Need mechanic in Lancaster, Pa area

Just found out my tdi guy (Kevin at Roberts Automotive in Mountville ) has left. I need someone new for inspections, advise, and major work ( I can handle most of the small stuff like brakes, filters, oil changes). Anybody out there you trust ? I hate to go back to the dealer ( have not had the best luck at Autohaus Lancaster).

Thanx

Get in touch with Oliver (TdiRacing) or email him at torquejunkie.com. He is about an hour or so way in notheren Baltimore. If he is too far and you need a PA inspection call him anyway I'm sure he knows somebody in PA. Jeff of rocketchip is based out of PA and can be of assistiance as well.

Alternately, Rolf (AKA: Winter) on here is very good. He is in Oley, which is not too far of a run for you.

Also user name: Metal_Man (i think) is in Sunbury along route 15 about 1.5 hours north of Lancaster.

Does great work!

Paul E Witmer Garage
41 E Mohler Church Road
Ephrata PA 717 738 1157

Specializes in VW, knows TDIs

blkpas said:

Just found out my tdi guy (Kevin at Roberts Automotive in Mountville ) has left. I need someone new for inspections, advise, and major work ( I can handle most of the small stuff like brakes, filters, oil changes). Anybody out there you trust ? I hate to go back to the dealer ( have not had the best luck at Autohaus Lancaster).

Thanx

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Stay AWAY from Autohaus. Robert's is still okay for inspections. If you need major work done, I would go see Metal Man in Sunbury! Worth the trip...


http://www.metalmanparts.com/

Wow Rocket chip him self is close and with Oliver thet are the 2 best close to you. And they work on cars.

kromicacid said:

Also user name: Metal_Man (i think) is in Sunbury along route 15 about 1.5 hours north of Lancaster.

Does great work!

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Second this! He's 2.5 hours away and I still take mine there for work. Inspections I get done locally but any repair work goes there (unless I do a road trip to OH in St Louis).

Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I have more options then I thought.

Winter is who I vote for.

I just a bought a TDI from Maryland and live in Lancaster, PA....was considering Autohaus for future repairs and maintenance....whats wrong with them?

I recommend Paul Witmer in Ephrata on Mohler Church Road

2005JettaTDI said:

I just a bought a TDI from Maryland and live in Lancaster, PA....was considering Autohaus for future repairs and maintenance....whats wrong with them?

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Everything!! I use them for batteries ONLY. If you need engine work, go to Dennis (metal_man) in Sunbury. If you need brakes, inspection, etc, try Roberts automotive on Columbia ave. There's also Rankin's garage (haven't been there).

If you REALLY, REALLY need a dealer, try Lebanon then York.

Strange, I do get work from that general vicinity as well

Does anyone know if Paul Whitmer is still in Ephrata? If so, are there any updates regarding members' opinion of his work?

Cheers,

Yes Paul Witmer is still in Ephrata, I have his address and contact info posted above. Always happy with his work and rates, I have an appt to replace a glow plug there on Friday.

Thanks for the quick response!

What work has he done for you? I'm looking for a good diagnostician. The Lebanon VW dealearship has been absolutely unhelpful. My 2003 Beetle has 93K miles on it but is smoking and idles unevenly, specially when cold.

Are there other TDI mechanics in the area that you recommend?

jpluddite said:

Thanks for the quick response!
What work has he done for you? I'm looking for a good diagnostician. The Lebanon VW dealearship has been absolutely unhelpful. My 2003 Beetle has 93K miles on it but is smoking and idles unevenly, specially when cold.
Are there other TDI mechanics in the area that you recommend?

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He's changed timing belts, rebuilt top ends, glow plugs and harnesses, I'd recommend them for anything TDI related. The only other one I could recommend is Roberts Automotive in Mountville although they're a little pricier.

http://www.roberts-automotive.com

I think Roberts is on the TDI guru list as well.

Oh, I thought that the TDI guy left Robert's Automotive. Here's a post from earlier in the thread:

"Just found out my tdi guy (Kevin at Roberts Automotive in Mountville ) has left. I need someone new for inspections, advise, and major work ( I can handle most of the small stuff like brakes, filters, oil changes). Anybody out there you trust ? I hate to go back to the dealer ( have not had the best luck at Autohaus Lancaster).

Thanx"

You could be right, don't know. I called them before Witmers hoping they could squeeze me in quickly and they were going to do the glow plugs if I was willing to wait a week.

Thanks, I'll give Whitmer a try.

Has anyone heard of Wagner VW Service in Grantville, PA?

I made an appt at Whitmer's Garage for next Thursday. I'll post the results.

Thanks,

I had to cancel last week's appt at Whitmer's because of snow, but I rescheduled for this week, and I'm happy with the results.

They were very attentive. I live about 30 minutes from Whitmer's garage, but even so by the time I got home they had left a voicemail asking me call them. During that time, they had already checked everything that it took the dealership several weeks to consider. They asked me if I had used ether or anything similar to cold start it because doing so can apparently bend a rod, so they wanted to rule that out.

Ultimately, they did a purge for the injectors, and it seems to be running okay. It's due for an inspection in February, so if it acts up before then, I'll take it back. I guess, even if it doesn't, I'll take it back to them.

Thanks for the suggestion guys.

The problem came back after a couple weeks and worse than ever. It was blowing black smoke so bad that a cop stopped my wife because he thought something was wrong with the car.

I went to Wolfe's VW & Audi service near Harrisburg, and they found a couple wires in the harness that connected to the mass flow sensor that had been sliced (badly). They fixed those and it now seems like a new car. I just got it back yesterday, so it's too soon for a party, but I'm very hopeful.

Any idea why someone would splice those wires?

One of the guys that works at Wolf's is Ray, Ray is a fantastic mechanic. Has skills beyond most mortals. So, you chose wisely.