Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Lightning Auto Repair Services

    4.5 (21 reviews)
    Open 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Services - Lightning Auto Repair Services

    Auto brake repair

    Auto engine repair

    Auto exhaust repair

    Lightning Auto Repair Services Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Lightning Auto Repair Services

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The front of the business
    Karrie R.

    The mechanics here are friendly, informative, fair and trustworthy. They always make accommodations to help get my car in as soon as possible. They've even changed my oil just before closing time when other places have turned me away. I highly recommend this place.

    Lightning Auto 7555 Railroad St, Gilroy, CA 95020 (Google Maps)
    Arnold F.

    How did I find Lightning Auto? By a bad stroke of luck with another shop. I took my Honda minivan to Preferred Auto for a 3rd opinion regarding the ding and knocking sounds coming from the motor. 2 other shops including Ray's Transmission and Wheelworks said the transmission was on its final life span. Preferred Auto recommended the $100+ diagnostic to find the problem. The gal (Sally) on the front desk said I had to pay the $100+ for the diagnostic and she sold me hard that every shop charges for a diagnostic. I told her that 2 other mechanics recommended a new transmission. She was adamant to go with the diagnosis because she said "it may not be the transmission, we have to confirm for ourselves." I hesitantly agreed because I had a glimmer of hope that the other 2 mechanics were wrong. The lady (Sally?) said that my minivan needed a fresh transmission oil change with the Honda recommended transmission oil (Special oil for Honda automobiles) and that my problem could be solved. I told her I wanted a quote for a new transmission. She said she could not give me a quote until she changed the transmission oil. I conveyed to her that the transmission oil was changed 1 month prior. She said the transmission would be fine and that the transmission oil change would lengthen the life of the transmission. However, she also stated that Preferred Auto could not gauge or estimate the life of the transmission. At this point I was frustrated because I needed to get the minivan to my wife for our family/kids weekend activities. She said the transmission would be fine and that the transmission oil change would lengthen the life of the transmission. So I agreed because a a new or rebuilt transmission costs $2000 to $4500 and I would save thousands of dollars. I was hopeful but skeptical. However, Preferred Auto is suppose to have 'expert mechanics' who help customers make the best decisions for the safety of their families/autos. Sally, charged me over $130 for the transmission oil change. That same evening and night my minivan drove smooth and I said to myself "wow, Preferred Auto did the right thing and thought the other two mechanics from Rays Transmission and Wheelworks were selling me a bill of goods at $3000 to $4000 for a new transmission.. The next day on Saturday, with my family in tow going north on 101 near Hollister, the transmission failed. I was traveling at 65 MPH and lost total control of the power in the minivan. This was scary for all of us. However, I pressed the hazard lights and was lucky enough that the momentum of 65MPH allowed me to turn into the only turn off on 101 going North, an RV station. BTW our minivan was going uphill on 101 North bound. My heart rate was elevated and as soon as I turned off into the RV place, my family and I pushed the minivan under a shady tree. I called Preferred Auto several times, but nobody answered. After 3 hours of waiting for an available tow truck, the minivan was towed to Lightning Auto on Railroad in Gilroy, CA. Interesting NOTE: I saw 3 tow truck companies delivering 3 other automobiles. I spoke with the tow truck drivers and they all stated "Miguel, does excellent work so we recommend his shop over others in town, good price, honest and he makes everything right." Miguel, the owner, said he could smell the burning oil either from the engine or transmission. He said the smell was very strong "like burning tires" and that most likely something is broken in the engine or there is an oil leak. Miguel asked me to give him 2 days since he has a ton of cars ahead of mine. He also does not charge a diagnostic fee. His diagnostic service is FREE!!!!! So I left the minivan at his shop. He called me the next day and said the transmission needed to be replaced. Miguel also said there were other issues and asked to see me in his shop. I arrived at his shop. He explained my options "Rebuilt or NEW." I decided on rebuilt since I met two other customers in his shop, not from Gilroy who said that Miguel replaced their transmissions with rebuild ones 1-3 years prior and their cars are running smooth, "like new." However, these customers were in his shop for another service. One customer told me that he drives over 1 hour to have his car serviced with Miguel. I was sold. Miguel also showed me broken or warn out parts on the axle as well as other problematic areas. Again, Preferred Auto missed all the problems and the most obvious, that the transmission was done. Lightning Auto rebuilt my tranny and the minivan runs smooth. Price was right $2,400. He also fixed a lot of other issues that Preferred Auto missed. In summary Lightning Auto has increased my confidence in mechanics, in the labor of love for autos, and my business long term. Also, Miguel has his finger print in all the work that is done in his shop.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Arnold F.
    18
    60
    127

    10 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Noel R.
    91
    11
    12

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of jerrell m.
    57
    134
    25

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lisa S.
    15
    31
    5

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karen G.
    46
    62
    57

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Lightning Auto Repair Services

    Review Highlights - Lightning Auto Repair Services

    I've been bringing my car to this shop over 10 years now and I cannot say enough about Paul and his team.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Payless Smog & Tune

    Payless Smog & Tune

    (27 reviews)

    Dan has always treated me fair. He is knowledgeable, very experienced, and often talks me out of…read moredoing what I requested, because he knows it would be a waste of money. He can diagnose the problem and give me all the options. This may sound strange, but I actually enjoy paying him. And I'm a tight wad! It will be a sad day when he fully retires.

    I went in for my regularly scheduled oil change. I was not having any issues with my vehicle prior…read moreto leaving it here with Dan. After I picked my car up, I drove for 32 miles before I went over the hill to Santa Cruz. Once I was over the hill, my check engine light came on as well as my oil light. My oil indicator light has never come on since I bought this car new in 2016. There was not a drop of oil in my engine. I had to add almost 4 quarts to fill it up. Needless to say when I went in for an oil change, they forgot to put the oil back in. I called in immediately from Santa Cruz to let him know that my light came on and he automatically suggested that maybe I had a leak somewhere. I double triple checked everywhere under my car and there were no leaks not a single drop of oil leaking from my engine... when I got back into town, I immediately took my car back down to Payless to talk to Dan, and he still denied any wrongdoing insisting that I have an oil leak and that is where all the oil went had to keep an eye on it. Since then I have drove over 1500 miles and still not single drop of oil from my engine. I have offered him multiple opportunities to make this right by doing another oil change and a compression check on my engine to make sure that there was no damage done. I have received no response from him in any effort to make this right. I hate to leave a negative review because I actually really like Dan, but as a business owner myself, you have to be accountable for your mistakes. Had he just admitted that somehow it was overlooked and apologized, I would've gladly accepted and moved on. Unfortunately, now I need to worry about any damage that was done to my engine while it had no oil in it.

    Lightning Auto Repair Services - autorepair - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...