Ambassador Automotive Service and Repair

I have had nothing but great service and repair from Ambassador. I completely trust them. I have had another mechanic ruin my engine and Ambassador brought it back to life. Thank you Guys!

Very good courteous honest service. Took my old bestie 2002 Honda odyssey to have the front end checked because it was making a clunking sound. They checked it the same day and found it was simply a bolt not torqued properly. They fixed it and gave me a wheel alignment at a reasonable price. All in one day! I was impressed.

My car had failed smog at another shop because of a code (EVAP) that was shown. I was recommended to take my car into Ambassador to fix this problem. Ambassador analyzed my car and said the EVAP (Evaporative Leak Detection) Pump was busted, so I paid $ 500 to have them fix it. A few hours later, I got a call from them saying the problem is now the PCM (powertrain control module)…which will cost over $ 1000 to fix. Being a college student with that kind of money not in my wallet to blow, I took my car home with $ 500 lost on a part that I don’t think was even broken in the first place.
In Ambassador’s defense: In order see what’s wrong with the EVAP code, you have to follow a sequence of procedures that start with fixing the EVAP Pump. However, if a new code appears says you now have to fix the PCM after you’ve fixed the EVAP Pump, shouldn’t you just put the Pump back on and just charge me for at most the labor it takes to put the Pump on and off? I tried weeks of arguing this point with Ambassador, trying to negotiate to just pay for the labor. All I received instead was the same repeated phrase: «it’s the procedure» and «$ 500 is owed».
You guys were so nice the whole experience until it came to talking about the EVAP Pump. I don’t want to pay for a part that I don’t need (Note that neither the EVAP Pump or the PCM affect the car’s performance). In the process of going through this «adventure» with Ambassador, I seriously felt the whole time like I had to dump my low-​milage & perfectly working car because I couldn’t afford to have it fixed. What a crappy feeling — I just purchased my car new not that many years ago! Ambassador showed no effort to see where I was coming from in all of this. I sincerely thought I had found a shop I can trust, but all I got instead was the feeling like I am (the consumer) is always wrong.
Ambassador, if you still think you’ve done nothing wrong, please just warn the customers about the «EVAP fixing procedures» next time. You may get a sparing college student like me that will come through and will want to instead argue their point to a Smog Referee that their car is fully functional (Smog Refs have the power to pass smog with this kind of problem), instead of having to pay over $ 1500 to get their car «fixed for smogged.»

Thank you Ambassador for steering me clear of a car that I almost bought. I first came to them in 2007. We wanted to buy a car for our son. They checked it out and gave us the go ahead to purchase. We have been coming back to have of all our cars serviced there ever since. We recently wanted to purchase another car. So we had Ambassador check the vehicle out for us. They gave us a thumbs down and said that it would take thousands of dollars to bring the car up to good, reliable condition. Thank goodness for Ambassador. They are honest mechanics that really checked the vehicle thoroughly and gave us the cost. This helped us to make the decision not to purchase. I will continue to go to Ambassador. The service is great. The people are nice. I can truly say that I trust them with all of my vehicles. Now off to find another car for my son and a thumbs up from Ambassador. So I can buy it with confidence.

Be aware of these rats they will rob you, tried to gave me an estimate of over $ 2,500 to replace a lot of stuff that it doesn’t need to be replace these people are scammers will try to take your money and replace the stuff that is not broken or need to be replace.
$ 500 for an oil pan gasket??? I just replace that a couple months ago it was $ 60 for the part and my mechanic charge me $ 120 how do you come up with those numbers you guys charge more than than the dealer.
$ 700 transmission pan gasket? Are you out of your mind. Oil plan is perfectly fine.
$ 150 for coolant flush?: coolant flush was recently done.
I know your business is to make money but this is ripping off people replacing parts that doesn’t need to be replaced.

I have had a dispute with this shop and have tried several times to resolve it with them. Ken would not resolve and would only see their way as the right way. They did not listen US, their customer, or try and satisfy US, their customer.
We opened investigations with both our credit card merchant AND the Bureau of Automotive Repair to try and resolve this matter with them, and they would not resolve. They did receive a violation. I even tried to meet them in the middle, some sort of resolution, and they wouldn’t listen to anything we had to say. The car did not have multiple issues. It was very simple, but they took advantage of us and our lack of knowledge at the time. They just wanted their money. Needless to say, I would not let «a fresh coffee or variety of snacks», as stated in an earlier review, influence my decision. No thanks– NEVER AGAIN.
Also, he accused me of being a third party and I am absolutely not. This is my Greek name. He has also accused me of posting twice. It just never ends with this place.
Bottom Line:
His response has since been removed.
I tried to resolve this several times with Ambassador. They wanted to take our money and fix what didn’t need to be fixed. Unfortunately, with Ambassador, they are always right and the customer is wrong.
To date, Ambassador has been FULLY paid. People beware. Be proactive about what your car needs and how it needs to be done. Since many of us are not able to do the work ourselves, we trust these mechanics to do what’s right. Even now that they have been fully paid, the still need to have the last word.
You know those companies that have the slogan «We’re not satisfied until you’re satisfied»
Ha, ha! Polar opposite of Ambassador’s business model!

Went in for a smog check today. Bill greeted me, checked me in, and offered me fresh coffee and a variety of snacks. My car was done within 15 minutes. Awesome!!! I definitely recommend Ambassador Automotive for your cars. Friendly, fast service. Priceless.

Great guys here. I brought my 4Runner in after it failed smog somewhere else twice they fixed it up and got it to pass in a few hours! Great service at a great price!

love ambassador. dan is honest and fair and always does a fantastic job. i drive from long beach to make sure my car is in the care of the right hands…
totally recommend to everyone!

So hard to find a good mechanic.
These guys are really excellent– they are honest and do the work that is necessary.
Only downside is that because they’re so good, they’re also pretty busy. I’m kind of torn even writing this review, because if a bunch more of you start going, it may be harder for me to get my car in.

Easiest, most convenient and fastest smog check I have ever seen, great customer service too!!! Will definitely keep taking my car here…

A true, genuine, honest automotive repair with amazing customer service. After going to Honda for an oil change, I got a shock with a $ 3000 estimate for needed work. I chose to wait and seek another opinion. I spontaneously choose Ambassador based on location, who comfirmed the work needed, but saved me a ton of $$. I’ve already been back twice since the initial work. Bill, Ken, and Adam are all true gentleman. Friendly, positive, knowledgeable and no fuss. Without hesitation, I can highly recommend Ambassador.

Brought my girlfriend’s car in for a smog check and certification. Bill was very friendly and was able to get this done in a very short time frame. Very affordable pricing and good service. Would refer anyone to this shop.

Really, really great customer service. In fact, so great that I would considering going there again even though I live 40 miles away. I was in the area for work and needed a smog check so I googled Smog check Anaheim and they popped up. I went there thinking it was going to be an one to two hour time limit but I was literally in and out in 25 minutes. Staff was friendly, they provided snacks and drinks and the price was reasonable. Highly recommended.

If you’re looking for a cheap place to go that might not give you the best of service, then find another place to go. These guys are honest and trustworthy. Once you go for the first time, you’ll be hooked. They won’t do anything that’s unnecessary or try to scare you into doing anything that doesn’t need to be done. Great family owned business!

Best service I have ever had in a Auto Repair shop EVER!!! These guys obviously care about the customer and is shows by the interaction, communication and genuine Authenticity!!!

Excellent customer service from A to Z! Bill helped me with my smog check and was very helpful and friendly!

We had an emergency a couple weeks ago and Bill sent over a mechanic to our office after hours and fixed us up in a jiffy. I have been coming to Ambassador Automotive for over 20 years. These guys are honest and dependable. Thank you to Dan, Bill and the rest of the fine gentlemen there. You are my to go to guys forever. Thanks a million for helping us in our time of need. Sincerely, Frank

Excellent customer service, fair prices and fast work!
I got an oil change here yesterday and I was in and out in about 30 minutes! During those 30 minutes, «Mr. Bill» (the guy at the front desk) and I chit chatted and I snacked on the free food and refreshments in the lobby. While I was sitting there, a couple other customers came in and Bill greeted most of them by name! This truly is a small, family business that cares about it’s customers, and not just as money, but as people.
Ambassador Automotive, you have another customer for life!

In my 4 years as a Placentia resident I have been a loyal customer to Ambassador Auto because they have earned my trust. I found them initially based on good reviews and do love Unilocal for this service.
I recently moved to Long Beach and travel to Ambassador when I need major work, other than an oil change. These guys are honest and fair. You get what you pay for and they are reasonably priced; the value they provide in their customer service and their work is above satisfactory.