John is the man, and Fairmount is legit. Been a customer since John had his business as 'Blake Street Auto' in Berkeley. That was in the mid-90's. Been a loyal customer ever since. John is a good guy, tells you like it is, and in a world full of charlatans and mechanics who rake you over the coals, this is one of few places you can go to get your work done honestly. His mechanic (forget his name at the moment) is great, and has always found the problem, without costing me extra hundreds of dollars. I would recommend Fairmount Auto to all of you - except I don't want to have wait that much longer for service, so do ME a favor, and maybe go somewhere else (LOL). read more

I'm fairly new to the bay area, coming from DC, so I had been looking for recommendations on auto services after driving my Honda across the country. The first place I tried wanted $250 to run a diagnostic test even though I was already fairly certain my shocks were the issue. My engine splash guard had also come loose and they told me I needed to replace the entire thing. I'm glad I decided to wait. John at Fairmount diagnosed the issue within minutes (it was the shocks...), was able to tell me the price upfront, which was reasonable, and fixed it the following Monday within a few hours. He also gave me a quick fix on the splash guard by tying it up so it didn't continue to drag (something the first place told me was not possible to do). John was very easy to talk to and explained things really clearly. I'll definitely continue to go here for any future auto needs. read more

John here is awesome. I have an old van that is always in need of something, and this place is honest and reasonable. He gave me accurate on-the-spot estimates for future work, and he even let me know that a repair I wanted was actually easy to do myself! A place like that will always get my business. Their rates are comparable to everywhere else, so why not go to a place that won't rip you off? They also have a really friendly dog here, which lightens up the mood when you might have to shell out some $$. read more

John is great. John answered the phone and was extremely friendly and apologized because my car broke down on the way to his shop. He told me to get the car towed in as soon as possible and that I didn't have to be with the car when it arrived. He asked me about the problems I was having with my car and he gave me a rough diagnosis over the phone. He asked how much I knew about the problem and when I told him what I though, he seemed pretty impressed that I had already troubleshot the issue. I left my car with John, but forgot to give him the key to the door -- he hadn't even had a chance to call me before I returned but he was good natured about it and he told me he'd call me later that day. He called me within three hours and told me that the problem was the alternator and that he could replace it for around $300 and that I could pick it up around 3:00 p.m. (the same day). When I arrived a bit early, John told me my car was already done and the total would be $307.15. He swiped my car and I didn't even notice until much later that he only charged me $300! All-in-all, this was an awesome experience at Fairmount Auto Service and I would recommend this shop to anyone with zero reservations. read more

When in doubt, bring your car here. John is super friendly, very patient, and explains everything very well. I brought my car in because it was making a weird noise. Luckily it was a simple fix, which he did for no charge. He diagnosed my car and found a few minor problems I wasn't aware about. Instead of doing the repairs, he advised me to do it myself (I think I came off as somewhat mechanically inclined). For the more serious issues, he gave me a quote and explained all the expenses and time. Everything seemed more than reasonable. I am definitely bringing my car here for anything in the future, including a simple oil change. If anything, he's a great resource for advice. read more

We've been taking our older Hondas and Toyotas to John and Tri for over ten years. They always takes good care of our cars at a reasonable price and are generous in making time to help us with the little things. read more

John was amazing. It would have been easy to cheat me on something and he did not charge me at all. He even gave my little son a Matchbox car. Thank you for affirming my sense that there are really good people in the world. I'll definitely cone back if I am ever in the area even if for only an oil change. read more

This place is great! I called John, the owner and told him I was hearing a clunk when i hit uneven road. I came by and he checked it out and went under the hood. he said he thought that the way bar was loose and showed me how it moved very freely. He lowered the car, and pushed on the frame and thought it might be something else, and after some tapping and looking, found that the strut bolt had come loose. he tightened it up and the car was all better! And while the car was on the rack, he noticed that the O2 sensor hose was rubbing and loose, and he tied it up into the engine so it wouldn't wear out. He also noticed a small transmission fluid leak that he noted wasn't too serious, but keep an eye on it. This is one of the first times a mechanic has noted an issue, and not immediately told me this has to be fixed or your car will explode. When we finished, John told me that repairing the sway bar would make the car drive a bit smoother, and quoted me a very fair price. So I'm going to go back and have that work done. He was very straightforward, honest, and helped me understand some of the little issues I had and how to know if they were a serious problem, or just a 'nice to fix' problem. I appreciated his time and detail and will be back here again! read more

My car is a Ford, so it's prone to problems. Just moved back into the area, had no idea where to go, drove by Fairmont Auto often, decided to go in. Been going ever since, My car is always having problems. But John always takes the time to help me. Highly recommend this establishment. read more

Nothing but good things to say about this place. My 2003 Saab would not start and after reading the rave reviews here on Yelp about Fairmount Auto Service I decided to have my car towed in. John was also very helpful on the phone and I felt good about taking it in. He suspected that my fuel pump was out and quoted me a price that was $200 less than the dealer/mechanic shop I had bought the car from 6 weeks prior in SF. Once I had it towed in and got a phone call about 30 mins later from John confirming it was the fuel pump and quoted me my fair price and told me I could pick it up the next day! The shop in SF told me it would be at least a week until I'd get my car back. Super happy to have found this place and plan on going back when the need arises again! read more

best auto service i've every used and i've been through a lot of mechanics!! he was recommended by a tow truck driver and i'v never looked back or questioned any repair or service PLUS it's reasonably priced.. BONUS!! John even helped answer questions i had about buying a new car, used car, what make and model, etc.. i completely trust him and i'm stoked with the new minivan! read more

I was referred to this shop about a year ago by my boss. John the owner is a great guy, he saved me around 1,000$, seriously. I went to good year to get a tire rotation and have the car inspected, I knew I needed the timing belt changed and probably something else. After inspecting the car they priced how much it would be to fix everything, it was over $1,500 I took it to John and asked him what was timely and what really needed to be fixed in order to keep it running. I dropped my car off and a few hours later I called John to see what the damage would be. He ended up fixing several things on the car for under $500 Needless to say I am very happy with the service and honesty at Fairmont Auto. This is now my go-to place when I need my car worked on. Thanks John! read more

A few Saturdays ago, I went out to my car and heard a weird 'pop' when it turned on. I quickly found that I had no power steering, so I parked the car and called AAA. The driver looked and told me that the serpentine belt was loose and it should be tight and this was why I had no power steering. A friend of mine recommended Fairmount Auto Service, so a few days later I gave them a call. John told me that it might not be just the belt, but that in general a belt repair on my car would probably be somewhere in the range of $200. I was surprised to hear such a low estimate - I just assume everything that goes wrong with a car will cost me the moon. I had the car towed to Fairmount the next morning, and by later that afternoon, for only $350 (you always gotta assume that there'll be more wrong and it'll cost a bit more and I find this completely reasonable) my car was fully fixed and running great. Now that I know how great Fairmount is, I won't be putting off repairs in the future like I did this time. This was my dream experience - it's awful when there's something wrong with your car and getting it repaired can be a nightmare. With Fairmount, I felt completely confident that I was in good hands. And you can't argue with the results. read more

John is an honest and great mechanic. he has helped me with questions and done all my factory service on my Honda for years. He's super flexible and easy to work with and right by BART! Do yourself a favor, skip the dealer and got to John! read more

Great service, fair prices, honest communication...does it get any better than that?! Like others who have posted here, I received a steep estimate for work needed on my car from another mechanic and when I told my neighbors about it, they told me to bring my car to John for a second opinion. They told me he was fair and did great work. Well, they were right: John gave my car the once-over and explained what was needed and what could wait (and what was not really necessary in the first place), and saved me a bucket of money. And he's super friendly and communicative. NOT like my former mechanic at all! :) Car repairs suck but having an honest and smart mechanic makes it a lot less painful. Thanks John and Fairmount Auto! read more

My Professor recommend this store to me. He kept trusting this store for about 15 years. So I drive my small old car there for a 90,000 mile maintenance. Fast, Excellent and reliable! That is my review about John. He not only done his work perfectly with a really fair expense, but also tell me some details on how to maintain the car myself (I am a somewhat DIYer). I would definitely get back to him again! read more

John at Fairmount is the kind of mechanic you dream of finding, but don't know where to look. He is reliable, to-the-point and gives you the best deal in town. I have taken my car to John multiple times and he always takes a look no charge, and often giving me tips and work-arounds so I don't have to spend more money than I need. Because he sometimes gives you his time without charge, he tends to work / speak very quickly and sometimes I have to slow him down and prod to make sure I'm not missing anything. But a worthwhile trade-off for a mechanic of this caliber and integrity! I am recommending him to all my friends! read more

After seeing John a couple of times for my car, I feel that not writing this review would be a total crime against him. John is one of those rare mechanics you hear about, but don't really believe exists. There have been a few things done to my car, but one service in particular really stood out and is what made me write this. My car needed a new oil pan because one of those 'quick oil change' service places re-applied the bolt after changing the oil, but didn't screw it in correctly. Because of this, no mechanic will touch my car. I eventually had to get a 'piggy back' drain plug drilled into the pan. After a while, I ended up taking my car for an oil change. However, a mechanic at the first place I took it to initially gave me a quote, but then later on tells me that he isn't even equipped to do the job. What changed? I have no idea, but he gave me this long winded excuse as to why it 'just couldn't be done'. He suggested that I call another place that he was familiar with to get the whole oil pan replaced. When I did, I almost choked when he told me how much they were going to charge me (over $800.00). I then remembered about John and how happy I was the last time he helped. So I decided to give him a try again and hope for the best. John had my information in his computer from the last service. So it was nice to know that I didn't have to go through the hassle of trying to refresh his memory, as I can only imagine the number of cars he services on a daily basis. I explained the entire situation to him. Right off the bat, he started questioning (rhetorically) the other mechanics and why they couldn't perform other 'backup plans' or services. This made me feel a lot better right away, as I could tell that John REALLY knew his stuff. He didn't want to give me any guarantees and asked that I bring the car in for inspection, but he was still very certain he could fix the issue while saving me time and money. I dropped off my car and anxiously (and nervously) waited for his call to tell me what was done and how much. A few hours later, John called and told me everything was finished. Not only that, but he charged me less than 10% of what the other place was going to charge. He also found a much cheaper way of resolving the issue without having to charge me a crazy amount, take uncertain short-cuts and leave me without a car for a couple of days. I felt like I couldn't thank him enough. One service and suddenly there was a list of things that he did just to help me out. He saved me a TON of money......got my car back to me within the same day..... found another way to resolve the issue without 'rigging' anything.....called out the previous mechanics and the crappy effort (if any) that they gave to help......and even kept a couple different sized spare drain plugs on hand for the next time I'm there and if more work needed to be done in the future. Bottom line......you don't find mechanics like this. He doesn't b.s. you, is always straight forward, doesn't give up when it comes to fixing the problem and always does his best to make the job as affordable as possible while providing top notch work. He's not crooked or sketchy in any way. He always makes you feel even a little assured when talking to him. I'm reluctant to even move too far away because I know I won't find anyone else like him. Once you visit John and see what he can do, you'll be a customer of his for life. The ONE SINGLE thing I wish could change was that his shop was open on weekends, as it can be a little challenging finding a ride to work, but I'm OK with that. read more

Here's a brilliant concept - good old reliable honest customer service. My entire family have been to Fairmount Auto for over 5 years. That's a fleet of cars. John is knowledgable about Subarus and Hondas. Possibly more makes/models and as a Honda owner I am satisfied with the work he does. He does mostly everything -tune-ups, shocks, suspensions, engine stuff. The only thing that stumped John once was an electrical wiring that was connected to the car alarm. Had to bring it to Honda after john honestly told me that this one was a doozy. The car would automatically shut off while in drive mode. Even happened driving 65 on the freeway - nerve racking. I bet you want to know what the problem was - well the car alarm wiring by the starter fused together from the desert heat when the cars were transported from the east to the west coast. Making the car shut off automatically. Who would have thunk? That really stunk!! Focus. See john! He's honest, reliable and a really nice guy. And say hi to Fiona when you stop by. She's the sweetest dame ever. read more

I hit a pillar with my left tire backing out of a parking spot and needed to get it fixed. Oakland Subaru told me I needed a new steering rack. I couldn't believe it! I got a referral to this place and boy am I glad I did. John looked at my car and told me I needed a new inner tie rod, costing all in all about $300.00. That's way better than $1800.00! Backing out of a parking spot seems a small incident for a whole new steering rack. John said my steering rack is fine at 25000 miles and there's no need to worry. fixed my car the next week in 2 hours. So thankful! read more

My family has been taking their cars to John for years. He is a good and honest mechanic. After taking my old car to the dealership for a discounted oil change, the dealership said I needed to replace all of these things immediately. I took my car to John and he told me that it wasn't completely necessary and although he would love to charge me $2,000 to change it [joke], he suggested that I live with how it is now. He also is just purely curious on figuring out problems with cars, even if the car is at another shop. I would highly recommend him. read more

It's hard to give this review because John couldn't be nicer. But it never feels good to be overcharged. I thought my car had a dead battery, but it turned out the connectors weren't tight enough so that when I accidentally left my headlights on too long one weekend, the usual antidote of jump-starting and running the engine for a few minutes failed to work. You want to know how much John charged me to tighten the connectors on the battery and run the engine to restore the battery charge? $70. Further unfortunate, he claimed to drive it around to make sure everything else was fine, but I know he didn't drive it at all because I had parked it at a weird angle in his lot over the weekend when the shop was closed, and when he handed the keys back to me, I saw it was parked at the same exact weird angle in the same exact spot. He said I should return for an oil change - $51 which he said you can't find a better price given that he checks more than just oil (Jiffy Lube does the same services and charges much less) - and that he noticed a "high pitched noise" when "driving" my car around. Bullshit? I'm not sure, but I won't be returning if I can help it. read more

I have been getting my car fixed in this place . It was been not bad until I got a window motor switched couple of years ago.Even though I barely open window still got problem which is so weird. I went to other places and they took apart and took a close look it my car . They said I got a aftermarket motor and I paid almost $500 for that at that time. then everything makes sense. His mistake causes other part is broken as well which cost me much more . So disappointed, never gonna go again . read more

Yay! Glad to have him around for my car!! I am editing because I realize I could be more helpful in my description. The owner is honest, efficient and actually cares. He'll tell you what needs getting done as well as what does not need getting done. When I had a problem he couldn't handle, he said so and sent me to a dealership that was less expensive than most. He also wanted to follow up to find out what the problem was so that he could better advise future customers. Anyhow, I appreciate that. read more

John is awesome, he's trustworthy and reasonable. He's also great at explaining without being condescending, which I very much appreciate. I've been taking my car to him for years and couldn't be happier with the service. read more

All the great reviews are for a reason. John is just so, so nice. Either he's a smart salesman or very generous--probably a little of each--but any way you slice it, he seems to put in time without charging what he could. Of course this should and probably does bring him more business, and rightly so. If you're looking for someone who knows what he's doing and won't take advantage of you, John is the man. read more

Had my brakes done recently. Honest folks doing great reliable work. Will be back for sure.

I saw a mechanic for several years who was unable to correctly diagnose what was going on with my elderly Toyota. When I finally got fed up with him, I went to Fairmount Auto because it's nearby. I've been going ever since. John is a good mechanic, does what needs to be done, makes recommendations and suggestions but makes it clear when the work does not have to be done in order for the car to keep running. I highly, highly recommend Fairmount Auto. read more

I love this place! John is the best. He's reliable and honest and has been the go-to person for my family for years. I really don't know much about cars but I can leave mine with him whenever I have an issue, knowing that when I pick it up he will have fixed the issue for a fair price. Having someone like him makes car troubles so much less stressful. read more

I'm new to town and was referred by a coworker who grew up in El Cerrito. His family has been going for years. I went to Toyota first and they were so terrible so I brought my car here and didn't regret it. He checked all my lights that were on, beat the competitive rate and was honest. He told me my air pressure light was a faulty light and that it wasn't urgent. I was going on a long drive and he didn't charge me extra to give it all a once over. As a woman I appreciate a mechanic I can trust and he is the only one I would bring my car back to. Plus, he's right by the train station so it's easy to drop my car off. Great guy and amazing business. Why can't I give more than 5 stars?! Haha read more

John is the ultimate professional. I have been a patron for over a decade and have received superior service. He has supervised repairs, refurbishment & cleaning of my stolen car, provided emergency repairs on several occasions and regularly serviced my car. I recommend him highly. read more

The owner of Fairmount Auto Service is as legit as it gets. John is a super friendly and honest person. Excellent customer service and honestly @ an auto shop? Pretty unheard of until I stopped by Fairmount Auto Service. This guy knows how to run a business the RIGHT way. I will always take my cars here for anything auto related. Just take a look at all his 5 star reviews and you will know why this is the place to go. read more

Honest and Fair. John quotes you prices and then sticks to it. He has always been honest when it comes to repairs. I now have to take my car in to get it fixed for a starter problem. I trust he will have this done in a timely manner just like always. Plus the location to BART is a plus too. read more

An honest mechanic!! And a real nice guy. Everyone I've ever referred to John loves him too.

I came here in the first place because the reviews on Yelp were almost uniformly positive, and John Wansick definitely exceeded expectations. First, he quickly diagnosed and fixed, for a reasonable price, a problem a previous shop had misdiagnosed, failed to fix, and then wanted to sell me an even more expensive (and likewise misdiagnosed) repair to fix. Second, he advised me as to options I was unaware of for holding the previous shop accountable for their screwup and getting my money back. Third, he was generous with his time in answering questions about some annoying but not dangerous issues that were going on with my car, and arriving at a conclusion with me that they really weren't worth spending the money on. I am cautiously optimistic that I have found another jewel of a mechanic like the one I had in L.A. for 20 years. Plus, the shop is conveniently located, and I like John's sense of humor. Give Fairmount a try -- I don't think you'll be disappointed. read more

Great service. Honest advice. Fair prices. Always on time. Close to BART. Reliable mechanic is hard to find!! Especially appreciate that he CALLS me to describe the problem before the work AND he calls to tell your car is ready! read more

John is the owner, and had been highly referred to me by a friend. I'm so glad my friend sent me here, because John is fantastic at what he does. He is honest with you about what is going on with your car, what needs to be done right away and what can wait until the next oil change. This was such a refreshing change! I've gone to John a few times now, and I won't be going anywhere else. I don't live super close to El Cerrito, but this shop is definitely worth the drive. John did some major repairs on my Honda Civic last fall- including water pump, timing belt and much, much more and his prices were very reasonable. In fact, he charged me $700 less than I was quoted at a major chain shop in Alameda. And he took less time to complete the work. Not only that, but kept the shop open for me when I was coming back late from work. Most places, would have made me wait until the next morning- not John! I'd give them more than 5 stars if I could! read more

I was recommended to Fairmount Auto, and John, when I moved to the area and was asking a colleague where I should take my care so I won't get hoodwinked! Because unfortunately, I know a lot about drinking games, census counts, and cats, but I don't know jack about cars. Except what the manual, or John, tells me. Long story short, every time I have gone there, John's been honest and helpful, explaining to me how things work in my care (sorry John, I haven't retained much), and I feel the prices are fair...and NO Hoodwinking! read more

John rocks. He's honest and takes the time to explain in detail what's wrong with the car. He takes the time to give me updates on my car, seems to have excellent customer service, quick turn-around time and reasonable repair prices. I highly recommend him. read more

I don't think I've ever left an auto shop with the eagerness to come home and yelp about it. Fairmount Auto Service deserves 5 star across the board without question. John, the owner, might be the most genuine and honest mechanic I've ever come across in my thirty one years of life! You know how every time you go to an auto shop, you always feel like they're ripping you off a bit? Don't expect that here. I brought my car in because I had some pipe busted and some green fluid was leaking everywhere. Well, he fixed that problem and then decided that my clutch was too sticky so he fixed that as well. Then he noticed that my tires were squeaking a little too loudly when they turned so he decided to fix that problem as well. No extra charge. Grand total? $130. He is my new mechanic. read more