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

Anyone who lives in New York knows that winter can be brutal. The last thing you want is to find yourself stranded in your car in sub-freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions. While it’s always smart to avoid driving in treacherous winter conditions, it’s not always practical to stay home and wait for the weather to improve. That’s exactly why it’s important to maintain your Volkswagen in cold weather. VW Maintenance for Winter Temperatures If you’ve not yet taken your vehicle for its winter checkup and need a skilled shop that specializes in Volkswagen, we can help. We’ll give your vehicle a thorough winter check up. Our Process: Evaluate your battery, starting and charging systems, brakes, hoses, belts, and many other components. Check the air pressure and tread depth of your tires, and let you know if your tires are suitable for winter driving. Make sure you have proper antifreeze to keep your car running in frigid temperatures. Check the level and condition o ... read more

When it's time to service or maintain your BMW, you probably take it to a qualified BMW repair facility to have brakes serviced, tires rotated, and fluids and filters changed. However, if you are handy with a wrench, you may ask yourself questions like, “Can I Replace a BMW battery myself?” and “Why do I need to have my BMW battery changed by an expert?” The answer to the first question is easy. Yes, you probably can, but you shouldn’t. You’ve made a significant investment in your vehicle. It’s unwise to cut corners for the sake of saving a few dollars. Read on for the answer to the second question. The Battery is the Heart of Your Vehicle: It Deserves Professional BMW Battery Replacement While it's possible for many people to buy a car battery at an auto-repair shop, remove their old battery, and hook up the new one, it is far wiser to entrust this job to an expert BMW repair and maintenance facility. One reason is that a professional BMW service center wil ... read more

Regardless of the make, model, age, and odometer reading of your BMW, the key to keeping it running reliably, safely, and smoothly now and well in the future is having it scheduled for maintenance according to factory recommendations. A handful of BMW owners have the expertise and tools to perform some jobs, such as oil changes. That’s not the case for the vast majority of BMW owners. When the perform-maintenance reminder illuminates, most BMW owners ask themselves a critical question: “Do I have to head to the dealership or can I look for an independent shop for BMW maintenance and service near me?” Misconceptions Can Cost YouIt’s a fallacy that in order to keep your warranty valid you must have your BMW serviced at a dealership. Of course, most dealerships aren’t quick to point this out. It’s in their best interest to allow BMW owners to believe pursuing independent BMW scheduled maintenance will void their warranty. The fact is, it’s simply not true. Whether you ... read more