Volvo mechanic recommendation near Santa Rosa, California?

wrybread · Post by **wrybread** » 03 Feb 2026, 09:15

The evap system in my 1998 S70 GLT keeps throwing check engine light and I'm giving up on my lazy attempts to try to fix it. I don't imagine anyone has a recommendation for a Volvo mechanic in the Santa Rosa / Sebastopol / Petaluma / etc / area? Will travel a bit farther for the right one.

Also have the SAS test falling even though I unplugged it.

My registration is pretty much expired so I have a little flame under me to get it smogged.

Post by **abscate** » 04 Feb 2026, 02:09

Unplugging the SAS will code and Fail smog , of course

Good luck finding a good Volvo indie

Post by **scot850** » 04 Feb 2026, 08:26

There used to me a small repair shop my brother used when he lived in Santa Rosa. It was down on Sonoma I believe. He is no longer in CA but I will try to get hold of him and see if he recalls what it was called. I think there was also a mom and pop shop in Santa Rosa, but like many things they may have retired now. They worked on older Volvos.

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 04 Feb 2026, 18:41

It's not Santa Rosa it's way down in the south bay, but FWIW Bo Jonsson's is incomparable https://bojonsson.com

Certainly there's a good Volvo indie up your way, hope you find one.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 04 Feb 2026, 23:44

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Both are reputable shops. Ali was my classmate for 1.5 years at the local JC while studying electronics. Volvo pick him up right after his obtaining an AA in Electronics. Super sharp mechanically and diagnostics besides a good human being. Antonio was my go to place for small quantities of Swepco products as some of the more specialty items I didn't buy in cases of 24 qty.
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https://montclairautotech.com/about.html
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Montc ... OUgBUAM%3D

https://www.independentporschevolvo.com/about-us
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Post by **scot850** » 05 Feb 2026, 19:00

My Brother got back to me. The name of the repair shop was:

Calvary Tire and Brake. Run by 2 brothers. Has many good reviews and they worked on my brother's 97 850. Hopefully they can help you. He says they are on the East side of the town and before Oakmont.

Neil.

wrybread · Post by **wrybread** » 05 Feb 2026, 22:48

Thanks for that. I wound up taking it to "Volvos by Morgans" in Santa Rosa on the recommendation of a friend. Will give Calvary a try if they can't fix it. I got a super good vibe from Morgans though, bunch of purdy old volvos in what looks like a pop & son type shop.

On a sidenote the last time I tried fixing the evap system I couldn't, and a friend showed me how to register my car in South Dakota to bypass the issue, which I did. And that's been working well for at least a year. And it's perfectly legal as far as South Dakota is concerned, I'm pretty sure it's this one county in South Dakota's sole source of revenue. It's really bizarre to look at my South Dakota registration with my California address printed right on it. But of course California doesn't see that as legal, and someone said I could be prosecuted for tax evasion... I don't know if that was alarmist or not but it's enough of a scare word to get me looking for a fix, ha.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 06 Feb 2026, 17:01

wrybread wrote: ↑05 Feb 2026, 22:48 Thanks for that. I wound up taking it to "Volvos by Morgans" in Santa Rosa on the recommendation of a friend. Will give Calvary a try if they can't fix it. I got a super good vibe from Morgans though, bunch of purdy old volvos in what looks like a pop & son type shop.

On a sidenote the last time I tried fixing the evap system I couldn't, and a friend showed me how to register my car in South Dakota to bypass the issue, which I did. And that's been working well for at least a year. And it's perfectly legal as far as South Dakota is concerned, I'm pretty sure it's this one county in South Dakota's sole source of revenue. It's really bizarre to look at my South Dakota registration with my California address printed right on it. But of course California doesn't see that as legal, and someone said I could be prosecuted for tax evasion... I don't know if that was alarmist or not but it's enough of a scare word to get me looking for a fix, ha.

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Back in the 80's a classmate in JC registered his Porsche 928 in Nevada for tax purposes. Many attorney's were helping people establish corporations in NV for tax relief.
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