I need your sincere advice.
I called up the VW dealer nearest me today, to ask about two different price quotes on replacing the transmission fluid. My first question was, how much $$$ to replace the fluid and filter/gasket? Answer: $625+tax
Second question. How much will it cost to replace tranny fluid and filter with new gasket(as above), BUT I bring my own transmission fluid along, since I'm thinking of using the Amsoil ATF product? Answer: $356+tax
Now here is my question to you guys. If I take my Touareg to the same "mom+pop shop down the street that already replaced my front+rear diff+center transfer case with my Amsoil stuff, and again bring my own stuff for the tranny, I'm probably looking at half that VW $356 quote. Maybe even less. Regardless though, this is not so much about money anymore. It is about who is capable of doing this job right, if there really is such a thing? I mean is there? Now in passing last time, I asked the mechanic at that small shop down the street if he has ever done these before? He said no, but said that they are the same as some japanese vehicles that need their tranny to be warm. Now here is the part that scared me(perhaps needlessly?)! He said once you drain out the fluid, you start the car and warm it up to normal operating temp, then you refill
. Perhaps I didn't understand him :-k, his English ain't anywhere near perfect. I maen, I do know that the tranny must be about 30C in order to refill, but I'm not sure I liked the idea of bringing it up to normal operating temp before you fill it up?! :-k Again, maybe I misunderstood his procedure. In any case, I had to go, and said that I would get back to him on the tranny.
Then there is the question of a proper drain. Will the dealer use a different procedure to drain the fluid, meaning will they flush it? The mom+pop shop will just do what gravity allows and that's it. See that's my other dilemma. Or should it be one?
I just need some advice here. Do I go to the VW dealer and bring my own stuff and pay about $356+tax, or go to the mom+pop mechanic shop, and literally pay so little, that I give them a tip in the end?!
I called up the VW dealer nearest me today, to ask about two different price quotes on replacing the transmission fluid. My first question was, how much $$$ to replace the fluid and filter/gasket? Answer: $625+tax
Second question. How much will it cost to replace tranny fluid and filter with new gasket(as above), BUT I bring my own transmission fluid along, since I'm thinking of using the Amsoil ATF product? Answer: $356+tax
Now here is my question to you guys. If I take my Touareg to the same "mom+pop shop down the street that already replaced my front+rear diff+center transfer case with my Amsoil stuff, and again bring my own stuff for the tranny, I'm probably looking at half that VW $356 quote. Maybe even less. Regardless though, this is not so much about money anymore. It is about who is capable of doing this job right, if there really is such a thing? I mean is there? Now in passing last time, I asked the mechanic at that small shop down the street if he has ever done these before? He said no, but said that they are the same as some japanese vehicles that need their tranny to be warm. Now here is the part that scared me(perhaps needlessly?)! He said once you drain out the fluid, you start the car and warm it up to normal operating temp, then you refill
. Perhaps I didn't understand him :-k, his English ain't anywhere near perfect. I maen, I do know that the tranny must be about 30C in order to refill, but I'm not sure I liked the idea of bringing it up to normal operating temp before you fill it up?! :-k Again, maybe I misunderstood his procedure. In any case, I had to go, and said that I would get back to him on the tranny.Then there is the question of a proper drain. Will the dealer use a different procedure to drain the fluid, meaning will they flush it? The mom+pop shop will just do what gravity allows and that's it. See that's my other dilemma. Or should it be one?
I just need some advice here. Do I go to the VW dealer and bring my own stuff and pay about $356+tax, or go to the mom+pop mechanic shop, and literally pay so little, that I give them a tip in the end?!
