Trusted TDI Mechanics - By State

Jethro Bodine said:

There does not appear to be anything at or near Mobile AL. Anyone tried the stealership there?

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Take a look at this thread:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=3125875&highlight=jason+king#post3125875

We try not to discuss dealerships here, only TDI experts. Too many dealerships assign jobs to any mechanic who's not busy, whether they know anything about TDIs. And too many dealerships cut too many corners.

okay, now that i just realized that vw has modified the tb replacement from 100,000 to 80,000 and i have over 86,000, i'm trying to figure out where to get the belt replaced. i've read good things about hevster1 and metal man but neither appear on the map and the post dates were fairly dated. i live north of philadelphia and could use some help with any current recommendations.

TDIJetta99 in NY, Hevster1 in NJ, TDIRacing in MD, pick one, all are good.

tditom said:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=310009

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Regardless of how that story turns out, Streetwerke does not seem to be a TDI-oriented shop.

www.streetwerke.com

TornadoRed said:

Regardless of how that story turns out, Streetwerke does not seem to be a TDI-oriented shop.

www.streetwerke.com

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yet they are on this list...

Another plug for Keith Harley at KMH Motors in North Chelmsford, MA. He's on the list of trusted mechanics and did some work for me recently. He was reliable, quick, thorough and a great guy.

TornadoRed said:

Regardless of how that story turns out, Streetwerke does not seem to be a TDI-oriented shop.

www.streetwerke.com

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Yes, it seems that streetwerke should have been removed from the trusted list back in 2008 according to post #572 in this thread. (Also try using the 'Search this Thread' function to find more.)

That is why people need to do their due dilligence and search.

The list is a recomended list from someones experience.

Hey, Jason... the corner garage did a great job checking the air pressure in my sister-in-law's tires... Do you think she should go there to have her timing belt changed???

Yuri

On a ford....lol.

Updated Ray_G's phone number on the map. Private message request.

Streetwerke deleted from the map, per post #572.

statesboro, ga area

anybody had good luck with Billy's Imports or Univeristy Imports in Statesboro? Im looking for a reliable shop that can do a TB on a 03 NB. thx scott

69x11 said:

anybody had good luck with Billy's Imports or Univeristy Imports in Statesboro? Im looking for a reliable shop that can do a TB on a 03 NB. thx scott

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Statesboro appears to be about equidistant from Chapin SC, Atlanta, or Jacksonville. While there may be someone else who can do the job, I would strongly recommend that you travel however far you must, to have the job done properly by a TDI expert. You will be glad you did.

Going with a local mechanic who doesn't have the special tools or the experience is rarely a good idea. Also, you should review the contents of a deluxe timing belt kit and make sure everything gets replaced. Either obtain the kit yourself or be very particular when you discuss this with your mechanic.



A typical deluxe kit, this one by Dieselgeek.com: Litens tensioner, INA rollers, waterpump with metal and not plastic impeller, complete set of replacement bolts, etc.

Tornado do u know of a good shop in chapin?

69x11 said:

Tornado do u know of a good shop in chapin?

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I know that people tend to meet up at DanG144's shop and most of them know their way around a TDI engine. Send him an PM or email for more info/advice:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/member.php?u=65753

ymz said:

Hey, Jason... the corner garage did a great job checking the air pressure in my sister-in-law's tires... Do you think she should go there to have her timing belt changed???

Yuri

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I'd like to share the following experiences in case anyone suggests the following shops be added to the list:

Colonial VW of Westborough, MA -
used lock down tools for a timing belt job. They did tension the timing belt tensioner in the wrong direction though (on both jobs). Recently, on a timing belt job done around 10,000 miles ago they did not replace a hemhorraging crank seal. The belt is now coated in oil. Upon removing the camshaft sprocket bolt WAY overtorqued, threads from the camshaft came out. Re-used engine mount bolts. To the customers who went to this dealerships, the timing belt had been done "properly" and the dealership did "quality" work - up until they saw it with their own eyes.

Engines by Benz of East Providence, Rhode Island
Have receipts from a car I purchased. Customer racked up over $3,000 of work that was either not performed, or not necessary - all in a 3 month period. This car had experienced a engine run-away/overspeed - they put new injector bodies from VW on to the tune of over $800 - ON an engine with bent rods to solve the problem.

Scott Volkswagen or East Providence, Rhode Island
Told a customer they needed a new turbo. Customer had a faulty N75.

fase2000TDI said:

Colonial VW of Westborough, MA -

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I bought my Golf there new back in 2001. Used to let them do the oil changes until I got my car back with a oily thumbprint on my a pillar.

Guess I owe them, it was their inattention to my car that started me doing my own maintenance, but I agree, stay away from their service department.

-D...

Can anyone recommend a Body Shop near Cincinnati, OH? I have some rust on the front right quarter panel and need a new bumper....

FYI: This thread is meant more for TDI specific mechanical shops, than general VW/import repairs. But to answer your questions anyway:

If you're talking about rust on the front fenders, see these threads:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=158465&page=8
and
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=215941&page=2
and
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/a4/fender-rust-VW-TDI-repair.htm

Fortunately/unfortunately, you will have to take it to a VW dealer if you want it covered under warranty.

As for the front bumper cover, you can try:
http://www.certifit.com/ for cheap aftermarket replacement panels (warning, they don't take returns so inspect parts before you pay for them. Some people call them 'Sort-a-Fit' because some of their parts don't fit exactly like OEM. A4 front bumper cover is ~$40 in my area.)

Or you could try and search http://car-part.com/ and see if you can get lucky finding used OEM panels near by in the correct color already.

Thanks for the information 6x6man - I didn't even think about it being under warranty. I'll try to post in a better location in the future!

Updated map information for VW Petrolero and jasonTDI.

good experience with Hevster1

Just wanted to give a quick thumbs up for Hevster1 in Colombia, NJ who is already on the list.

I stopped by his place this morning for a vacuum seal replacement. It's a fairly simple job and he finished it quickly. Nice guy to chat with.

Does anyone know a reputable TDI mechanic around Frederick, Maryland?

wncre8r said:

Does anyone know a reputable TDI mechanic around Frederick, Maryland?

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Nothing closer than an hour, I'm afraid...

If you want a dealer, Martens VW in Bethesda has gotten good reviews...

(UserID "TdiRacing" in Baltimore is superb... http://forums.tdiclub.com/member.php?u=16069

A bit further away is UserID "Car 54" in Woodbridge, VA http://forums.tdiclub.com/member.php?u=3506 - although I'm not sure if he's working on cars these days...

Lastly, even further away is UserID "Ninedee_golf_tdi" in Stafford, VA http://forums.tdiclub.com/member.php?u=14402

All the best,

Yuri

i have to give a negative review of speedsporttuning in danbury ct, they used to be farmbacher lolles. i had originally "nominated" them (F-L) for this list, but no longer.
i had tham do an alignment. they snapped 2 of the strut bolts-hey it happens. but i get a BS story how they weren't automotive bolts and had the wrong temper. these were original VW bolts. then they charge 2hrs to replace them!
about 2 weeks later i hear a clunk, and the steering wheel shifts, now every time i hit a bump the alignment/wheel shifts. i bring the car back to them to have the alignment checked and the bolts retightened. the mechanic agrees with me that you can see the DS wheel is cambered in.
they call me up and say the rear bushings are gone--granted it's true but how does that change the camber of the front wheels? and they never bothered to recheck the alignment.

ganicker said:

Hi All,
Autoworks on Dryden Rd/rt 366 in Ithaca is great. They just changed
the timing belt, cleaned intake manifold, replaced hoses and replaced the sunroof.
I was even able to supply my own parts which saved me the big $$$!
I've been to the dealers in Syracuse and Select Eurocars in Waterloo but never again. My car is running like new and all I want to do is drive it like I stole it.
If you are in the Ithaca area go to Autoworks.

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Since you supplied your own parts, then you know everything was changed that needed to be changed (I hope).

But did they use the right tools? Did they have the specific tools to lock the camshaft in place? Or did they use the mark-and-pray method?

TornadoRed said:

But did they use the right tools? Did they have the specific tools to lock the camshaft in place? Or did they use the mark-and-pray method?

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It would be nice if Ganicker could remove the timing belt cover and take a look for paint marks...

Garnicker: you may have noticed that recommendations from people whose categorization here is "Newbie" is often treated with a bit of skepticism...

BTW: in Syracuse, Ed Karpinski of the Marcellus St. Garage is highly recommended... (Your profile has you living in Syracuse...)

Yuri

Would they have used all of the correct parts if you had not supplied your own?