Blue Ribbon Automotive & STAR SMOG

This is a top notch shop. The diagnostic specialists are first rate. I don't believe these negative reviews. In fact, I saw them and thought, "I gotta take my next smog check there to see what's going on." Sure enough, looks like their competitors are playing dirty and making up stuff. I took an old beater van in there with over 300k miles. It would have been a gold mine for a crooked shop. But Blue Ribbon passed it, no problem. "It's still got a few more miles left," the technician told me with a smile. As a mechanic, I've learned that you're a lot better off to go to the best outfits if you don't have the equipment to do it yourself. That way you don't get taken advantage of. The thing that kills me about some of these reviews is that if your car does fail the smog test, a good shop gives you a list of what is needed and provides you with an estimate that has to fall within a 10% range, I think, if you want them to do it. You can have anybody do it! You can do it yourself, if you're handy. The first thing Blue Ribbon does is help you with the California financial assistance program to save you money - up to $500. They've got signs on the wall telling you about it. And no, I've never been in there before. Don't know them personally. I can recognize a good shop when I walk in, that's all. I just get pissed off when I see negative reviews running down a good shop with honest, hard working mechanics.

First time here. Just purchased a used vehicle and needed a smog without the long wait. I must say, the way was very minimal and the customer service was excellent! They’ve now gained a longtime customer!

I am sharing my experience hoping to spare anyone else of the most frustrating and exhausting time I have ever experienced in trying to get my car smogged. I had a 1989 Acura Legend that needed a "star" smog inspection. I took my car to Blue Ribbon Automotive which I regret doing. My Acura had always passed smog and after visiting Blue Ribbon, my car was failed. Blue Ribbon Automotive was paid several hundred dollars and they did absolutely nothing to help my car pass smog. All they could do was ask for more money, more money. It seemed as though they did not have a clue and did not know what they were doing. It was obvious that they were guessing of the necessary repairs, at my expense? At the time, if you qualified and were having to spend over a certain amount on repairs, you could go to the California State referee for assistance, which I did and I was awarded the maximum amount for repairs. I basically took a blank check back to Blue Ribbon and received nothing in return. I really regret going to Blue Ribbon Automotive because after having my car for 30 days, they still wanted an additional 125 dollars for an oil change. When I left Blue Ribbon, my car ran WORSE than it EVER had. The car failed for high CO's which means the car was running "rich". Blue Ribbon said it needed a distributor. I took my car to two other independent mechanics for a second opinion and I was told that the distributor shaft only had a very minor oil leak and by replacing the distributor, it would do nothing to lower my co's and help me pass smog. After showing the smog papers to the independent shops, they pointed out that according to the first and last smog performed by Blue Ribbon, none of the repairs they performed did ANYTHING to help my "running rich" issue. THE CAR WAS RUNNING "RICH" AND BY REPLACING MY $700 DISTRIBUTOR, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HELPED MY CAR PASS SMOG! The mechanics at the independent shops laughed and shook their heads but were nice about it, I felt so screwed. What I needed was an HONEST mechanic. I understand that people make mistakes but Blue Ribbon made NO apologies nor did they want to make it right. They took every penny I had plus money from the State and my car ran so poorly, I could barely drive the car to the State Referee. The car was running fine when Blue Ribbon started 'working' on it. Ultimately, I was offered $1,500 dollars by the state to retire the vehicle. I took the money because Blue Ribbon had left me with a car that was not drive able, did not pass smog, I was left with no more savings, and I was several months without a car to drive before all was said and done. My case is documented with the State of California and my name is Dan Anderson. In my opinion Blue Ribbon has no business doing smog checks and I would never take another vehicle to this institution. By the way, I do not believe the review written by Rick Masters which states " I don't believe these negative reviews. In fact, I saw them and thought, "I gotta take my next smog check there to see what's going on." Sure enough, looks like their competitors are playing dirty and making up stuff" Ha Ha, yeah, looks like a legitimate review, "I have a good idea, lets take our car to a shop with a lot of negative reviews to see if the negative reviews are legitimate" Is Rick Masters aka Mike Myers or someone Mike knows?? So self serving, I do not believe this review and it does not make much sense.

Plenum gasket 27.43 EGR valve gasket 2.80 Brake cleaner 8.23 Antifreeze 24.99 Fuel cap 10.00 Clean EGR passage 49.50/30minutes Intake manifold 376.20/3.8hours Diagnostic/1.75 hours Labor: $600.70 Parts: $73:45 Total balance due: 679.48$ Then they asked me if I want to pay over 300$ to install a new catalytic converter and I said no!!!!! All I wanted was to pass smog it just needed EGR/ and a new catalytic converter.i got charged 600$ for labor and diagnostics!!! On top of that Mike Myers wife was yelling at me and hung up on me over the phone and I was being very respectful to her. Mike I would like to talk to you ASAP!!!! This is rediculous

Professional and very fast. Don't believe the bad reviews. The staff and owner are very good people. This place is on the top of my list.