Mike’s Automotive Service

If I could give this place a negative review, I would.
I went here because of all the 5 star reviews but I was so wrong.
A little over a week ago on a Wednesday around 4PM, I was coming back from an interview and my car died. Lo and behold, I already had my appointment scheduled for a completely different issue (Check Engine Light) around 8AM on Thursday. I got my car towed to this place a day early and was assured they would figure out the problem.
Roll around to Thursday evening around 4PM, I called for a status update as I had appointments on Friday and they gave me excuses and reasons about how they were very busy (with other cars). It’s like you’ve had my car since the night before, what’s the hold up.
So Friday morning happens and after spending 75 dollars round trip for a decent cab, they call me around 11AM saying they have to fix the alternator and battery. Ok, fine. Fix it because I have things to do Monday and I don’t have days to keep my car in the shop.
They call me back later, literally 20 minutes before closing and say my car is ready. I live about 5 minutes away by car, and since they offer pick up service, I asked can they pick me up. They said no, it’s just one of us here. Um, two different people were on the phone call though.
Frantic to get my car before they closed, they offered to put the keys in a secure place for when I got there after hours. Ok.
One hot bus ride later, I picked up my car with a fat receipt for $ 1,001 for parts and repair in the front seat and my driver’s side window jacked up and left. Which I told them when I made my appointment not to fuss with the windows because they had a problem rolling up. They didn’t listen and left the window glass jacked up. Thank God it wasn’t raining. All it took was to guide the glass up by hand and they didn’t even bother to do that.
Anyway, I was back on the road and my check engine light was off — that is until I reached the freeway and it was right back on. Great. Honestly, I WOULDN’T care as long as the car could drive but NJ is on you like white on rice about emmissions which my test is coming up. (The whole reason I took my car in)
I shot them an email as soon as i got home because they’re closed on the weekends asking them what happened with the CEL and they just replied, oh since the battery was replaced it cleared so we couldn’t do anything with it. (So you didn’t bother to check a damn thing?)
Then they told me to wait until it comes back on. Hello, that’s why I’m contacting you, it IS back on!
Then he goes, well schedule an appointment (again) to leave it with us overnight (again) so we can look into it. Scanning a CEL code literally only takes minutes. Damn sure not an hour or more.
So I politely said I would have to check my schedule and hung up. Hell no am I going back.
I went to another mechanic and scanned my code in minutes and checked my gas cap — advising me that is the light came back on again, they would really need to get in there and look. I popped in at the spur of the moment so I understood that and I was grateful they could squeeze me in.
It came back on last night, so on my way to the new mechanic today, guess what happened?
MY CAR DIED AGAIN. The battery light fully lit up on my dashboard in all its orange foreboding glory.
You mean to tell me, I spent over a grand at Mike’s for battery/​alternator issues literally a week ago for my car to die (this time in the middle of the street)?! I could have been hit my anything and killed as I was right in the middle of a turn with traffic all around. Thank God I managed to force my car to the side of the road before any lights changed.
Now I’m sitting out in the hot sun, on a 90+ degree day, fighting off yellowjackets and other random bugs, waiting for a tow truck to take my car to someone that can do something on a Saturday afternoon as my new mechanic is now closed for the day.
DO NOT GO TO MIKE’S. I tossed that Keychain they gave me into the trash, too. This is ridiculous.

Mike is extremely knowledgeable, honest and friendly. I can’t imagine finding a better mechanic. Prices are reasonable and his shop is mere steps from the Lindenwold PATCO station which is very convenient.

Quality service that you can rely on. I’ve taken all of my family’s cars there and recommended that friends go there as well.

Despite the sign that says Harry’s, it is actually Mike’s now. Mike kept our car running for 17 years (and it was still going when we sold it last month). I completely trust him to be fair, honest, and keep you safe. Plus, his prices are so reasonable, I’ve stopped comparison shopping. Even now that I live nine hours away, I still always bring my car to him when I am in for a visit.