Good East Bay TDI Mechanics?

[juniormarbles]

My TDI is overheating right now in the Bay Area and I want to know where to tow the car.
Any East Bay recommendations?

 

[Louie710]

There's a guy named Matt and the shop i think its called diesel autoworks? Hes in San Anselmo i think thats the only "guru" in Northern cali. If you have trouble getting a hold of him, is too busy, or is out of your price range i may be able to help but im all the way out in Yuba City

 

[dlai]

Matt Phelan/Matt-98AHU now wrenching in San Anselmo

Guru Matt Phelan, username on here is Matt-98AHU, is now renting a bay at Autohaus II in San Anselmo. Two buildings west of the San Anselmo hub on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard just before the San Anselmo Gas & Shop. Address: 640 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960 Matt's cell: (734)...

forums.tdiclub.com

 

[juniormarbles]

Thanks, I am familair with his great reputation. The problem: San Anselmo (Marin County) is too far away from Concord, and that makes towing and logistics of getting and staying around there hard. Anyone in the EAST Bay come to mind?

 

[dlai]

Maybe you can make arrangements with Matt, get the tow truck to drop the car off to him, and when your car is ready whenever, take a rideshare service to San Anselmo to pick it up?

 

[highender]

Matts leaving.............

 

[B100]

Matt's move to Oregon is good for him, but our local loss. Where else have people taken their TDIs for work? In Berkeley, I see that Karmakanix has merged with H&B, still down on 4th street, but further south at Bancroft. Anyone been there? It's definitely not a one-man shop, and I recall communication was filtered through a service manager. But what we need are competent mechanics who have breadth of knowledge about our cars.

European Auto Repair in Berkeley, CA | H&B Karmakanix

Are you looking for the best place for European Auto Repair? Then you have got to try out H&B Karmakanix in Berkeley, CA today. We can’t wait to see you!

hbkarmakanix.com

 

[LiquidBlackDZL]

I was just about to reach out to Matt when I saw his goodbye message.

I’m in need of a premature timing belt job. Coolant started leaking out from underneath the timing belt cover so I think the water pump has failed. Anyone have first hand TDI t-belt experience with a mechanic that they can recommend in the Bay Area?

 

[samba415]

Just spitballing here, but what about the gentleman Matt was renting a bay from in Marin, Auto Haus II?

 

[Rapid Transit]

He did my buddies timing belt and it turned out good. Unfortunately he told me he was giving up the lease and retiring from auto mechanics.

 

[LiquidBlackDZL]

Just spitballing here, but what about the gentleman Matt was renting a bay from in Marin, Auto Haus II?

Thanks, but per my post “I was just about to reach out to Matt when I saw his goodbye message.”

He posted a goodbye message and his lease ends next week. He spent the last few weeks packing up.

 

[Rapid Transit]

Per my post, the gentlemen that Matt was renting from also worked on TDI’s, did my buddies two months ago but is letting his lease go and retiring from auto mechanics.

 

[Rapid Transit]

Sonoma Autowerks LLC in Petaluma is worth a look. Been a while since I used them but would again now that our Guru has escaped.

 

[LiquidBlackDZL]

Per my post, the gentlemen that Matt was renting from also worked on TDI’s, did my buddies two months ago but is letting his lease go and retiring from auto mechanics.

Ahhh, gotcha. I misunderstood. Thanks for clarifying and for the additional recommendation. I’ll try reaching out to the Sonoma one.

 

[samba415]

Good looking out Rapid, thank you! We need any and all TDI resources we can get.

 

[torman]

Hate to say it, but Sonoma AW is iffy now .... had a couple of issues this year and decided to go elsewhere (including a botched timing belt job).

 

[freebuilder]

I had Sonoma AutoWerks do a few things for me through the years. They were always done correctly, and very expensive, possibly Overdone.
With Mr Phelans departure I'm also wondering where in the north bay I can bring my ALH. Suggestions anybody? Tillmans in Santa Rosa is out-
I've had a few conversations with them, and I don't do business with rude people.

PS: Matt did a timing belt for me and upgraded to an 11mm pump and a Melone stage 3 timing (same thing he had on his car), no change on injectors. Wonderful increase in power, and car is now happier at higher RPM levels. No Smoke.