Why OEM Parts Are Crucial for Your Volkswagen's Performance

Your Volkswagen transmission features hundreds of moving parts that rely on friction to function. The constant motion of these parts also increases your transmission's temperature. Because of the frequent exposure to friction and heat, your transmission needs regular maintenance at your Volkswagen dealer. Here are some signs that you need to take your VW in for transmission service. more Incorrect Gear If your vehicle does not move as expected once you switch it into a specific gear, it might have one or more issues. You should get your car checked to see if there are problems with its shifter, shifter cable, valve body, or fluid levels. This issue is dangerous to yourself, your passengers, and other drivers, as you may accelerate when you want to decelerate or vice versa Noises in Neutral Your gears should shift silently. When you hear unusual noises while switching gears, your torque converter is likely to have been affected. This converter is the part of your transmission that connects to the engine. It uses transmission fluid to transfer the engine power to the transmission gears, allowing your car to move. High Revving/Slipping Fluid leakage, water infiltration, contamination, and wear and tear of transmission components can lead to high revving and slipping. Regardless of the cause of this issue, you will need to service your transmission quickly to keep your vehicle functioning. Delayed Shifts If your car takes more time than usual to shift into another gear, your transmission might have a problem. To keep yourself safe and prevent engine damage, you should get this checked out. Fluid Leak VWs need different fluids to run correctly so that any leakage may cause trouble. Your transmission fluid is either red or brown. If it’s brown, or you see puddles of red or brown fluid on the ground, then you need service. If you are uncertain if your car is leaking fluid, leave a piece of cardboard or paper under it overnight. Any fluid that leaks will be apparent in the morning. Missing Gears If your vehicle misses certain gears, you should take it in for service before it experiences further damage. Missing gears are a definite sign that you’re having serious transmission troubles. Burning Smell The smell of burning rubber suggests that your gears might be grinding against each other or that fluid is dripping onto the engine and overheating. Instead of trying to determine the source of the smell yourself, you should take it to the dealership for maintenance. Shakes/Jolts Your gear changes should always be smooth and silent. If you notice any shaking, kicking, or jerking when you change gears, don't wait! Take it in for maintenance before the problem gets worse. Overall, there are many signs that your car's transmission needs service. If you're a Volkswagen owner in or around Shiloh, IL, visit Auffenberg Volkswagen today to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape!

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Good brakes are essential for driving safety, as they give you complete control over your Volkswagen's speed. The braking system generates heat as it works, and combined with natural wear and tear on components, will cause parts to fail. As your Volkswagen dealer, we want to tell you some of the signs you need to visit us for a brake repair. Check out three signs you need a brake repair at your local Volkswagen dealership. more Brake Warning Lights Your Volkswagen has two brake lights that will automatically light up if any problem with the brakes is detected. Sensors are connected to all the major components of your braking system and monitor the system for any signs that something is wrong. If a problem is identified, the relevant sensor informs your computer, and the specific warning light will illuminate. The ABS warning light illuminates if the ABS isn't working correctly. This system prevents your wheels from locking if your car slides on a wet or muddy surface. The brake light lights up if your handbrake is still engaged, if your brake fluid is low, or for any other braking-related issue. We'll examine your brakes and repair the problem. Pulling to One Side When you hit the brakes, the calipers clamp against the spinning wheel rotors and generate friction, and this friction brings the wheels to a stop. The braking system applies equal pressure to each caliper to ensure that all four wheels stop at the same time. If your Volkswagen pulls to one side when you brake, one of the calipers is damaged. The calipers are positioned about the wheel rotors and are held open by pins. Brake fluid forces the pins out of the calipers, which causes them to close on the rotors. A jammed or rusted pin could remain in place, and its caliper won't engage. The wheel will continue to turn until brought to a halt by the other wheels stopping. Our technicians will examine the caliper and repair or replace it to fix this problem. Brake Fluid Leak Brake fluid provides the hydraulic power that allows the braking system to work. The fluid is highly pressurized to supply sufficient force to bring your Volkswagen to a stop regardless of its present speed. Over time, seals can become worn, rubber brake hoses can crack, metal brake lines can corrode, and fluid will leak. As the system loses fluid, your brakes will become less responsive, and your braking distance will increase. If you suspect a fluid leak, contact our service department ASAP. We'll examine your braking system, discover leaks, and repair them. Once any leaks are sealed, we'll refill your brake fluid. Brake problems are quick and affordable to repair and will give you peace of mind. Contact us today at Auffenberg Volkswagen in Shiloh, IL.

The ignition coils in your engine generate high voltage for the spark plugs to ignite the fuel inside the combustion chambers. As the coils play a pivotal in the combustion process, you'll soon notice if one or more of them malfunction. Here are seven of the most common indications that you need to visit your local Volkswagen dealer to repair or replace your coils. more Misfiring Spark Plugs As spark plugs depend on the ignition coils for a ready supply of electricity, a faulty coil will cause its corresponding spark plug to misfire. A misfiring engine will cough and sputter as one or more spark plugs fail to ignite the fuel on time. Rough Idling and Stalls Misfiring usually becomes most notable when the car is idling, such as when you're waiting in traffic or at an intersection. If the misfiring caused by a faulty coil is particularly bad, your car might even stall. Weaker Engine Power With at least one cylinder misfiring, an engine weakened by a malfunctioning coil will also lose power. You'll find it harder to gain a quick burst of speed when attempting to accelerate. Lessened Gas Mileage Despite the bad coil and spark plug failing to work properly, the engine keeps injecting fuel into a misfiring cylinder. This means fuel is being guzzled inefficiently and your gas mileage will plummet. Black Exhaust Smoke With a malfunctioning coil, unburned fuel inside the cylinder can start leaking back into the exhaust pipes. As it does, the fuel may ignite, causing loud backfiring. You may also see black smoke emerging from the tailpipe behind you. Slow-To-Start Engine Lacking the necessary electrical power to generate sparks properly, an engine with a faulty coil will struggle to start in the morning. This problem will be worse during winter or with more than one bad coil. Blinking Check Engine Light With a bad coil, you'll soon see the check engine light come to life on your dashboard. Although you won't immediately know what caused the light to switch on, a technician can quickly figure out and fix the underlying problem. How Your Volkswagen Dealer Can Check a Bad Coil An experienced technician can use a diagnostic tool to read fault codes in your car's system. They can inspect any misbehaving coils for signs of damage to the wiring, anti-rotational tabs, or plug connections. They can also test the coil to see if it can generate more than the necessary 10.5 volts and perform various other tests. Finally, they'll repair, refurbish, or replace the faulty coil. Visit Auffenberg Volkswagen in Shiloh, IL, today to have your coil or spark plug problems resolved. We're a local full-service dealership offering a broad range of new and used cars at competitive prices, along with excellent vehicle maintenance services.