Today on the Humble Mechanic Podcast, I take your automotive questions. If you would like to get a question on a show like this, follow this format. Email me, Charles(AT)Humblemechanic(dot)com and put “question for Charles” in the subject. This is the best way to get your car question answered. If there are topics you want me to talk about on the show, this is a great way to get it done.

Sponsor of the DayCRP AUTO
CRP deals in a ton of OE automotive parts. They also make the factory DSG fluid for VW. Having them as a sponsor will give us access to more information about fluids than I would ever get from VW. I am really excited to have them as a resource of information. To learn more about the great products they have, check out CRPAutomotive.com

Join me as I take your questions on:

  • Passat dipsticks
  • Accurately checking engine oil level
  • DSG shifting in to neutral.
  • Replacing TSI timing chain tensioner under as preventative maintenance
  • Replacing MK4 parking brake cables
  • TDI HPFP warranty extension
  • Will TDI owners be forced to get “the fix”
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “Viewer Automotive Questions Answered ~ Podcast Episode 99” on YouTube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. Again, if you have a question for a show like this, email me Charles(at)humblemechanic(dot)com with Question for Charles in the subject. Also if you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form!

Don’t forget to follow me at:

VR6 Coolant Pipe and Thermostat Housing DIY

IMG_4010This is a DIY on replacing the VW VR6 coolant pipe, aka Crack Pipe, and thermostat housing. on the AAA VR6 engine. We learn how to replace the pipe and a few things to be careful of. This is another video in the MK3 DIY series. You can check out the Mk3 GTI walk around video I did. This is also a DIY that I struggled with. It was one of those jobs that very little goes right. I will probably do a video showing all of that.

Important information before starting this repair:

  • Tools needed for this coolant pipe DIY
  • Eurowise Thermostat Housing
  • Eurowise thermostat housing review
  • Some struggles I had doing this repair
  • Removing the front end is not always necessary, but can make it easier
  • Check out more DIY videos here
  • Here are all the MK3 GTI videos
  • and more

Trouble veiwing? Watch “VR6 Coolant Pipe and Thermostat Housing DIY” on YouTube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. If you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form! Don’t forget to follow me at:VR6 Coolant Pipe and Thermostat Housing DIY

I get a lot of questions every day. Many are related to car issues. I also get a lot of questions about becoming a technician, or becoming a better technician. I also get asked “Do you ever have a bad day at work?” a lot. Today we are going to answer that question, and talk about some of the things that make for a bad day. Even some ways to move past a bad day.

Sponsor of the day:rain eater logo
Rain Eater wiper blades. Wipers are one of the most important safety items on our cars. Think not, you must have never driven in bad weather. When you are ready to replace your wiper blades, a very easy DIY, check out RainEater wipers at RainEater.com. Plus I LOVE that their CEO is the one monitoring social media.

Join me today as we breakdown:

  • Do I have bad days as a mechanic?
  • The things that contribute to a bad day
  • Getting bad information
  • People not doing their part
  • How I put bad days in the past
  • and more


Trouble viewing? Watch “Does Humble Mechanic Have A Bad Day? ~ Podcast Episode 98” on YouTube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. If you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form! Don’t forget to follow me at:

DieselGate

DieselGate The news broke that VW lied about emissions on their 4 cylinder TDI cars across the world. Cars were being put in a different ECM strategy for the test. Here are my thoughts and how it will impact you, me, and others. The great thing about this whole dieselgate thing is, VW admitted that they lied about it, and has promised to make it right. I really hope they stand behind that statement.

DISCLAIMER
I am a dealership employee, NOT a VWofA employee. I do not have access to any top secret information. All of the things I talk about today are public knowledge. They are also only my thoughts. I am not speculating on anything that VW may do to fix this issue. There are a lot of things that could be done, but we just do not know what will happen.

Join me today as we breakdown:

  • What this DieselGate thing is all about
  • How VW may have cheated the emissions test
  • They admitted they did it
  • What they promised to do.
  • How this will impact VW service people
  • How this will impact VW sales people
  • Will they really make it right?
  • What will the Recall on TDIs mean
  • Great forum thread at CleanMPG.com
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “VW Diesel Scandal AKA DIESELGATE ~ Episode 97” on YouTube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. If you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form! Don’t forget to follow me at:

How VW Head gaskets fail

How VW Head gaskets failOn this episode of “How VW Parts Fail” we are looking at the failure of the 2.5L cylinder head gasket. The head gasket can be thought of as one of the most important gaskets in an engine. Today we talk about what a head gasket is, what it does, and how it fails.

Sponsor Of The Day
Today’s show is sponsored by Deutsche Auto Parts. They are the VW and Audi parts experts. They have great prices and awesome service. Plus they work really hard on a ton of VW DIY videos. Paul and the fellas at DAP are awesome. Also check out their new site at SHOPDAP.com

Join me today as we breakdown:

  • What is a VW head gasket?
  • What does a VW head gasket seal?
  • Where is the head gasket located?
  • How does the head gasket fail
  • Symptoms of a failing head gasket
  • Diagnosing a failing head gasket
  • Is replacing a head gasket a DIY?
  • Good news about failing head gaskets
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “How VW Parts Fail ~ 2.5L Head Gaskets” on YouTube.

As always, your questions and comments are welcome.
Please post them below. If you would like to suggest a part of a show like this, email me Charles(at)HumbleMechanic(dot)com. Thanks again to Deutsche Auto Parts for being such a great sponsor.

Don’t forget to follow me at:How VW Head gaskets fail

Today on the Humble Mechanic Podcast, I take your automotive questions. If you would like to get a question on a show like this, follow this format. Email me, Charles(AT)Humblemechanic(dot)com and put “question for Charles” in the subject. This is the best way to get your car question answered. If there are topics you want me to talk about on the show, this is a great way to get it done.

Sponsor of the DayCRP AUTO
CRP deals in a ton of OE automotive parts. They also make the factory DSG fluid for VW. Having them as a sponsor will give us access to more information about fluids than I would ever get from VW. I am really excited to have them as a resource of information. To learn more about the great products they have, check out CRPAutomotive.com

Join me as I take your questions on:

Trouble viewing? Watch “Viewer Automotive Questions Answered ~ Podcast Episode 96” on YouTube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. Again, if you have a question for a show like this, email me Charles(at)humblemechanic(dot)com with Question for Charles in the subject. Also if you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form!

Don’t forget to follow me at:

DSG Problems

VW DSG ProblemsToday on “How VW parts fail”, we are looking at the mechantronics unit from the 7 speed DSG transmission. This transmission is only found in the Jetta Hybrid in the US market. In the rest of world market, it is found in other drivetrain combinations as well. This is not the most common of VW issues, but it is pretty cool how it works. This is also a little different video because I have never taken one apart. It is great because we can all learn something on this video.

Sponsor Of The Day
Today’s show is sponsored by Deutsche Auto Parts. They are the VW and Audi parts experts. They have great prices and awesome service. Plus they work really hard on a ton of VW DIY videos. Paul and the fellas at DAP are awesome. Also check out their new site at SHOPDAP.com

Join me as we break down(hopefully not):

  • What a mechatronics unit in the DSG is
  • How a mechatronics unit in the DSG works
  • How the mechatronics unit changes gears
  • The serviceability of the mechatronics unit.
  • Is this a DIY part?
  • The DSG Transmission explained 
  • Symptoms of mechatronics unit failure
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “How VW Parts Fail ~ 7 speed DSG Mechatronic Unit” on YouTube.

As always, your questions and comments are welcome.
Please post them below. If you would like to suggest a part of a show like this, email me Charles(at)HumbleMechanic(dot)com. Thanks again to Deutsche Auto Parts for being such a great sponsor.VW DSG Problems

Don’t forget to follow me at: