Alex, Devon, Mark, Mike, Nicole (in alphabetical order), you all are a FANTASTIC team who treat customers like family. I was referred to Dyno Shop by my neighbor, a long-standing resident of Santee who drives a classic car. She respects their work to keep her classic car, running brilliantly, and the lovely people who work there. Maybe Dyno should be called "Dyno mite!" because they are so amazing. I truly appreciate the kindness they bestowed upon me as a new customer and Mike's amazing troubleshooting skills. Mike is a caring, thoughtful person who went out of his way today to take care of my car. Nicole provided maintenance tips, going forward. I totally respect the staff here. If you want a real mechanic, come to Dyno Shop. They even help with DMV registration. Thank you for going out of your way today to help someone in need. I didn't have an appointment. Devon even helped after returning early. I appreciate you and the team. read more

Top notch quality repairs and service. My 1978 Motorhome is running beautifully now! I plan on bringing it back in to get more work done on my suspension. Dyno Shop is the BEST! read more

The Dyno Shop did some creative diagnostics to get my Dakota Digital CRC 2000 cruise control working on my custom 55' Chevy truck. Nicole, Mark and all the team members were helpful and humble. This shop is capable, professional and honest. Thank you. read more

An appointment for a Dyno Run is $250+ and includes 2 pulls on a printout. No digital file. No email or pdf. The info logged is just AFR, Horsepower, Torque over RPMs. Takes a total 30 mins from keys given to keys received. No Lambda (independent of fuel type) just AFR which is not ideal if you're running E85 at all. No injector info, no throttle body position info, no air intake info, no info on anything. Then you get the $250 piece of paper and it's useless even as a measurement of power. It's not the crank power reading and sure isn't the power to the tires. I don't know what it's measuring and neither does the tech cause when I asked he just said "yesh all the time, people say I'm not doing it right". Total waste of $250 and I won't be going back and could not recommend this business, regardless of how long the shop has been wrenching. read more

Amazing service they are professional and very well knowledgeable they won't make you waste your time they tell you what needs to be done ASAP and what other stuff can be done later. Also they are the only shop in San Diego county that repairs classic cars and RV to motor homes,semi trucks. I can't ask for a better team of mechanics that are a family. They value their customers of all walks of life and they take pride on their service,quality and value. Thank you DYNO Shop family. Forever grateful read more

See all

nice people but slow and not prepared for fuel injector cleaning. they are the cheapest in town for it tho recommend bring own pintle, filter, and o-ring tho cause the over charge for those read more

I took my Chevelle to get a Dyno tune. I was offered a Dyno check at the cost of $450 before a tune was done, if needed. Believing that cost would go towards the dyno tune if needed I opted for that. After the dyno check was done a dyno tune was recommended at an additional $1400 (on top of the 450 I had already paid). Had that been made clear I would have opted for the dyno tune from the get-go since I knew my car needed several adjustments. Feel like they got one over on me. After all that my car runs like it did when I dropped it off. Would not recommend. read more

The Dyno Shop did a great job on my car. They fixed a couple of leaks, replaced the power steering pump, and changed the oil. They tested and passed the smog. They do DMV registration, too! They are very helpful, courteous, and honest. I recommend The Dyno Shop for all your vehicle repairs! read more

the Dyno Shop was awesome start to finish for me. I had a Class A motorhome that needed a fan clutch replaced. Two other Santee shops turned down the work because it is a pain, which it is. I called them at 10am on a Monday and they took it in same day. 10am on Tuesday it was ready for pickup with no other up charges. Everyone was friendly and they will be my first call for future work. Thank you! read more

I called them this morning because my car needs to be smogged at a Star station. I told them the car is a 1988 Mazda, they told me the price is $91., and I wrote it down beside their name and phone number. When my husband got home he told me to book the appointment, so after lunch I called them again. This time they told me the price is $155! I commented on how it was $91this morning, yet the price remained at $155. No way was I going to pay for something that went up that much in a couple of hours. I found a much more reasonable business, it pays to shop around. read more

These guys (and gals) are fantastic. The service was great. We just started out on a month long rv trip. Transmission went out. I had the rig towed into the Dyno shop. They got right on it and a few days later I was back on the road and all went well. Thanks to all at the Dyno shop. T.M San Diego read more

First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge the friendly and approachable demeanor of the staff at The Dyno Shop from Desk. They were pleasant to interact with and showed a willingness to assist. However, it became apparent that their technical expertise was severely lacking. Given the premium price charged by The Dyno Shop to rent their dyno ($255 per hour), I expected a higher level of technical competence or overall After the first run, my remote tuner requested the Dynojet data to be measured in STD rather than SAE. When I relayed this info to the operator, he was unable to change the settings. Eventually, he gave up and called another tech over to help him (who also couldn't figure out what to do). With precious minutes being wasted I frantically looked up how to perform the task on YouTube and then guided the shop operator thru the process. This took about 15 minutes to get that sorted. At $255/hr that equates to $63.75... My other gripe occurred after 3 runs. While I was walking around the front of the car I noticed the crankcase vent hose was not connected to the crankcase. I immediately reconnected this and then brought this to the attention of the tech. He looked like a deer in the headlights and said "oops". I was livid! What the actual F! First this guy doesn't know how to operate the equipment, second he forgets to reconnect engine components after taking them apart? This made me think the first 3 runs were null because the car wasn't even setup correctly... Overall, I left The Dyno Shop feeling disappointed with the disparity between the friendly staff and the inadequate technical expertise. It is essential for them to invest in ongoing training and development to ensure their staff members have the necessary skills and knowledge to meet customer expectations. Only then can they provide a truly satisfying and value-driven experience for their customers. read more

I had been having ongoing issues with getting my jeep wrangler smogged since November. After a failed smog, close to $1,000.00 to fix it, and 5 months later, I was ready to try and smog it again. A friend (who is also a retired mechanic) recommended The Dyno Shop as they had have nothing but wonderful experiences there. I was met with smiling faces, professionalism, kindness and knowledgeability. They were quick and the price was great. I will absolutely be coming back here for future smogs! Thank you staff at The Dyno Shop, you were all wonderful read more

worst ever !! took in my 1987 toyota for smog .they...worked on it after i left it overnight...did nothing " said it passed fine no way that car passed smog in calif....they ran another car thru with my v.i.n. number....!!!!!!!!!!!!!! charged me $600 dollars ..drove away and car was running rough and missing.........took to another shop and carb. needed fixing.ran smooth after carb. was worked on........dyno shop is a ripoff !!! .i called the owner and said will give you a partial refund.......$150 ........like a fool i said ok...should have got the full amount back.......car mechanics are crooks in dirty shirts.........#1 consumer complaint is car mechanics........... read more

Biggest rip off for performance tunning and any dyno needs in east county. Installed a used 20 year old computer. charged me over 600 dollars to put the car on the dyno with no dyno sheet THESE GUYS SUCKKKK! read more

I highly recommend The Dyno shop, had my 1968 Chevrolet c10 4.1L with aftermarket carburetor tuned, it kept stalling/bogging when turning and lack of power drivability , now concerns are fixed and she purs like a kitten. Very knowledgable and friendly staff. read more

Politely smile while they over charge for services that were never performed nor fixed .

The Dyno Shop is the place to go when your ride needs some attention - forget the big 3 shops if you're looking forward to reasonable rates along with quality work which is guaranteed read more

Everthing is fast, nice people, but 91 dollars for a smog check? Definitely not going back.

The engine on my 1981 motor home (Chevy 454) completely stopped running. Marc was able to find, and repair the problem and gave my Tiny Home new life! While it was there he suggested that in the future I might want to have the carburetor rebuilt. There aren't many places that do that anymore, so Marc took care of that! It was a pleasure to work with Nicole as well. She was great with the communication. I also had the SMOG Check done. It passed! read more

See all

A friend recommended I take my 1947 Willys CJ2A to The Dyno Shop. I was having many issues; overheating, fail to idle, timing problems etc. after talking with mechanics, I decided to have engine rebuilt. The Dyno Shop coordinated with their engine shop for rebuild; then Dyno Shop mechanics removed and reinstalled engine. They fixed my carburetor and radiator as well; set me up with correct electronic distributor and improved wiring. They painted and detailed engine also, it looks like new. I recently took Willys back to have a locker installed in rear differential, and excellent - high quality work once again. The 76 year old Willys Jeep runs amazing, like a new vehicle. The Dyno shop is now my go to mechanic for all vehicles. I highly recommend the Dyno Shop for any repairs, no matter how old or new your car, truck, etc. is. read more

Very thorough and communicative especially in a time where customer service isn't the best. The Dyno shop is one of the few shops left that get the job done right! read more

They did a great job on my 1990 Jeep. Wiring. Smog. Tuned it up. Great bunch of guys read more

We took our 1996 RV for an exhaust leak. They did a great job, communicating regularly with us about the progress and changes to the estimate. We are so happy with the service and repair. read more

I used to have Mark work on all my vehicles. But now he has inexperienced mechanics that log hours they did not work and I got charged for it. What a waste! Total rip-off! Car was never fixed. Had to tow to another mechanic! read more

The Dyno shop was very professional and thorough when I took my car to get smogged and registered. I will definitely use their services again. read more

I know you might see some 5-star ratings for this place, but DO NOT take your car for repairs here. You should believe the 1-star ratings. The Dyno Shop is not my usual car repair place. I went here because I was out of town and my fiance lives in Santee, so I thought it would be convenient for him to drop off my car there for repairs. I approved their overpriced charges for brake work and a new battery because I was impatient to get the work done. They also charged me $321 for the inspections, so I thought, may as well have them do the work if I've already payed them. I should have payed them the $321 inspections charges and taken it to my usual place. I would have saved hundreds of dollars. The worst part was that they had the nerve to charge me a fee for using my DEBIT card. Not a credit card, debit. This is money that is drawn directly from my checking account into their account. I asked them to waive the fee, and they wouldn't budge. Like another reviewer said, this is such a "nickel and dime" shop. Yes, it's on me that I didn't do my research for car repair shops in the Santee area and approved them to work on my car. I have to accept responsibility for that. If you are on the fence about going to Dyno Shop, read the negative reviews and use them to help you make the decision to go somewhere else. read more

Sent to mark at the Dyno Shop: Mark, Your shop is a complete joke and you really ripped me off on the Toyota rebuild. I couldn't pass smog so took to another shop. The new shop found that inside the distributor was broken, wires were not connected as they should have been, and the motor was misfiring horribly, plug wires were cracked and you taped the crack. I had to return the car several times to fix oil leaks on a newly rebuilt engine? you charged me $8,500 for this substandard work??? I should sue the Dyno Shop. Very disappointed and pissed, and would never recommend your shop. Wes J read more

This shop is just a nickel and dime shop about every hour they call to charge another $200 took my car to them for a readiness check on the dyno to get computers to come online 2 more call and $400 plus dollars and still no smog and out right at $600. Where can a guy find a good shop. I can change parts. Are there any real mechanics any more read more

NEVER COMING BACK HERE AGAIN. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE. I went in to get my registration done, and gave them the info I needed to have my car registration updated. They messed up and put the wrong address on my registration, and I asked if they could fix it. They said it was too late because they already processed it through the DMV and I would have to come back the next day to make a correction as they can only process it once per day. No problem. I completely understood. I came back the next day as instructed to get my registration info fixed. Instead of fixing it without hesitation when they made a mistake, they told me I would have to pay them another $30+ to file a change of address with the DMV plus $30 of "labor" of them taking 5 minutes and going into the computer and changing my address. I asked if they could comp the labor since they made a mistake the first time and I would cover the DMV fee. Mark "the boss" would only cover 1/2 of the "labor" because it was apparently MY FAULT that they put the wrong address. After threatening with bad reviews, he finally gave in to giving me a full comp on the "labor" just so I would go away. Instead of charging me for labor, they charged me $13 for what seemed to be a credit card processing fee because I didn't pay cash and then still had to pay for the $30+ DMV fees. After all is said and done, the next day I get a text from Mark (see pictures) asking how everything went with my visit. I respond "No" that my visit was not good and he was bold enough to respond with "Your welcome". Great spelling Mark. You're welcome for the 1 star review. read more

The Dyno Shop - Terrible customer service. - Auto Repair Near Me - Santee, California

Absolutely horrendous experience. Never go here. My boyfriend was charged $1100 and received nothing in exchange for his money. A friend who is a mechanic got on the line to basically have them admit fraud that they were charging based on state hours not actual hours worked and making things up. A part "randomly" broke in their care that then of course they racked I'm the extra $800+ for when all we came here was for a smog check and to get help on how to get it to pass. They said it was low on gas when running the test so they put 5 gallons in (and charged him) and when we picked it up not less than 2 miles down the road it STOPS on the freeway-they basically left him good as dead with no gas. How does 5 gallons get used up when you don't drive it anywhere-or did they lie about that too just to charge him!??? TERRIBLE SERVICE. I rarely review but when I can't stand to see another customer or client get JACKED by a business who is basically stealing innocent peoples' money you can be sure I use my voice here so other people are aware how much of a SCAM this place is for an RV. You have been WARNED! read more

Just wish there was a zero star option. These "workers" do not possess the knowledge to repair a vehicle. My poor Mom wasted $8,500 at this shop on her '85 Toyota and the truck STILL doesn't pass smog AFTER A COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILD. This company is a joke! 0/10 would never recommend. read more

Was having issues with my car's check engine light. I tried to diagnose and fix it myself. The code I kept getting was P0113, intake temp sensor circuit high. I read different blogs and did what I could. I have after market parts plus a ECU tune so I was reluctant to take it to the dealer. I finally found this place. Taking your car to a mechanic the first time can be a little nervous, plus with the after markets and tune I didn't think they could help. From the beginning they were great. Made me feel safe and secure. They always kept me up to date on every step along the way. I got the car back and it's been running great. No more CEL. They also sent me a few messages following up on their service which is great. I've never had a mechanic shop do that. read more

Mark is a specialty mechanic (one of only 2 in San Diego county). He did a great job with the computer work needed for my truck. And getting to talk to Nicole at the front office was a great bonus! Thanks Dyno Shop! read more

My family has been taking our muscle cars and dune buggies here since the 90s. They have been able to diagnose and fix things in the past, that my regular shop could not. True experts at what they do. Prices have always been fare and they are very trustworthy. Thanks Mark for getting my Tahoe dialed in and where it needed to be after it was rebuilt. read more

Brought my 1970 Charger in to have a dyno diagnostic done and have the timing set. The shop found that the throttle assembly was incorrect causing the engine to race at idle and ordered new parts. They timed the car, changed the throttle linkage, pressure tested the engine for leaks, and re-terminated 2 spark plug wires that had gotten to close to the headers. They charged $890 for what was done. The battery cable was mounted in the wrong place and they wanted to charge an additional $350 to fix that, and another $280 to install a PCV valve. The grand total for all repairs and a dyno tune was going to be $2800. I opted to make the minor repairs myself and take it elsewhere for a dynotune. The repairs I completed for about $6.00 and a total of 15 minutes worth of work. When I drove the car home from the shop it was missing and surging anytime I hit a hill. I found a significant fuel leak at the hose attached to the tank. That took another 10 minutes and a few dollars to fix. When I got the car home I found that the vacuum advance hose was not re-connected to the distributor and the valve cover bleeder cap was just sitting on the intake. Also, one of the spark plug wires that had been repaired had a cut in it through to the conductor. I have no idea were that came from. It was not burned and the wires had all recently been replaced before it was taken to the shop. There were a few things they were asked to do that they didn't, they charged a lot for not much work and wanted to charge even more for easy fixes. But beyond that, getting it back and seeing that the work that was done was shoddy and incomplete I will not be returning and I will be passing the information to people in the car clubs I am a part of. Also, when confronted with all the issues the mechanic made no effort to apologize, or make things right, but defended themselves and made it seem like our fault because i decided to not go with the dynotune and have them fix the other minor repairs they recommended. Very disappointing for a shop that's been in business for 50 years!! read more

I took my 1990 RV that was having issues with getting power to the starter in to get it fixed. The RV had a brand new starter and solenoid installed as well as 2 batteries (house and engine). It took them 1.25 hours to diagnose the problem which was the battery cable from the battery to the frame (ground) was bad so $152.00 just for them to look at the RV engine. You could tell just from opening the hood that the cable's wires were exposed and frayed. They then proceeded to replace the cable and charge me another $290.00 for parts and labor. The cable is $32.00 so the labor was another 1.25 hours. The entire job set me back $384.20 after taxes. They were so generous to offer me a 3% discount if I paid in cash otherwise it would have been more. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! I called 2 other repair shops to ask if this was a fair price and BOTH said that I was overcharged by $250-$300.00 dollars. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH...DO NOT GO THERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE RIPPED OFF. THEY HAVE LOST ALL OF MY BUSINESS AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT MY FRIENDS DON'T DO BUSINESS WITH THEM EITHER. This is a horrible way to treat a female who knows nothing about RVs. BUYER BEWARE!!!! read more

Have an old truck with in intermittent check engine light problems and I wasn't gonna put money into it if it needed anything expensive to smog...Mark ran the diagnostics for me and was able to help me out and got the ..so I'm good for another 2 years...friendly people, Nicole at the counter was more than helpful... can't say enough good things about how I was treated at the Dyno shop read more

Took my van here for a Smog Check because the place down the street, Unlimited Smog Check, said my van was "too much work" for him and he refused to do it. Mark, had done the inspection the same day. It actually was not going to pass inspection because it needed two engine adjustments made. I told him I would bring it back to Action (my main mechanic) then bring it back. He said since he knew them that he would just take care of the work to save me the hassle. I will now bring my van here for Smog every time it's due. read more

None of the technicians here wear masks, despite the COVID laws being clearly posted in their office. The technician drove my vehicle to me without a mask on, causing me to have to disinfect my entire vehicle just to drive it away. Half of the reception staff couldn't be bothered to wear a mask indoors in the office. Technicians were also in the office, totally maskless. The one receptionist who did wear a mask and tried to help me, I honestly felt bad for. I might not have left this review, had the owner not followed up and asked me about my experience post-service. When I told him this is both illegal and highly dangerous, he never responded. Zero accountability. So now my review goes public, Mark. I got an estimate that was overpriced and undervalued. Easy to undercut their prices elsewhere. Given their lack of understanding over easy to understand concepts like COVID, how could I trust they understand mechanical science in order to do their jobs efficiently? So ask yourself, are the repairs you need worth your life? Because that is the business model at the Dyno Shop. Getting a vehicular repair shouldn't put your grandmother's life at risk. I can't think of worse customer service than a business genuinely not caring about the physical safety of their customers, let alone the safety of their staff. I have a lot of expensive work I need to do on my vehicle, and this business missed thousands of dollars in revenue due to their politics interfering with their profits. Hope it was worth it Mark. read more