Common Valve Cover Gasket Leaks If you drive a VW Passat, Golf, Jetta, or GTi, you’ve probably asked one question at some time or another: “Why is my valve cover gasket leaking AGAIN?!?” It’s little consolation, but you’re not the only one, my friend. Your VW may have the 1.8-liter turbo engine or the 2.0-liter motor. You might even have the 3.0-liter V6. Engine size doesn’t really seem to matter much here. You might start seeing an oil drip from the backside of your engine when you’re underneath changing the oil. You might notice a burnt oil smell or wisps of smoke from the engine compartment. And, on closer inspection, you’ll trace it to the back of your cylinder head right at the top. Whether it’s never been replaced, it was replaced a few years back, or just a few months ago doesn’t factor in much either. It’s frustrating why it occurs so regularly.  Valve cover gaskets are contructed of rubber or cork.  ... read more

Volkswagen Exhaust Rattling? We Can Help! Do you get an annoying buzz or rattle underneath your VW when you go over even the slightest of bumps? Or is your exhaust tailpipe hanging lower than it should be, swaying around from side to side? You’ve probably got one of the typical Volkswagen exhaust issues. Some of the most common problems you can experience are broken exhaust hangers, and broken exhaust hander hooks.  Exhaust hangers are rubber loops that hold your muffler and exhaust pipe up off the ground There’s usually more than one, depending on the vehicle of course, but each one bears a some of weight from your Volkswagen exhaust system.  Exhaust Hanger hooks are simply the metal hooks that slip into the rubber hangers.  They are welded alongside  the entire exahaust system. Old dried out Exhaust Hanger Broken Exhaust Hanger Hook Good Exhaust Hanger & Hook Over time, the rubber deteriorates. Small ... read more

VW MAF sensor ConcernsMAF= Mass Air Flow With some vehicles, you can expect you’re going to encounter certain concerns. It may not be a problem right away, but you know it’s coming down the pipe eventually. With Volkswagen gas engines, one such concern is the Mass Air Flow sensor, or MAF sensor. Here’s what happens: You’re driving along and need to scoot over a lane. You press the gas pedal to pass the guy beside you and your car burps and chugs, hesitating to speed up with any amount of vigor. Behind you, your attempt to speed up has just smoked out the traffic with rich, fuel-laden exhaust. You probably should’ve had that Check Engine light diagnosed sooner, because it’s trying to tell you the MAF sensor has a problem. With a MAF sensor issue, you may experience this type of situation, or a variety of others. It might be just that the Check Engine light is on and your car drives fine – for now. You migh ... read more

Volkswagen Evap and secondary air system introduction Firstly, what is an Air leak and why does it matter? When your VW has an air leak, you may have a check engine light on and as a result trouble passing NY state inspection. Basically your engine is a sealed system.  A VW engine is comprised of several compartments; Crank Case, Engine Block, Cylinder head & the Secondary air system to name a few. These compartments operate in different atmospheres, some have a vacuum, whilst others have slight positive pressure but all have valves and pumps that are constantly working. The most common cause of air leaks on VW’s are cracked hose, failed valves and solenoids in the evaporative fuel system or secondary air system. What does the secondary air system do on my Volkswagen? The Secondary air system is an environmental component of your Volkswagen, It allows your catalytic converter to function more effeciently which will reduce the concent ... read more

How is Your Timing Chain Performing? It’s old news already that many Volkswagen models have gone away from the traditional rubber timing belt design. You know the timing belt, right? It’s the one that has to be replaced every 70,000 or 80,000 miles to prevent breakage from wear and deterioration. If it wasn’t changed when it should be, it could snap and cause catastrophic damage inside your engine. Well, it seems that the alternative is no better. Volkswagen timing belts were replaced by timing chains and advertised as a non-serviceable part that should last the lifetime of your vehicle. The problem is that the tensioner simply won’t last. Here’s what happens: You’ll drive normally for about 60,000 miles or so. You’ll have regular oil changes performed and everything will seem perfect and efficient. You’ll begin to hear a slight rattle from the engine bay. It starts out as a clacking noise on initial startup that mostly goes away afte ... read more

VEHICLE  IDENTIFICATION  NUMBER Your VIN code is an easy way to identify the precise VW you have, how old it is and what type of engine is in it.  It’s also a great way to confirm your ordering the right parts.  You can think of it as a birth certificate for your Volkswagen. Where can I find the VIN code on my Volkswagen? Your VIN code can be found in several place on your VW.  Easiest places to find your vin are Drivers side bottom corner of the windshield Drivers side doorwell sticker or drivers side door Etched glass on windows A VIN code is 17 characters long.  It is an alphanumerical code (a mix of letters and numbers). Each number or letter communicates important information about different aspects of your car i.e. what type of engine it has, where it was made, which series or model it is. 1st character:  Country it was manufactured: 1= USA  3= Mexico&nbs ... read more

So you’ve gotten the news. Your BMW is leaking from the oil filter housing gasket.   O MAN!!!!! Your first thoughts. What is an oil filter housing gasket? What will this repair cost? Is this part of normal maintenance? Can I do anything to keep this from happening again? The oil filter housing is simply the part that the oil filter sits in within your engine compartment.  The housing allows oil to flow through and around the oil filter. On BMW’s the oil filter housing is mounted to the engine.  A gasket is required where these parts interface.  The gasket becomes brittle and cracks over time allowing oil to leak or seep out. There are actually two gaskets that start leaking over time on your BMW.  One is the oil filter cap gasket (which is changed alongside the filter when you do an oil change).  It’s the gasket that mates the oil filter housing with the engine block which is the more costly oil leak. The cost of this re ... read more

An Independent VW Repair Shop Saves You Money without Sacrificing Service You’ve been taking great care of your Volkswagen vehicle, but now it needs repairs. Trying to decide whether to take it to your local independent repair shop or across town to the dealership can cause you a huge headache. But rest easy. You can save your time and your money using a local shop, and still get impeccable service with a personalized touch. Here are some of the benefits of an independent specialist versus a dealership for VW service and repair. How to Save Money on Volkswagen Repair Let’s face it. In today’s economy, saving money is what it’s all about. With an independent shop, you can save money on both parts and labor and still get great service for your car. A dealership is only able to order original equipment (OEM) parts; however, an independent can offer you both OEM as well as generic aftermarket parts, which can be just as high in quality. An ... read more

Regular oil changes are essential for properly maintaining your Volkswagen. With all that goes into taking care of your engine’s components, it’s important to have the a VW expert change your oil. Here are a few of the benefits of regular oil changes by a VW Specialist. The Best Motor Oils for a Volkswagen Oil is what keeps your VW’s engine running smoothly. Due to frequent stop and start traffic, drivers in New York should have their VW's oil changed every 4,000 to 5,000 miles. Your VW technician will be able to recommend the right oil for your vehicle to keep it running efficiently. Typically, you should be able to use synthetic or blended oil. Scheduling frequent oil changes with your VW specialist ensures your engine runs much cleaner and smoother in the long run. The Convenience of Oil Changes by a VW Specialist When considering convenience and how much your time is worth, here are some things you might want t ... read more

Baby it’s cold outside and you’re not looking forward to leaving the warmth of your home or office and sliding into the freezing-cold seat of your VW. If you’re like many drivers, you think that warming up your car not only will enhance your comfort level but will prevent engine damage. So how long should you warm up your Volkswagen before driving it? The answer will probably surprise you. How Long Should You Warm Up A VW in Cold Weather? A study conducted back in 2009 by The Washington Post concluded that the average driver let his or her car warm up for more than 5 minutes when the mercury dropped below freezing. Ask around, and that practice is still very common today. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wants to set the record straight. According to the EPA, the best approach is to warm it up for a maximum of just 30 seconds. The only exception to this advice is when a car’s windows are iced over and idling is necessary to defrost them so a driver c ... read more