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andidolphin Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:20,387 Points:4,124,635 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2007 11:41:10 PM Ignore andidolphin Report Abuse Topic for discussing locations for auto repair and such.

andidolphin

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Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Oct 28, 2007 11:41:10 PM

Ignore andidolphin Report Abuse

Topic for discussing locations for auto repair and such.

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taxthis Veteran Author San Diego Posts:442 Points:1,051,900 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Feb 21, 2008 2:28:37 AM Ignore taxthis Report Abuse Since taking a job in the SW metro last year, I've taken my VW to Jeppesen Imports in Chanhassen. Joe shares the location with Anderson motorsports at 77th & Quattro Dr.
HoneyDog Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:23,842 Points:3,086,895 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2007 5:11:04 AM Ignore HoneyDog Report Abuse Well, if anybody needs their torsion spring on their garage door replaced, call The Garage Door Guy. The torsion spring on my garage door snapped on Monday afternoon. I called him Monday evening, and he was out Tuesday afternoon. He replaced the spring, did a basic tune up an 'lube' of other garage door parts and only charged me $157.
ross3 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:54,597 Points:3,724,700 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Nov 15, 2007 2:37:30 PM Ignore ross3 Report Abuse No rodking3, it was not. It's Sadder's Automotive.
rjgimp Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,882 Points:1,048,495 Joined:Oct 2003	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2007 9:09:52 PM Ignore rjgimp Report Abuse D'oh! My bad.
rodking3 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:25,719 Points:4,198,830 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2007 6:05:38 PM Ignore rodking3 Report Abuse ross3, was that Apitz on Birch St?
shaboo69 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,857 Points:1,343,995 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2007 1:56:16 PM Ignore shaboo69 Report Abuse I have used and Weinhagen Tire and auto center would use them again. Their on Wabasha just over the river by the Holiday station. Good service and honest
ross3 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:54,597 Points:3,724,700 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2007 10:56:08 AM Ignore ross3 Report Abuse You are right about the city DI. rj - The same place that replaced my clutch assembly, also replaced the engine a couple of years back for $1500. Needless to say, I could find no other repair place that even came close. They also, as a part of their customer service program, replace little things for free (like tail light bulbs).
DI Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:20,165 Points:4,144,335 Joined:Apr 2001	Message Posted: Nov 11, 2007 11:16:30 PM Ignore DI Report Abuse rjgimp - You were correct about White Bear Lake in the discussion about Sam's Club but here I think you've got the wrong city. If Lenfer is just south of Cty Rd D, that would put them in Roseville (since Cty Rd D is the Shoreview-Roseville boundary).
rjgimp Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,882 Points:1,048,495 Joined:Oct 2003	Message Posted: Nov 11, 2007 8:40:26 PM Ignore rjgimp Report Abuse Lenfer Automotive in Shoreview gave my wife a fair deal when the engine in her Jetta blew. Schmelz VW told her it would be at _least_ $9000. She had every service done there exactly on time from the day that car was new. You'd think they would give a bit of a "customer loyalty" discount, but that request fell on deaf ears. We certainly won't darken their door again! Lenfer's tore the engine down and rebuilt it for half what Schmelz wanted and they were very deliberate about keeping us well informed every step along the way. They're on Lexington just south of County Road D.
Jorgie Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:9,959 Points:2,917,815 Joined:Jul 2002	Message Posted: Nov 11, 2007 10:35:06 AM Ignore Jorgie Report Abuse I know it's probably more expensive, but I've taken my 98 Toyota back to Toyota City since I bought it in December of 97.
byrock Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:19,272 Points:3,438,745 Joined:Mar 2002	Message Posted: Nov 8, 2007 6:40:00 PM Ignore byrock Report Abuse I've had pretty good luck with ProTech Automotive in Lakeville.. They have a couple of other locations.. Edina and South Minneapolis I think.. not sure about those..
road_rascal Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:219 Points:58,150 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Nov 6, 2007 10:00:09 PM Ignore road_rascal Report Abuse For the things I can't repair myself I go to Automotive Service Company in Burnsville. They have been great to deal with, never tried to rip me off, and always explains what they're doing repair-wise.
ross3 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:54,597 Points:3,724,700 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Nov 6, 2007 12:02:32 PM Ignore ross3 Report Abuse I just had a new clutch assembly put in at a place in Lino Lakes for $799
SilverStreaker Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:11,918 Points:2,212,370 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Nov 6, 2007 11:03:01 AM Ignore SilverStreaker Report Abuse I get good service from "The Garage" in New Brighton.
HoneyDog Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:23,842 Points:3,086,895 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2007 4:35:02 PM Ignore HoneyDog Report Abuse If you haven't already, try calling Expedition Autoworks in St Louis Park.
andidolphin Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:20,387 Points:4,124,635 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2007 3:14:38 PM Ignore andidolphin Report Abuse Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Still looking to see about prices, as well as service. Amazingly, I'm finding everyone's estimates $100 on either side of that magical $1,200 (which was at a dealer). I'd hope that it isn't the clutch, but knowing that I was the second owner at 63,000 miles, bought it in Chicago and driving a lot of rush hours with this truck, my hopes of it being a non-clutch replacement are kind of low. Oh well. That's what mowing lawns are for, right? Extra income to pay for stuff like this? [Edited by: andidolphin at 10/31/2007 4:14:41 PM EST]
djvang Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:30,350 Points:4,223,465 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2007 2:09:26 PM Ignore djvang Report Abuse We're very satisfied with Elsen's in Richfield. One of the guys can be kind of gruff but they do a good job.
TRC97 Man Champion Author Tampa Posts:15,778 Points:3,211,825 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2007 1:06:57 PM Ignore TRC97 Man Report Abuse andi, Don't know where you live in the metro, but Gates Auto in North St Paul is most reliable. Very good mechanics, fair rates, and good follow up if your not completely satisfied. I've used them since 1991. They recently fixed a transmission leak in my 97 Chrysler T&C that the dealer bungled (and the Chrysler dealer reimbursed me when I showed them the Gates repair invoice). BTY, I just had 100K mile service on my VW Bug - they did great work and very reasonable price - much less expensive than the dealer. (Had to go back to get a rattle fixed - but they found it and correct it!!!). I highly recommend them.....
boozerbob Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,128 Points:1,446,335 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Oct 31, 2007 9:56:20 AM Ignore boozerbob Report Abuse self fix is the best fix
Thegonagle Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:160 Points:115,260 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2007 6:48:12 AM Ignore Thegonagle Report Abuse andidolphin, That sounds more like either your clutch master cylinder, or the slave cylinder, have gone bad. it's tantamount to when an old-fashioned clutch cable breaks. (Even though only one cylinder is likely to be diagnosed as bad, it's good practice to replace both at once, unless you're not planning to keep it much longer.) Based on your description of the symptoms, I think that it's highly possible that the really labor-intensive parts of your clutch, which are sandwiched between your engine and transmission, are still fine. A competent mechanic will rule out the hydraulic system before recommending a $1200 clutch replacement. The clutch master and slave cylinders shouldn't cost anywhere near $1200 to have done. Good luck, and BTW, great topic to start for the local discussion.
HoneyDog Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:23,842 Points:3,086,895 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Oct 29, 2007 3:24:25 AM Ignore HoneyDog Report Abuse Try Expedition Autoworks in St Louis Park (Oxford Rd). They do a darn good job and tend to be a lot more reasonable in price than other places.
andidolphin Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:20,387 Points:4,124,635 Joined:Jun 2001	Message Posted: Oct 28, 2007 11:45:37 PM Ignore andidolphin Report Abuse So I looked through the previous 18 months of topics and didn't see a topic dedicated towards auto repairs, so thought I'd start one. I'm in need of a new clutch, myself - 1997 Toyota T100. All of a sudden last week the clutch pedal was sticking partway down near the floor for a few seconds after taking my foot off of it. Now, I'm not able to get the truck in gear unless I'm moving, and first, second and reverse gears are requiring two hands. I can back up my driveway, which is on a slight incline, with the clutch pressed all of the way in. Lovely. I had received one quote for nearly $1,200 late last week. Anyone know of any good alternatives? Still looking...