The streets of Brooklyn are notoriously rough. Not the people, the actual road surfaces. When you drive over speed bumps in parking lots, potholes in backlanes, and the breaks in the road everywhere else, any problems with your suspension are accentuated. If your strut mounts are worn, this is where they are going to tell you. It's a common problem in several Volkswagen models. Jettas, Passats, New Beetles, and Golfs all have similar designs, though the others aren’t exempt. Here’s what you’ll find: As you drive over any surface that creates travel in your struts, you’ll probably hear a rattling noise from the front. It can happen on just slight suspension travel, over only bigger bumps, or it could happen all the time. Over larger bumps or potholes, you’ll get a loud clunk. It’s not exactly a metallic noise – it sounds dampened. This noise happens when the strut is fully extended. When you turn, you might get some noise and you m ... read more

Range Rover Water issues 2004-2008 The water coming into your range rover is usually caused  when the connecting elbow at end of the sunroof drains fail. (degraded sunroof drain connectors) Once these rubber elbows give way, the drains hang free and redirect all the water onto the floorboards of your Land Rover. The hose on the passenger side of the vehicle is located behind your Junction Box Electronics (JBE).  The hose on the driver side is located in a similar location and is easier to access.  Simply remove the kick panel and side panel around the OBD connector and you should be able to locate the drain hose rather quickly. Part of the wiring harness is located at the lowest point along the front floorboards so it is important the get the water issue in your Land Rover taken care as soon as you become aware of it as water damage to your wiring harness is soon to follow. (Corroded wire) Common electrical issues experienced as a ... read more

Genuine Vs OE vs OEM vs Aftermarket When trying to buy your own parts for you BMW, VW, Audi, Land Rover, Mini Cooper or Mercedes it’s easy to get confused. Here are some simple definitions for OE, OEM, Genuine, factory & Aftermarket to help guide your purchasing decisions. OE = Genuine = Factory = Original.  They all mean the same thing. Parts that are packaged in Volkswagen boxes with the VW logo,  BMW Boxes with the BMW logo, Land Rover boxes with the Land Rover logo etc etc OE = Original Equipment   OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer They are produced in the same plant by the same manufacturer.  The key difference between OE & OEM is the markup Audi /BMW/ Land Rover adds to the OE part.  Automotive companies dictate the specifications to the manufacturer.  The OE/OEM  manufacturer must adhere to consistent production and quality. OE part= Audi package, Higher cost, OEM ... read more

Volkswagen: What High Mileage VW Problems to watch for You’ve long heard about the long-term reliability of Volkswagen models of all kinds, particularly the Golf and Jetta. It’s true – VWs of all shapes and sizes are some of the longest-lasting, most reliable vehicles you’ll ever find on the roads today, which is why you see them used well beyond 200,000 miles on a regular basis. Unfortunately, no matter whose car you drive, it’s going to experience an issue or two when you’re looking at a high-mileage situation. What problems should you be on the lookout for? What is common to experience when the odometer reading climbs up there? Volkswagen High Mileage Transmission Concerns Transmission maintenance tends to be pushed aside for many car owners. It’s not regarded with as much importance as engine maintenance, though with intervals of 60,000 to 100,000 miles, timing is critical. Transmission fluid needs to be kept clean to prevent internal w ... read more

Which one is the right oil for my car? 5W-30, 0W-30 what does it all mean?Viscosity Viscosity Viscosity The title of the oil is meant to communicate the type & thickness of the oil at different temperatures (having the correct thickness a.k.a. viscosity is what this article will be mostly about). The W in the name 5W-30 standards for Winter and simply means this oil has been tested at colder temperatures.  (Oils without the W in their name i.e. SAE 30 have not been tested for cold weather performance. At normal operating temperatures (210°F)  5W-30 and 10W-30 will both flow at a SAE viscosity of 30, but under much colder temperatures 5W-30 will flow at an SAE viscosity of 5.   10W-30 will flow at an SAE viscosity of 10.  0-W30 will flow with a viscosity of zero in cold t ... read more

Why servicing your Drains is important for your VW/BMW/Audi WHAT ARE DRAINS/PASSAGES AND WHY DO I NEED THEM CLEANED? First off lets get the terminology straight.  Passages, Ducts, or Drains are interchangeable terms to describe a series of tubes and passages within the frame of your car specifically designed to channel water that lands on your roof and windshield down to the street below.                         Cleaning out these passages to keep them free from obstructions and clogs is absolutely essential for keeping your VW in good working order.  Falling leaves, flowers, dust, dirty and other objects accumulate in and around these passages over time. Should any of these passages on your Volkswagen become clogged, water that normally flows down to the street can be redirected to the interior of your car, causing not only a musty wet smell that is unhealthy, but also electrical issues. The wiring harness on ... read more

The Problem with Direct Injection – Coked Up Valves What is Direct Injection? Direct injection technology has changed the way fuel efficiency is achieved, and it’s a method Volkswagen has wholeheartedly embraced in a bunch of their vehicles. They were introduced into the VW lineup beginning in the early 2000’s with the Jetta, Golf, and Audi A4. Now, direct injection is commonplace. You can tell which vehicle has direction with the acronym after the name – GDI, TFSI, FSI, and TSI are all varieties of direct injection. Direct injection means exactly that: the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber. It’s unlike other fuel injection styles that spray fuel in the intake to mix with air BEFORE entering the cylinders. That achieves better power production and improved fuel efficiency, all because more air can flow into the engine’s cylinders. Drawbacks of DI There’s a drawback to direct injection, though. In a typical fuel injection ... read more

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