The Car Doctor Shop

Toby Erkson

★★★★★

9 months ago

As an enthusiast for cars and motorcycles, it was nice to go to a shop where the owner/lead mechanic was personable, highly knowledgeable, detail-oriented, and has genuine pride in their work with a lifetime of experience. Not only did he listen to my description of the issues, but also drove my vehicle as I asked to reproduce the issue. I was updated on what was found both by written description and pictures! After I gave approval to carry out the needed and recommended repairs and picked up my vehicle, the Dr. explained what was done to correct the issues (even showed me a cool piece of shop equipment used to clean the fuel system). Work was done quickly because of his exact knowledge of what was wrong, how it needed to be fixed, and decades of hands-on experience – it wasn’t a rushed fix simply for the sake of turn-over like so many shops I’ve experienced. Do I recommend him? Heck yeah I do and without any doubt.

info dude

★★★★★

10 months ago

I was referred to The Car Doctor Shop by another mechanic for Dr. Rob's expertise working on older vehicles - which was necessary for repairing and updating the fuel system (tank to fuel pump and carb) on my 1970 Chevelle Malibu. Rob is a consummate professional in his craft. He is super easy to work with and transparent throughout. I'm very pleased with his work and will recommend his shop to other classic car enthusiasts looking for a trust-worthy, reputable mechanic. Also, a huge shout-out to Rob's assistant Sam with her responsiveness and attention to detail especially when it came to sourcing correct parts as well as timely follow-up to my inquiries.

Marie Casares

★★★★★

a year ago

In March, My 1993 Ford Ranger wouldn’t pass DEQ. Everyone I called for help told me they do not work on vehicles as old as mine. Finally, one of them referred me to Dr. Rob and the Car Doctor Shop. I made an appointment and dropped my truck off. Dr. Rob was very friendly, knowledgeable and honest. He diagnosed the problem and gave me a fair estimate to fix it. When diagnosing the problem, a report was created and sent to me, explaining the problems in a way anyone could understand. It also prioritized the work to be done. After the repairs, my truck flew thru DEQ without a problem. This was the best auto mechanic experience I’ve ever had. I will be going back to Dr. Rob when the need arises.

Frank Vance

★★★★★

2 years ago

Rob was able to diagnose and repair several issues that were above my skill level on my 1992 f150. Because of his great knowledge and experience with old OBD 1 test equipment and know how the truck is once again a driver. We can’t thank him enough. I highly recommend his troubleshooting skills and great customer service. The car doctor rocks!!!

Kooroush

★☆☆☆☆

8 months ago

A mechanic you should avoid. I was referred to this mechanic shop by a friend who owns a car dealership in Hillsboro. I was told he has extensive experience with the electrical systems of older cars. As I was restoring a 1959 Mercedes 190SL, this morning on July 11th, I naturally visited this place. The job I had was relatively small and manageable. It was only to remove the fuse box and two additional connections, each with only four wires connected to them, from my old wiring harness and replace it with a new, identical harness, one with the same color-coded wiring. I drove over 25 miles and arrived at this shop 10 minutes past 9 in the morning, where I was greeted by one of the workers. He said the owner isn't there yet and will come in about 30 minutes, and I replied, ' Okay, I will be back around 10 O'clock. Meanwhile, a truck arrived, and I was informed that it belonged to the owner. Rob came, and I, with a smile on my face, said good morning to him. His answer was, "Why are you here?" We open at 10 AM. I said, 'If you want, I can come back at 10?' He asked why I was there. I explained and acknowledged that this should be a tiny and easy job for him. At the same time, I told him that, as a restaurateur and chef, one of my former customers who has a dealership in Hillsboro had recommended him. He spoke in a coarse voice and angrily looked at me, saying, 'No, it's not a small and easy job. You grab a few ingredients and put them on top of each other, and then you call yourself a chef.' It is a tremendous job. And at the same time, he said we are not working on any car older than the 1980s. I told him that, less than a month ago, someone on your Google Business page reviewed that you worked on his 1970 Chevelle Malibu. This time, he said to write down what car I have so he will find me another mechanic. I told him what my car was, and this time he came to the door and asked me to leave, repeating that he would find another person for me and contact me. I wondered and asked how he would do it without knowing who I am or my phone number. Anyway, I left and the only impression I got from this place and Rob is that the color of your skin, your hair, and your accent play an essential role in whether he accepts you as a new customer and does business with you or not. If Rob had been honest and refused to do my job because it was small or he was swamped, rather than the way he acted, I would have thanked him and left without giving him any bad reviews. However, he decided otherwise. If I knew that, I would never go to this rundown mechanic shop.

Patrick Stover

★★★★★

a year ago

I had a fuel pressure issue, as well as some other electronic issues, with my 1980 Camaro RS. I was recommended by another shop to visit The Car Doctor Shop, as Rob (the owner) is one of few in the area who can troubleshoot older vehicles. Not only did Rob get my car running great, he includes an online car status report with pictures, as well as detailing what he has done so far on the car. This is great as the customer doesnt have to wait and wonder what is going on with thier car. As a former mechanic myself, I can really appreciate this service. Highly reccomend this shop to anyone, expecially a person that has an older car. Thanks Rob!

Jacob Freitas

★★★★★

a year ago

I took my 1994 Chevy S10 in because of an electric parasitic draw constantly killing the power. Dr Rob not only tested for the parasitic draw, but checked a lot of faults the pickup had and gave me the option to work on them or not. He got a whole lot done on the pickup, and gave me a temporary kill switch for the battery until I take it in again to get fully fixed. He got my pickup running better than it had ever ran, and I bought it 10+ years ago. I couldn’t be happier for the results!

Naomi Ashley

★★★★★

3 months ago

Its Christmas eve today and I never thought Id be writing a review, but I need to put the word out immediately for anyone else searching for a mini cooper mechanic nearby. My car is freshly repaired by The Car Doctor Shop. Dr. Rob has the knowledge and tools for mini coopers and that is a rare thing in our area. I highly recommend!!!

forrest rabideau

★★★★★

a month ago

Brought car in due to having check engine light that wouldn't go out. Tried dealership but car was over 10 years old and service department never got back a hold of me. Was told of this shop from quick oil change place so gave it a try. Once appointment was set and brought car in. I let tech know what had already done for check engine light along with code for misfire. Ended up being dirty fuel system with bad build of carbon, guessing poor quality gas. Had to leave car over night so chemicals being used could soak in and break deposits up. Process saved from needing to buy new fuel injector that wouldn't have prevented buildup from causing issues to other cylinders or worse. While car was in shop, some other work was done. Had a/c compressor replaced and sensors, new wires ran for them. Line for windshield wiper fuild had a leak from someone hitting car while parked that pushed frame into line causing cut. Asked for new line to be ran on other side of old to prevent reoccurring problem.Dealership prior had just added patch with thicker house, problem came back. Similar cost for different work done to fix same issues, so far leak hasn't returned. Small shop that if you don't mind a bit of wait depending on service, is worth trying. Will try to stop back in to have fuel line service repeated in few years. Car has turbo so found needs deposit cleaned so often to prevent issues like misfire or worse failed turbo.

Heidi McCracken-Weaver

★★★★★

4 months ago

I have a Pontiac Trams Am and Nissan Murano vehicles that needed some repair this year. For both vehicles, the Car Doctor Shop took the needed time to assess the issues and then time to explain what wa needed and why. All my interactions have been great and insightful. They also were able to have a quick turnaround on repairs so I wasn't out a vehicle too long. I couldn't have asked for better service on my car as well as customer service. The age of the car doesn't matter. All cars are treated with respect and time they all deserved.

Mason Harrington

★★★★★

5 months ago

TL;DR: Great experience. Expensive, but worth it for me. Great guy, expert. 1989 OBD1 Nissan Hardbody. I took my 1989 Nissan D21 “Hardbody” manual, 4x4 into Dr. Rob after 3 other shops. I was dealing with a few “mess-ups” from another shop that meant well, but didn’t return the truck in good shape. I had a consultation meeting with Rob and we talked about the truck in person. We agreed to get the work done and agreed on a rough quote. We then had another consultation via phone, where Rob explained things and so on, and I had to increase my budget for him, which initially frustrated me, but I felt it was worth it. Rob and I quickly developed a rapport, and I trusted his methodology/style. I trusted him with my truck and he gave it back better than when I bought it. I came in for a bad Clutch-fan/water pump assembly (Nissan doesn’t make this part anymore), the previous shop replaced the part but it was still faulty. The timing was also bad, because the previous shop replaced the oil pump, which is connected to the distributer and they lacked the tools and knowledge to reset the timing. I left with the above work, other essential knick-knacks, and a couple super quick cosmetic interior improvements. I was a part of the process every step of the way. Rob has all the cool old tools for my truck and it was a pleasure to have my truck worked on by him and his shop. I plan to return for small things that pop up and to send my buddies here.

Mario C

★★★★★

2 months ago

The entire experience with the Car Doctor was beyond great, I had a pesky evap code for my sisters Mercedes e320 that just wouldn’t go away until I brought it over to Rob and his team. They took care of the problem in less than a week and I was extremely satisfied with the results! God bless you and your team Rob! Will definitely be recommending this place to everyone I know

Bronco Brian

★★★★★

a month ago

Wow! I was so lucky to find Dr. Rob at The Car Doctor Shop. He saved me! I drive an old 94 Bronco that is truly part of the family. My kids have grown up loving it: driving, camping, and having adventures all over the northwest in this beloved family member. So, when it finally conked out on the side of the road, we were all worried. I had it towed to a Ford dealership thinking they would know how to fix it, but they were clueless. Their technicians didn’t have the skills, weren’t trained on older cars, and for 5 weeks they gave me the run around trying different parts, ignoring my phone calls, and snapping at me whenever I did get someone on the line. Eventually, they asked me if I could research the correct part myself: a specific module for 90s Fords and when I showed up on the lot, the Bronco’s hood was up in the rain and the inside was a spaghetti bowl of unconnected wires. I couldn’t believe it! Next, I tried my trusted mechanics at Middletown Motors near Rock Creek off of Cornelius Pass Rd in Hillsboro (they’d done some excellent body work on my Bronco in years past) and they recommended the best mechanic I’ve ever met: Dr. Rob. From the moment we talked on the phone, I knew I was in good hands. He took my beloved Bronco in, gave me a tour of his incredible shop which was part historic museum of old gauges and gadgets and part modern car shop with clean and efficient tools for every car and mechanical issue, but most importantly, he encouraged me with a deep sincerity and trust. Dr. Rob is more than a mechanic, he is an Old Soul. He is someone that immediately recognizes old cars are more than just a vehicles, they are treasured legacies. Where most people see old cars as junk, Dr. Rob sees them as valued pieces of history that can be brought back to life and enjoyed for generations. He had the specific old tools that the bigger dealerships and chain stores don’t have and don’t train their young technicians how to use. He also has years of knowledge and expertise to combine with the perfect amount of TLC to get your old friend back on the road again. When it was finished and I came in to pick it up, the Bronco looked better than new. He even added some extra features just out of a generous heart. It was an incredible experience to know that people like Dr. Rob are still out there, helping when no one else can, sharing their knowledge, and keeping the history of old cars alive and well. He comes with the highest recommendation possible. Thank you!

Michael Honeywell

★★★★★

3 months ago

I handed Rob and his team an electrical nightmare, and they handled it well. My 1995 Ford Bronco was experiencing severe loss of power with codes related to the fuel delivery and vacuum systems. Resistance and continuity were good throughout the fuel pump circuits. I replaced the vacuum lines and ran a positive test on the EGR valve, but my problems persisted. Another shop in the area recommended The Car Doctor given the age and symptoms of my rig. They started with a fuel injection service, resetting fuel trims and ignition timing. My truck rolled out of their shop running much better, but I was disappointed to find that my hood latch lever was bent out of shape. I will admit that the assembly had its quirks, but the mangled lever was unreasonable. Rob immediately responded with an apology and a gift card, on top of offering to repair the damage. I had already replaced the assembly since it was a simple fix, but the gesture was above and beyond what I expected. I could tell that Rob took it personally, and I was impressed by his genuine care for customers. Fast forward a week, no start. So I dragged my lazy horse back to the shop and they confirmed no spark. On top of that, the code reader was no longer communicating with the computers, which made us suspicious of the PCM. They traced out faulty wiring along the ignition system to fix the no-start condition. Yet the truck still stumbled over intermittent power loss and fuel delivery. Welp, time to take a pulse on the entire system with a breakout box. Taking care to eliminate the possibility of any ground, sensor, or other component issue, they zeroed in on the PCM. Rob not only gave me confidence in finding the culprit, but he found the cause in a slow leak from the windshield seal (I had recently gotten it replaced at another shop). I am grateful for his attention to detail as it has prevented a very expensive problem from re-occurring. Rob was a pleasure to meet – easy going and passionate about his work. He took care to thoroughly investigate my truck’s condition instead of slapping on band-aids to mask symptoms. Diagnostics were honest and prices were fair. His team did great work on a complex job, and they took accountability for the minor issue I had with the hood latch. Two more things that stood out to me about this experience: when they diagnose your vehicle, they send a link to a comprehensive overview of what they see. This includes pictures and descriptions that are detailed but simplified for the casual driver/mechanic. And a big shout out to Sam, their receptionist! She was very friendly and professional through many stressful phone calls. Sam, Rob and Team, thank you for a great experience and for taming my moody Bronco! I will be back when the wrenching gets tough, and plan to bring any future vehicles to The Car Doctor shop for a trusted assessment.

Philip Boamah

★★★★★

2 months ago

The best in Hillsboro! He is not just any car specialist; Dr. Rob is a professional who cares about his work; he worked with me to restore my car without breaking my bank. His deep knowledge of automobiles and his vast experience makes him the best in Hillsboro for car care. If your car has an issue and you want to solve it; take it to Dr. Rob’s car Doctor shop. Am grateful

Linda Davis

★★★★★

a month ago

I had been in town visiting my son and family a few days. I stopped for a quick oil change before my 3-4 hr drive home. After the oil change my Durango wouldn't start and the dash lights were flashing and clicking like a Independence Day light show! I was frantic! My very disabled sister and I (I'm 79, she's 73) had to get home. She was out of her meds. My son, of course, rescued us. He called Rob immediately at The Car Doctor Shop! Rob took my car in immediately and went to work figuring out what was wrong. We spent one more night with my son and Rob called next morning. My car was running. It was safe for us 2 ol' ladies to make the long drive home. Rob was so friendly, so kind and worked hard to get my car running overnight. His shop is so clean, his manner so caring. My car ran beautifully all the way home. He did a great job. He informed me of a couple things that would need attention maybe the next time I'm in town. Great job, great guy! I'd recommend him to anyone who needed serious auto electrical and computer repairs done! He's the best!

Dustin Sanow

★★★★★

2 months ago

The only shop around that even wanted to look at my 80s Japanese minitruck. Bring you pre OBD and OBD1 vehicles here. You won't regret it. I spent weeks working on a cascade of failures on my 1984 Datsun 720, starting with a head gasket, ultimately leading to timing chain guides, water pump and fan clutch, a second head gasket, and mirad other problems. Once I finally hit my limit in time and ability, Dr. Rob and his crew were the only guys around that confidently answered my call with a "yeah, we can handle it." They communicated really consistently the whole time, and when the financial scale tipped to an engine replacement, Rob worked with me to find a motor I could afford and acquired it for me. He held my old motor until I could come pick it up, and has been awesome in checking in for "post-operation check ups." Also, really personable and friendly, respecting my intelligence and ability while being really friendly with my mom and daughter when they came along with me to pick up the truck. Very knowledgeable about old school motors, carburetors, points, etc. Now my truck starts instantly in the cold, runs like a top, and I'm not constantly worried about it shutting down on me on the way to work. I'm going back for any work I need done, and so should you. Especially for your unusual and vintage vehicles.