Engine Experts

I'm a busy mom of four kids that never take time to write reviews. However, I owe it to the Engine Experts to tell you about our experience. Our 2011 Toyota minivan was making a loud noise for sometime. It finally was due for state inspection and oil change so instead of going to Jimmy Lube, we took it to the dealership for maintenance and to fix the noise. They told us it was the water pump and quoted $2300 to fix. My husband insisted on getting another estimate and called around. Luckily he was referred to Jimmy Boyd at Engine Experts. He quoted us a price over $1000 less and said to bring the car in. And though tucked back off the street, he's a few blocks from the dealership. To our surprise, Jimmy gave us a full tour of the garage and introduced all his staff. Don't expect to drop your car off an run, because that's not Jimmy's way. To say the garage/management is impressive is an understatement. There are specific area's designated for tasks with the correct lighting, individual carts are used per car to pull parts out, a designated oil change station so you're in/out in no time, and so much more. I was particularly impressed with the organization of the tools - every drill bit in order by size and clean. Why is this important? You know exactly where things are and can work fast. Jimmy explained his philosophy to running the business and what's most important to him --his integrity. He's not about over charging for things not needed and wants you to understand how he runs the shop to make sure it's a good fit on both sides. He's uniquely friendly, talkative, and warm - and prides himself on his honesty (no BS with him). Needless to say, we left the minivan for him to work on. The next morning I got a call to confirm the water pump needed replacement. Though it takes approximately 13 hours of labor, he put two mechanics on it and had it back to me by 3pm. The organization allows the staff to work faster and thus, charge less in labor. When we went to get the car, Jimmy insisted I go and turn it on to make sure it sounded good. It purred like a kitten. The car being thoroughly cleaned was an additional bonus. In the end we saved $1000, but most importantly - we now have a new garage for ALL our car needs. Tire replacement, oil changes, brakes, etc...Jimmy is the guy to work with. Thank you for being a business that prides themselves on their work and their relationship with the customer. You can't ask for more than that.

I have a 05 Nissan Sentra and on 8/21 I was driving home from NCCU and my car suddenly stalled while on the Durham Freeway. I didn't know what to do. So I called USAA roadside assistance. The lady asks me where I'd like to have my car towed and I have no clue. I don't know any mechanics in the area. She made a few phone calls and told me a man named Jimmy from Engine Experts was going to help me and to call him. So I did gave him some information about my car. He was very professional and nice. When I got there I was so pleased with the way the shop looked. Everything was clean and organized. So he starts to check out my car and it's not showing the problem I had with it. But he notices right away that my fuel pump is making a loud humming noise. I start to freak out a little because I know that fuel pumps are expensive. But he tells me to hold on because that may not be the problem that's causing my car to cut off. He says he doesn't like to throw money at a repair and the person still have problems. I can appreciate this because I don't want to drive away and my car not be fixed. He explained to me that while the fuel pump is going to go out it's not as urgent of a repair as what's causing my car to cut off. That the number one priority is to figure out what's going on. Eventually they figure out that my cam shaft sensor and my crankshaft sensor are going bad. They fixed the problem and got me back on the road. I will forever be a customer. Everyone was courteous and professional. Jimmy is the Best!!!!

I have a 1998 Wrangler TJ with 178,000 miles on it. My late wife and I bought this Jeep together and it is my sanity in my life now. She is my baby! The Jeep had a rattling noise and starting having performance issues. I knew my 2.5 needed to be replaced. I found Engine Experts on a web search. After checking reviews and viewing videos on YouTUBE I gave them a call. Jimmy (a man with tremendous energy) answered the phone. I made an appointment. There are three rules by which I judge every business. Integrity, Integrity, and Integrity.

First of all I was not allowed to make a decision until Jimmy took me on a tour (integrity test passed)! That is a good thing. He lets the facility stand on its own two feet. It is neat and organized. You can tell in a matter of seconds these are true professionals. Each car had a dedicated shelving system assigned to it. The work areas are neat. Both Jimmy and I decided the shop and my Jeep was a good match and we scheduled a convenient time and they got to work. The attention to detail was amazing. Every part was removed, cleaned, and inspected. Knowing my mileage and no real history of the vehicle I expected some parts needed replacing. I was called, shown any parts they felt was critical and needed replacing (very few by the way). I was shown parts that were OK but could be replaced while the engine was out. I decided to replace my clutch assembly, get a Radiator cleaning, new hoses, serpentine belt and oxygen sensor and a few other small things. No hidden labor charges were assessed. (After all they had to put all that back on anyway). This was more than fair! (Integrity test passed again). Jimmy is kind but brutally honest. Tells you like it is and does not mince words (integrity test passed once more). I was anxious to pick my Jeep up. I was not allowed until Jimmy personally took it for a test run and inspected it (need I say it). They have a dedication to their work that is amazing!!!! Here is the kicker!! My Jeep not only runs perfect BUT… It was cleaned, the engine and components they did not even work on shined better than new. I am not sure what they did to my air intake system but it looks factory fresh. Every component they touched was gone over and detailed to look brand new. Oil pan and valve cover freshly painted. My interior was cleaned!!!!! Unknown to Jimmy I talked to some of the folks at the site and they LOVE their job and take a lot of pride in their work!! Lastly I am from Henderson and could have gotten someone a lot closer to do the work. Glad I found Jimmy and the fine pros at Engine Experts. If you go in with realistic expectations, you WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY! They will make sure of it.

Frank B.

I have a 2001 S-10 truck with 235,000 miles on it. Well the engine finally died and left me stranded on the road. Being my own mechanic, I didn't know of any shops who I felt would give me the service I needed. I found Engine Experts by chance on an online search. I liked the website and what they do so I decided to give them a call. I spoke to Jimmy and explained my situation to him. I told him I have been forced into being my own mechanic due to the disservice most shops around the triangle provide. He told me "I'm an acquired taste, I will not b.s. you. I am honest and do great work." I knew right away that he was a character, in a good way of course. I could hear some of his customers in the background laughing at him. He puts one of his customers on the phone with me and he tells me how great Jimmy and the guys are. He states that he's been a customer for over 11 years and that there is no one else he would go to. Jimmy gets back on the phone and tells me to stop by, meet him and check out the shop. The shop is clean and organized! After an hour we talk some more and we both decide we're a good fit to do business with each other. I told him I think the engine is shot and needs to be replaced. He said "have it towed here and we'll check it out and find out for sure what the problem is". Jimmy calls me back the next day and tells me the engine does need to be replaced. My truck is my primary vehicle and I needed it done quickly. Jimmy not only fits me into their schedule, they repaired the truck within a week! With the engine out of the truck, He calls me so I can meet with him to discuss what needed to be done. We go over what can be reused and what should be replaced. No one does that any more. Most repair shops will repair your vehicle and not even tell you what they did. Having a strong mechanical background, I am impressed with their knowledge and professionalism. My truck runs great! I am a customer for life. If you are in search of a shop that is honest, then look no further! I'm a car guy who "gets it". Many thanks!

I can't thank Jimmy enough. AC went out suddenly and didn't have a clue what was wrong or what it would cost. Jimmy made time for me immediately and had it fixed in hours for hundreds ( I emphasize the S) less than what I was worried it would cost or what a dishonest businessman could have gotten out of me. He's honest, thorough, and very good at what he does. I highly recommend him!

Working with Engine Experts (Jimmy) is the best automotive experience I have ever had. Jimmy was very up front and honest. I never felt like I was paying for something I did not need or was over paying for what I did. I would recommend him to anyone. The work that was done was done great. Very rarely do you find such an honest and professional business man like Jimmy. Truly a awesome experience. Daniel G

Jimmy is a professional businessman. He has the customers wellbeing in mind when repairs are needed. He strives to come in below the quote and doesn't create unnecessary work to charge the customer. I was referred by a friend for an AC problem. He systematically troubleshot the problem from the least expensive repair. He had to recharge the system 3 times but only charged me for one. Again he came in under the quote. He also replaced the serpentine belt because it needed it. He will take care of your car as it were his own. A good honest mechanic is hard to find, Jimmy and his crew are one of these.

Jimmy is quite a character who takes some getting used to, but he is 100% HONEST! I did not tell Jimmy that I am very good with engines during my time dealing with him because I wanted to see if he was going to oversell me. An engine swap is too big of a job for me.

He and his team will first determine if your vehicle even needs a new engine, then and only then, will they proceed to lay out your options in a very cost-effective manner. He replaced the engine in my son's 2004 Tacoma. The engine they put in is working great. They don't just drop a working engine from a junkyard in the vehicle. Jimmy has suppliers all over the US and he is very particular about the engine he chooses. When they receive the engine, they take it apart, inspect the living daylights out of it, then clean EVERYTHING. You leave with a warranty. These guys are good to go!

I would say Jimmy and the boys are the best at what they do,no matter the issue with the engine with your car these boys can fix it!!! they have my 89 cevy 4x4 running like new.

I received a diagnosis from a local garage that my 1997 F150 had lost compression in a cylinder and that a replacement engine was needed. Estimated cost was $5000. I called Jimmy Boyd at Engine Experts based on reviews here and on Yelp and Jimmy said he would give me a second opinion. The result was that the engine needed a coil and plugs. No engine replacement. I was able to pick the truck up in a couple of days and it runs great. Plus they washed it for me! Cannot say enough good things about their professionalism and the work the guys did for me. I am now comfortable that I have found a mechanic for my vehicles that will shoot straight and that is smart enough to diagnose the problem the first time. No more "let's try this and see if that's the problem". A really good bunch of guys to deal with.

I searched for an engine repair specialist and came across Engine Experts. I immediately liked the content of the web site because it said what I was thinking so I called and scheduled a visit to the shop. I must say that I was, like many other customers on this site, blown away by the processes implemented, the quality assurance practied, and the character of the owner and employees who work there. As I work in process improvement and quality assurance every day, I pick up on those kinds of details and what I saw at Engine Experts gave me an euphoric feeling...like finding the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I jumped in with an engine rebuild just hoping that my instincts were on target...and now I have a car that runs like new and no regrets! It was the most wonderful experience! Not only did Jimmy find an almost new engine with only 2100 miles on it, but the process calls for inspecting and replacing worn parts while the engine is out (with the owner's approval of course) which is exactly what I wanted to happen! My Honda sounds and rides like a new car! As a busy woman, I'm done with car shops that install substandard parts and use inexperienced technicians to get the job done while making you feel like those sounds are all in your head! I can only thank the universe and the reviews posted here for guiding me to my new Car Daddy!!!! I could go on and on...but I think you get the message.

STOMP The Monster NC can't thank you enough for working with us to get new tires and brakes for a local cancer patient at a discount. Our STOMP said you did a great job and was most appreciative!!!

On 2/14/2013 I took my car to Engine Experts to be serviced and was completely blown away by the service I received. I had spoken to another mechanic prior to going to see Jimmy and that mechanic had told me it would take at least 3hrs to diagnose the problem. Not only did Jimmy get me in the same day, they were able to have me in and out in about an hour and the problem was fixed. He is a VERY straight forward and an honest man. As a single mother my time and money are very important and even though it is an hour drive from where I live, I will take my car back to Engine Experts every time it needs service. Great job guys and thank you so very much!!!

I have to start off by saying that I don’t take the time to write reviews, good or bad. I just go on my way and either continue to do business with someone or never go back. With that said, Jimmy and his team at Expert Engines were unbelievable. My Jeep Wrangler sat for a month at a very reputable shop in Cary with the final outcome being that I would need to replace the 4.0L motor. I was skeptical and very disappointed to say the least so I read a few great reviews about Expert Engines and gave Jimmy a call. We briefly spoke about my issue and he assured me that they would take a look at it and be honest with the diagnosis. I had the Jeep towed there on Tuesday afternoon. I was given a tour of the shop, introduced to everyone on his team and given a description of their standards on quality and honesty. I was already impressed with Jimmy and his team.

Jimmy asked Johnny to take a break and look at my Jeep while I was still there to see if he could give a quick diagnosis. Remember, the other shop was telling me that I needed a new motor at 4K plus. They opened the hood, pulled the distributor and found that it was not properly aligned or set correctly. They made a few quick adjustments and he started it up. I was floored at how quickly they found the issue and had my Jeep running again. From there I asked that they check everything out and make sure I was safe to get back on the road. Jimmy and his team did a thorough job of repairing and replacing items that I knew about but wasn’t going to worry about. They went ahead and repaired my exhaust leak, transmission mount, my hood latch and more on top of getting it back to perfect running order.

I picked it up this afternoon and had the opportunity to meet a few other customers while I was there. Everyone said the same thing about the professionalism and quality workmanship. They are honest, very reasonable with cost considering the level of expertise you receive and professional.

The bottom line is that I would recommend these guys to anyone. I can honestly say that I have never received better customer service. They know what they’re doing and truly are the experts.

I first discovered the team at Engine Experts when was looking for an engine repair specialist to take on the tedious challenge of removing several corroded exhaust manifold bolts from my truck’s aluminum engine block. The corroded manifold bolts were the result of my truck having spent several, salty, winters in New England, and many of these bolts were rusted through to the point that some of the bolt heads were completely missing while the shaft of these bolts were all still buried in the aluminum engine block.



Anyhow, several other garages had previously passed on my engine repair job saying that they were not equipped to make this type of engine repair so I was THRILLED when Jimmy at Engine Experts enthusiastically said, “I can fix it for you”. As a result of Engine Expert’s customer focus, excellent work, and can-do attitude: my truck’s engine was repaired for a fraction of the cost of what OTHER shops had quoted me for a total engine replacement.



Because of my first experience with Engine Experts, I immediately decided that I would become a repeat customer. Most recently, I asked Jimmy to put an aftermarket clutch in my GT 500, and he said, “Absolutely, we can do it”. So even though the name Engine Experts implies a certain auto repair specialty, I would like to point out that Jimmy’s team has the knowledge and the equipment to do far more than just engine work. It appears to me that there is no job that is too big or is too small for the team at Engine Experts.



So if you are looking for a good, fair, independent, auto mechanic who can handle everything from oil changes to tedious engine jobs, then I will say without hesitation that you should stop by to introduce yourself to Jimmy at Engine Experts.



C. Thompson

Raleigh, NC

Words cannot express the gratitude our family feels towards everyone at Engine Experts. From the first visit where you feel you found a family member you didn’t know was lost to the comfort of knowing that if they said it was broke then it is and they are not going to try to get anything by you. For anyone who likes to keep a circle of “experts” around whether it’s doctor, plumber, electrician, etc. you need look no further for your mechanic. And this is apparent not just from our interactions with the staff, but in speaking with fellow customers who have attended Engine Experts for double-digit years. Jimmy, Matt and the rest of the crew are wonderful and it is great to know you can take your vehicle(s) to a shop and not have to be on guard or try to read between the lines. Engine Experts will always be “our mechanic” and the relief of being able to say that in today’s world is outstanding!

I've been working with Jimmy for many years. I trust his advice and EVERYTHING he has done was required or would have in the near future. He works with the customer to make sure you get a good product for the price you spend. I can't think of another place in the area I would take my vehicle to and be satisfied it was fixed, any items needing replacement were identified and the price was reasonable.

If you are considering an engine for your vehicle, do yourself a favor and give Jimmy and the team at Engine Experts a call. I started to gather info about a month or so ago about the issues I was having with my Ford F150 truck. I called countless shops and dealers to gather info, and compare notes. I also wanted to narrow down my search to shops that were familiar with my truck, and engine, and the design issues that were well known. I had just about settled on the route I wanted to take to replace my motor, but thought I would try just a few more shops. Well I came across the number for Engine Experts, and gave them a ring. Talk about first impressions! I was blown away at how friendly and helpful they were right away. I bet I was on the phone with them for an hour or so. The coolest thing was they listened to my concerns...ALL OF THEM... and addressed each one. I was invited to come over to the shop and take a tour. The technicians in the shop were all very friendly. They welcomed the fact that its important to engage with your customers. I will admit that I have a bad case of OCD... I cant deal well with sloppy unorganized work. Again...I was impressed. The way they go about doing work is just cool! Its not just engines..its whatever the heck they are working on. All the parts are kept neat and together, and one tech is working on your vehicle. Less chance of an error in my opinion. Well I decided to have them do the work. Again, they did not disappoint. I paid a visit once the old engine was removed. We looked at all the parts together to decide what was to be replaced,what was to be re-used, and why. The truck runs great, and was delivered when they said it would be. Jimmy and his team have my family as a customer for as long as he decides to stay in business. Thanks guys for taking a great deal of the pain out of this process!!!! Now whats our next project? :-)

My 2005 Nissan Altima stopped abruptly, and I had it towed to a local mechanic I've used for years. They said the engine was seized and would have to be replaced, and sent me to Engine Experts. Engine Experts quoted me a fair price to have it replaced, even giving me several different engine options at different price points. I was all ready to pull the trigger when they called me and told me that, in fact, it was just the alternator that had seized and the engine was fine.

Yes, Engine Experts knows what they are doing. Yes, they are customer-focused and friendly. But I would never have been the wiser if they had done the thousands of dollars of work I had signed off on instead of volunteering that the problem could be solved for a few hundred dollars. That shows they have integrity, and that is why I would not hesitate to recommend them or return with my further engine needs.