Trusted TDI Mechanics - By State

[JohnnyCanal]

New to California - looking for good mechanic

We just relocated to Mariposa, California in the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada. The good news is that it is beautiful here, the bad news is that TDIs appear to be rare in this state and I imagine mechanics are as well, and those that are out here appear to be centered along the coast near LA or San Francisco...

We are looking for a good TDI mechanic and hopefully a TDI Guru in the area, hopefully in the Fresno, Merced or Modesto areas. I see there are a few shops in the San Francisco bay area, but could there be someone closer to us?? I don't mind the drive, but thought I would ask...

Thanks in advance

 

[Growler]

We just relocated to Mariposa, California in the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada. The good news is that it is beautiful here, the bad news is that TDIs appear to be rare in this state and I imagine mechanics are as well, and those that are out here appear to be centered along the coast near LA or San Francisco...

We are looking for a good TDI mechanic and hopefully a TDI Guru in the area, hopefully in the Fresno, Merced or Modesto areas. I see there are a few shops in the San Francisco bay area, but could there be someone closer to us?? I don't mind the drive, but thought I would ask...

Thanks in advance

Take a look at the map on the first post. thats your best bet.

 

[TornadoRed]

We just relocated to Mariposa, California in the foot hills of the Sierra Nevada. The good news is that it is beautiful here, the bad news is that TDIs appear to be rare in this state and I imagine mechanics are as well, and those that are out here appear to be centered along the coast near LA or San Francisco...

We are looking for a good TDI mechanic and hopefully a TDI Guru in the area, hopefully in the Fresno, Merced or Modesto areas. I see there are a few shops in the San Francisco bay area, but could there be someone closer to us?? I don't mind the drive, but thought I would ask...

Visit the West Coast forum frequently, and pay attention to GTG in Sacramento or the Bay Area. Justin, username oldpoopie, has been traveling down from Portland on a fairly regular basis for timing belt GTG and other TDI-specific repairs, maintenance, and sometimes upgrades.

For issues that are not TDI-specific, look for an experienced local mechanic or an established shop that specializes in German cars. Brakes, suspensions, clutches and transmissions, starters, alternators... these are all things that a competent mechanic can handle even if he's never worked on a TDI. I just got the ventilation blower motor replaced earlier this week by a mechanic who has never worked on any TDI except mine -- he did good work and only charged about 1/2 what a dealership would have charged. But I remember how nervous I was the first time I let him work on my Golf, almost two years ago.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Map --> http://tinyurl.com/tdimap

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Also, I'm still interested in adding folks from other countries to the map. If you know of a competent TDI mechanic outside of the United States, please post their info.

 

[JoaoF]

Trusted Mechanics

I would like to say:
Never use Owasco Volkswagen in Whitby Ontario Canada.
BS management, not very professional.

I would like to recommend "Bill Vanderheyden".
They do complete automotive service on all imports and domestics as well.
They're very knowledgeable, thorough, and efficient. I highly recommend their services to anyone who values honesty,dependability and reasonable rates.
Entire crew goes out of their way to make sure you and your car are properly taken care of.

They're located on:
761 Simcoe Street S.
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 4K5
Tel: (905) 725-2519
Just south of the 401

Web: http://vanderheydensgarage.com
Email: mailto:info@vanderheydensgarage.com

 

[VeeDubTDI]

So then you've had them perform services on your TDI? Which ones?

 

[runonbeer]

AGH!!!! my email address is WRONG!!!! it is robby@runonbeer.com

whoever is updating this list please correct my email and add my website! Please!

Meyerhoff Auto Haus
www.runonbeer.com

robby@runonbeer.com

(512) 632 2989

10012 Old Lockhart Rd. #5A
Austin, TX 78747

 

[rez311]

Nice services page Robby.

http://www.runonbeer.com/services.html

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Robby, I fixed your email address and website on the map.

 

[JoaoF]

So then you've had them perform services on your TDI? Which ones?

Well they diagnosed and replaced a coolant sensor and did not charge for nothing else, while the dealer wanted to replace glow plug harness and glow plugs.
My jetta only has 78000 km, so no timing belt yet.
I've seen them doing timing belts on VW,Audi and other brands as well.
They use VCDS among other forms of diagnose tools according to the brand of the car.

p.s. also did the strut mounts and bearings.

 

[dan30thz28]

Rich A in Barnegat

Hello,
I brought a bucking, missing and smoking Jetta to Rich A in NJ. He pushed my car ahead of another one he had scheduled to work on. Adjusted the VNT, Fuel IQ, swapped out a totally clogged intake, removed snow screen, replaced MAF, and he had it ready by Saturday evening when I brought it to him on Friday night. Since he gave me the car back the car has gotten 48.8 miles to the gallon and 200 of those miles were when the car was a mess. He knows TDI's well, and I would highly recommend him to anyone needing service on their TDI in the NY/NJ area!

Sincerely,

 

[Mywomansmechanic]

Can anyone tell me if there are any tdi mechanics on the eastern shore of md, or delaware in these 65 pages?

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Well they diagnosed and replaced a coolant sensor and did not charge for nothing else, while the dealer wanted to replace glow plug harness and glow plugs.
My jetta only has 78000 km, so no timing belt yet.
I've seen them doing timing belts on VW,Audi and other brands as well.
They use VCDS among other forms of diagnose tools according to the brand of the car.

p.s. also did the strut mounts and bearings.

Can't give them a green light until we hear some reviews of actual TDI work.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Can anyone tell me if there are any tdi mechanics on the eastern shore of md, or delaware in these 65 pages?

Did you look at the map? http://www.tinyurl.com/tdimap

 

[6910sb]

San Diego???

I have a hard time believing that there are no TDI mechs in the entire county of San Diego. Is it because there have been no reports, or because the mechs in SD have gotten bad reviews?

 

[BobnOH]

not enough TDIs on the road, you may have to go a county or two away

 

[TornadoRed]

There are TDIs in San Diego, and maybe enough to keep an expert TDI mechanic busy. But most of their owners don't know any better than to let the dealerships keep ripping them off.

Perhaps the presence of Harvieux and Biochoppers in Whittier, at Wild Rose Motors, has acted to discourage SD TDI owners from searching out local talent. Why take a risk with some unknown shop or mechanic, when there is a highly-regarded shop only about 100 miles away? The only problem is, what if you wait to long to go to Wild Rose, and your TDI won't make it that far without a tow?

 

[azbioguy]

Another for Arizona:

Independent Automotive Services
4825 N 7TH STREET
PHOENIX, AZ 85014
(602) 234-9783

This shop and the already-listed Exklusiv are the only two places I'd take my VW.

 

[d0nalba1n]

Great Resource!

I want to give a positive THUMBS UP to Roger Feldt in Atlanta. He was awesome and helped me verify timing and hard start. Very friendly, knowledegeable and awesome. Plan to make him my permanent TDI go to Guy!

 

[rhavel]

I am looking for someone to replace my timing belt in Colorado Springs, CO in a 2002 Jetta. I called Loren at European Performance and have not heard back (he must be busy, which is great). If someone has the needed tools and vag-com to do the job, I'd be willing to help and or pay to do the job, or if anybody knows of someone reliable, that would be great. I was going to do the job myself, with the assistance of my mechanic brother, but the cost of buying the needed tools and software made me take another approach. By the way, this is a great forum, thanks to all those who made this site possible!!! Cheers...

 

[TornadoRed]

I am looking for someone to replace my timing belt in Colorado Springs, CO in a 2002 Jetta.

Why not drive up to Denver and have aNut (Anuthee) do the job for you? It's not that far, but even if it was twice as far it would still make sense to let an expert do this job every 100k miles.

 

[rhavel]

Thanks TornadoRed, I was hoping to find some close by, the logistics and all ya know... Cheers.

 

[TornadoRed]

Thanks TornadoRed, I was hoping to find some close by, the logistics and all ya know... Cheers.

Denver is not that far. There are members in Zimbabwe who need to drive to South Africa for service on their TDI. And a member in the Yukon Territory who is 600 miles from ANY reasonably competent VW mechanic, who knows how far from a TDI expert.

Some TDI owners plan their timing belt changes to coincide with a day trip or weekend trip. After a couple hours getting a new TB, you would have the whole rest of the day to do anything you want.

 

[rdrobin]

TDI Maintenance

Stuttgart Autohaus in Tucson, AZ has been a knowledgable and helpful place for my 06 Jetta TDI. Phone number is 520-884-8800.

 

[Jamos]

Who can people suggest to bring an '06 Jetta TDi to in the Bay Area, CA?
Specifically the East Bay; Berkeley/Oakland area...

I looked at the map and listings, and saw only one option in San Pablo.

There have got to be some experts with all the TDi's running around here.

 

[TornadoRed]

Who can people suggest to bring an '06 Jetta TDi to in the Bay Area, CA?
Specifically the East Bay; Berkeley/Oakland area...

I looked at the map and listings, and saw only one option in San Pablo.

There have got to be some experts with all the TDi's running around here.

You just missed a timing-belt GTG in Sacramento, I think. Justin (oldpoopie) and Rich (fixumrich) traveled down from Portland OR to change a bunch of timing belts. They would not have so many customers in the Bay Area or in Sacramento if there were lots of good local alternatives.

What work does your '06 Jetta require?

 

[Jamos]

You just missed a timing-belt GTG in Sacramento, I think. Justin (oldpoopie) and Rich (fixumrich) traveled down from Portland OR to change a bunch of timing belts. They would not have so many customers in the Bay Area or in Sacramento if there were lots of good local alternatives.

What work does your '06 Jetta require?

Hi thanks for the reply...
Yes I had been following the Sac GTG thread, and would have liked to made it up there, but was working all weekend.
I've only had my '06 for a couple months, so I am still learning a lot about it.

Luckily it doesn't require any work right now! I was just looking for a local wrench in case something came up.

 

[TornadoRed]

Hi thanks for the reply...
Yes I had been following the Sac GTG thread, and would have liked to made it up there, but was working all weekend.
I've only had my '06 for a couple months, so I am still learning a lot about it.

Luckily it doesn't require any work right now! I was just looking for a local wrench in case something came up.

I was in your situation when I lived down in San Diego. I had one local shop that I trusted for replacing brake pads and rotors, and another shop that changed an alternator for me, and a driveway mechanic that I met on a local car forum who installed shocks and struts for me. There are lots of places that can do that kind of work. But for TDI-specific stuff, I drove up to Orange County and let an expert change my timing belts and do other TDI stuff.

 

[rhavel]

True. Thanks TornadoRed