures and after towing it into the Tec Shop they quickly diagnosed the problem and got to work. Their pricing was fair and now the car starts better then it has in years. read more

The owner of the shop contacted me and refunded the cost of the my second opinion. He seemed genuinely interested in making the situation right and did not ask me to modify my review in any way. Sometimes its just really hard to tell in this business. read more

I had an extremely bad experience with this shop recently and feel like I should warn other people about them. While discussing repairs with the owner, Ray (this is after bringing my van there for the last few years and giving them at least a few grand over that time) he suddenly became extremely angry when he erroneously thought I was questioning their work which I wasn't at all. I was simply asking questions, trying to figure out what was wrong with my van. Even after explaining that I wasn't challenging him, he seemed to completely ignore this and launched into a tirade, screaming obscenities at me! (I am not exaggerating in the slightest...I can't repeat the names he was calling me). This verbal assault was completely unprovoked and even a bit frightening as it was so out of the blue and I was concerned that they still had my van. All I can say is that this guy is NOT stable and I would never recommend anyone go there after I had such a disturbing experience. Believe me, I wouldn't go to the trouble to write this review if I didn't think people should know about the way they do things. At first I thought they were nice if not a little quirky. That's why I was so shocked when Ray flipped out. Must not have been taking his meds or something. Beware! read more