This is a very belated review as my daughter graduated Baylor University last year! It's difficult in many ways to send your daughter out of state to school, but it is especially difficult when you send her in an old truck with more than 200,000 miles (at the time). I set out to search for a mechanic on Yelp and Anglie's List. Then I started calling them. When I talked with Fred, I knew I found the right repair shop. Fred and his team looked after her safety during her years in Waco. There was regular maintenance and some significant repairs, and Fred came through ever time. His estimates were accurate, the repairs were competently done, and I learned I to trust him and his judgement. I spoke with Fred several times over the years but I've never got to thank him personally. The truck made it home now after several thousand mile journeys and I have seen the evidence of Fred's good handy work. read more

I brought one car, had it fix no issues, everything was ok, brought another car, and they "fix" it, came back with the same problem and was told "maybe it's something else" excuse me, maybe? So I was about to get charged for initial repair plus new and parts, because couldn't find the issue from the beginning? Took my car somewhere else, was fixed and saved $100 bucks, maybe shouldn't have gotten charged the first time because it was just a trial to see if there was other issue, I would have left my car for final repair It was more about the principle, as a plus I would only say because the gentleman (who appears to be the boss) has a very passive aggressive way of treating people. Very rude, I guess unless you are friends with him, or you are not a woman read more

Signed up just to post this. Was stuck in Waco with worn brakes and had a replacement set on hand I was hoping to get installed. While calling around, I spoke with two employees at this shop, a woman and a gentlemen who I imagine was the owner or manager. For simply looking or asking for help, I was berated for owning an electric car, despite needing service that is fairly typical on most cars. The phrase "it's your own fault for purchasing that car, you know what you're getting into" is not something I imagine someone who needs help should hear in a time of need. I understand I may have been a bit needless as we were trying to solve our problem, but I did not expect this degree of treatment or discrimination for owning a particular type of vehicle. They were also very unwilling to help when I was hoping for any referral or recommendations on how I might be able to get my brake pads replaced. Ultimately, I was left without help and feeling even worse than when I began the call. Would not recommend for service. Absolutely would not recommend if you own an EV. Tesla owners especially, this is exactly where you'll find people willing to make you feel bad about your purchase. Unless you perfectly fit the "profile" for the type of work they do, go elsewhere. I imagine you might get better treatment. read more

I'm from out of town but had let my son borrow my car who lives in Waco and a radiator hose busted on my car. Drove car up within minutes a technician not only took a look at the car but was able to see what the problem was. Fred (had told me on the phone that they get busy and didn't promise me a anything but they would look at it) they came through big time. Looked at it, ordered the part, fixed it and a very reasonable price (tight spot) and communicated with us. They get very busy...but understand why...they know their stuff and are dependable. read more

Fred's Radiator & Auto Repair - Business card - Auto Repair Near Me - Waco, Texas

Came in on Monday 04/20 to get my brakes and rotors changed and was charged $495. This was a preventative maintenance measure for my 2014 Ford mustang. On Thursday 04/23, I pulled in to a store parking lot and I engaged the emergency brake (manual transmission). White smoke appeared. Immediately, I got out of the car and I smelled something burning and it was coming from the rear of my vehicle. The sight of white smoke brought attention from others in the store parking lot. A few gentleman investigated the location of the smoke it was discovered that it was coming from my vehicle around the brakes. I contacted Fred's shop twice on 04/24 and both times I was informed he was unavailable. I assumed I had spoken with one of Fred's auto mechanics on both occasions. Therefore, I explained what had occurred on 04/23. The person's response was rude, passive aggressive and he displayed NO empathy regarding the situation. Customer service skills do not exists there! Therefore, I decided to take my vehicle to the Ford dealership. I end up paying $575 to correct the extensive damage Fred's auto had created. This negligence could of caused a fire and as well as life threatening catastrophe that could of taken my life! I have eveidence that whomever Fred allowed to change my rotors and brakes had no idea what they were doing and apparently didn't care! I should of noticed there weren't any ASE certificates hanging on the walls for any of his mechanics. read more

Been meaning to review this gem. So thankful I found them. Was driving from Dallas to Austin recently when my AC got warm. I looked down at my display and my engine temp was all the way up to the top. Scary. Traffic was heavy, I was almost out of Waco, and worried. I pulled into the nearest gas station and looked up nearby auto shops. SO GLAD I was only a couple minutes away from Fred's!!! They found the problem quickly, got the part delivered from Auto Zone, and I was back on the road in a few hours. In the meantime, I sat in the office and had great conversations with the guys working there. I could tell they knew their stuff and genuinely cared about their customers. I felt like God was looking out for me, landing me there, seriously. It could have been really bad. Instead, I was actually happy I had the experience. read more

Phenomenal job by Fred and his entire staff! They greeted me and gave me a cold bottle of water which was greatly appreciated. He changed my oil/filter and diagnosed my check engine light (O2 Sensor) very fast and had my truck ready in no time! Fred also supports the US military which is always appreciated. I am new to Waco and I have found my new mechanic. Job well done! read more

Auto part store recommend Fred's so with no breaks and still quite a drive we drove to Fred's they fit us in real quick (as the guy at auto parts store filled them in on our story out of towners headed to San Antonio from Tn the brakes were grinding ) they were a great bunch of guys didn't treat us like idiots and were respectful hard working and honest and explained everything ! Price was just as they said it would be ! Thankful to have meet them ! Brakes were running great in no time ! They were quick and affordable ! Three things you look for in a auto mechanic. 1) honesty. 2) reliable 3) affordable !!!!! They were great thanks for getting us on the road safe !! So get to Fred's ! they will help you out ! If I need work done well driving through Fred's I will be stopping at read more

Fred's Radiator & Auto Repair - Us driving to San Antonio ! Safely thanks to Fred's cause it was raining like crazy ! - Auto Repair Near Me - Waco, Texas

Being a college student and not able to pay an arm and a leg at a dealership, you need someone that is reasonable and reliable, as well as trusting what they tell you isn't just to upsell you because you are a young female. Fred's has been all of that for me, they first took care of me about 2 years ago and they are always fair in price even on things a dealership would charge close to $1000 for. read more

Fred is an honest, dependable mechanic. When I my car needed repair In (Waco) while I was visiting from out of town, he went above and beyond what I expect. In fact, for future repairs, I will make the drive to have him repair. Definitely a five star find. read more

Someone at this company has been making harassing phone calls to me. Four times in less than 90 minutes. Five phone calls in all over the last week. read more

Recommend these guys so highly! They went out of their ways to help save me money on the parts I needed for my car and were super friendly, bringing me cold water and explaining super clearly what they were doing to fix my vehicle! read more

I went to Fred's when I started having signs of heater core issues. Fred did a great job fixing up my car at a very reasonable rate. However, when I recieved my car back, the front driver window was down and it looked like it had been taped and bagged, not their fault, I didn't warn them it was broken and wouldn't roll back up. After I got home I realized that someone had gone through my car, I don't leave anyhthing of worth in my vehicle so I wasn't worried. But, I would have liked to have known that my window was down for a length of time. I was never informed of the window being broken (again not Fred's fault). Overall expeirence was good, but I think there could be little more care in ensuring the safety of customer's property. read more

Fantastic service. Never had a doubt a day diagnose the problem correctly check for any other thing. Old school. And not only reliable, but generally nice people. read more

I was in desperate need for someone to fix the alternator on my car and I'm not too familiar with repair shops around Waco. Someone from AAA recommended Fred's and they did not disappoint! They had my car ready to go much faster that any other place probably would have and they're priced super reasonably. I'll definitely be returning. read more

I pulled up to Fred's Radiator & Auto shop in a bucking, backfiring 1973 Ford van as one of the crew came up to me and told me what the issue was before I even turned the engine off. After talking to Fred and telling him I was just rolling through town on a long trip, he pinpointed the problem and got started, while the gentleman behind the desk made sure I felt welcome and accommodated. Fred found a couple of minute details in the distributor causing the trouble, and spent the afternoon with his crew making sure everything was tip-top to get me on my way. Not only did they fix the problem (and some kinks caused from the shop I had gone to previously), but Fred took the time to make sure I knew exactly what was going on with my van, why and how they replaced the parts they did, and how to resolve any related issues that may arise in the future on a 41 year old vehicle. I appreciate immensely Fred's explanations, his sincere concern for his customer's satisfaction and safety, and his integrity in what he does. I only with his shop was local to me for future maintenance. Thanks Fred & crew! read more

Fred is a very honest mechanic and fixed my car for less than the original quote when he could have charged me much more.

Fred and his employees got us right in on a Saturday morning to replace our failed alternator with one we bought from a local parts store. They were great! Even though the guy I talked to on the phone said it would cost a certain amount, he told me when we arrived that he had made a mistake and that it would cost a lot less! They found that the belt needed to be replaced, so they did at the cost of the belt. Fred gave us some bottled water while we waited and even gave us some frozen bottles for the road! Overall, I am very happy to have found Fred on yelp and am glad to give him 5 stars! read more

Fred does real honest work. As a student of Baylor, he doesnt take advantage of you and also gives you a 10% labor discount.

They are a solid group of guys you can trust with honest work. I brought in my '89 4runner with some issues and they fixed it quickly at a decent price and even replaced some old vacuum lines while they were at it. Troy was informative and helpful and I will definitely be bringing my vehicle back for any repairs. read more

If you have a student at Baylor and they experience any issues with their car... This is the place to go. Honest. Caring. Knowledgeable.

They're honest, they give you fair prices, they deal with you well, these guys have become my trusted place. I almost want to pay them more just because of how straightforward they are read more

These guys are the real deal! They seem to really care about people and are very honest. I live in Houston and have my fiancé's daughter going to school at Baylor and had a problem with her car. I looked at the yelp ratings and told her to go to Fred. They promptly called me and told me what was wrong with the car and that it was only her back tires and that he would even help her get a discount/shop rate on tires if she took it to the place and let them know that he had sent her. It's nice to know somebody's looking out for our kids in Waco when we send them away to school. If anything else happens to her car while she's at school there, I wouldnt send it anywhere else! read more

Decent prices very friendly customer service great I would definitely recommend this place if you live in the Waco area or just visiting and need work on your car I will continue being a customer as long as I'm living Waco Texas. read more

I had an emergency situation with my brakes driving back to Austin from Dallas. I was fortunate enough to have come across Fred and his crew. He took the time to explain everything to me, and let me know what my options were. He and another in his crew were so awesome, and he even told me to let him know that I got home safe. Thank you, Fred! I made it home safe! You are the best! read more

These guys are incredibly honest and efficient. They quoted me a price and stuck to it. Fred even did some extra minor work for no additional cost when I came back later that day. If I didn't live in Austin, I would certainly come back to them with every automotive need. Hell, maybe I'll make the drive. read more

I brought my 2010 Volvo in to get the timing belt replaced. They are honest guys who do NOT CHARGE an arm and a leg for labor. It seems a bit run down and sketchy, but I promise that's not the case. These guys are trustworthy, and they have always given me solid advice as I've always gotten a second opinion from a friend who works on cars in Austin. They are great! I'd use them every time!! read more

Date of service 08/09/16 I initially decided to take my care there to have it checked for the check engine light that gave the code of a problem in the catalyst system. They were informed of this code and I was told they would check it to see if there was a leak in a valve. At approx. 10:00am, they were given my keys to my car and I was informed they would look at my car later that afternoon. I did not recieve a call about my car this day, but it was ok. The next day, 08/10/16 at approx. 12:50pm, I called to inquire about my car , if they had the chance to look at it. I was asked what was the problem with my car. I again told them the issue. I was informed that they would pull my car in within a few minutes and look at it. (Indicating that they have not looked at it yet). I was told they should call me around 1:30pm-2:00p. It is after 5pm and I still have not recieved a call or any information concerning my car. I initially brought my car to this establishment due to the reviews they were given. It sads to say that in my experience, I can not give those same reviews. Unfortunately, if I do not hear anything about my car early tomorrow morning, 08/11/16, I will be choosing to pick my car up and take it to another establishment. The owner reads these reviews. I initially gave 1 star, but I will change my review to 2 stars. Update: I received a call this morning, 08/11/16, concerning my car at approx. 9:30am from Fred. I was informed of the issue with my car. He gave me 2 options, of which 1 would be a solution to my car problem and the other one he gave me the quote for the part(s) and labor. Once I informed him that I would like for him to go ahead and fix my car, he informed me that he would prefer for me to have someone else fix my car because I gave him a negative review on two sites. I only gave a review here on yelp. He goes on to say that there were 12 cars ahead of me and he was 1 staff short they day I brought my car in. I did notice they were busy. I did not know how many cars were before me. Despite that, I was given two times that my car would be looked at and waited past that time before I placed my review. He stated that I did not give him the opportunity. I believe I did. How hard of a problem is it to contact a person when you have informed them you would look at their car and simply say that you have not gotten to it, which I was informed on 2 different days? He continued to tell me the reasons stated above and did not give me the opportunity to talk. He stated that he would not be able to satisfy me no matter what he did. Personally, I don't believe he tried. All I simply needed was to be informed about my car of the progress or not. At no time was I contacted by his establishment, I called each time. I believe he could have satisfied me with communication and actually fixing the problem on my car. It is his establishment and his decision of what he felt was best. I respectfully picked up my car. Before I left, he gave me a paper noting the issues with my car, the parts, and their cost. I thanked him because that was a kind gesture. His gesture is the reason I changed my star rating, but I was still disappointed that I didn't recieve the same 5 star service of those who rated this establishment. read more

Fred and his crew are some awesome guys. Fred is very honest. When I first went to him I was skeptical, like I would be of any new mechanic. However, the diagnostic my car gave after the check engine light was on didn't give a clear indication of what the problem was. So instead of going ahead and guessing what the problem was, and possibly costing me a ton of more money, Fred honestly admitted to me that he was only about 30% sure of the problem and didn't feel comfortable just doing guess work. So I left, and went to a few other mechanics which didn't know either and they went ahead and guessed. Long story short, they guessed wrong and ended up costing me over $1,000 to finally get it fixed. Because of his honesty, I went back to Fred several times and he and his expert team have treated me well ever since. I mean heck, the guys offered me a water bottle while I waited! Love this shop and will definitely be going back. read more

Honest and reliable.. my car recently had a rattling, noise under the hood. I took it to another shop and they told me that my engine needed to be replaced. If i didn't know anything better i would have been like ok go for it. But my car is a 2014 and services done on time and i make damn sure about it. So i was shocked. I look around online and saw that everyone had given them a 5 star on yelp, so i went and given them a try. 5 stars is well deserved! I feel like everyone should know about fred's! Honest place which is very rare these days! I can't stress enough. If you're in doubt go to him. I went there and he looked under my hood. Looked around for what could be the cause of the rattling. After a few minutes of not touching anything he said, "your oil is low, very low" without touching the dip stick! Then he pulls it out and bam!! It was super low. He said to add some oil and it should be good to go. Best part is he didn't charge me anything.. no diagnostic or consult fee or anything dumb. The last guys i had if checked i paid a $70 diagnostic!! He was cool about it. Easy going guys. I would definitely trust them over any other auto shops around here! They have set the standard. Also i added oil into my car. A day later rattling stopped. They are a life saver. read more

took my car to Fred's to repair a blown head gasket. He didn't call me once the head came off to discuss the condition of the engine and head, which is what he agreed to do. Fred's called me after the engine was put back together. I was given a 90 day warranty on labor and a 1 year warranty on parts. The engine continued to have a rough idle, engine misfire codes, milky residue in the oil cap and tiny bubbles in the coolant. I took the car back to Fred's 2 times within the 90 day warranty period. He says that he did a compression test and that the engine passed, but he never offered any other reason for the reported problems. I took the car to Trinity Auto Haus to do an independent test and they confirmed that compression gasses present in the coolant and which falls under head gasket failure and put in writing for me that it should have been warrantied. I spoke to Ernesto Lopez, the machinist that Fred's claimed resurfaced my cylinder head. Mr. Lopez could not find any record of having my cylinder head in his shop. He said that Fred's should warranty the head gasket repair. Fred refused to have a reasonable discussion about what would cause the reported symptoms. Fred indicated that he was not going hold Mr. Lopez accountable because he did not send the head out to be resurfaced. I had the cylinder head removed and took it to Precision Machine. Their machinist confirmed that a belt sander was used to resurface my head leaving scratches. Precision Machine confirmed that my cylinder head was surfaced at an angle leaving a variance of .008 inch from one side to the other. This variance and the lack of a mirror smooth finish on an aluminum head would prevent the proper seal of the head gasket. Fred is not willing to review the evidence I have taken to him. He has lied to me 2 times to say that this vehicle passed the compression test. He lied and said that he had the head resurface by a machine shop. He has not honored his warranty. read more

This is a great place to get your car checked out. Our check engine light was on and they checked it out and told us what the code was along with their recommendations and did not charge us for checking it out. Got us in and out to very quickly. Will definitely return if necessary. read more

Great service, quick turnaround, and can't beat the price. It's not in a good area of town, but Fred gave great service, and I'll be going back for all my auto repairs. read more

I only picked Fred's because of the great reviews on here. But my situation with them turned out to be a nightmare.They would not listen to me when I went in there.I felt like they fixed things other than what I asked them to fix.When I had questions Troy would get an attitude,typical of kids.Needless to say I took my car down there because I had a small antifreeze leak,after looking at it for 10 secs they decided I needed a new radiator.$270 later my car started running real ruff,I check antifreeze,radiator empty.Either they didn't fill it up when they put the new one on there or I still have the same slow leak.Then I took it in there to fix 3 other things,i gave him the list,he says oh you don't need that you need motor mounts.$565 later,I have two engine issues I did not have when I went in there after they so-called fixed motor mounts,and one of the issues on my list is still there.I feel gypped,took off work four times for these issues.They way over book,garage running over with people and cars.no real time to take out with each customer.I sat there and waited for them to give me a ride home for an hour,He took call after call,I would say about 10 people he told within that hour to go ahead and bring the car down there.This in the first hour of the day.This is over booking.He told me to be there on a Saturday at 8 am sharp,this is fred.I was there,shop wasn't open,someone showed up about 10 min after 8.My car sat there for 4 hours,untouched,I took off from work and they close at 1,I called at 12 to see how things was going he hadn't gotten to my car yet.He said he had 22 vehicles came in that day.Thats fine but Fred told me to be there at 8.My car should have been worked on.I will never ever go back and you shouldn either. read more