Doctor J Automotive

I brought my 2018 Jeep Wrangler (at 77,660 miles) to Doctor J Auto for a persistent check engine light around the end of December 2025 because of the prolonged time it was taking doing my own repairs and an upcoming smog test due. Doctor J found a coolant leak in the cylinders due to warped heads, so they decided that they needed to take apart half the engine and take it to a machine shop for a head repair. This was a tough 4-week job, so my total bill was $4952.21, which included a warranty of 2 years and 24,000 miles. I received the Jeep back after the 4-week repair, but in less than 2,000 miles I started hearing a loud ticking noise. The auto stop-start light started turning on and off as well. So with the Jeep still under warranty, I brought it back to Doctor J (at 79,574 miles) and they suggested they administer a higher viscosity oil and do an engine flush to see if the noise will go away. Main Point: I brought up concerns about them inspecting the removed engine parts for any damages, and they told me that they did. I was still skeptical but I agreed to the new service (which I was still charged for) to at least clean the engine and add new oil so I can use the time to rest it at home. I was under the impression that Doctor J didn't want to honor the warranty because the ticking noise wasn't the initial problem, BUT REGARDLESS, they had to remove parts of the engine involved to remove the heads, which could have caused the issue. Instead of bringing it back to Doctor J and spending even more money, I decided to fix the ticking noise issue myself. I removed components of the engine close to Bank 1 to get to the valve cover to inspect the exhaust camshaft and intake camshaft. That's when I noticed that the two intake cam lobes (see 1st photo) and rocker arms from Cylinder 5 were damaged (see 2nd photo). My intake cam was NOT damaged when inspected last October (see 3rd photo). Whether this damage was caused by Doctor J or not, they should have noticed this damage while the engine was taken apart and advised me about it, which they did not. I finally found the time to repair the issue myself by replacing the intake cam (which I was lucky to get my hands on and not cheap). I worked on it an entire day this past weekend and now doing my own diagnostics with the Jeep currently at 79,833 miles. I'm writing this because after all the money I spent, I expected a job well done and an actual honoring of the warranty. On top of it, they seemed to try to brush my issue aside with disregard, and the service guy told me, "I've heard worse," regarding the ticking noise. My remaining probing questions: A) Did Doctor J properly inspect the components when removing parts of the engine? Or... B) Did the intake cam get damaged during Doctor J's installation of the heads? I can't speak for other work Doctor J does, but I will say that if you're looking to do a major engine repair or any major repair in general, maybe this place isn't the way to go.

I have been coming to Dr. J’s for 9 years now and I always get the best service and price for what I need done. Professional and courteous customer service is always what is given each and every time I have gone to them for work done on my car. Kevin, Steve, and Nick go above and beyond to make the customer experience a great one. I highly recommend Dr. J’s to anyone needing to get their car serviced. If they didn’t live up to the expectations I have mentioned, then I would not be saying that they have been servicing my vehicle for 9 years now.

Excellent customer service even though ultimately I had no repairs done to my car. They were very thorough with the inspection and even went above and beyond to look up if the dealership would cover the needed repairs with warranties. Would definitely bring my vehicle back for any problems in the future! I would recommend Doctor J to anyone who lives in OC. Thanks for reading! ^-^

I recently found Doctor J Automotive after looking for the best-rated shops in HB, and I am so glad I did! From start to finish, the care was exceptional. I arrived early and was immediately met with a welcoming, professional attitude. The shop is incredibly clean and well-kept, which gave me instant peace of mind. The whole vibe is very chill and cooperative, they clearly take pride in their work without the high-pressure sales tactics you find elsewhere. I used a coupon for my first visit, and the stellar service I received ensured I'll be a returning customer. Highly recommend this local gem.

Dr. J has mastered the art of changing perfectly good oil in a car that barely leaves the garage. I drive my 2015 RAV4 about 5,000 miles annually, so she only needs to visit “the spa”once a year and she gets the royal treatment each time. Thanks for keeping my VERY gently used SUV in top shape… and for never judging me when the odometer barely moves. See you next year!