January 2015 – Page 3 – Humble Mechanic

Viewer Automotive Questions, Podcast Episode 33

Happy Monday everyone. Hope that you are all off to an amazing start to the week. Today on the automotive podcast, I answer YOUR emails! If you have a question for a show like this, email me Charles(AT)HumbleMechanic(dot)com. Be sure to put “QUESTION FOR CHARLES” as the subject. I want to be able to filter emails to the right location.

A surprising shout out!
I have a very surprising shout out today. That is to Volkswagen of America. My assumptions were that VW hated my blog and my show. But the hooked me up with some awesome VW Drivers Gear for the show. As a VW fan, I am almost always dressed in VW shirts. So it is great to get the thumbs up from VW. 🙂 Plus I want to demo a 2015 Golf R!

Today I answer your questions on:

Why VW doesn’t recommend soldering
Standing out to get your first job as a tech
Carbon build up on 2.0T engines
What is an “Italian Tune Up”?
What happens when customers get in over their head, and have to bring it to a shop
The W8 engine Check out W16 Explained
Humble Mechanic shop shirts
Rattle from MK4 VR6 engine
A short bit on positive vs negative camber
Where I got the VW Drive Gear trucker hat in the “Viewer Questions” show.
Time Lapse video “coming soon”
Tool Box Tour “coming soon”
And more

Trouble viewing? Watch “Viewer Questions, Podcast Episode 33” on YouTube

As always, I love to hear your comments. Post them in the comments below 🙂 If you have a question for a show like this, email me Charles (AT) humblemechanic (dot) com

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January 11, 2015/1 Comment/by Charles

Podcast

Looking Professional VS Being Professional~Episode 32

This is the VR6 logo that someone asked about the other day

Happy Friday everyone! This was the first full week of 2015. I hope that you all stayed warm. Today I want to talk about being professional as a mechanic, as well as looking professional. This is a pretty interesting topic. If you have seen any of the podcasts, you know that I don’t really fit the mold of a professional looking technician. I think that gives me the perfect outlook to talk about it 🙂

While you are watching, be ready to post your thoughts in the comments below!

Today on the Automotive Podcast we chat about:

VR6 sign
Why this came up today
Looking professional
Traditional professional
A uniform look
STOP DRAGGING YOUR FEET!(Didn’t talk much about it, but seriously)
Ideal of being professional
Being or acting professional
You CAN look however you want as a mechanic
There are still things you need to be read for
Be ready to get judged
10 Habits of Successful Technicians; Podcast Episode 23 ( think I said 27 in the show)
and more

Having trouble video? Watch “Looking Professional VS Being Professional~Episode 32” on YouTube

As always, your comments are always welcome and appreciated. I hope that you all have an awesome weekend. I will be doing a view questions show on Monday. To submit your question, email me Charles(at)HumbleMechanic(dot)com and put “QUESTION FOR CHARLES” in the subject.

Facebook

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January 9, 2015/7 Comments/by Charles

Video

Busted Knuckle Garage, Work Bench Mat Review ~ Video

Hey everyone. Today we are talking about the Busted Knuckle Garage Work Bench Mat. As I mention in the video, this was purchased on a whim. This is a cool mat. If you have never seen anything by Busted Knuckle Garage, they do some neat garage decor type stuff. Some of it is snarky and I like that 🙂

NOTE
It seems their prices fluctuate on each item. I recommend comparing Amazon and Busted Knuckle for the best price.

In this tool review, we talk about:

Why I bought this
The thing that would make this amazing
built in trays
Liquid trap
funnel
Pricing
When it is a MUST buy
When it is a fair buy
Get this mat on Amazon for $19
and FREE shipping on Prime Busted Knuckle Garage BKG-80 Work Bench Mat
and more

If you are having trouble viewing, watch “Busted Knuckle Garage, Work Bench Mat Review” on YouTube.

As always your comments and questions are very welcome. Do you guys use mats like this? If so, what kind? Or are there better solutions that I don’t know about. If you are just looking for something to set on a bench, I found this one for about the same price JEGS Performance Products 80170 Workbench Utility Mat.

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January 8, 2015/2 Comments/by Charles

Podcast

How Auto Mechanics Remember How To Put Cars Back Together~ Podcast Episode 31

Have you ever wondered how a mechanic remembers where all those parts go? Or how we somehow manage to get things put back together? Well, today I share the ways I manage to keep things straight.

This is the Routan I talk about in the video. I came in to the situation as the 3rd tech. Dealing with these types of things is awful. Just another reason to keep your stuff organized.

Today on the Automotive Podcast, we talk about:

Starting jobs smart
Being consistent
Label EVERYTHING
Tips on labeling parts
Taking Pictures
Removing Parts together
Some parts find their natural place
Mindset of Organizing.
One more little secret 😉
Post talking more about that Routan Transmission failure.
And more

If you are having trouble viewing, watch “How Auto Mechanics Remember How To Put Cars Back Together~ Podcast Episode 31” on YouTube.

As always, your comments are appreciated. If you have any tricks or tip to staying organized, plot them up :). Be sure to subscribe

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January 7, 2015/2 Comments/by Charles

Video

How The VW 2.0t TSI Rear Main Seal Fails ~VIDEO

Hey everyone, I hope that you are having a wonderful first Tuesday of 2015. Today we are taking a look at the failure of the 2.0T TSI (or TFSI) VW engine. For those of you that are new to the blog, every Tuesday, we look at a different failed VW part. As you will see we look deep into how it fails. This is one of the most popular shows here on HumbleMechanic.com. You can check out more Failed VW Parts videos on YouTube.

Sponsor Of The Day
The Sponsor of the day is DeutscheAutoParts.com. They are VW and Audi parts experts. They have awesome prices and incredible service. They also do great VW DIY videos. I have even made an appearance or two 😉

Today we look at the Rear main seal and see:

What the VW rear main seal does
How the VW rear main seal works
How VW rear main seal fails
Why the VW rear main seal fails
Ways to diagnose rear main seal failures
DIY or no DIY a rear main seal
Buy the 2.0t TSI rear main seal here.
and more

If you are having trouble viewing, watch “How The CCTA Rear Main Seal Fails ~VIDEO” on YouTube

As always, your questions and comments are welcome, please post them below. If you have a part you would like discussed on a show like this, email me Charles(AT)humblemechanic(dot)com and put “FAILED PART” in the subject. Or you can use the contact me form.

Podcast
Don’t forget to check out all the episodes of the Automotive Podcast, and Mechanic Tool Reviews

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January 6, 2015/3 Comments/by Charles

Podcast

Viewer Questions on DSG Transmissions, Podcast Episode 30

Hey everyone. Today we are talking about DSG, or Direct Shift Gearbox transmissions. I posted on Facebook asking for YOUR questions on DSGs. The reason for that is, Jason from Engineering Explained joined me in the shop for a very in depth video on the DSG. I wanted to use that opportunity to answer your questions before his video comes out. Let me say, you guys are going to love that video.

Join me as I answer your questions on:

Using the Factory fill tool
Measuring the proper fluid level
Clutch wear life
The beer I am drinking 😉
Issues with hesitation at start
Awkwardness in stop and go traffic
Why does my DSG roll after pulling it in park
DSG vs PDK
DSG in a MK4
Why are they replacing manuals
DSG in a MK1 (WHAT THE WHAT??)
Showing some love for Engineering Explained AND EricTheCarGuy

If you are having problems viewing, watch “Viewer Questions on DSG Transmissions, Podcast Episode 30” on YouTube.

Thanks again to Jason from Engineering Explained (check out our VR6 video) for hanging out, and doing some fun video work. Remember, if you have a question you want to submit for a show like this (DSG or otherwise), email me Charles(at)Humblemechanic(dot)com, be sure to put QUESTION FOR CHARLES in the subject.
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January 5, 2015/8 Comments/by Charles