Recently a man changed the battery and his car wouldn't start. Another man replaced the radio and then his remote door locks wouldn't work. Another put custom seats in his pickup and his air bag light stayed on. What do all these people have in common? They are unwary victims of the technology on their cars. If you replace the battery on a late model Volkswagen the computers have to be "Initialized" so that they can talk to each other again and allow the car to start. 300 to install a battery in one. On late model GM products the radio receiver acts as the receiver for the remote key fob too. If you change the radio you may lose the signal needed to unlock your car. Many vehicles have "smart air bags" now that sense the weight load on a seat to determine whether to deploy the air bag, and if so how hard to inflate it. When the seat is changed the sensor to weigh the passenger is lost.
Most radio auto repair talk shows are all about helping the listeners take care of their cars. In many cases we help them understand how to do the repair themselves, saving money and time. Unfortunately these days some very simple jobs can turn into a nightmare. If you are a do it yourself kind of guy (or gal) then we have some suggestions before you find yourself mired in technology and modern science. Call your regular auto repair shop and ask them what you might run into. Subscribe to a program like Alldata so you can research the job before you get into it. Ask at the parts store when you are buying the part is there is any thing special you might need to know or do to make the job right. Go online and "Google" the project to see if there is any information out there to help you.
In these lists, you will find items that should have been replaced or at least inspected by 75k-100k miles. Some are model specific, and will be noted as such. This is usually a sign of bad tie rod ends. The boots have a tendency to tear resulting in improper lubrication of the tie rod ball joint. This leads to long term tie rod end failure. Factory Volkswagen shocks work great for about 30k. By 60k they are completely shot. Most folks who have been driving their cars since new hardly notice the deterioration as it is gradual. Symptoms include:Diving under braking and acceleration, excessive lean and suspension compression during cornering. Bouncy and uncomfortable ride. Shocks and struts may visibly leak shock oil. When replacing shocks and struts, keep in mind it is a great time to install lowering springs or freshen up other areas of the suspension. You will be amazed at the difference a good set of shocks can make in both comfort and performance!
Prevalent on all Volkswagen's, a burning oil smell could indicate a leaky valve cover gasket. If the condition continues unchecked, oil can seep into the spark plug holes and damage the ignition coils, resulting in costly replacement. Replacement of this inexpensive gasket is a good idea when changing sparkplugs as the coil packs will already be out. Volkswagen coolant reservoirs have a large tendency to leak at the seams. This is a very common problem and a relatively quick fix. However if this goes un-repaired it can result in very costly engine repairs including thermostat, water pump, and even head gasket repairs. Volkswagen trip displays can occasionally lose pixels and LEDs. This may result in the need to replace the gauge panel. However this repair does not cause any major issues and usually goes unnoticed. After years of working on the Mercedes Benz, we have begun to see common problems and maintenance concerns that need to be addressed on nearly every middle-aged Mercedes Benz.
