Trusted TDI Mechanics - By State

[mweba]

Searched through the thread, any known tech updates in Central IA? TB service is what I'm after. Picked up a quote from the local dealer, having to request the three rollers replaced as they have never replaced them on a previous job. 1457.28 out the door....

 

[BobnOH]

hmmm , no one on the list from Iowa.
Please use all your resources to avoid the dealer, they botch too too many. And 1400 is a bit high

 

[vwjettadsl]

Searched through the thread, any known tech updates in Central IA? TB service is what I'm after. Picked up a quote from the local dealer, having to request the three rollers replaced as they have never replaced them on a previous job. 1457.28 out the door....

I offer mobile TDI service work, in fact I'll be doing a couple of jobs in Iowa and Nebraska later this month.

I'll PM you with a quote, it will be WAY less than the dealer.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[TornadoRed]

Searched through the thread, any known tech updates in Central IA? TB service is what I'm after. Picked up a quote from the local dealer, having to request the three rollers replaced as they have never replaced them on a previous job. 1457.28 out the door....

You must never, ever, take your TDI to Lithia Volkswagen of Des Moines... unless you are accompanied by an attorney. In fact, do not even set foot on their premises without an attorney.

If your TDI breaks down in the street in front of Lithia Volkswagen, I suggest that you call a towing service and have your car flatbedded to the Twin Cities or KC or St Louis.

 

[SilverGhost]

$1400? are the parts gold plated? I'm sure we, as a dealer, could do the complete job for less than that. And we live in what several sources call the most expensive county in the USA - Palm Beach.

Hell, for that money I would take a couple days off work and drive up from Florida to do it at your convenience.

Jason

 

[mweba]

$1400? are the parts gold plated? I'm sure we, as a dealer, could do the complete job for less than that. And we live in what several sources call the most expensive county in the USA - Palm Beach.

Hell, for that money I would take a couple days off work and drive up from Florida to do it at your convenience.

Jason

Parts= 802
Labor= 651

"This is an estimate, we may run into more issues" Which I do understand as I'm a wrench as well but it still seamed a little high. What really turned me off is the service writer and Tech had to look up the IPL to understand what rollers I was talking about. Stating they have never replaced them on any previous job.

 

[bhtooefr]

And this is part of why VWoA sucks so hard. (Just part of it, there's MANY other reasons why, but that's one reason.)

Really, VWoA should be terminating the franchises of dealers that pull that ****.

 

[kjclow]

And this is part of why VWoA sucks so hard. (Just part of it, there's MANY other reasons why, but that's one reason.)

Really, VWoA should be terminating the franchises of dealers that pull that ****.

I know from experience that Subaru used to pull franchises for this type of behavior because I helped get one pulled. I don't know why VWOA is so reluctant to punish bad dealers/service garages with pulling the franchise. Although, in the case of VW South Charlotte, all it took was new ownership to take a crappy service garage to a good competent one.

 

[SilverGhost]

Depends on the state, but here in Florida the laws protect the thieving dealership. They can break the rules of the franchise and the state will rule in their favor. So, in these cases, there is nothing VWGofA can do unless there is GROSS breach of contract.

Jason

 

[bhtooefr]

Well, VW still has some recourse.

Like sticking the dealer with a lot full of Jetta Bases. No AC (which in Florida would be especially brutal), manual transmission, no radio.

And then terminating them due to not meeting sales goals, set out in the contract.

 

[K5ING]

I don't wish to stray off-topic, but this is what Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla says about dealer and service departments:

From CNN Money

Tesla cars are repaired at service centers that are separate from the showrooms in which the cars are sold. It's a novel system that has brought Tesla into conflict with traditional auto dealers in some parts of the country.

"I've told the Tesla service division that their job is never to make a profit," Musk said. Most auto dealerships make a large portion of their profits from the service department which, Musk pointed out, creates a conflict of interest when it comes to product quality.

"I hate the idea of making money because our product broke," said Musk. "That's just wrong."

The man "gets it". Good thing I can't afford a Model S as I'd jump the TDI ship in a minute if could.

 

[jasonTDI]

They'll be bankrupt soon.....GM?

 

[K5ING]

They'll be bankrupt soon.....GM?

Like I said, I don't want to derail the thread, but the Model S is being produced at the rate of 500/week now, and has outsold the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf (electrics), BMW 7-series, MB S-Class (similar cars, gas powered), etc. Tesla is also going to be showing a profit when the quarterly results are released in the next few days. GM indeed.

I posted the Tesla service story just because I wish more manufacturers and dealers had the same attitude.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled thread.

 

[NYPilot172]

Recommended TDI mechanic in Plattsburgh NY?

Any recommended TDI mechanics in the Plattsburgh NY area that could help with a serpentine belt (maybe alternator pulley) problem?

 

[msantram]

I'm having trouble finding an experienced JSW installation shop on the East Coast. My local shop was too rough, and the experienced shops I've contacted are all booked through May.

I've looked through the Trusted Mechanics List, but wanted to find someone who has experience with JSW installs. I have posted there and searching vortex as well. I've called my local dealers and their recommendations are mostly for generic audio shops.

I'm putting in a RNS-510, RVC, Homelink Rear View Mirror and a few other mods. The work is a bit beyond my ability and I'm nervous about cracking plastic or not wiring things up correctly.

Can anyone recommend someone in PA, DE, MD, NY, CT? I'm willing to drive to find someone really good. I'm also open to a really experienced member to help me with the install, I will pay for your time. Thanks in advance.

 

[powerstrokeless]

I just had Jeremy Hoover do my TB (dieselgeek) and Injection pump (IDparts), great to have a "trusted mechanic" nearby! Winchester,VA.
Thanks!! Jeremy!

 

[vwtdtech5052]

thanks Daniel, i do appreciate it!

 

[GregEdge]

Apex Tuning

I'm not much for bad mouthing but this has to be done.
My car (2005 Passat Tdi BHW) started smoking while in NC. I searched the forum for a mechanic nearby and found Apex Tuning in Raleigh NC. They found that water was in my EGR Cooler which I had blocked. Normally I keep the EGR blocked and replace everything when it comes time for my yearly inspection.
The day after picking up my car I noticed all of my wheel lock nuts were removed and replaced with normal lug nuts and my lock nut key taken. I called them out on this the day after I picked up my car and they said the lock was in the center console and the lock nuts were on. Enough arguing I just decided to let it go and never deal with them.
Apex also removed many of the nuts and bolts under the hood and never replaced them.
Well it's time for my yearly inspection and I now find Apex removed the cooler completely so now I have to find a replacement in order to pass inspection.
Please if you respect your car like most of us do, do not take it to these kids who are using your car to learn.

 

[kjclow]

I'm not much for bad mouthing but this has to be done.
My car (2005 Passat Tdi BHW) started smoking while in NC. I searched the forum for a mechanic nearby and found Apex Tuning in Raleigh NC. They found that water was in my EGR Cooler which I had blocked. Normally I keep the EGR blocked and replace everything when it comes time for my yearly inspection.
The day after picking up my car I noticed all of my wheel lock nuts were removed and replaced with normal lug nuts and my lock nut key taken. I called them out on this the day after I picked up my car and they said the lock was in the center console and the lock nuts were on. Enough arguing I just decided to let it go and never deal with them.
Apex also removed many of the nuts and bolts under the hood and never replaced them.
Well it's time for my yearly inspection and I now find Apex removed the cooler completely so now I have to find a replacement in order to pass inspection.
Please if you respect your car like most of us do, do not take it to these kids who are using your car to learn.

Not arguing what was or wasn't done but a little more info would great. Where are you from and where were you heading to? Part of it might have been unscheduled repair that they rushed you in and out and forgot to finish up.

 

[TDIJetta99]

Unscheduled repair or not, there's no excuse for removing stuff without replacing.. None.. Do it right or don't do the job..

 

[GregEdge]

Not arguing what was or wasn't done but a little more info would great. Where are you from and where were you heading to? Part of it might have been unscheduled repair that they rushed you in and out and forgot to finish up.

They had the car for over a month, I wasn't sitting in the lobby that time either. There is also a post from another forum member where Apex installed a Panzer Belly Pan while he waited and took the plastic pan off due to bolt hole alignment issues. The Panzer pan should have been installed with the plastic pan still on. If the owner is in the shop waiting they should have told the owner of the issue as it happened and not after the fact.
Removing parts and not reinstalling or asking the owner if she/he wants the removed parts is bad business in any business.
Removing wheel locks and taking the wheel lock key? What's the excuse for that?

 

[kjclow]

Thanks for some clarification. I've called them about things for my daughter's Passat and they were actually higher than the local VW dealer.

 

[thebaz67]

Just had a wonderful service experience with 1963gp

In Stafford VA.Allen did a complete 200k service on my 2005 Passat. He made sure the car was in top notch shape when I left and I am certain that it was done correctly. I will go back to him for all my service and repair needs.

Thanks Allen.

Basil

 

[Veca]

Just got my 1st TDI - She's had all her service done at VW... and I'm going to keep up the trend - Anyone know of any good VW TDI dealerships in Hampton Roads, VA? Thanks in advance!

-Veca

 

[bhtooefr]

Just so you know, if the vehicle is out of warranty, general consensus is that most VW dealers are mediocre at best as far as service goes. (Let's just say that they have corporate issues regarding treatment of dealerships that slack on service, and they aren't the greatest at training their technicians.)

Quite a few independent and shadetree mechanics do better jobs on these cars for less money.

 

[TornadoRed]

Just got my 1st TDI - She's had all her service done at VW... and I'm going to keep up the trend - Anyone know of any good VW TDI dealerships in Hampton Roads, VA? Thanks in advance!

Not all VW dealerships are bad. But many of them tend to cut corners, or recommend unnecessary work, and they all charge more than you really need to pay for quality work.

What you should try to do is find one TDI expert, someone you can go to for TDI-specific problems, like turbo boost issues, or for timing belt changes. This expert might not be local -- you might need to travel 100 or 200 miles or further. But it will be worth it and you will end up saving money.

And another shop for general repairs and maintenance, like suspension work or brake work or air conditioning or stuff like that. This might be a local shop that specializes in Volkswagens only, or VWs and Audis, or German cars in general. In a pinch, if you're stuck in an area without any VW mechanics, then go to the best local mechanic you can find, even if he rarely or never works on Volkswagens.

 

[vwmk4]

Having an ongoing problem with the service now message. Dealer reset at last service and with in a day it was on again. Has been ever since. This normally does a count down but now the service now shows up at every start. I've tried resetting with the method detailed in the owners book. Any ideas? It's a 2011 MK6.

 

[tditom]

...I've tried resetting with the method detailed in the owners book. Any ideas? It's a 2011 MK6.

Yes. Post your question here or here

 

[vwmk4]

Thanks Tom.

 

[DieselingDean]

Hey there,
First, I dont know if I want to, but if I do, what is the procees to get a mechanic on the trusted list?
I have 3 names, & one in the coveted DEAD ZONE of New Orleans! Thanks DD.
I will resond to all queries @ 9am.