KEEPING ON THE LOOKOUT

12 Most Common VW and Audi Problems

CV BOOTS AND JOINTS
Regular inspection of boots can help avoid CV joint work. Clicking noises when turning is a indication of a bad CV joint.

MOTOR MOUNTS
Are made of rubber and dry out. Some are filled with oil and leak. Car usually shakes at idle or clunks when shifting, stopping, or accelerating, when you have one or more bad mounts. Avoid hard shifting, and inspect regularly. Replace mount as soon as it is bad to avoid damaging other mounts.

BELTS
Have your belts inspected at each oil change-every 3000 miles. All Volkswagens must use original OEM belts because the grove they ride in is unique to German autos. They will make noise and wear out prematurely. 

OIL LEAKS
Proper maintenance includes the cleanliness under the hood. The valve cover gasket seeping or oil sender, oil seal, and transmission seal can cause much larger problems if not attended to. Oil on rubber hoses causes them to swell and blow out. Electrical connections on newer autos work at less than 1 volt, and are very sensitive to dirt, grime, and corrosion. Checking the little things like oil leaks now, saves you from problems later.

BRAKES
Regular inspections can help decrease brake work. The brakes on your VW are larger and more powerful than most full-size cars. The brake pads new are only about 15mm-17mm thick so; a lot of non-VW shops think that the brakes need replacement when you still have 2/3 S (5-6 mm) of the pad life left. By having VW DEPOT do oil changes, we will check your brakes every timeand record in are super cool computer the thickness to learn how you drive your car thus extending the useable brake pad life up 2 years longer. When it is time to have the brakes repaired we will send out a friendly reminder in the mail.

STRUTS AND MOUNTS
Strut mounts, when worn, usually make a rattling noise when going over bumps. Bad struts mounts can make the car drive harsh and tires wear uneven. VW's rarely need struts even after 150,000 miles. It is usually just the front mounts that wear out, not the whole strut. Speed bumps or bad roads can make the mounts have play as early as 50,000 miles.

TIE RODS
Use of good roads and regular inspection increase tie rod life . 

COOLANT LEAKS, FLANGES, AND FAN MOTORS
Keeps car from overheating to avoid warping flanges and ruining hoses or possibly hurting the engine. A flashing water light means WATCH the gauge. If the water temp gauge goes over 3/4 or 220 degrees STOP THE CAR! Wait for the engine to cool off before opening the coolant reservoir cap. Call us—DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR—it will be too late if overheating goes past 230 degrees. You will be doing irreversable engine damage.

WHEEL BEARINGS
Use proper tires and rims, and avoid "speedster" driving habits.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
Most transmission problems on 2000 and newer Volkswagens are electrical and not the transmission's hard parts. A simple battery change without reprogramming the transmission computer can cause erratic, no-shift or a limp home mode.

SHIFTER BUSHINGS
For 5 spd transmissions only. A loose shifter makes it hard for the internal transmission parts to function properly. In most VW'S, you have to push down the shifter to get the car in reverse. If the lockout is broken, you can harm the gearbox. The shifter has a ball and shifter bracket that wears out, but they are not very expensive. On most 2000 and newer VW's you hava a cable shifter. If it stops working it is usually an inexpensive plastic bracket that brakes and can be fixed for under $90.

EXHAUST HANGERS
Proper renewal of hangers can eliminate exhaust rattle and damage to exhaust system.