These cars are cranky when not serviced on time. Bought this car a few months ago and performed the timing belt service due to a bad water pump. Bought it that way for a deal. Needed a few things like a battery for one. These things are HUGE! Then I found out my drivers door doesn't lock and a few other things like the lift gate struts, head light ballasts and intake manifold actuators, not to mention a leaky windshield washer bottle and one bad tire pressure sensor. Does every problem this car has cost a thousand dollars?! One by one I'm sorting these things out and getting to know this car and its weaknesses. This week I learned that while most other cars are forgiving as far as oil changes and maintenance are concerned, this one definitely is not. I noticed my tranny gasket started to fail and I was probably a little low on fluid and due for a change anyway at appx. 59k miles. So I did my research and found compatible transmission fluid and motor oil and their evil filter counterparts at somewhat deep discount.
Mobil 1 0w40 that I found at Walmart for $52 for 10Qts and T-IV tranny fluid which each cost me $49 plus the oil filter at $12 and tranny filter at $22. Turns out its the best money you could ever spend on these cars. My transmission shifts like Buttah and the engine is smooth as silk. Neither of these traits were present before I did these maintenance procedures, both of which cost me $75 total labor. ( I have very good private mechanics) The only things left to do are the plugs now that I have solved the bewitching frozen intake manifold runner syndrome, the ballasts (I don't understand why these are $500 each, you can buy an entire big screen HD tv for less), the tpms, the upper intake manifold runner solenoid(try and say that 3 times fast) Door lock, and the lift supports.
In the spring i''ll be attempting the lift gate strut replacement dismantling the interior of my car and trying to source the ridiculously expensive strut replacements. Oh then I have to man up and attempt the drivers door lock actuator replacement phuckery. Obviously I didn't know what i was signing up for. I just thought it was a bad water pump. But the person who buys this car (after I'm done with it in a couple months) is going to get one hell of a pampered Touareg. These cars are cranky but they're a hoot to drive. You gotta love 'em. Almost like being a Ford man.
Sorry for the rant but this what happens after I get home from picking this thing up from my mechanic (who told me not to buy this car) and drowning my sorrows with too much Jack Daniels and Amoretto. I love you guys...this is a great forum.:drunk
uke
Mobil 1 0w40 that I found at Walmart for $52 for 10Qts and T-IV tranny fluid which each cost me $49 plus the oil filter at $12 and tranny filter at $22. Turns out its the best money you could ever spend on these cars. My transmission shifts like Buttah and the engine is smooth as silk. Neither of these traits were present before I did these maintenance procedures, both of which cost me $75 total labor. ( I have very good private mechanics) The only things left to do are the plugs now that I have solved the bewitching frozen intake manifold runner syndrome, the ballasts (I don't understand why these are $500 each, you can buy an entire big screen HD tv for less), the tpms, the upper intake manifold runner solenoid(try and say that 3 times fast) Door lock, and the lift supports.
In the spring i''ll be attempting the lift gate strut replacement dismantling the interior of my car and trying to source the ridiculously expensive strut replacements. Oh then I have to man up and attempt the drivers door lock actuator replacement phuckery. Obviously I didn't know what i was signing up for. I just thought it was a bad water pump. But the person who buys this car (after I'm done with it in a couple months) is going to get one hell of a pampered Touareg. These cars are cranky but they're a hoot to drive. You gotta love 'em. Almost like being a Ford man.
Sorry for the rant but this what happens after I get home from picking this thing up from my mechanic (who told me not to buy this car) and drowning my sorrows with too much Jack Daniels and Amoretto. I love you guys...this is a great forum.:drunk
uke
