Dai is an amazing repair guy. Very honest, very direct. Have been visiting this garage since 12+ years. I highly recommend this place

I seriously don't understand how this place has so many good reviews. If you're planning anything beyond a basic oil change--RUN！！！！！！！This was a complete nightmare and waste of my time. I called and was quoted $675 total, parts and labor included. When I arrived, he said my car was "not what he expected" and needed to re-quote. After I left, he called and said the part from the dealer would cost $700, bringing the total to around $1,000. I told him I didn't need an OEM part and asked if I could bring my own--he said yes, and quoted $300 labor. That same evening (around 9PM), I texted him to say I'd bring the part the next day for repair. I wish he could see it next day . The next day, he told me he would not take responsibility for my car anymore because I "didn't call, didn't text, and didn't come back"--which is absurd because I did text him. I went to pick up the part myself, and here's the worst part: he said he couldn't repair my car anyway because he "lacked the tools to run a diagnostic," and referred me to a friend who charges even more. Why not say all this from the start? ？Why waste my time, let me leave my car there overnight, then back out with excuses? Completely unprofessional and unreliable. read more

Handyman Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

Dai is awesome, I needed an oil change and he was there to help. My car was ready in 15min! I would recommend him to anyone! read more

After a disappointing experience with a dealership, I was searching for someone down-to-earth and practical for my long-due car routine maintenance, as my car was about to hit 40K miles. I came across Mr. Dai on Yelp. After reading the reviews, I decided to give it a try. I called Mr. Dai the day before and explained my situation. Upfront, Mr. Dai said I only needed an oil change, told me how much the service would cost, and how long the service would take. After I arrived on the next day, Mr. Dai got to work right away. Mr. Dai inspected my car - he checked under the hood and beneath the car, as well as topping off fluids under the hood. Throughout the service, Mr. Dai patiently answered my many questions about car maintenance in layman terms, which I had longed to know the answers. The whole service took about 30 minutes. Had I not been that inquisitive, Mr. Dai could have finished the job sooner. I highly recommend Mr. Dai, and I will return to Mr. Dai for my future maintenance needs. Thank you again, Mr. Dai, for taking care of my car! read more

Normal smog place was having issues so I came here close by to get my car smogged. Wait time was ok. Price was NOT reasonable -- very expensive, paid $70 for smog where I usually pay no more than $40 usually. Feels like I got ripped off! Also smoked a fresh cig and handled the steering wheel... argh! read more

I came here for a oil change, it accepts customer-supplied oil and filter, and labor fee is 30-35. not so cheap but reasonable. Mr.Dai like to teach you anything if you are a new bird and you will like to learn read more

Dai is knowledgeable, skilled, and kind. He was generous and fair with pricing and seems to legitimately care about helping people rather than gouging them when they're in a time of need. Strongly recommend. read more

Another quick update - over 5 years later! After getting a new car, it was time for an oil change. I called Dai to see if he was able to give me an oil change, and he told me yes and to come in. Upon arriving, Dai immediately changed my oil. He informed me that my car uses synthetic oil, which I wasn't aware of until then Dai also provides synthetic oil change for those who use that for their cars! Dai also informed me that I needed to change the brake fluid. He also mentioned that I needed to replace the belt, but it wasn't urgent. He showed me what to look for on the car belt to know when to come in and change it. Super sweet and informative per usual! Thank you so much Dai! read more

I've been coming to Dai for over 10 years. He has taken care of all my automotive needs. He is honest, transparent, and hardworking. He takes the time to explain all costs and everything going on with your car. He is very clear about costs and work done and works hard to figure out a solution. He is the best and I won't trust anyone else with my car needs. Thank you Dai for all your hard work! read more

Handyman Auto Repair - Dai working on a car - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

Smoke check $70 Ridiculous price (most common price is 30-40 around) And the attitude is sooooo rude and bad Every time I paid for the service there, no matter oil change or other services, I have to endure the bad / rude attitude from the owner as well as his negative energy. Not sure what makes him like this way (just si quan jia?) But wish such trash place to go bankrupt asap read more

Consistently great service. I get my oiled changed from Dai every time and he never fails to make me feel like a priority even on his busy days. He checks that I have enough oil, teaches me about my tire pressure, and reviews my windshield wiper fluid. I don't ask him to do any of these extra items but he does anyway. He's just a good guy looking out for the community. I will always go back to him for as long as I live in the area. read more

Got a nail in my car while trying to rush to a hike, Dai was able to get my tire patched up in less than 5 minutes and even made sure all my other tires were at the right pressure. Very nice guy and great service. read more

Handyman Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

Dai went above and beyond on my major car repair. My alternator broke as well as the water pump. He used a stethescope to show me where the sound was coming from and then showed me what the old water pumps that were leaking looked like. Prices were reasonable and even though car stuff isn't cheap but he was honest. Best part was he got it all done in one day and even cleaned out all the motor area so the car looked brand new inside. My car doesn't have an awful sound anymore and it's working well all thanks to Dai. Dai is hardworking and really includes you in all the decision making process. Highly recommend him! read more

I have been using this place (run by single person) for years ... specially because it's walking distance. However, he is a very honest person and also skilled. He will not charge/suggest shady services, and I never had any complains. read more

Came to Dai for help with a malfunctioning cigarette lighter the other day. There was a short wait because he had other customers ahead of me. Once Dai started working on my car, he quickly diagnosed that the problem was a blown fuse. He worked to identify which fuses were blown and replaced them in a very timely manner. He also explained to me that the cigarette lighter must have been overused. The whole process took about 15 minutes from start to finish! As usual, very efficient work at a reasonable price. Highly recommend, thanks Dai! read more

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Please look at the reviews more carefully! Don't be tricked by the 5 star rating! As Ed M. and several other reviews noted below, I called because of the good reviews but as he pointed Dai is extremely rude. I called to make an appointment. It's okay to not take appointments but it is not Ok to be a jerk about it. We all have busy schedules in Silicon Valley with work and kids etc. Can't just show up and wait. Btw, after posting this review, I got a really nasty message from Dai. Needless to say I pinged another auto repair company (Akin's Auto Repair) and they made an appointment for me right away for Thursday. Look at the reviews carefully. If you scroll down yelp and look at the reviews not currently recommended there are a few bad ones that have been masked under the 5 star rating. I did not notice this until after I called. read more

Handyman Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

I've taken my cars to Dai for maintenance and minor repairs. He hand-writes estimates on scrap paper, but I don't mind. He does good work and gives honest advice. Examples: - He noticed a small nail in my tire and removed it. There was no puncture, so no charge. - I thought I had a clogged sunroof drain (passenger side carpet was drenched after a storm). He tested by pouring water, showed that the drainage was fine. No charge. - Power steering was making noises. Dai simply topped off the power steering fluid and charged me five bucks. (Since Dai's shop is so close to my house, it may have been cheaper than driving to a store to buy my own power steering fluid.) read more

This service deserves not a five, but a ten. It is a pity that there is no way to put 10, Because here they change the oil quickly and for $ 25. This is the lowest price I've ever changed oil, just incredible work. Well done guys, I will now only go to you. I liked this auto mechanic. He doesn't say much, he does it quickly and with quality. read more

Handyman Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

Dai was speedy, honest and kind. He changed oil without appointment. I come bringing my car next time again.

I had a nail in the tire of my Tesla (Model Y Performance 2022) which is equipped with some type of sound absorbing foam in the tire. The shell down the street took one look at the nail in the tire and said they can't work on Tesla's. Called Pep Boys, they wouldn't even look at it. Luckily, the nice fellow at Handyman Auto Repair took the time to take a close look, and verified quickly that there was no leak, and pulled the nail right out and the job was done. He didn't even try to charge me, just said, "have a nice day" with a smile. Gave him what ever cash I had on me. Definitely recommend. Trustworthy. read more

I highly recommend Dai. Knowledgeable, proficient and economical. A true craftsman. Thank you, Dai! read more

Dai is extremely friendly and very honest. I accidentally brought my car here to get a smog check after a new battery and he was nice enough to check if the car was ready for a smog check before going through with it and charging me (new battery wipes memory and will fail smog if not driven enough). Most other shops would not have warned me and would have taken the money just to fail the check anyways. He always has helpful information and will sit at his computer and Google things with you in order for you to better understand your car. Highly recommend read more

I went there for a turn signal issue and he fixed my problem in minutes. It wasn't expensive either. Would recommend.

Went to this place twice. First time is changing an axel seal and second time for a tire patch. First of all his attitude is great. Pricing is up front. Pricing is for sure cheaper than dealership. No drama. This is a one mechanic shop. First time changing the axel seal. He gave me back the used axel seal. Things were efficient from dropping the car off to picking up the car. Second time went for a tire patch coz stupid Costco says my tire thread doesn't have much left so they won't patch although the Costco comes with free tire patch. Costco tire center is just horrible. They just don't want to balance tires or patch tires after you bought them. They don't want to work. Whatever. Came to this shop and he patched it in like 5 mins. Got the job done. I would come back for sure if I need help. Would recommend. read more

Dai provides excellent service, reasonably priced, quickly! What else can I say? He just won our business. We plan to take our cars to him for maintenance and repairs. It started yesterday when I heard a rear wheel grinding. I called the infinity dealer who just replaced all the brakes less than 10,000 miles ago! And they won't cover their work because it's been more than 12 months. (Thanks COVID...) My wife found Handyman Auto repair near us on Yelp. I called Dai, told him what happened. He said bring it in first thing in the morning. 2 hours later it's done! Perfect! I thank God for Dai and other wonderful people like him! read more

I was worried since my car was making pretty bad scraping noise while driving. Dai looked at my car over all for an hour and eventually identified the issues.He took his time to explain what's going on with the car, the best solutions, and why each repair was needed and how immediate it was to the safety of my vehicle. I've had bad experiences with other repair shops around Stevens creek and could not be happier to have found this one. As someone who knows nothing about cars, it was great to meet Dai. He is an expert Dai helped me out a lot done and in a timely manner, and also reasonably priced for really good work. But the one thing that gets me the most more than his professional experience (30 + years) was his honesty and kind heartedness (spoke about his charity work to "Feed the hunger" in Vietnam ) Handyman Auto Repair is highly recommended Great job!! Thanks so much! read more

Yelp, starting the year off right by doing me a solid with this location. Dai came through on a Saturday at noon for an oil change and I was out in less than an hour! I arrived while he was working on another car so it took a few minutes before he was able to chat. He brought mr car to the bay and did the oil change, noting that the car battery had some natural corrosion (which my previous shops hadn't pointed out). He described a simple process for cleaning my battery corrosion, backed the car out, and had *me* perform the work. This achieved several things: (1) I learned how to do the work, which I can EASILY replicate at home for free; (2) he saved me ~$50 which is what a run of the mill shop would have charged me; and (3) I now have a favorite, honest mechanic!! No waiting area, but not much of a wait, so there's that. $75 for synthetic oil change. Holla. read more

I've been going to Dai for my car troubles for the past 3 years and each and every one of my experiences have been wonderful! Before coming here anything car-related, even a simple oil change, was my nightmare, as I don't know much about car maintenance and always had doubts about the service I was receiving from big chain auto shops. However, since coming here it's all changed. Dai is quick, reliable and trustworthy. He always shows me the parts he uses for my car and is very straight-forward. I've actually moved to berkeley a couple of years ago, but still go here when need be. Today, I got to the shop at 2pm and needed to change my front breaks. When Dai saw that my breaks were completely out and I was worried about driving, he immediately put in an order for the parts. Although the shop closes at 4pm, he stayed until 5 to replace my breaks so that I can drive safely over the weekend. This is just one example of the many excellent service I've received here! I highly HIGHLY recommend going here for all your car needs! read more

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My engine was overheating while heading back home, and I also noticed the engine oil light flicker on a couple times. Thankfully, it happened on my day off, a Wednesday. I chose this place based off the outstanding reviews, called, and spoke with Dai. He told me I could head over as no one was waiting. I got taken care of right away. He diagnosed both problems (thermostat and oil gasket) and tried to explain everything to me, using lots of analogies along the way. I usually am wary with mechanics, but Dai seems honest and hard working. He's knowledgeable with a no-nonsense attitude. He ordered and changed my thermostat, cleaned up the spilled coolant under the hood, and made sure my car wasn't overheating anymore before letting me drive it away. The whole appointment took about 4 hours. He also didn't try to sell me on the gasket repair, as it was costly and my car is getting so old he recommended I just think of getting an upgrade instead. I felt the pricing was very fair, and am glad to have found a mechanic I can trust in the area. read more

Handyman Auto Repair - Located behind the 76 gas station - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

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My experience with this location was unfortunately racist, rude, and unprofessional. I work as a corporate concierge doing errand running for various businesses in the Bay Area. I brought in my client's car and apparently there was some miscommunication in the arrangement my client had established previously with the mechanic shop. The mechanic was incredibly peeved when I asked for a second cabin air filter to be installed in addition to the engine one because it would cost extra and wasn't part of the free installation previously agreed on. No problems. It was only 20$ and 1-2 minutes of labor. I pay it happily to get the work done. Moving on to the register to pay, I see that my errand notes mention checking if the car had any obvious problems. I asked him (mechanic is named Dai) if he saw any obvious problems while he was under the hood (I'm not a car person). He got infuriated and disgusted because I had not mentioned this at the beginning of our transaction and he was already ringing it up. He went on a two minute loud rant, berating me about how he "hates dealing with [me] almost as much as he hates dealing with Indian people, because they always add on more and more work." This is in front of other customers too. I realize at this point the guy has no interest in customer service or desire to work through a miscommunication so I just sort of want to pay and get out of there asap. I tell him that we don't have to do the official inspection, obviously as it's making him so upset. He continues on for another minute about the mechanic industry and how strict and important it is to be clear at the beginning with what you want, and gave MULTIPLE similar examples of how a customer wouldn't ask a waiter for a fork, then a spoon, then a knife. I understood his point long before, and apologizes multiple times, trying to cut him off and ask if I could just pay, but he continued to berate me and try to make me feel as awful as possible because I asked a car question "not at the beginning." My client even wanted me to ask him about an additional tire rotation job after all this, and we would have likely gotten a 90k maintenance and tire rotation done there as well if the mechanic wasn't so miserably off putting and unprofessional. I paid the 20$ as soon as I could just to put an end to his racist rant and let me leave. I go back to my car after thanking him for the work (he Literally complained to me for as long or longer than it took to change to two filters) and I can hear him explaining to the next to customers about "watch out for that guy, he's mad." Talking about me like from ten feet away. He explains to them how customers need to not add on any more work. Now, I brings cars to dealerships and mechanics for my job every day, and never have I encountered such an awful and disappointing representative, especially when we come with money and patience in hand. Miscommunications happen, and I encounter dynamic vehicle situations with additional work all the time, but he was so short and rude from the beginning, and unwilling to work with me on any point for the bare basics of the task, let alone additional work. One of the worst customer experiences I've ever had. What's worse is that we've come to this mechanic many times before and he was so unwilling to lend us a hand when things went even slightly wrong. read more

Went for a smog check - the guy was knowledgeable and provided some tips - he likes to talk a lot. But overall good.

This has now become my go to place for my 2011 Hyundai. Service is great, price is very reasonable and best part he teaches you how to take care of the car yourself. Honest and great! read more

My car needed a oil change, so I called this shop, and the mechanic ( Dai ) answered very quickly I had asked him, what was the cost and if he was available. He took me in right away. Not only did he my oil change but went above & beyond, explaining to me how much oil my car took, notified me about what else needed be fixed, & was very straight forward and very polite, I HIGHLY recommen going here. Thank you! read more

It's right behind of shell gas station When I was there for change engine oil he explained so nicely what's the difference between engine oil level and trying to explain to my friend Service was so great and the price was cheaper than what I expected he also change the engine filter while he changes the engine oil! It was a great experience and definitely coming back for further car matters read more

My Car had unknown problems with metal on metal scratching whenever i shifted my car from reverse to drive as well as overall squeaking. I went to two other mechanics in the same area who gave me B.S. diagnostics. Frustrated, I went to Dai to get a 3rd opinion. He not only correctly diagnosed the problem, but also charged a fair price on labor & parts. Dai is hands down a professional who you can trust. I will never go to another mechanic unless otherwise needed. read more

It's unfortunate to write this. I've been utilizing this shop for 8 years. Normally, they are prompt and services rendered. Before I dropped off my new purchase for the shop to fix. I talked for 3 hours with the mechanic on what needs to be done. Specifically going over what needs to be fixed. SPECIFICALLY. I was quoted $700. No problem. When I pick up. It went to $1000. No problem. Funny thing is my truck still doesn't run. This mechanic did a tune up and didn't even change my oil. Times are tough but not doing your job helps no one. Putting bandaids on a customers vehicle is wrong. It just keeps a mechanic in your pocket. Look at my oil filter. Clearly hasn't been touched. read more

Handyman Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

Service is WORTH EVERY PENNY If you have a distrust in mechanics, go to this place! Dan is extremely helpful! Very knowledgeable, detail oriented and doesn't hesitate to thoroughly explain what work needs to be done or was done to customer if needed to. He puts you at ease of knowing exactly where your money goes and you leave knowing your money was spent well rather than feeling ripped off. He won't have you pay for unnecessary services just for his profit. I recommend this place to everyone read more

Thank you Dai. You have blessed my family with getting our car smogged. If you need a smog check and you are having problems, go here!

Got a broken brake light. The service is great and the price is reasonable in this area. Highly recommend the auto repair shop!

I was calling around to have my car looked at since the engine wouldn't start with the EPS, battery, oil, engine lights on. Other places simply told me to bring the car in, but when I called Dai, he asked me what was going on, and gave me his opinion after I answered his questions. He was right, turns out my battery was too old (6 years old). I'm a AAA member so I got it tested by road service right afterwards, and used their service to replace my battery right then and there since it saved me a lot of time, instead of having to take time off of work, etc. If I had to go to other shops, it would've taken EXTRA TIME from work, with probably waiting period (Hyundai service said my car would be inspected in 2 weeks because they were so backed up, but that I should still bring my car in.) So all in all, I didn't have to go anywhere to see what's going on with my car, and that really helped out A LOT. Dai took the time to help me out over the phone even if he didn't know me, and I really appreciate that. He's great and honest. read more