Thao Auto Repair Auto repair & auto body · San Diego
Bring this in Oil change $45 · full synthetic $60

Bring this in

Oil change

Conventional$45up to 5 qt
Full synthetic$60up to 5 qt

Plus sales tax and any disposal fee, itemized on your invoice. Not an out-the-door price.

  • New filter, every time
  • Multi-point inspection on the lift
  • Tire pressures set, tread measured
  • Fluids topped to the correct spec
Expires 12.31.26 Thao’s Auto Repair
(619) 640-4606
Call

Expires December 31, 2026. One vehicle per visit. Most cars and light trucks.

Quarts beyond five, diesel engines, and European engines that require a specific manufacturer approval are priced separately — the extra cost may be substantial. We tell you before we start, never after. Some engines must have full synthetic; if yours is one we will say so rather than put the wrong oil in it.

You get a written estimate and you authorize it before any work is done. If the job changes, you get a revised figure to approve.

Home / Questions

The questions people actually ask.

Answered the way we would answer them at the counter.

Do I need an appointment?

For diagnosis, yes — it needs a technician and a bay booked out. For a drop-off, no: leave it in the morning and we will call you with an estimate the same day where we can.

How much will it cost?

Nobody can honestly answer that over the phone, because the same symptom has cheap causes and expensive ones. What we can promise is that you get the number in writing before anything is touched, and that it does not change without your say-so.

Why is there a charge just to look at it?

Because finding the fault is the skilled part. Anyone can fit a part; knowing which part, and proving it, is what you are paying for — and it is what stops you buying three parts to fix one problem.

Can I supply my own parts?

Usually not, and here is the honest reason: we cannot warranty a part we did not buy, and if it fails you pay the labor twice. If you have a strong reason, talk to us and we will tell you where we can and cannot.

Will you use dealer parts?

Where the job calls for it, yes. For a lot of repairs a quality aftermarket part is the same part in a different box — and for some, it genuinely is not. We will tell you which case you are in and let you choose.

My check engine light came on. Is it safe to drive?

If it is steady and the car drives normally, usually yes, but get it read soon. If it is flashing, stop driving — that generally means an active misfire, and it can destroy a catalytic converter in a short distance.

Do you work on hybrids and EVs?

Call and ask before you drive over. Hybrid and EV work depends on the system and on whether high-voltage service is involved, and we would rather tell you plainly on the phone than have you make the trip for nothing.

Do you offer a loaner or a ride?

Ask when you book. It depends on the day and on how long your job will take, and the desk will tell you straight rather than have you arrive and find out.

How long will my car be there?

We tell you at approval, and we tell you again if it changes. Waiting on a part is the usual reason a job runs over, and you will hear about it from us rather than wondering.

What if the repair does not fix it?

Bring it back. If we got it wrong we put it right, and the warranty on that job is written on the repair order you were given.

Book a slot

Tell us the symptom. We will tell you the next opening.

The chat narrows the symptom down with you so the call is short and the desk knows what to pull before you arrive. It will not diagnose your car in a chat window, and it does not book for you — the last step is a phone call, to a person.

Call (619) 640-4606

Where we are

3400 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104

Mon–Fri · 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Get directions

The map is a Google embed. It loads only when you press the button.