JD's Auto-Tech Services Inc

This mechanic shop is awesome. It's hard to find auto repair shops like this anymore and I have tried many over the years. Honest, reliable and professional. They have tried to save me money every time I have used their services and provided exceptional friendly service. I highly recommend them.

I would like to express my total satisfaction with this repair center. I have taken both of my vehicles in and found the repairs on budget (or less than quoted) and done on time. No one want to spend money on repairs, but cars and trucks need repairs from time to time, and JD's Auto has proven to be a good place to get service.

Wouldn’t recommend based on my experience. The gentleman working the front desk was apprehensive and combative. Took my Honda Ridgeline in for a pre-purchase inspection and it seemed like a very thorough 300 point inspection. Cost was $225. No problem. I was surprised to learn that the 4x4, traction control was not working. When I dropped the truck off it was fine, when I picked it up it had a check engine light VTM-4. Coincidence? Incompetence? You decide. There were some other issues like the battery failing a load test, block heater not working and other sensors acting funny. Obviously, I was surprised to learn of these issues since the truck started perfectly when it was plugged in the day before at -34 and when I picked it up it was -28 and it was left unplugged over night and barely turned over. I tried to ask the clerk to help me understand how these things could be when the day before they were okay. I was met with a ‘not my problem’ attitude completely devoid of customer service. I was not angry or combative in anyway, simply tried to understand next steps and was told they were hired to see what was wrong, not diagnose. Fair, I did not pay for a diagnosis. But they did nothing to try and ‘win’ my business. After checking forums online etc the best advice found was to replace the battery, makes sense the battery failed a load test and might need replacing. Took the battery to Canadian Tire and Wayne spent about 15mins testing the battery and explaining different scenarios etc. Turns out the battery is in perfect shape (makes sense as it is only 2 years old). Seems like the alternator charged up the battery because the VTM-4 light and all other sensors acting funny went away. Obviously, I’m going to have to monitor the situation but there are just too many options for mechanics to waste your time with one that lacks basic customer service skills and seems to lack the ability to help customers understand their vehicle. I will not be back and would not recommend. I hear good things about Erols, but have never gone myself. Hopefully potential customers of JD’s can learn from my negative experience or JD can take steps to make sure future customer relations are improved.EDIT:Based on the owners response I would be willing to try this shop again.

Honest and friendly. I had my vehicle towed here after the engine died on the highway to Banff. They immediately diagnosed the issue and informed me of the known issue with my brand of vehicle and even researched the extended warranty aspect on my behalf. They went above and beyond when they did not have to which I think speaks volumes to the kind of shop they are running.

I asked JD's to do a wheel alignment, a simple enough task. First of all, you get charged $89 for a 4 wheel alignment (with adjustable rear wheels), which on a FWD vehicle is a waste of money as they can only adjust the front two. Second, they replaced a stabalizer-bar link without informing me, then charged me $40.00 for this 2 min task which only requires about $1.50-$2.00 worth of parts. Lastly, this component failed after only 2 years and 9,000 miles.In other instances they have failed to do the job I requested, yet still charged me as if they had. I went to Erols and they did the job, then suggested I get a refund from JD's. However, no one was willing to discuss this with me.

Shop owner Dean is as good as it gets, their mechanics are very knowledgeable and very quick to diagnose the driveability problem, my truck's engine will not start when engine is hot, no check engine light and turns over normal, has normal fuel pressure and spark at plug wire, they found the problem very quickly, I live 50 minutes away and will make the trip to have my vehicle repair any day, it's hard to find a shop / mechanic these days where piece of mind is number one on their menu, great price, honest work, no bs upsell,

Dean, Hal and the rest are as good as it gets. They know what they are doing; they are so honest and their policy is not to replace or repair anything unless it makes good sense and come up with options. They will advise if a vehicle is likely not worth repairing - like my daughter's Cobalt that had too much rust on it to put any more into it. Hard to find a small shop like this anymore. It is obvious that Dean's team works very well together which is so important. In this day of high tech autos, they do very well to span the gap between the old and the new stuff. I always leave with more than I went in with -- like ideas to research and other info to think about if the decision is a bit complex. They do what they say and the vehicle is in and out on the schedule they say. Thanks Dean and Team!!

Got stranded in Cochrane on the long weekend with a motorhome thermostat jammed so hard closed that I though it must be the head gasket. Although JD's was not open that weekend, nobody else was either so we parked it in front and dropped the keys in - Dean was great to deal with and very pragmatic - e.g. the bolts broke off of the housing but he only charged me 0.6 hours to drill those out and fix them. I wish I could find a shop like this a little closer to home, I would like to go there under less stressful circumstances.

Had issue with vehicle making thumping noise. Took back to dealer, they proposed almost $2700 in repairs that, when did not make sense to me (mostly to do with shocks and bushings) given the noise and when you could hear it. Took to JD's for 2nd opinion, Dean diagnosed brakes rusted to rotor as it had sat for a month without moving, I agreed to replace the rotor, came to just over $200 and totally fixed the issue.

Dean's an honest guy you can trust with a great crew working for him. I don't even question where to bring my vehicle, it goes to Dean and his crew.