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Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: VW Super Beetle Owner ()
Date: October 09, 2007 06:04PM

My 2000 VW New Beetle overheated and the red warning light came on. Local gas station replaced pressure cap, coolant, and temperature switch. Cost: $348.

Service manager did not replace water pump because mechanic heard engine noise that could be sign that cooling problem is internal (and there is mention of new engine).
He recommended that I have the car hauled to a VW specialist. (After thread on tow trucks in the County, that's a scary thought).

Has anyone had experience with this type of problem (with a VW Super Beetle?).

Any recommendations for an honest shop or VW specialist in the Springfield-Burke area? (Springfield VW not on my high list of reputable repair shops).

(Yeah, I know I shouldn't have bought a car assembled in Mexico. My wife needed a memory car.)

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: ffn8v ()
Date: October 09, 2007 06:40PM

I remember eating at Arthur Treachers Fish & Chips beside Spfld. VW back in the 80's while my granddad got his square back and golfs serviced there.

He was especially picky and they had a great svc. dept then. I guess things may have changed??

H. B. Lantzsch, Inc. was really good in reputation. While the Fairfax City dealer remains, it is now part of Rosenthal's network.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: VW ()
Date: October 10, 2007 11:06AM

There is a VW shop in Arlington call zolly motors.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: nakedshoplifter ()
Date: October 10, 2007 11:51AM

pro-imports.com

They are in Gaithersburg

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: DUB ()
Date: October 10, 2007 01:39PM

Martens VW does top notch work for a stealership, but expect to pay for it.

And yeah, Springfield VW and Alexandria VW service is trash. Avoid like the plague.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: doggy sausage sticks ()
Date: October 10, 2007 01:47PM

Replace the water pump yourself, the pump is cheap and its held by four screws and a belt, easy swap. We swaped the alternator and a water pump on my neighbores nissan altima in about an hour and yes water pump could be the reason why your car overheats.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: Pat Goss' Doppelganger ()
Date: October 11, 2007 06:00PM

VW Super Beetle Owner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My 2000 VW New Beetle overheated and the red
> warning light came on. Local gas station replaced
> pressure cap, coolant, and temperature switch.
> Cost: $348.
>
> Service manager did not replace water pump because
> mechanic heard engine noise that could be sign
> that cooling problem is internal (and there is
> mention of new engine).
> He recommended that I have the car hauled to a VW
> specialist. (After thread on tow trucks in the
> County, that's a scary thought).
>
> Has anyone had experience with this type of
> problem (with a VW Super Beetle?).
-----------------------------------------------

So does the car run at all at this point? What made the mechanic change the cap and switch... did he test them and they turned out to be bad?

By "internal engine noise," does the mechanic think the overheating blew the head gasket and/or caused other serious problems?

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: joe ()
Date: October 11, 2007 09:19PM

Is there any coolant in your oil, or vice versa?

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: russianwol ()
Date: October 11, 2007 11:27PM

Replace the thermostat while you're at it.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: Anonymous Coward ()
Date: October 13, 2007 07:15PM

doggy sausage sticks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Replace the water pump yourself, the pump is cheap
> and its held by four screws and a belt, easy swap.
> We swaped the alternator and a water pump on my
> neighbores nissan altima in about an hour and yes
> water pump could be the reason why your car
> overheats.

Haha, you obviously have never seen the procedure for swapping the water pump on a New Beetle. It starts with breaking loose the engine mounting bolts. And gets worse from there. It will take an experienced mechanic 4 hours to do the job.

OP, check out Merv's in central Springfield, behind Five Guys next to Springfield VW. They do really great work at a reasonable price. I've taken my VWs there for years. It's kind of a sketchy looking place but the mechanics are really good.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: VW Super Beetle Owner ()
Date: October 13, 2007 09:30PM

I owe you all a mini-update. Thank you all for your comments!
I learned that the water pump could be replaced by the VW dealer under a 100K drive train warranty. (Guess I bit the bullet).
I had AAA move the car to the Springfield dealer. (Great tow truck driver!)
For the last three days I've received daily calls from the service manager that they would need more time. They were having a problem with the bolts that broke off and had to be drilled out.
No calls today. I didn't have the guts to call and will wait 'till Monday.
Oh, and all the parts recommended to be changed (above) were to be replaced. I was quoted $400 or there 'bouts.
I'm a little anxious...

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: WashingToneLocian ()
Date: October 13, 2007 09:33PM

I know where a dishonest one is.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: jettan ()
Date: October 13, 2007 09:58PM

I had a friend who used to have a VW camper Van.
He took it to Merv's in springfield.
I have a jetta 97 and I usually diy my vw but when I cannot I take it
to them and they have been honest.
I recently thought my bearings were going because I was all over the road
and it effected my brakes and it turned out to a loose nut.
They calle dme back and said it was fixed and did not charge me.
I was expecting to pay out the a$$.
This happened last month.
I usually do my research on vwvortex.com

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: VW Super Beetle Owner ()
Date: October 15, 2007 03:22PM

Again, thanks to all of your for sharing. You inputs have been helpful. Here is, I hope, the bottom line:

o Kings Park service station may have replaced "good" parts and knew enough not to proceed into a more complicated repair. I trust their integrity and they are ASE and AAA.

o Rolling Thunder wrecker service was terrific and moved the bug to Springfield VW service center before I even got there. A AAA recommended service I would trust in the future.

o VW service surprised me, providing upfront and straight information about the repairs, to include the power train 100,000 mile warranty. And, sure enough, the bolt broke and the repair became more complicated. In the end I gained new coolant temperature sensor, tempsender, timing belt, tensioner roller, tooth belt, doublebelt, and roller. Total cost did not exceed the $400 I was quoted going in.

Yes, expensive...but I didn't have to replace the engine or pay for the water pump. And, I have to admit, the VW service was much improved.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: Pat Goss' Doppelganger ()
Date: October 15, 2007 07:30PM

I'm impressed - that's actually a lot of work for that price. Looks like they did the right thing.

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: jc ()
Date: October 18, 2007 09:51PM

Call hometown Auto. best auto shop i've been to in many years. if you break down in NOVA they will tow you in for free too!

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Re: Looking for Honest VW Specialist
Posted by: lucie ()
Date: October 22, 2007 06:32PM

Merv's Auto in Springfield is great. They are honest, thorough, and fast. They shoot straight with you and won't fix something that is not broken. I've been taking my cars to them for the past 4 years (including my Jetta) and won't take them to another mechanic even though Merv's is about 35 miles from my place now. 703-644-1900

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