This guy is definetly shady, but not in the shady auto-mechanic "I have a ponytail" and I'm always right kind of way. My saga began when I was looking for my "Check Engine" light to turn off. Carl claimed to have changed out a part in my car, but then could not produce the part he claimed to have replaced. What he basically did was some mechanic crap that tricked my car into thinking the light was off. Carl assured me that soon my car would be ready to test and he was right. Several days later, the light was off and i was cruising through the smog test. Several days after that and to this day, my check engine light is burning brightly into the night and carl is laughing with his grungy, toothless co-worker about taking me for $220. Now he did fix my light, so I give him credit, but he did lie about the part and then failed to mention about the aftermath and how he will be waiting for me in FEb. 2012 again when my engine light is still on and I need another smog check. If Carl (who also won't take credit cards) is doing this to people, I could never trust this dude to fix anything major or minor on my vehicle. So if you want to get ripped-off by a nice mechanic (and he does have some heart-warming family tales he spins to you), cool Carl is your man.