FAQs

No. We are open Monday-Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. We feel technicians perform their best when they get a weekend to relax like the rest of us.

Call us so we can discuss what is happening. In most cases, if the engine is not running noticeably different and the check engine light is not flashing it may be OK to drive your vehicle in to diagnose the issue.

We have a convenient night drop box for our customers that cannot make it during business hours. On the front of the drop box is a QR code that can easily be scanned to submit your information. Then you lock your vehicle, drop the keys in the slot, and let us do the rest. We will collect your keys and information in the morning and get the ball rolling on diagnosis. If you are picking up a vehicle after hours, we have 3 lock boxes right next to the front door. You will be supplied a code that correlates to a particular box in which you will find your keys. Just enter the code, pull down on the middle latch, and the front will pop off. Our front lot is lit at night and always recorded via security cameras.

Yes! We have many options to accommodate your busy schedule. We do utilize Uber at no cost to our customers. Just ask for an Uber while scheduling your appointment and we will get it ordered once you arrive. Typically, we can have a vehicle here within 10 minutes. We also offer loaner vehicles that are free of charge. We just ask that you replace any gas you use. You must be 25 years of age or older and have a current driver’s license and insurance. These are a popular option and book out a couple days in advance. We also offer afterhours drop off for those of you that cannot get to us during business hours.

We do our best to accommodate our customer’s every need, however this is one we strongly discourage. We find that waiting with vehicles can cause a disruption in the flow of the shop. If there is simply no other option but to wait with your vehicle, our availability is limited and we request that you make an appointment and allow at least a 2-hour turnaround time.

We always aim to look at a vehicle within 24 hours of being dropped off. During our busy season, it can take closer to 48 hours – worst case is 72 hours. We can better advise you of wait time at the booking of your appointment.

Our diagnostic charge for one hour of time is $148.87. The majority of vehicles needing diagnosis will be at this level. During this time, the technician uses factory scan tools to read any codes stored in the vehicle and performs a variety of tests to ensure the remedy is correct. Many places can “read codes” but fewer places have the expertise to correctly identify the cause of the code present. In many cases, the code is not the immediate answer. There are some instances in which additional time will be required, but we make sure you are aware of that prior to completion of diagnosis. Not every vehicle requires a diagnostic charge though. Please call us to describe symptoms present so we can better advise.

No. Our technicians’ time and knowledge are very valuable and that is an actual hour they spend with your vehicle. We have found that in many cases, when another shop claims the diagnostic goes “towards” the repair, they build that time into the job you are approving. Therefore, even with our diagnostic pricing structure set up this way, we remain very competitive.

We perform market price comparisons once a year to remain competitive in pricing. If there is ever an instance in which we are not cheaper than the dealer, we will do everything in our power to meet or beat their price.

At Southwest Auto, we believe your cheapest insurance for maintaining engine longevity is the quality of oil and filter. For this reason, we recommend an oil service every 5,000 miles or 5 months – whichever comes first. For our customers that are doing less than 5,000 miles a year, call us to determine if your driving habits justify an oil change more than once a year. It is not only important to ensure the health of your engine, but also to verify there have not been any safety concerns developing.

We accept all major credit cards and cash. The only payment option we do not accept currently are personal checks. We do partner with Synchrony Bank to provide Car Care One, which is a 6-month no interest credit card aimed towards financing automotive repairs. Ask your service advisor for more information.