Wayne Baca, owner of Wayne's Auto Repair in Los Unas, was satisfied of being a mechanic at Baca Auto in Belen – a job that he had held for 29 years, even though his wife, Shana, was encouraging him to open a shop of his own.

“Every time we'd go somewhere, someone would ask me to work on their car,” Baca said. “So my wife was after me to open my own shop. I was comfortable where I was at, and didn't have any intention of leaving. So I made her a promise that if I lost my job, that is the day I open my own shop.”

Baca and his wife have owned a four-bay car wash at 103 Main Street in Los Lunas, so he converted two of the bays into his auto shop, where he operates Wayne's Auto Repair as a one-man operation.

“I've been in the business for 30 years,” Baca said. “I've had extensive factory training, and I'm ASC certified.”

The services he offers include engine and transmission work, tire balancing, oil changes, tune ups, suspension work, the repair of power windows and other electrical work.

The services Baca does not offer are front-end alignments, because he does not own the necessary equipment, and major engine overhauls, because auto manufacturers sell new engines at a cheaper price than the cost of overhauling the old engine, Baca said.

Baca stresses that the key to the longevity of a car is preventative care, so that is why he puts emphasis on changing oil, which costs $32.22 and features Castrol, a premium oil.

Wayne's Auto, which is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, is easy to find, if you know where it is. Traveling east on Main Street, a customer must turn right immediately after crossing the railroad tracks. There is also a turn bay into the business if traveling west on Main Street.

Shingle Springs smog check

August 1st, 2009 in Uncategorized August 1, 2009, 4:49 am. Tags: