Independent Prius Mechanics?

Places I know and would recommend:


SF Bay Area:

Luscious Garage: lusciousgarage.com

Pat's Garage: patsgarage.com

Art's Automotive: artsautomotive.com

I can also vouch for Out West Garage in Petaluma (North Bay): outwestgarage.com


Portland, OR:

Hawthorne Auto Clinic: hawthorneauto.com


Vancouver, BC:

Harvey Chan, technician at Canadian Tire, 2290 Cambie St., 604-707-2291


I will add as others come to mind...


Be aware that the auto-careers (ACDC) "qualified shop" page is a paid recommendation ($500/yr) also contingent on taking Craig's classes.

-c

 

While the company at auto-careers.org has apparently started to issue certification for hybrid technicians, it is not an official certifying body, nor is it recognized by any certifying body that I am aware of. It's just a perk that comes with a training class. And you do have to buy the class to sit for the test.

I cannot imagine any 50-question test covering hybrids in any depth. Hell, I can think of fifty questions on safety alone. Or the Prius transaxle. You get the idea.

Art's Automotive is competent. Also check out a hybrids-only shop in San Francisco called Luscious Garage. Owner Carolyn Coquillette is heavily involved with PHEVs; a Prius is a snap for her.

Last year, I spoke with a representative of ASE, which DOES certify automotive technicians, and we agreed that the technology is not yet mature enough to warrant a generic hybrid certification test.

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Here's one to add in the South SF Bay:

Foreign Affair: fahonda.com

 

sasi auto shop

marine drive way burnaby b.c vancouver

604-438-6611

 

And remember, if you've got a local shop that's interested in the
whole idea of hybrids but isn't sure how to get started, at the very
least point them at my training slides and some of the other links
referenced therein. Autoshop101, for example, has all the official
Toyota training material PDFs hung out there which are apparently
now considered public-domain [and to think I paid MONEY to sit there
frantically downloading all that stuff two years ago...]
.
_H*

 

Somuch for prius mechanics in the east. Here is a phenomenal one in Indiana. AUTOBEYOURS Scottsburg, Ind. 285 N. gardener st They can upgrade to a phev $8,995. Steve Is very helpful in aiding newbies. Ph.812 820 5050

Don

 

gotta be some in central florida. I shall start looking.

 

Hi Bob
I looked at these websites and I am sorry but i did not find a list of independent repair shops.. I live in So Calif around Temecula Ca near San DIego County area.. I will keep looking but I had a bad experience with the Dealer Toyota of Temecula.. Frankly a ripoff and a fly in your face lie and did not perform the service as presented. So looking for a good hybrid mechanic.. Have a 2005 PKG 5 .. ANd will probably purchase a new 2010 ..
Thanks
ROn Hampton

 

At this point in time, competent Independent Prius Mechanics may be an Oxymoron...... time will tell!

 

The Prius is popular enough now that many mechanics who service modern Toyotas can handle a Prius. The critical resource is having a Toyota scan tool, and that's required for the rest of the Toyotas anyway. Any shop than can handle a Camry/Avalon/Lexus should be able to handle most Prius service. Ask, but believe them if they say no...

 

Does anyone know a good Prius mechanic in the San Fernando Valley, near Los Angeles?

 

I'm curious as well. Why does SF have so many Prius mechanics and Los Angeles doesn't? There are lots of Prii on the road here. Anyone know of a Prius mechanic in the San Gabriel Valley? Thanks in advance.

 

Really? How come? Have you been reading this thread? there are a large number of independent techs doing required services. Their number is not large, and mass-merchandiser staying out of it because of low volume of work and their lower skill level. But there qualified independents around, in proportion to the number of Prii and amount of work required.

Regards,

Starky

 

LOST IN TEXAS
Yes, what can I say or do there would appear to be none or little independent repair mechanics in North Texas area. The local Toyota service dept dealers will be sorting out the recalled vehicles for the near future. Toyota has too too much closed or tight lip techs /svc depts/ parts counter staff/ and corporate untransparentcy. Not to be hateful but "you reap what sew"!!!

 

I would be happy to assist anyone in the Los Angeles area. Avi's Advanced Automotive

-Avi

 

does anyone know of any independent shops in the northeast? i'm in new york city. thanks!

 

My shop Boulder Hybrids services Prius in the Boulder, Colorado area...we're especially fond of Gen1's.

Boulder Hybrids | Boulder Automotive

(303) 325-7411

 

We also do a lot of work with Jason at Kensington Service station in the North Berkeley Hills (SF East Bay area).

 

I can highly recommend Tomas Zakarka (727)686-1943 for hybrid battery rebuilds in the Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida area. He has done 4 Gen2 Prius batteries for me, 1 gen1 and 3 Honda Civics. He usually charges about $500 parts and labor. He can come to you, remove the battery, rebuild it in his shop and bring it back to you the next day. (A couple bucks extra for delivery)