South Austin Family-owned since 1987
AUSTIN, TEXAS · SINCE 1987 · AUSTIN, TEXAS · SINCE 1987 ·

Every repair starts with the right diagnosis.

Most shops replace parts until the light turns off. We're engineers first, mechanics second — so we test, we diagnose, and we tell you exactly what your car needs, why, and what can wait.

In business 30+ years
Rating ★★★★★4.8
Warranty 12mo / 12k
The Hartwell & Sons team in front of their East Riverside shop
Our shop, our standards
Engineering-trained mechanics. No upsell. No guesswork.
Foreign & Domestic
State Inspections
Two South Austin locations
No hidden fees, ever

You shouldn't need an engineering degree to understand your repair bill. Our mechanics have one anyway.

Most auto shops work backwards — they swap parts until the problem goes away, then send you the bill. Our mechanics studied electrical and mechanical engineering, so we test at a level most shops can't. We use factory-level diagnostic information and scanner data to find the actual root cause before we touch a single bolt.

When we tell you what's wrong, we explain it in plain English. When we recommend a repair, we tell you why — and if it can wait until next month, next year, or never. That's not a marketing line. It's how we've earned 30+ years of customers in South Austin.

Daniel Hartwell & the Hartwell team

Four steps. No surprises.

01 / Diagnose

Diagnose

Factory-level scan tools and real engineering testing. We find the actual cause — not just the first code that pops up.

02 / Explain

Explain

We walk you through what's wrong, what it'll cost, and what's urgent vs. what can wait. In plain English, before any work begins.

03 / Repair

Repair

Quality parts, done correctly the first time. Foreign or domestic, routine maintenance or full engine work.

04 / Warranty

Warranty

Every repair is backed by our 12-month / 12,000-mile warranty on parts and labor. If it's not right, we make it right.

From diagnostics to engine rebuilds.

Check Engine & Diagnostics

Deep scan of engine, transmission, ABS and body modules to find the real issue.

Brakes & Suspension

Pads, rotors, calipers, struts, alignment — complete brake and ride control work.

AC & Heating

Texas-ready AC service, refrigerant, compressor, heater core — diagnosed and repaired.

Electrical Systems

Starters, alternators, batteries, wiring, sensors — where engineering training really shows.

State Inspections

Texas state inspections at our Menchaca location. In and out, no upsell.

Scheduled Maintenance

Oil, filters, fluids, plugs, timing belts — keep small jobs from becoming expensive ones.

"Another shop told me I needed a full transmission rebuild. The team here ran their own diagnostic and found it was a shift solenoid. Saved me about $3,200."

★★★★★ Austin customer · via Google

"They honored a quote from three weeks earlier when a part came in more expensive than they'd estimated. That kind of integrity is rare. Earned my business for life."

★★★★★ Austin customer · via Yelp

"Being new to the area and a woman, I was bracing for the usual mechanic experience. Instead they showed me the old part, walked me through the work, and charged exactly what they quoted. Easy to recommend."

★★★★★ South Austin resident · via Nextdoor

Two shops. Both in South Austin.

Menchaca · South Lamar

Menchaca Road

78745 · STATE INSPECTIONS
Address 6200 Menchaca Rd
Austin, TX 78745
Hours Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Riverside · Montopolis

East Riverside

78741 · RIVERSIDE
Address 4400 E Riverside Dr
Austin, TX 78741
Hours Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday Closed
Ready when you are

Bring us the problem. We'll find the real answer.