Central California TDI service available--can travel to you!"

Matt-98AHU · October 28th, 2010, 09:28

Everyone,

I'm offering my services for TDI owners. I am currently based in Santa Maria, CA and can come to you! I am making a request of $0.45/mile travel expenses (1 way). If I need to stay overnight for a single job I don't expect to be paying for a hotel stay. If I can line up several jobs at once in the area I'm traveling to I can relax those expectations.

I have had many here on TDIClub welcome me into their homes and stayed the night as needed. Their hospitality as been greatly appreciated.

I do timing belts, injector swaps, injection pump reseals, cylinder head replacement, intake cleanings, clutches, auto to manual conversions, suspension (control arm bushings, struts, shocks, tie rods, sway bar bushings etc), brakes as well as general diagnostics with VCDS.

Note for people running vegetable oil/grease: A PITA (Pain In The Ass) fee will be applied to working on your car because of the extra hoses and other non-standard devices in the way. Expect a minimum of $150 extra to deal with that. There is also no guarantee on services rendered on these cars. You are running a sub-standard fuel the car was not actually designed to use. You are on your own. I am willing to help and work on such cars, but will not make guarantees on anything.

Feel free to PM me or shoot me an email at mattgtr@gmail.com.

I can be reached at (734)717-7527. If I don't pick up right away, I may very well be underneath someone's VW! Please leave a message with your name and number and I'll get back to you when I can! If you do not hear back from me within a reasonable amount of time (within 24 hours) you can call Diedre at (419)819-7733. Please only use her number if you cannot get ahold of me and I don't respond within 24 hours. She answers my phone at times as well, so if you hear a female voice when calling my number, don't be surprised and think it's a wrong number

john.jackson9213 · October 28th, 2010, 19:55

check your PM please.

VLS_GUY · October 31st, 2010, 13:36

Matt,

Nice to see some one on the central coast/ Southern California offering specialized TDI services.
Before you got into networking and computers how did you obtain you mechanical training? Also what experience do you have on other types of VWs and other makes?

Matt-98AHU · November 1st, 2010, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by VLS_GUY

Matt,

Nice to see some one on the central coast/ Southern California offering specialized TDI services.
Before you got into networking and computers how did you obtain you mechanical training? Also what experience do you have on other types of VWs and other makes?

I took several classes at my local community college in Michigan to get started several years ago. I then started work at a tire shop where after less than a year I began training to do wheel alignments and suspension work (also oil changes--only certified mechanics were allowed to do them at this company). I did that professionally for 5 years working on a huge variety of cars. I kept on prodding my employer to train and move on to do more but corporate kept dragging their feet. As the economy worsened my commission paycheck was no longer sufficient to sustain my costs of living. I was made an offer from family that was hard to refuse to pick up and move out here and maybe get a new direction on life.

About 3 years ago I began hanging out with a couple friends who were into VW and Mercedes diesels (I personally kept to VW diesels, they were into the Benzes more than me but I did lend a hand here and there). We rented out a small building in Scio Twp., MI where we would work on our own car projects in our free time and also began to take on paying work from TDI owners (the usual intake cleanings, timing belts, clutches, a handful of pump reseals, boost control issues, general filter/fluid maintenance, suspension, brakes). We'd get the occasional gas VW or other make of car from friends/family as well, but are most familiar with TDIs. We also joined a 24 Hours of Lemons race team which involved installing a 2.0L 8V ABA gas engine from a Mk3 into a 1984 Scirocco. I've done a few 8V timing belts, 1.8T timing belts (including one in a B5.5 Passat). A couple months ago I did a timing belt and water pump on a '98 Acura Integra (1.8L DOHC 16V, non VTEC).

I helped perform a TDI engine swap into a '97 GTI VR6 which inspired me to tackle a similar project of my own. Swapping an AHU into a '97 Jetta GLX (originally an automatic!).

I do have a generic OBD2 scantool as well as VCDS. I am far more familiar and better equipped for VW/Audi cars than anything else in this respect due to VCDS, but certainly can take a look at whatever else you've got.

Computers were a hobby of mine before cars. I haven't done much in that respect in a few years now. I have been entirely focused on automotive.

kooyajerms · November 1st, 2010, 12:58

WTB a GTG with a guru in Los Angeles.

Oh Hai there Matt!!

Just need one more guru/mechanic transplant to choose Los Angeles, and we'll have some more options =)

When I get my vehicle back, maybe we can find a place for Matt to wrench for the needy folks down here. I won't need anything at that point (thankfully), but I would like for the disenfranchised Southern California'n TDI conglomerate to get a GTG with a mechanic.

Interested in the idea Matt?

cfm56 · November 1st, 2010, 21:19

a GTG would be great, im down just let me know when and where

Matt-98AHU · November 2nd, 2010, 09:23

I would be interested, absolutely.

VLS_GUY · November 2nd, 2010, 17:52

Matt,

I am going to pass your name to some of my neighbors. Right now their is a 2002 NB 2.0 gasser with its rear brakes off across the street. The another neighbor is a non VW mechanic and it has been 3 days since this brake job started and he has started working on this thing. The big complication is that the rear calipers are seized. They will eventually get it on the road but this car is owned by the guys sister and she lives in Lompoc. Do you make house calls to Lompoc for gasser maintenance?
By the way I cleared a half dozen fault codes from this car with a VCDS- none have come back-yet.

NewTdi · November 3rd, 2010, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt-98AHU

I would be interested, absolutely.

So you are ditching NorCal for SoCal? Thanks a lot Matt

.

Matt-98AHU · November 3rd, 2010, 19:50

Sure I could help with the brakes.

Andrew: that's the nice thing about being right between the two! I can go either direction!

4 hours to the North, 3 hours to the South.

Growler · November 4th, 2010, 03:57

Go Matt Go.

This guy has the skills. and they are only improving with experience. it's about time you officially hung out your shingle!

I have worked with Matt many times and would not hesitate to let him do anything on my car. He is missed in this area. if nothing else, the GTGs will be lacking what Matt can bring to the table.

Got Bearings? · November 4th, 2010, 09:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt-98AHU

I can go either direction!

Careful.... NewTDI is from San Francisco. It could have a completely different meaning! lol

Matt-98AHU · November 4th, 2010, 10:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got Bearings?

Careful.... NewTDI is from San Francisco. It could have a completely different meaning! lol

LOL!!! Good catch, I'll try to choose my words more carefully next time.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Aaron. Much appreciated.

kooyajerms · November 4th, 2010, 11:41

Noel, where can we find this guy a spot for a GTG?

Got Bearings? · November 4th, 2010, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by kooyajerms

Noel, where can we find this guy a spot for a GTG?

A wrenching GTG? Not sure but a shop would be preferable. Let me ask my buddy if he's willing to open up his shop with lifts and a dyno. It will most likely be a Sat and/or Sunday thing.