2 bays · one mechanic · Glen Ellyn, IL
The door is up.Bring it in.
Two bays. One mechanic. No upsell. I do the work myself, and the price is on the wall.
The whole menu, posted
What it costs, before you ask
Nobody around here publishes prices. I do — all 45 jobs I take, with the rate and the book hours next to them. Pick what you drive and every number turns over, because a truck oil change genuinely costs more than a Corolla’s and a tire rotation genuinely doesn’t. Add up what you need as you read: an estimate, not a bill.
$149/hr
$149 an hour, posted on the wall and on this page. Illinois independents run $120 to $175; the dealers on Roosevelt Road are $185 to $195. On a three-hour job that gap is about $120.
Every job below lists the shop hours it's quoted at. Multiply by $149 and the rest is parts — you can check my math.
- Warranty on everything I fit
- 24 months / 24,000 miles, parts and labor. Nationwide, not just at my door. If something I replaced fails while you're out of town, it's covered where you are. Within 25 miles, bring it back to me and I'll make it right.
- Pricing this page for
- Midsize SUV / crossover. Four or six cylinders, five to six quarts, heavier brakes. The middle of the market.
Your estimate
Nothing on it yet. Add any line below and it adds up here.
Nothing is paid on this website and there is no deposit. You get the same list in writing before I touch anything.
Core maintenance
The cheap work that prevents the expensive work. Most of what a car needs in its life is on this list.
Oil & filter — conventional
Fresh oil and a new filter. Old oil stops keeping metal off metal. This is the cheapest thing you can do that prevents the most expensive thing that can happen.
Truck price covers up to eight quarts. Observed market: $29–$75.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 24 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.4 hrs × $149 = $59.60
- Parts & materials
- $0.35
Oil & filter — synthetic blend
Half synthetic. Better heat protection than conventional without paying full-synthetic money. The middle option, honestly labeled as one.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 24 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.4 hrs × $149 = $59.60
- Parts & materials
- $15.35
Oil & filter — full synthetic
Engineered oil. Required on most 2015-and-newer engines, and it lets you safely go 7,500 to 10,000 miles instead of 3,000 to 5,000 — which usually makes it the cheaper choice per mile.
Tire rotation is free with any oil change.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 24 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.4 hrs × $149 = $59.60
- Parts & materials
- $40.35
Tire rotation
Move the tires front to back so they wear evenly. It roughly doubles how long a set lasts. Same half hour on any vehicle, so it's the same price on any vehicle.
Free with any oil change. Standalone elsewhere runs $60–$72.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 18 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.3 hrs × $149 = $44.70
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Tire mount & balanceMy estimate
Old tire off the rim, new one on, then spun on a balancer so it doesn't shake at speed. I don't stock tires — I order what you want and it's here next day.
My estimate, not a published market figure — the nearest real anchor is KBB's $112–$132 for a rotate and balance.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 24 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.4 hrs × $149 = $59.60
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Front brake pads
Replace the friction blocks that squeeze the disc. The number one wear item on any car, and the one that actually stops it.
RepairPal Chicago: Civic $319–$395, F-150 $289–$366. If the rotors are grooved or too thin, pads alone won't fix it and I'll say so before I start.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- $55.50
Published book time: 1.0–1.5. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Front pads + rotors
Pads plus the discs they clamp. Once a rotor is grooved or uneven in thickness, new pads alone won't stop the pulsing or the noise.
Observed $400–$900 an axle depending on vehicle.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2 hrs × $149 = $298
- Parts & materials
- $251
Published book time: 1.5–2.0. The bay is held for 2 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Rear brake pads
Same job, back wheels. Rears last longer, but many have the parking brake built into them, which adds time — and an electric parking brake has to be retracted with a scan tool.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- $65.50
Published book time: 1.0–1.5. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Rear pads + rotors
Rear pads and the discs behind them, same reasoning as the front.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2 hrs × $149 = $298
- Parts & materials
- $261
Published book time: 1.5–2.0. The bay is held for 2 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Battery & charging test
A ten-minute load and conductance test that tells you whether the battery is dying or the alternator isn't charging it. Those two feel identical from the driver's seat and cost very different money.
Free, no appointment. Free is the industry standard for this — I'm not going to pretend otherwise.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 18 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.3 hrs × $149 = $44.70
- Parts & materials
- Nothing to split — this one is free.
Battery — flooded, installed
A new standard battery, terminals cleaned and retorqued, and registered to the car's computer if it needs to be.
Add $45 if the battery lives under a seat, in the trunk, or behind a fender liner. Market: $80–$312 for the battery, install free to $75.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.5 hrs × $149 = $74.50
- Parts & materials
- $114.50
Battery — AGM, installed
The sealed type most 2016-and-newer cars with auto start-stop require. Fitting a flooded battery where the car wants AGM will kill it in a year.
Add $45 for an under-seat, trunk, or behind-the-fender location.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.5 hrs × $149 = $74.50
- Parts & materials
- $164.50
Serpentine belt
One rubber belt drives your alternator, water pump, power steering and air conditioning. When it snaps you lose all four at once, usually at highway speed.
If the tensioner is what's actually worn, that's another $334–$409 and I'll show you why before adding it.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1 hr × $149 = $149
- Parts & materials
- $10
Published book time: 0.5–1.0. The bay is held for 1 hr, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Coolant flush
Drain the old antifreeze and refill with the exact type your engine wants. Old coolant turns acidic and eats water pumps and heater cores from the inside.
RepairPal quotes $244–$644 for this, with parts pegged near $271. That's inflated for a coolant fill and I'm not charging it.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Published book time: 1.0–1.5. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Transmission fluid — drain & fill
Replaces about half to sixty percent of the fluid, plus the filter if it has one. Cheap insurance on a part that costs four to seven thousand dollars to replace.
RepairPal: Civic $118–$146, Camry $214–$288, F-150 $294–$378.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Published book time: 1.0–1.5. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Transmission fluid — full exchange
Machine-exchanges nearly all of the fluid instead of half. For a higher-mileage car, or one that's overdue.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2 hrs × $149 = $298
- Parts & materials
- $71
Published book time: 1.5–2.0. The bay is held for 2 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Brake fluid flush
Brake fluid absorbs water out of the air. Wet fluid boils under hard braking and the pedal goes to the floor. Same bleed procedure on nearly any car, so one price.
Add $40 if the ABS module needs a scan-tool bleed. Independents around here run $110–$160.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1 hr × $149 = $149
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Published book time: 0.5–1.0. The bay is held for 1 hr, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Engine air filter
The engine's lungs. Clogged means less power and worse mileage. Often a two-clip job, and I'll show you the old one so you can decide if it even needed doing.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 12 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.2 hrs × $149 = $29.80
- Parts & materials
- $19.20
Cabin air filter
The filter you actually breathe through. Clogged means weak vents and a musty smell. Chains charge $86–$114 for this; it's fifteen minutes.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 18 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.3 hrs × $149 = $44.70
- Parts & materials
- $14.30
Wiper blades, installedMy estimate
A pair of blades, fitted. Same price on almost everything — the only reason an SUV costs more is the third blade on the back glass.
Midsize price includes the rear-glass blade. My estimate — nobody publishes this.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 12 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.2 hrs × $149 = $29.80
- Parts & materials
- $24.20
Alignment — front / thrust
Aim the front wheels so the car tracks straight and the tires wear flat instead of on one edge. Worth doing the moment you notice a pull.
Car-X on Roosevelt runs $69.99 to $189.99 depending on the warranty term. Mine is one price with no term to buy.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 42 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.7 hrs × $149 = $104.30
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Alignment — four wheel
All four corners. What most modern cars with independent rear suspension actually need, and what you need after suspension work.
RepairPal: Civic $136–$199, F-150 $190–$278, Camry $226–$331.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1 hr × $149 = $149
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Spark plugs
Replace the parts that light the fuel. Worn plugs mean misfires, a rough idle and bad mileage. Price follows your ENGINE, not your body style — a V6's rear bank often needs the intake off to reach.
Columns read as four-cylinder / V6 / V8. Tell me the engine and I'll quote the right one. RepairPal: Camry $142–$223, F-150 $328–$438, Silverado $335–$452.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 48 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.8 hrs × $149 = $268.20
- Parts & materials
- $20.80
Published book time: 0.7 four-cyl · 1.8 V6 · 1.5 V8. The bay is held for 1 hr 48 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Diagnostics
Finding out what's actually wrong instead of replacing parts until the noise stops. A code pull is free. Real testing is an hour of my time, and I credit it back if I do the repair.
Check-engine code pull
I plug in a scanner and read the code. That tells you which system complained — not which part failed. Worth knowing what it does and doesn't buy you: a code that says cylinder three is misfiring doesn't say whether that's a $45 coil, a $180 injector, or a $2,800 valve job.
Free, no appointment. The parts stores do it free too, and I'm not going to charge $50–$100 for something you can get for nothing.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 12 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.2 hrs × $149 = $29.80
- Parts & materials
- Nothing to split — this one is free.
Full diagnostic hourCredited to the repair
An hour of actual testing: live data, sensor readings, fuel pressure, a smoke test for vacuum leaks. This is the difference between confirming the failed part and replacing parts until the light goes out.
Credited in full against the repair if I do the work. Market rate for real diagnosis is $100–$200.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1 hr × $149 = $149
- Parts & materials
- None. This one is labor and nothing else.
Electrical diagnosisCredited to the repair
Chasing a wiring fault, a parasitic battery drain, or an intermittent short. Slow, skilled, unglamorous work, and the one job where I genuinely can't promise you a total up front.
First hour, credited against the repair. If it's going into a second hour I call you first — I don't run a meter on you. Specialists charge $150–$300.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Published book time: 1.0 and up. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
A “from” price is a floor, not a quote. What moves it is written on the line.
No-start diagnosisCredited to the repairMy estimate
Battery load test, starter draw, charging output, then fuel and spark. Four different failures all feel like 'it won't start' and cost anywhere from $60 to $749.
Waived entirely if I do the repair. My own number — nobody publishes this one.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1 hr × $149 = $149
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Published book time: 0.5–1.0. The bay is held for 1 hr, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Heavier repair
The jobs that take the car off the road for most of a day. All quoted in writing before anything comes apart.
Front struts, pair
The shock absorbers that also hold the front of the car up. Worn ones make the car float, bounce, and dive when you brake, and they scallop the tires while doing it.
Quoted per pair — never per corner, and never one side only. Needs a four-wheel alignment afterwards, which is not in this price. RepairPal runs $647–$2,109 depending on vehicle.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 3 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 3.5 hrs × $149 = $521.50
- Parts & materials
- $277.50
Published book time: 2.5–3.5. The bay is held for 3 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
A “from” price is a floor, not a quote. What moves it is written on the line.
Rear shocks, pairMy estimate
Same idea as the front, back end of the car. Usually simpler and cheaper because there's no steering or spring assembly in the way.
Estimated from strut pricing; no clean published figure for rear shocks alone.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2 hrs × $149 = $298
- Parts & materials
- $151
Published book time: 1.0–2.0. The bay is held for 2 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Muffler / exhaust section
The part that quiets the engine and routes the fumes out the back instead of into the cabin. Illinois road salt eats these — it's the most predictable rust-belt repair there is.
Observed: $150–$300 for a sedan, $300–$600 for an SUV or pickup.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2 hrs × $149 = $298
- Parts & materials
- $51
Published book time: 1.0–2.0. The bay is held for 2 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
A “from” price is a floor, not a quote. What moves it is written on the line.
Weld-in pipe repairMy estimate
Cut out the rusted spot and weld in new pipe. Right for a small crack, a pinhole, or a broken hanger — and about half the cost of replacing the whole section. If the pipe is rotten end to end I'll tell you welding it is throwing money away.
A starting price and my own estimate — how much pipe has to come out decides the rest.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Published book time: 0.7–1.5. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
A “from” price is a floor, not a quote. What moves it is written on the line.
Radiator replacement
The heat exchanger that keeps the engine from cooking itself. Replaced with a quality aftermarket unit, not a dealer part at triple the price.
RepairPal quotes $806–$1,571, but its parts figure of $963 assumes an OEM radiator. Aftermarket is far less and just as good here.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 3 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 3 hrs × $149 = $447
- Parts & materials
- $352
Published book time: 2.0–3.0. The bay is held for 3 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Water pump
Circulates the coolant. When it fails you overheat, and overheating warps cylinder heads — which is how a $649 job becomes a $3,500 one.
More if yours is driven by the timing belt, because the belt has to come off and should be replaced while it's out. I'll tell you which kind you have before you commit. RepairPal: Corolla $498–$646, F-150 $957–$1,102.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 4 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 4 hrs × $149 = $596
- Parts & materials
- $203
Published book time: 2.5–4.0. The bay is held for 4 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
A “from” price is a floor, not a quote. What moves it is written on the line.
Alternator
Recharges the battery while you drive and runs everything electrical. When it quits you're on battery alone — twenty to forty minutes of driving, then you're stopped wherever you are.
RepairPal: Camry $550–$809, F-150 $694–$845, CR-V $991–$1,486.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2.5 hrs × $149 = $372.50
- Parts & materials
- $326.50
Published book time: 1.5–2.5. The bay is held for 2 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Starter
The motor that spins the engine until it lights. Counterintuitive one: this is often CHEAPER on a truck, because there's room to get a hand on it. A CR-V is the expensive one.
Truck is genuinely less — F-150 $425–$506 against CR-V $904–$1,224 at RepairPal. Not a typo.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2.5 hrs × $149 = $372.50
- Parts & materials
- $226.50
Published book time: 1.0–2.5. The bay is held for 2 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
AC performance checkCredited to the repair
Gauge the system, measure the temperature at the vent, and tell you whether it's low on refrigerant or something is broken. Those are very different bills.
Waived if I do the repair.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.5 hrs × $149 = $74.50
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
AC evacuate & recharge — R134a
Pull the old refrigerant out, vacuum the system down, leak-test with dye, then refill by weight rather than by guess. This is the refrigerant in most vehicles built before about 2018.
A sealed system shouldn't need this. If it needs it every summer, you have a leak — and recharging it again is paying for refrigerant that ends up in the sky.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Published book time: 1.0–1.5. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
AC evacuate & recharge — R1234yf
The same job on a 2018-and-newer vehicle. It costs more for one reason: the gas itself is three to five times the price per pound and needs its own dedicated machine.
Observed $250–$500. The difference is the refrigerant, not my labor.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- $165.50
Published book time: 1.0–1.5. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
AC compressor
The pump that actually makes cold air. The expensive one, and the reason I'd rather find your leak first.
RepairPal: F-150 $887–$1,092, Camry $1,235–$1,637.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 4 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 4.5 hrs × $149 = $670.50
- Parts & materials
- $478.50
Published book time: 3.0–4.5. The bay is held for 4 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
A “from” price is a floor, not a quote. What moves it is written on the line.
Wheel bearing
The bearing the wheel spins on. Fails with a growl or hum that changes pitch when you swerve gently. Trucks are often cheapest here — a bolt-on hub unit instead of a pressed bearing.
RepairPal: F-150 as low as $196, Accord $413–$586.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2 hrs × $149 = $298
- Parts & materials
- $151
Published book time: 1.0–2.0. The bay is held for 2 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
CV axle
The shaft that delivers power to a front wheel while that wheel is also steering and going over bumps. Clicks in tight turns when the joint is shot.
Truck price is four-wheel-drive only — a two-wheel-drive half-ton has no front CV axles at all. RepairPal's $1,151–$1,369 assumes OEM shafts; a quality aftermarket axle is a fraction of that.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2.5 hrs × $149 = $372.50
- Parts & materials
- $76.50
Published book time: 1.5–2.5. The bay is held for 2 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Thermostat
A thirty-dollar valve that opens to let coolant flow. Stuck shut and you overheat. Stuck open and the engine never warms up, which means no heat in a Glen Ellyn January. Most of this bill is getting to it.
RepairPal: Civic $389–$492, F-150 $635–$699, Silverado $749–$831.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2 hrs × $149 = $298
- Parts & materials
- $91
Published book time: 1.0–2.0. The bay is held for 2 hrs, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Inspection
Looking before you buy, and making sure you'll pass the state test before you sit in the line for it.
Pre-emissions readiness scan
Before you sit in the Air Team line: I check for stored codes and confirm the car's readiness monitors are actually set. A car whose computer was recently cleared gets rejected before it's even tested.
Free. It's a ten-minute scan and it saves you a wasted trip. I cannot perform the state test itself — see below.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 12 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 0.2 hrs × $149 = $29.80
- Parts & materials
- Nothing to split — this one is free.
Pre-purchase inspection
An hour or two on the lift before you hand a stranger money. Written report with photos, stored codes, and an honest list of what it will need in the next twelve months.
Market is $150–$250, about $200 typical. Best money anybody spends at this shop.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 1 hr 30 min
- Labor at $149/hr
- 1.5 hrs × $149 = $223.50
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Published book time: 1.0–2.0. The bay is held for 1 hr 30 min, and that is the figure the price above is quoted at.
Pre-purchase inspection + road test
Everything above, plus I drive it — cold start, highway speed, hard braking, full scan report. Some faults only show up moving.
$149 an hour × the book time, and the rest is parts. Check it.
- In the bay
- 2 hrs
- Labor at $149/hr
- 2 hrs × $149 = $298
- Parts & materials
- In the price. The figure is under the book labor at $149/hr.
Nothing gets touched without a yes.
- Free written estimate before any work. Parts and labor listed separately so you can see which is which.
- I photograph every part I say is bad, on the lift, and text it to you with the estimate. You approve by replying.
- Nothing gets added mid-job. If I open it up and find more, I stop, call, re-quote, and you decide.
- Where it makes sense you get three tiers — fix it now, fix it soon, watch it — with the reason for each.
- I keep your old parts on the bench unless you tell me to bin them.
- Prices on this page are what I actually charge. A 'from' price means the number is a floor and the reason it varies is written on the line.
What I don't do, and who I'd send you to.
- Transmission rebuilds. I diagnose them, scan them and service the fluid. If it's internal, it goes to a transmission specialist or gets a reman unit. I'm not going to learn your gearbox on your dime.
- Body, paint, dents, collision. That's a body shop. West Suburban Auto Body is right here in Glen Ellyn.
- Windshields and glass. Mobile glass outfits do it better, cheaper, and in your driveway.
- State emissions testing. I legally cannot. It's run by the state and it's free — see the note below.
- Engine machine work. Heads and blocks go to a machine shop with the right equipment. I'll pull it, they'll cut it, I'll put it back.
- Heavy diesel, RVs, motorcycles. Wrong tools, wrong lift, wrong guy.
- Stocking tires. Two bays don't have room for inventory. I mount, balance, rotate and repair, and I order whatever you want in for next day.
Illinois emissions testing: the state does it, and it's free.
- The test is run by the State of Illinois at Illinois Air Team stations. Not at private shops. Not here.
- The mandatory test costs nothing. A voluntary one is $20.
- Gasoline vehicles model year 1996 and newer, once the vehicle turns four years old. DuPage County is in the testing area.
- Every two years — even model years in even calendar years, odd in odd.
- Exempt: diesel, electric, motorcycles, model year 1995 and earlier, farm vehicles, and anything over 14,000 lbs GVWR.
- Fail and you repair and retest. A waiver needs at least two failed tests and $1,146 of emissions repairs documented by a recognized repair technician.
What I can do about it
- Free readiness scan before you go, so you don't waste the trip.
- The emissions repair itself — that's the actual work.
- Drive-cycle service if the monitors won't set on their own.
- Waiver paperwork. I'm the recognized repair technician whose documented $1,146 unlocks it.
Cash, check, Visa and Mastercard at the counter when you pick the car up. Nothing is paid on this website and there's no deposit to book — you approve an estimate, I do the work, then you pay.
The wall chart
What comes through the door
45 jobs, in 4 groups. Every one of them is priced above, quoted at the hours listed here, and done by the same pair of hands.
- Jobs priced
- 45
- Kinds of work
- 22
- Mechanics
- 1
Core maintenance
The cheap work that prevents the expensive work. Most of what a car needs in its life is on this list.
Oil and filters
Oil & filter — conventional · Oil & filter — synthetic blend · Oil & filter — full synthetic
24 min in the bay
Tires and rotation
Tire rotation · Tire mount & balance
18 min – 24 min in the bay
Brakes
Front brake pads · Front pads + rotors · Rear brake pads · Rear pads + rotors · Brake fluid flush
1 hr – 2 hrs in the bay
Batteries and charging
Battery & charging test · Battery — flooded, installed · Battery — AGM, installed
18 min – 30 min in the bay
Belts
Serpentine belt
1 hr in the bay
Cooling system
Coolant flush
1 hr 30 min in the bay
Transmission service
Transmission fluid — drain & fill · Transmission fluid — full exchange
1 hr 30 min – 2 hrs in the bay
Air filters
Engine air filter · Cabin air filter
12 min – 18 min in the bay
Wipers
Wiper blades, installed
12 min in the bay
Alignment
Alignment — front / thrust · Alignment — four wheel
42 min – 1 hr in the bay
Ignition
Spark plugs
1 hr 48 min in the bay
Diagnostics
Finding out what's actually wrong instead of replacing parts until the noise stops. A code pull is free. Real testing is an hour of my time, and I credit it back if I do the repair.
Diagnostics
Check-engine code pull · Full diagnostic hour · No-start diagnosis
12 min – 1 hr in the bay
Electrical
Electrical diagnosis
1 hr 30 min in the bay
Heavier repair
The jobs that take the car off the road for most of a day. All quoted in writing before anything comes apart.
Suspension
Front struts, pair · Rear shocks, pair
2 hrs – 3 hr 30 min in the bay
Exhaust
Muffler / exhaust section · Weld-in pipe repair
1 hr 30 min – 2 hrs in the bay
Cooling system
Radiator replacement · Thermostat
2 hrs – 3 hrs in the bay
Pumps
Water pump
4 hrs in the bay
Electrical
Alternator · Starter
2 hr 30 min in the bay
Air conditioning
AC performance check · AC evacuate & recharge — R134a · AC evacuate & recharge — R1234yf · AC compressor
30 min – 4 hr 30 min in the bay
Bearings
Wheel bearing
2 hrs in the bay
Axles and joints
CV axle
2 hr 30 min in the bay
Inspection
Looking before you buy, and making sure you'll pass the state test before you sit in the line for it.
Inspections
Pre-emissions readiness scan · Pre-purchase inspection · Pre-purchase inspection + road test
12 min – 2 hrs in the bay
Straight talk
The parts nobody else puts on a website
Anyone can publish a price. What decides whether you trust it is how the shop behaves when the car is already on the lift and you are not in the building.
Nothing gets touched without a yes.
- Free written estimate before any work. Parts and labor listed separately so you can see which is which.
- I photograph every part I say is bad, on the lift, and text it to you with the estimate. You approve by replying.
- Nothing gets added mid-job. If I open it up and find more, I stop, call, re-quote, and you decide.
- Where it makes sense you get three tiers — fix it now, fix it soon, watch it — with the reason for each.
- I keep your old parts on the bench unless you tell me to bin them.
- Prices on this page are what I actually charge. A 'from' price means the number is a floor and the reason it varies is written on the line.
Free code pull. $149 for real diagnosis, credited back if I do the work.
- Reading the code is free and needs no appointment. It tells you which system complained — nothing more.
- A full diagnostic hour is $149: live data, sensor tests, fuel pressure, smoke test. That's what confirms the failed part instead of guessing at it.
- If you have me do the repair, the whole $149 comes off the bill. A no-start diagnosis is $99 and waived outright.
- If a diagnosis is going to run past the first hour, I stop and call you. You decide whether to keep going.
What I don't do, and who I'd send you to.
Transmission rebuilds
I diagnose them, scan them and service the fluid. If it's internal, it goes to a transmission specialist or gets a reman unit. I'm not going to learn your gearbox on your dime.
Body, paint, dents, collision
That's a body shop. West Suburban Auto Body is right here in Glen Ellyn.
Windshields and glass
Mobile glass outfits do it better, cheaper, and in your driveway.
State emissions testing
I legally cannot. It's run by the state and it's free — see the note below.
Engine machine work
Heads and blocks go to a machine shop with the right equipment. I'll pull it, they'll cut it, I'll put it back.
Heavy diesel, RVs, motorcycles
Wrong tools, wrong lift, wrong guy.
Stocking tires
Two bays don't have room for inventory. I mount, balance, rotate and repair, and I order whatever you want in for next day.
Illinois emissions testing: the state does it, and it's free.
- The test is run by the State of Illinois at Illinois Air Team stations. Not at private shops. Not here.
- The mandatory test costs nothing. A voluntary one is $20.
- Gasoline vehicles model year 1996 and newer, once the vehicle turns four years old. DuPage County is in the testing area.
- Every two years — even model years in even calendar years, odd in odd.
- Exempt: diesel, electric, motorcycles, model year 1995 and earlier, farm vehicles, and anything over 14,000 lbs GVWR.
- Fail and you repair and retest. A waiver needs at least two failed tests and $1,146 of emissions repairs documented by a recognized repair technician.
What I can do about it
- Free readiness scan before you go, so you don't waste the trip.
- The emissions repair itself — that's the actual work.
- Drive-cycle service if the monitors won't set on their own.
- Waiver paperwork. I'm the recognized repair technician whose documented $1,146 unlocks it.
Cash, check, Visa and Mastercard at the counter when you pick the car up. Nothing is paid on this website and there's no deposit to book — you approve an estimate, I do the work, then you pay.
The shop
One man, two bays, and the rate on the wall
I do the work myself, I photograph the bad part before I touch anything, and I keep the old part on the bench so you can hold it. If I can't fix it I'll tell you who can.
Hours
| Sunday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Monday | 7:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Thursday | 7:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Friday | 7:30 am – 5:30 pm |
| Saturday | 8:00 am – 1:00 pm |
Monday to Friday 7:30 to 5:30. Saturday 8:00 to 1:00. Closed Sunday, because one man can't run six days and do it right.
Labor rate
$149/ hour
Dealers on Roosevelt Road: $185–$195/hr
$149 an hour, posted on the wall and on this page. Illinois independents run $120 to $175; the dealers on Roosevelt Road are $185 to $195. On a three-hour job that gap is about $120.
Every job below lists the shop hours it's quoted at. Multiply by $149 and the rest is parts — you can check my math.
Warranty
24 months / 24,000 miles, parts and labor
Nationwide, not just at my door. If something I replaced fails while you're out of town, it's covered where you are. Within 25 miles, bring it back to me and I'll make it right.
Certification
ASE-certified. Every shop worth using around here is — it wins nothing, but you should ask, so here it is in writing.
Call (331) 291-7400Text (331) 291-7400
This is a demonstration site. That number reaches Jeff at Project Knox, who built it.
Text the shop line a photo of a puddle, a dash light, or a noise you managed to record. No charge, no appointment — at a working shop that is how your car gets in front of the mechanic before you drive over. This one is a demonstration, so the line reaches Jeff at Project Knox, who built it. Text him and he answers you himself, about the site. He won't tell you what's wrong with your car, and neither would I without it on the lift.
Underneath
What you’d see standing under it with me
The lift goes up and the whole story is right there: what’s wet, what’s rusted through, what’s got play in it. You’re welcome to come out and look — most people never have.
The six places I look
Front brakes
A wheel comes off. Pads measured, rotors checked for scoring and runout, hoses and calipers looked over.
Rear brakes & bearings
Same again at the back, plus the parking brake, and each hub spun by hand to feel for play.
Under the hood
Belts, hoses and the battery, every fluid level read off the stick, and a look for anything wet that shouldn't be.
Underneath & exhaust
The exhaust from the manifold back, the mounts and hangers, and the frame and floor pans for rust.
Inside the car
Heat, air conditioning, wipers, every light front and back, and whatever the dash is showing.
Steering & suspension
Tie rods, ball joints and bushings checked for play, shocks for leaks, and tire wear read across the tread.
Looking before you buy
Pre-emissions readiness scan
Before you sit in the Air Team line: I check for stored codes and confirm the car's readiness monitors are actually set. A car whose computer was recently cleared gets rejected before it's even tested.
12 min in the bay
Pre-purchase inspection
An hour or two on the lift before you hand a stranger money. Written report with photos, stored codes, and an honest list of what it will need in the next twelve months.
1 hr 30 min in the bay
Pre-purchase inspection + road test
Everything above, plus I drive it — cold start, highway speed, hard braking, full scan report. Some faults only show up moving.
2 hrs in the bay
Book the bay
Two bays. Pick one.
There are two bays and one of me, so what you see below is what's genuinely open — the job has to fit in a bay before closing, and nothing gets stacked on top of anything else. No deposit, nothing to pay here.
Book the bay
Pick a bay and a time that’s genuinely open. Nothing to pay here.
On the lift
Wheels off the floor, and you’re welcome to stand under it with me.
Keys back
The old part on the bench, the price we agreed, and 24/24 behind it.
1What needs doing
Core maintenance
Diagnostics
Heavier repair
Inspection
Not sure which one? Pick the full diagnostic hour and let me find it — it's $149 and it comes straight off the repair if I do the work.
2What you drive
The class sets the price and how long I hold the bay. If you're between two, pick the bigger one — I'd rather quote high and charge less.
3When can you drop it off
Pick what needs doing first and I'll show you the times that fit it.
4How I reach you