My car is the epitome of a lemon. It's so beat it's not even funny. That said, I've had the unfortunate pleasure of the engine works experience many, many times over the past 5 years. While there have been a couple of minor issues, overall they do a great job. The quality of their work, the professionalism and expertise of their mechanics, and the local Alameda feel to the place is to be commended. In my opinion they are the best garage in Alameda and one of the best in the East Bay. Customer service is a big deal to me and as long as they continue to give their loyal long time customers the same attention and consideration as their sparkling new customers, then I will continue to bring them my business. read more

They did my smog check very quickly, with no DMV paperwork, and with no advance notice. Great shop, fast service, and good prices. He even applied a coupon that I didn't have, and saved me $20, without asking. It was 3:30 pm on a Friday. Every other Alameda shop I called wanted me to "come in next week". Boo on them. Yay for these guys. read more

Did a smoke check here on 10/25/2018 on my Mazda 3 and happy with service from R em and his team. Good technical, proffesional work and clean facility. Their price is great compare to Fred's W. The only downside is parking surrounding area. read more

I took my truck in for a knock in the engine when hot... The diagnosis, $500+ and a week later... I received a call stating 2 options $5000+ to repair or their recommend engine replacement at $8000+... I declined the options and went to pick up my truck... Upon my inspection... The engine now has a continuous knock and I swear my engine compartment had a shroud covering the electric fan for my radiator, which was missing... I was promised a call back or replacement shroud... Never got it... Good luck!... 1 star for courteous customer service and bullshit ! read more

Clean shop staff was friendly and took me in the day after I called. Ended up being $170 just to change some brake lights unfortunately. But happy it was not something worse. read more

I took my 2002 Maxima and 2000 Forester here for all work. The team is very helpful and straightforward, which is a serious complement when I think about the cast of mechanics I worked with previously. Even for routine maintenance they give an extensive evaluation. And they don't push for unnecessary maintenance at the end. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars (which I almost never award) is that the cost is not exceptionally good. But I would still pay their fair prices any day rather than risk my car and sanity. read more

Very personable and honest shop! My alternator blew out and took a fuse with it. They answered all my questions and gave me a quote for the work. It ended up taking more labor than anticipated but they still only charged me for the original quote. Super nice! read more

Thanks to Eric (owner) and his knowlegde of Mustangs, my car runs/sounds GRRRRRREAT! My part needed to be ordered, but the 3 day wait was well worth almost $1000 that I saved. Professional and friendly (including his team of mechanics) with answers to all my questions - I think I found my "Go-To Auto Mechanic"! Vrrrrrrooom, Vrrrroooooom!!! read more

This is my first time bringing a car in for a service (A/C Service), why? I was a Volvo mechanic for 12 years and decided to switch careers. I called several repairs shop during the day for A/C service for my 1994 Volvo 850 and Engine Works is the best price. It was in Alameda and not far from home, I dropped off the car before noon and picked up the car before 5 p.m and was already parked outside ready for pickup, the A/C is nice and cold again. The shop overall is neat and clean, I can tell the owner cares about his business and customers. CCTV security cameras inside and outside of the repair shop, modern service writing software tool. Great customer service even for a small repair like the A/C service, this what makes customers come back even for major or minor repairs. All techs are ASE certified and CA Smog tech certified, which is a big plus because techs and shops need that, they know what they are doing! Engine Works is honest, $150 over the phone, and indeed $150 with labor and refrigerant. I also got a AAA member discount since the repair shop is AAA approved. Total is $135. Great deal for A/C service, I know I have a small leak in the Evap core but is better than removing the dashboard costing me more bucks! They also added leak dye as well. Vince, I believe the service writer was honest, and I think he spoke with the owner Eric about the AAA discount which Eric said it was okay for the discount! Thank you so much, warmer weather is coming and needed the A/C to blow cold air. I will be sure to be back and recommend my friends and family. Side note: I noticed some oil residue around the A/C service fitting from the a/c service, either is dye or something else but I do recommend to clean it off just in case if Engine Works or some other shop checks for leaks and sees that, which might throw off diagnosis as for a leak at that area. read more

I had a dispute with a dealership which had to do an extensive repair on my car after misdiagnosing it. As the repair was complete considering the sour relationship I was in with the dealership I went to engine works to verify the quality and truthfulness of the dealership's work. I am so glad I did. They discovered an unrepared transmission leak after the dealership worked on the transmission! This saved me another $2000 dollar repair down the road as I took the dealership work back to them to be finished. Engine works did their diagnosis without pointing fingered and blaming the work of the dealership and was super professional and accurate in their assistance. I highly recommend them!! Thank you Engine Works! read more

I took my car into Engine Works today and I would highly recommend them as a business. I thought I needed a comprehensive exam done but turns out I was able to get away with just an oil change. They advised me that I needed new tires and gave me a good recommendation. I will be bringing my car back to them if the need arises. read more

These guys are awesome! Esp Vince and Norberto (sp?) who'm I've had the pleasure of meeting upon pick up of my fiance's car. We had AAA tow it to engine works after the engine just stalled at a light. We dropped it off on the street as it was after hours but the following day we called to have it looked at. They found out it was the fuel injector; gave us a quote and within a day and a half (they were busy) the car was ready to be picked up; same exact price as their quote; no surprises at the register upon pick up. they also advised us to go to their website to get a coupon for a discount. They noticed that the radio wasn't working and they got it working for us by calling the dealershop to get the code! Free of charge! They really go out of their way to keep their customers happy. All the guys there seem really professional and super nice. I didn't feel like I was getting ripped off. They seem really honest and not trying to sell us anything we didn't need. We will bring our cars back for smog check in a month or so. Thanks guys and see you soon! read more

I called for a quote on glass repair and even though they don't provide that service the person who answered the phone referred me to a very affordable alternative -- great customer service :) read more

They do good work and charge reasonable prices. I appreciate their after hours drop off.

Today's cars are half mechanical and half electronics - these guys know it all. Although it's nice to know I can always reach the owner I have to point out the incredibly friendly team there. No matter who I spoke with, they knew about my car and what was happening with it. read more

Can't recommend Eric and his team highly enough. I came in late in the week with a 1981 Ford cargo van that had been having a real bear of a time passing smog. They were upfront about the fact that they're not the cheapest place around, but they proved to be thorough, reliable, and effective: by Friday afternoon my tags were current and the van was running better than it ever has. All for $100 less than estimated. I can honestly say I've never had a better experience with a mechanic. (And if you happen to come by when Eric's slow-cooked a chicken on the grill, and they--so generously!--invite you to have a bite, don't turn them down.) This place is the whole package and the real deal. read more

Eric at Engine Works is the real deal! Many of us have know Eric since high school and he's been repairing and modifying cars (or anything with an engine) since then. Eric has all the certifications, tools, equipment, and a well trained staff to get your job done correctly, quickly and all at a fair price. You can't ask for or find more n a Business, call Engine Works today! read more

We took the Bully on the highway over the weekend and Heinz is purring like a cat. Great job. Mechanical repair has been awesome as well as your communication skills. Thanx to the Engine Works-team in Alameda! read more

Engine Works - Heiz says 'Dankeschoen'!!! - Auto Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

I've been going to Engine works for the past couple years and normally they're great, but I had my first negative experience. As I was walking up to pick my car up, I happened to see one of the mechanics driving my finished car into the back lot, going at least 5mph miles faster than I would expect. He was driving so fast that my car bottomed out on the curb, creating a horrifying metal crunching sound. When I asked about it, no one offered an apology or to look at the possible damage done, but rather just laughed it off, saying it was no big deal. The car might be fine, but under no circumstances should a mechanic be driving that recklessly, to the point where they're bottoming out customer cars on pavement. I now wonder how my car has been treated while I've left it in their care, and will be taking it elsewhere next time I need repairs. read more

A few years ago when my mechanic retired and closed the shop, I was in need of a good, honest auto mechanic. My old mechanic as well as my body works technician at Miracle auto body ,highly recommended Engine Works. I have a classic 65 Mustang and I have brought it to Engine Works in the past two and a half years for many different repairs and things I needed to have done for my Mustang. All the staff at Engine Works are top notch mechanics and professional business men. All of the work they have done on my Mustang has been outstanding in every way. Their rates are very reasonable, they explain everything clearly and concisely and leave no questions unanswered. They are always professional and polite at all times and always have my Mustang ready to go in timely manner. As I am an elementary school teacher, Engine Works gets a triple A+ from me. I will take my Mustang to no one except Engine Works in Alameda, Harry. read more

Awesome place! My 1991 Nissan pick up broke down the other night in Alameda. This is where it got towed to. I don't live near Alameda so I didn't know what to expect. Even tho they didn't expect my 27 yr old truck, they graciously took it in, communicated with me every step of the way, fixed it pretty quickly and didn't charge me an arm and a leg. Highly recommend read more

Dropped of our '84 Westy off for a smog and oil change last week. The shop is well-run, clean, and all staff I interacted with was courteous and professional. We were having trouble finding a place that wanted to service a van as old as ours, but it was no problem for Engine Works. The owner was super responsive and helpful over Yelp messenger leading-up to our service appt. I would definitely recommend and go back. Thanks Engine Works! read more

The car was brought in due to a faulty battery - a diagnostic was run to find the cause of the battery drain. No cause was found, other than the battery had died. That was fine, but the other parts of the service are what led to the 1 star. The car was not ready when we were told it would be done. When my wife got there, they had no changed the battery, but did so in about 10 minutes time. Despite that, we were charged for 3 hours of labor. Upon complaint, the price and amount of labor were changed and a 10% discount was applied. In other words, they were going to charge whatever they wanted, with no guarantee of service either. There are dishonest mechanics. We will not return. read more

I walked out of Honda of Oakland pitching one hell of a hissy fit. I know nada about cars, but I was certain I wasn't being kissed by Honda of Oakland, you know like before you are getting screwed :) My only regret is that I did not become a customer sooner. They did a great job and I saved moolahlah. But more important they are honest. read more

Awful place to take your car. I took my car the for a tune up. They were supposed to change all the fluids, and more oil, etc.. The very next day, after spending about $600.00 my car engine blew up on the freeway. They tried to cover it up, instead of admitting there mistake. can't warn you strongly enough to keep your car away from this place. read more

They do good work but charge 3x the going rates for parts. We were told the parts are how they make their money. They charged me 8 hours labor to replace 4 ball joints. Too rich for.my blood...not going back. I want to support local business, but not get reamed read more

Another great experience at Engine Works. Oil change and transmission fluid change. Best price (half of what a wheel place quoted). Nice mechanics, work done when they said it would be done. Highly recommend! read more

Always do great work at reasonable prices. Owner is a great guy with lots of car knowledge. I've been known to call and ask questions and sometime I supply the parts and they graciously install them for me, no problem. Have been a long time customer for almost 10 years. Just recently had work done on my girl friends car, they came through like true professionals. read more

Had a great experience at Engine Works. Had a major steering problem, and they ordered the part and fixed it within two days, and I had only called ahead one day. Also, I was treated respectfully as a female customer who generally does not know anything about cars. Thank you for the excellent service. read more

This shop is great. Husband recently brought car in, engine light on and running rough. Fixed the car and didn't charge us an arm and a leg. Eric and his guys do a great job. read more

Great guys, great work. Very helpful with explaining mechanical issues and giving me budget minded options on both my reliable beater Subie and my aging BMW. Easy drop off & pickup because the 51 bus is only a couple of blocks away. read more

Came in last minute for a smog check, took me in before there lunch break and were able to expedite smog check cause I needed to pick up my daughter by certain time. Good customer service, clean auto shop. Will def come back again for regular services. read more

Excellent, professional service! Trustworthy guys and extremely reasonable prices. My window motor was broken and the window was down, so I needed a quick fix. I heard that at dealerships, this could cost between $300-400, but was recommended to Engine Works by a friend. Came in early one morning and my car was in and out within 2 hours. The price came out to ~$80 and they also found my lost seat belt that was hidden underneath the back seat (I'd been stressing about that for a year!) and changed my rear brake light that had gone out for free! Next time anything comes up with my car, I'm coming back to Engine Works for sure! read more

Although this shop is a little hard to find, it is worth looking for. The owner was there to walk me through the process and made it simple for me to understand. I would not take me car anywhere else. read more

I love that Engine Works was a no-pressure mechanic. Up front, they gave me a written estimate for the oil change and diagnostic work on my 200,000 mile jeep. Then they gave me a phone call (as promised) and explained options and pricing to me. When I asked questions, they were not condescending, they were patient and knowledgeable. I asked to think about my options overnight, and they had no problem with that. There was no pressure or deal-making. They did the work that I requested, the bill was just what they told me it would be, my car runs better, and I will return to Engine Works. I also appreciate that they put a sticker in my window with a reminder for my next oil change. read more

Upon moving to Alameda, my car stalled out in the middle of Alameda @Lincoln and Grand. It was embarrassing...I didn't know what to do. Thank god and employee of Engine Works was standing outside of the convenience store. He took a quick look inside my car and took off the cover of my gear shift (it was locked for some reason - I obviously know next to nothing about cars), and then he gave me Engine Works' card. Needless to say I took my car there and never turned back. I've gone in for simple things like oil changes and inspections, to the more dramatic things. read more

As a women, I've always dreaded taking my car to the shop without dragging a guy along. I've been given false information, and quoted inflated repair costs only to find out after the fact that I'd been scammed. After a few friends recommended Engine Works in succession, without each other's knowledge, I felt some confidence in giving them a try. I was really happy to find that they are knowledgeable, honest, efficient, and very professional. I have been referring people since my last visit, and even brought my mom's car to them for service. read more

Brought my '15 van for oil-change. Fast service and good work done.

I received a competitive estimate for a timing belt change and after they finished the job, they told me it would be almost $400 less than the estimate. The job was done perfectly and they checked all the fuid levels as well. I will be bringing my truck in for work very soon! Can't say enough for honest service! Way to go! read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. It is the only place I will take my car. They always give me a good deal on oil changes and the owner is very knowledgeable and professional. He always answers all my questions and explains things clearly in a way in which someone who doesn't have a lot of experience with cars can can understand. I needed my valve cover gasket, spark plug wires and spark plugs replaced on my Hyundai elantra, and originally was going to go to another place to have it done, where they said they would charge only $80 (labor only not parts). Well I decided to come here to Engine works instead. The "cheap" place gave me some very bad information, they said it wouldn't cause damage to my car to keep driving it like it was, even though check engine light was coming on. Turns out, I almost destroyed the cadalytic converter, and my car could've caught on fire. After this experience I have come to realize it is best to stick with an auto shop you can trust even if it means paying a little more. read more