A specialist workshop for Japanese cars: factory procedures, the right parts, and technicians who have spent their careers on these engines. The inspection is free with any repair.
We work from the manufacturer’s service information: its procedures, its torque values, its fluids. Not from habit, and not from a generic chart on the wall.
二
Junsei — the genuine part
Genuine or OEM-equivalent parts from Japanese suppliers. A Subaru head gasket or a Honda timing belt is not a job for the cheapest box on the shelf.
三
Shōjiki — honesty
A written estimate with photos before we start, a call before anything changes, and your old parts returned in a bag with your keys.
Makes we know
Four families of cars, known by heart.
01
Toyota & Lexus
Hybrids · trucks · 400,000 km and counting
From a 2004 Corolla to a new RX hybrid: factory-schedule maintenance, hybrid system and inverter-coolant service, and frame inspections on the 4Runners and Tacomas that work for a living.
Timing belts and water pumps on the V6s, valve clearances set the old way, CVT fluid with the fluid Honda specifies, and the oil checks the 1.5-litre turbo needs.
15:301993 Mazda RX-7Compression test · owner nervous
A day’s work as it stood this morning — names left off, cars left on. Most maintenance is ready the same day; bigger jobs get a ready time when you book, and a call if it changes.
Technicians
Careers spent on Japanese engines.
Hiro Tanaka
Hiro Tanaka
Founder · Red Seal automotive service technician
Apprenticed in Osaka, came to Richmond in 1994 and opened the shop four years later. Still road-tests every timing-belt job himself, on the same loop, with the radio off.
Jordan Chen
Jordan Chen
Lead technician · Red Seal, hybrid certified
Our hybrid and diagnostics lead. Jordan reads a Toyota’s fault codes the way most people read a menu — and then proves the cause before anyone orders a part.
Arjun Sidhu
Arjun Sidhu
Technician · Red Seal, Subaru & Honda
Has done more Subaru head gaskets than he can count, and still checks the cylinder heads for flatness every time. Looks after the imports, too.
A visit, step by step
Six steps, each one done properly.
BookOnline or by phone. Tell us the car, the kilometres and what it is doing.
InspectA proper look: a scan, a test drive, and the car on the lift.
CallA written estimate with photos, in plain words. Nothing starts until you say yes.
RepairFactory procedure, genuine or OEM-equivalent parts, every fastener to its torque.
Road testThe same roads at the same speeds, until the fault is truly gone.
CollectKeys, an itemised invoice, and your old parts in a bag on the seat.
28years on Japanese carsSince 1998
6,800+cars on our booksRichmond and beyond
24month / 40,000 km warrantyParts and labour
4.9from 486 reviewsGoogle
“Two shops wanted to replace my transmission. Hiro found a failing sensor and fluid that had never been changed. It drives like new.”
“Timing belt, water pump and every seal the procedure calls for — and they showed me the old belt. Fair price, no drama.”
“My Lexus has 410,000 km on it. Tanaka has looked after it for 300,000 of them, and it still starts every morning.”
Prices in Canadian dollars, before GST and PST, for most models. Every job starts with a written estimate and photos, and with any repair the inspection is free.
Questions owners ask
一Do you only work on Japanese cars?
Yes: Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Acura, Subaru, Mazda, Nissan and Infiniti, and the odd Mitsubishi. Specialising is how we know the common faults by heart and keep the right parts on the shelf.
二Will skipping the dealer affect my warranty?
No. Your new-car warranty stays intact when maintenance is done by a qualified shop to the factory schedule, with parts that meet the specification. Everything is recorded on your invoice.
三Do you use genuine parts?
Genuine, or OEM-equivalent from the Japanese suppliers who make the factory parts. We tell you which on the estimate, and quote both if you would like the choice.
四Do you look after right-hand-drive imports?
Gladly. We service Skylines, Silvias, Hiaces and kei trucks, and we can source the parts that were never sold in Canada.
五Can I wait, or will you drive me?
An oil service takes about an hour in the waiting room, with good tea. For longer jobs we drive you to the Canada Line or home, anywhere within 5 km.
六What does your warranty cover?
Parts and labour for 24 months or 40,000 km, whichever comes first, written on every invoice.
Free inspection with any repair
Bring it in. We will take a careful look.
Tell us the car and what it is doing. We will call you back within one business day with a time — and the inspection is on us with any repair.
整
Hiro Tanaka
Jordan Chen
Arjun Sidhu