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San Dimas drivers who want a careful look at their car can bring it to Route 66 Auto Repair, a single shop at 1775 W Foothill Blvd in Upland. Most people come east on the 210 or stay on Historic Route 66 through La Verne and Claremont. An ASE-certified technician tests the problem first, and you approve a written estimate before any repair starts. We also accept tow-ins from San Dimas when the car should stay off the road.
Which way should you drive from San Dimas?
For most of San Dimas, the 210 is the quick choice. Get on it heading east, pass the 57 interchange, and keep going through La Verne and Claremont into Upland. Leave the freeway at Mountain Ave, drive south to Foothill Blvd, and turn right. Head west to Central Ave. The shop is at Foothill Blvd and Central Ave, one block east of In-N-Out Burger.
If you would rather skip freeway merges, Foothill Blvd works the whole way. It is the old Route 66 alignment, and it carries you from San Dimas through La Verne and Claremont without a single on-ramp. It has more signals, so plan on a slower trip. The directions page has a map if you want to check the last few turns.
What does San Dimas driving do to a car?
The 210 and 57 meet at the edge of town, and that junction backs up almost every weekday. Many San Dimas commuters head west toward Pasadena and spend a long stretch creeping in traffic. Creeping is hard on automatic transmissions and cooling systems, because the car makes heat without the airflow that highway speed brings.
Summer adds more. Weekend traffic builds around Raging Waters and Bonelli Park, and plenty of San Dimas trucks and SUVs pull boats or small trailers out to the lake. Towing on a hot day loads the brakes, the transmission and the radiator all at once. On the north side, foothill streets add short climbs and steep descents to the mix.
Three jobs we often see on San Dimas cars
- Transmission fluid and shift checks. Slow 210 traffic cooks fluid over time. A late or harsh shift is worth testing early. Our transmission services page explains what a fluid check can and cannot tell you.
- AC and cooling repairs. A weak vent temperature at a red light, or a gauge that rises in traffic, usually points to a fan, a condenser or low refrigerant. See cooling, heating and AC services.
- Tow vehicle and trailer checks. Before a lake weekend, a paid inspection covers brakes, tires, cooling and transmission. If you rent a U-Haul trailer from us, the Free Towing Inspection is a hookup check: coupler and ball size, pin, crossed chains, lights, and tongue weight against the hitch rating.
What if the car overheats or quits on the 210?
Signal, move right, and take the next exit if the car will get there. If it will not, stop on the right shoulder, as far from traffic as you can, and turn on your hazards. On a hot engine, leave the radiator cap alone: the coolant is under pressure and can burn you. Shut the engine off and let it cool.
Then call (909) 608-7699. We accept tow-ins, so you can have the car brought straight to the shop instead of forcing it the rest of the way. If the car simply will not start, tell us what you hear: a click, a slow crank, or nothing at all. That helps us decide on a jump or a tow.
How a visit from San Dimas works
Step 1: Phone before you leave
Call so the counter can check the board. We only promise a time the schedule can hold, and we text you if it slips.
Step 2: Describe the symptom
Tell the service writer when it happens: in traffic, on the climb, or with a trailer behind you.
Step 3: Hear the fee first
The diagnostic fee is stated at the counter before testing, and it applies to approved related repair.
Step 4: Test and photograph
An ASE-certified technician finds the cause. When the failed part is the point, you get photos.
Step 5: Approve line by line
Your written estimate marks each line need-now or schedule-later. If the job grows, we stop and ask again.
Step 6: Repair and road test
We repair to spec, run a quality check and road-test the car before you head home.
What's included for San Dimas drivers
Included on the work order
- 01Diagnostic fee stated before any testing
- 02Written estimate with need-now and need-later lines
- 03Photos of failed parts when the part is the point
- 04Repair to spec, quality check and road test
- 05Declined items kept on the repair order
- 06Warranty coverage written on the invoice
Drive over today, or book it for later?
Need now: call
- Temperature gauge climbing in 210 traffic
- Transmission slipping, flaring or refusing a gear
- Brakes that feel soft after towing or a long descent
Need later: book
- AC that works but is not as cold as last summer
- A fluid service that is due with no symptoms
- A small oil seep with the level holding steady
How are pricing and hours handled?
A phone quote is a range until we inspect the car. The written estimate sets the real number, and nothing extra happens without your approval. If a job needs two technicians, we explain that before the clock starts. We are an AAA Approved Auto Repair (opens in a new tab) shop, so members get 10% off parts and labor, up to $75, with the card at time of service. Hours are Monday to Friday 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 2 PM.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Route 66 Auto Repair from San Dimas?
It is a short drive east. Take the 210 to the Mountain Ave exit in Upland, or follow Historic Route 66 through La Verne and Claremont. Traffic at the 210 and 57 junction changes the trip a lot, so check your map app before you leave.
Is it worth driving from San Dimas to an Upland shop?
That is your call. What you get here is a stated diagnostic fee, a written estimate before work, photos when the part matters, and need-now versus need-later labels. Many people decide the short drive is worth that kind of clarity.
Can you take a tow-in from San Dimas?
Yes. Call (909) 608-7699 before the truck heads our way so we know the car is coming and what it is doing. If the tow arrives after we close, the key can go in our after-hours key drop.
Can I drop my car off after hours if I work in San Dimas?
Yes. Park the car and leave the key in our after-hours key drop, then call us in the morning with the details. We will contact you after the car has been checked and before any repair is done.
Is there a mechanic near San Dimas open on Saturday?
Our Upland shop is open Saturday from 8 AM to 2 PM, and Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. We are closed Sunday. Saturday fills fast, so call before you drive over.
Visit the shop
Route 66 Auto Repair
1775 W Foothill Blvd, Upland, CA 91786 (opens Google Maps)Foothill Blvd and Central Ave, one block east of In-N-Out Burger. Between the I-10 and the 210 on Historic Route 66.
(909) 608-7699info@route66autorepairshop.com| Monday | 8 AM–5 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–5 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–2 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |