Peter Derrico Automotive

While my car has always had exceptionally low emissions readings, it failed a smog test in 2013 due to some computerized technical difficulty. I went to Derrico because I was unemployed at the time, and the state offered some financial assistance to do the repairs if one used one of their recommended stations, such as this one.
Initially, everything seemed fine. He was pleasant and assured me more than once that he’d be able to repair my car for the amount approved by the State under the CAP program, provided I pay him $ 150 for diagnosis. He assured me that, because my emissions readings were incredibly low, I would not need a new catalytic converter. Even when I left my car, he again informed me, without my asking, that the repairs would be within the $ 500 State threshold, and I would only be required to pay $ 150 out of pocket for his diagnosis. He also informed me that the repairs should only take one day, but if it took some time for parts to arrive, there would be no reason why I couldn’t drive my car in the meantime, and come in on a Saturday, or other day, to get the work done.
I dropped my car off around 11:00 am. Peter Derrico, the owner of the repair shop called me at 5:04 that evening to inform me that one of the two issues involved a bent wire, and would cost $ 500 to repair. He went on to say that a waiver would be issued for the other problem and I could get that done anytime in the next two years, and hopefully I would have a job by then to pay for the repairs.
I asked him what the other problem involved. He said I would need a new catalytic converter. I questioned him about that because he had assured me over and over that there is no way that I needed a new «cat» because of my low emissions readings. He then admitted to not having done the diagnostics on that problem. I then informed him that I wanted a full diagnostic report, as promised, before I made a decision on what work would be done.
Mr. Derrico then began to rant and rave. He told me that the State had approved the replacement of the Fuel Module Assembly (something I later learned my car didn’t need), and I should be grateful that the State is paying (him) for this work. He also informed me that he had ordered an OEM part which would arrive next Wednesday. I had informed him, when I dropped my car off in the morning that I had a preliminary job interview with the County on Tuesday, thus, I told him that I needed my car before next Wednesday. He then informed me that, if I wanted to pick up my car before next Wednesday, I would have to pay for the complete diagnostics work, even though he had only done half of the work. I told him I would be happy to pay for the work he had done (half of that estimated), or he could complete the diagnostic work prior to my picking up my car, and I would pay for the full diagnostics, as agreed upon when I dropped off the car. He then told me that I had two choices: either leave my car with him through Wednesday for him to do half of the originally estimated work, or pay for the full diagnostics, when he had only done half of the diagnostics work.
I tried to explain to Mr. Derrico that I had never been asked to pay for work in full prior to its completion. He then began to rant again about this being a State program, and I should be grateful that the State is paying for the work, and… I remained quiet as he continued to rant. He then said he was counting to ten… I’m not sure why, exactly, but I suspect he probably has some anger management issues. I continued to remain silent. Mr. Derrico then asked me if I had a Master’s Degree. (I happened to mention it to him in speaking with him about my job searches in the past.) I responded by saying «Yes». He then said: «Then I’ll speak slowly». There was no need for his condescending demeanor. I do not appreciate this man’s attitude, and I do not trust that anything he says or does is honest or truthful. In fact, I wouldn’t put it past him to cause damage to people’s cars — he just has that kind of psychotic way about him. I’ve had a mechanic damage my ca in the past, only to find that my former State Division of Consumer Affairs later filed a class action lawsuit against the company that caused damage to my car.
The only reason I went to Derrico is because it was on the CA list of approved shops (sad). In the end, I wound up having to pay $ 150 for diagnosis that was not completed in order to be able to get my car out of Derrico’s possession and take it to my trusted mechanic who did all the the needed work (replacement of spark plugs because one was cracked) for less than half of what I paid Derrico who did nothing.
Oh, and when I picked up my car, there were huge greasy footprints on my car’s carpet. When I addressed the issue with Mr. Derrico, his response was «How do you know it’s our grease?»
The man is just a sad, frustrated, lying, cheating, jerk. Stay clear unless you want to be treated very rudely while being ripped off.

My list of complaints is longer than this but I will concentrate on the 2 most egregious actions of Peter Derrico. 1.) He lost his temper and verbally assaulted me because I asked him (based on what he’d told me) when my truck would be done… seriously! I wrote him about it and he replied with an apology.
But then, far worse than that, I had on an earlier occasion hired him to replace the alternator in my motor home, I chose him because his shop is close to me. He replaced the Alternator for about $ 500. I had complained when I took it in that it made a squealing noise at higher speeds. (I said, «sounds like a loose fan belt») After he replaced the alternator he told me, «The squealing isn’t your alternator, you need to replace your water pump and fan clutch» and quoted me over $ 600.00 to do that.
Well guess what, The honest and quality technician Luee Esparza of Precision Motor Werx on Callens in Ventura quickly determined that the noise was being caused by not only a loose belt but the Alternator belt! Nothing needed to be replaced, he just tightened the belt and that solved the problem. You do the math, I recommend that if you choose to trust this a-​hole with your car you should exercise caution and get a second opinion.
My opinion is that Derrico is a liar and a rip-off…I give him no stars!

recently i was on a business trip and i was in not so safe of an area and my passenger side rear window got knocked in. long story short, the next day when i came to my car i immediately called Peter Derrico Automotive’s, i was lucky to have a the next couple days off. I dropped off my car and it was fixed like new a couple days later. great service!

BEWARE!!! this guy will rip you off! I have 4 horror stories.
1) took my 2000 toyota for a check engine light. 5 days later still not fixed, Pete said go drive it and see if the engine light goes off, charged $ 250 for what? never fixed it.
2) found out from a friend at work, he took his 65 Chevy corvair, charge $ 500 for what? it ran worse and leaked more oil then before he took it in.
3) brother had engine rebuilt, (after sitting in his shop for over a year!!) less than 100 miles later engine froze, charged over $ 4000, did not want to honor his warranty, had to get attorney’s involved just to get the truck back to take to a real mechanic.
4) another friend took her lexus to Pete $ 3500 later… you guessed it, never fixed it correctly, took it to dealer and they wanted to know what knucklehead worked on the car!!!
If you want to give your hard earned money away and still not have your auto repaired correctly… go see Pete!