Is the VW Touareg a LEMON? (Crazy Overheating Issue!)

[@Belal-Khan]

For the amount of labour involved in that diag, I'd say $1500 was a pretty cheap fix.

[@walterschaarschmidt8032]

So true......

[@michaelgleason4791]

Most mechanics would've replaced the thermostat, charged you a lot of money, and sent you on your way. Make sure you bring that guy coffee and donuts.

[@DOGPOOCHOGENIUS]

He spent working on that car about one month He should be able to figure out that much quicker. I don't think that was that problem anyway. When you start touching electrical connectors, You may get the connection and everything will look good, but the problem will come back eventually.

[@scottjames6037]

Good VW mechanic would have figured it out in half a day.

[@JohnDoe-pf3ue]

bring me cash no offence but none of us techs want beers , donuts coffee etc. cash money bro.

[@Heyyo_Friday]

I was going to say. Time for a 4runner when you were talking about selling and DP said he likes his Japan simplicity. Called itttt

[@michaeldobson8859]

I owned a 2012 Touareg and it was the best car I have ever owned. I’ve rented 4 Runners and they may be reliable but they are not even in the same capability range as a Touareg. They ride like crap and don’t tow as much. Their frame and structure are not in the same game. The AWD System in the VW is way better than the Toyota which is really a truck. I also own an X5 and I’ll take the Touareg everyday over any other AWD SUV.

[@jonc7371]

Michael Dobson the Touareg is a good family city vehicle, the 4runner is for everywhere else

[@EXOVCDS]

I see this a lot... people buying old luxury vehicles for cheap and then complaining about repair costs. Leasing for 4 years and then switching to the next new model, will save you getting stuck with repairs due to age. Parts failing due to age does not make it a lemon. This vehicle was 10 years old (at time of video).... a lemon starts having problems within 6 month of being new.

[@mervinprone]

This is why you do preventative maintenance, every six months checked at the dealer is more expensive but they will notice some problems before they become serious. At ten years old, this is not a Volkswagen issue - it’s an old car issue. You can’t have a “lemon” if it’s lasted ten years in the brutal cold.

[@douglasb.1203]

This is a great point Jake. The brutal cold will and does take a toll on any vehicle, let alone the effects of corrosive anti-freezing measures on the road. I drive a 2014 Touareg TDI approaching 146,000 miles. The vehicle isn't cheap and repairs are what they are. Considering the DNA of this car is in the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentaga and Lamborghini Urus; it is fantastic. Drive a 4Runner. Drive a Touareg. Drive whatever you want regardless of Scotty Kilmer.

[@oooonlytdi7423]

As the current owner of this vehicle And I find it absolutely funny to watch the video and read the comments These mechanics have absolutely no clue what they're talking about Cooling sensors do not create voltage fyi they are resistive ..Failing thermostats are common no they are not ?? The radiator outlet temperature is cold because the engine is not creating a lot of heat and the radiator is very effective and there is a high delta temp differential .. You have to understand the cooling system loop on this engine before you trying to diagnose The issue ended up being a heater core shut off valve Which turns off the coolant flow to the heater core during Just so happens the engine cooling sensor is tied into the same loop When the Gauge was getting hot it wasn't actually overheating It was because the core loop was full of air ! I haven't had an issue since and i have 321000km on now I feel bad for the previous owner he spent a ton of money on a bunch of stuff he didn't need And then he sold the vehicle because of a misdiagnosis!!

[@ln5747]

I think this is the problem - US mechanics are pretty poor at diesels, at least European diesels because they aren't common like in Europe. In Europe these are very reliable.

[@freddymedina7430]

Do you still have yours ?

[@zurzuliu12]

Having the same problem here ,do you have the part number for the valve ?

[@_Keir]

Yes, so your 4Runner build is going to happen!

[@nooraliisa]

Many people abandon german cars because of some non professional mechanics. They would say we have 15+ years of experience but they know nothing in reality. We need more mechanics like this gentleman who knows how to diagnose first then do the fix properly. 👌 well done

[@CJZ964]

Considering how much work went into the Treg, I would’ve kept it personally. Living in Ontario, the Toyota will rust out in a few years and every bolt you touch underneath it will brake off clean. I used to be a tech in Montreal for a VW/Audi shop, whenever a Japanese car rolled it for suspension work, it was a painful experience but paid well to remove broken bolts. We also owned 2 4Runners and would not recommend them for anything but slow off-road. Having said all of this, the 4Runner will keep your family moving rather than waiting on the side of the road. Great channel btw!

[@matthewsullivan1615]

Thank you sooo much for showing problems like this. Most people don’t understand how much time can go into the diag of some problems. Everyone thinks you just plug the computer in as it tells you what is wrong. Thanks again from a red seal tech!!

[@ChoPi-Eww]

I had a gremlin like this happen to a new Accord in '99. New Honda wouldn't start when the interior of the car was hot. Took it to 4 dealers to find the problem, finally got it to act up for them and it took a week for them to figure it out under warranty.

[@JMacGyver1]

I love my 2014 Touareg TDI, even with the various issues they can have, it’s such a fantastic highway cruiser. Last month drove from Chicago to Wilmington, NC and back (15 hours each way), carrying three adults and two labradors, with a hitch rack loaded, and got just under 32mpg overall.

[@cyclonus01]

What issues have you had so far

[@JMacGyver1]

@@cyclonus01 Nothing catastrophic so far, mainly some electronics glitches with the head unit, plus the very common steering wheel shake at speed. The wheel shake was mostly fixed simply by installing the wheels in a very specific pattern and torquing them twice. We’ve got 110k miles on it and it looks pristine inside and out, and frankly has a better interior and some features compared to our Audi Q5 3.0T, that’s two years newer. I guess there was a reason it was priced at $64k new - you get what you pay for.

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@JMacGyver1 Yep, a very stout car as you say and as VW enthusiasts say. :) It seems curious that PT's had problems.

[@evanzukiwsky5182]

@@JMacGyver1 I have that same steering wheel shake. I;v eheard about the pattern of installing tires and alignment in certain wheel positions, but can't find any info on that. Can you point me to where i can find this out? Thanks!

[@JMacGyver1]

@@evanzukiwsky5182 Hey Evan, it’s a TSB from VW that I found on one of the forums. Basically the thing you need to do is to pull each wheel off and re-seat them making sure to have the brake disc bolt on the hub at the 6 o’clock position (it’s a bolt that is inset on the hub that you see when you pull off the wheel), which will put one of the lug holes at the 12 o’clock position, and it allows one of the hub flanges to hold the wheel in place while you screw in the lugs. Put the wheel back on and start by hand tightening the top 12 o’clock bolt, then move to the number 2 bolt, which will be at approximately the 7 o’clock position. Tighten both to hand tight so the wheel is secured to the hub evenly. Then follow with the other lug bolts, going to the 3 o’clock position, the 10 o’clock position then finishing at the 5 o’clock position. Then go back starting at the 12 o’clock lug and following the same pattern as what you did hand tightening, tighten each lug to 30Nm / 22 ft lbs. Once completed, drop the wheel down and finish torquing each lug to 133 ft lbs., using the same pattern again, 12 o’clock, 7 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 10 o’clock and 5 o’clock. The other thing to do before putting each wheel back on, is to make sure both surfaces (wheel and hub) are clean and free from dirt or corrosion that could make getting a perfect seating impossible. Use a clean rag that has some WD40 sprayed on it to wipe off both surfaces. It should solve 95% of the wheel shake, assuming that the wheels / tires aren’t out of balance or damaged in some way.

[@Gravstein]

10 years old and you have bad solder points in the ECM... Glad you got a Toyota

[@naten555]

have you actually owned a toyota? And chased your tail with check engine lights and emission issues. I still have o2 and evap nightmares from my last 03 tacoma. screw that truck and its rusted out frame rail.

[@chrisking6740]

@@naten555 p0401 nightmares

[@MyHomeGarage]

How many people here have owned a Touareg TDI? As well as a v6 4 runner limited? I have. The touareg is like another level. Makes the 4 runner feel prehistoric. My wife has a crv and she drove the 4 runner the always wants to take the touareg.

[@abossx]

Sold my VW because it def shook my confidence in it. Especially when mechanic says “that’s odd” “shouldn’t have happened”

[@7MGTEsupra89]

it's a VW there's nothing that "shouldn't happen" the quality of VW has shit the bed.

[@ln5747]

Diesel?

[@abossx]

@@ln5747 no. 2.0 with dsg

[@michaelsimmons9328]

I have a 2017 Toureg I love my car it’s a Wolfsburg edition. I haven’t had any problems out of it. It’s has everything I’m still finding new things it does.

[@BoiseTDI]

For your friend, I had a VW TDI for 10 years and only standard maintenance. Super reliable. ;)

[@IDontHaveAVideo]

I bought my '14 Touareg TDI with 50k miles. 4 years later, I'm now at 94k miles. I've had two trips to the dealership for non-routine issues. One required the cleaning of the Adblue injector, and the other required replacing the boost pressure sensor. Both items were under factory warranty. I can't complain much about my Touareg. Sorry you had issues with yours.

[@1977darby]

I had a similar issue with my 2012 Touareg TDI. The dealer had it for a month. The dealer finally changed the ECM. No more issues. The repairs were covered by VW.

[@InfoSecTangSoo]

Todd: I'm a Toyota guy, I'm a Honda guy. I like my simple, reliable Japanese cars. Me with a '13 Honda Pilot that needed a transmission replacement at 60K (covered under warranty), that literally left us stranded just as we started our summer road trip to Deerhurst in Muskoka...from South Florida (wife is Canadian). Had to book a flight, car rental, and completely unpack the car and pack for a plane w/in 24-hours. Tell me more about that legendary Japanese reliability again? Now the Pilot has 94K and I am staring down a mandatory $2000 bill for replacing the timing belt (and other related components) because of that legendary Japanese engineering and their aversion to timing chains? Meh. At least it's paid off...I guess. I'm here because we needed a second car; school just started and my kids now go to separate schools. I'm apparently a glutton for punishment, so we literally (yesterday) bought a '13 Touareg V6 Lux. I've always wanted one. If new cars weren't so ridiculously expensive now (including the markup over MSRP that most dealerships seem to be charging now), we wouldn't have bought a used car. I guess we'll see how this one goes.

[@timblizzard4226]

Any update mate? I'm currently looking at a Touareg.

[@Spartansrule118]

How's it going now?

[@MyHomeGarage]

15 year honda tech here and I've scene weird shit at honda that would scare you from 2005-2015 Honda. People just don't talk about it as much. That 3.0 tdi motor has been around along time. Maybe some stuff around it goes bad but I believe those diesels even with emissions are some of the best with the bmw inline 6 diesel.go online tons with super high kms. Theres a reason.

[@ln5747]

In Europe they're considered excellent. Do mega miles. German diesels are probably better than Jap/Asian diesels on the most part, but people can't seem to see that with the hate on German vehicles.

[@MyHomeGarage]

@@ln5747 if it wasn't for the emissions and EGR these engines would be bullet proof.

[@ln5747]

@@MyHomeGarage yes pretty much.

[@Wakabatan]

It'd be nice to see more daily drivers like this getting minor fixes or upgrades just to make them last longer and maybe marginally faster

[@tanovw]

Every one bashing on vw but I had one for 7 years and all I did was change the battery and alternator. Basic maintenance stuff and keeping up with those vws would last you. Im on my 5th vw now and all of them never gave me any major problems.

[@weezill]

Similar thing happened to me with a 2012 X5. Over heated, left me on the side of the road with my kids. Cost way more to fix. Failed again after it was "fixed"....in and out of the shop 3 times. I completely lost trust in it. A week after it was fixed, traded it in for Accord Sport 😂. I sleep much better at night.

[@daedalus_20v]

5 videos about the M5 breaking down, all the comments be like: "it's totally worth it, don't give up, M5 wagon is the perfect car, amazing, incredible, the supreme ultimate driving machine, nothing else compares, gotta pay to play!!!!" 1 video about the Touareg needing a couple sensors replaced, all the comments be like: "wow sell that POS, what a lemon, VW is junk, never buy german lmao everybody knows that, my 7-owner '94 Jetta with 400km also broke down a lot, should've got a (my preferred brand)"

[@swisscourthustle]

Totally with you! People have rose coloured glasses for things like the M5 wagon. No idea why. You buy an M5 or M3 of that era and you know for certain you potentially have thousands of dollars in repairs coming (vanos, rod bearings, a subframe that could literally fall out of the rear of the car). Buy a VW like this Toureg and you know you are getting a well built car that is extremely well featured. With features come complicated electronics, and failures CAN occur, but you are just as (if not more) likely to not have a problem at all. That being said, most modern and well appointed cars have their issues. If you don’t want a well appointed and refined car, sure, buy a 4 runner. But it’s going to drive like a plumbers ute because that’s exactly how they are built.

[@TassieLorenzo]

@@swisscourthustle The pro-VW, anti-Toyota bias seems strong! :)

[@swisscourthustle]

@@TassieLorenzo not at all. The Toyota is just not a comparable car in any way. It would be far more capable off road, but as a family car, the only way it wins is cargo space probably.

[@jasondelacruz4486]

What was the issue with the Jetta?

[@feloniousmonk3049]

@@swisscourthustle /\ Facts! German cars aren't for everyone, but if you can afford one, to maintain them, they are a very comfortable ride. Doubt I'll ever sell my 2014 Touareg TDI Lux.

[@blackout9832]

Make things unnecessarily overly complicated and this is what you get!.

[@TassieLorenzo]

Well VW enthusiasts will say that properly maintaining your car is key and that includes resoldering your ECM as a maintenance item. ;) "Stout and robust car when maintained."

[@djcybercorgi]

Mid 80's to early 90's Chryslers and mid 80's to mid 90's Hondas were both so cheap to fix, easy to work on... these cars last FOREVER which is why you still see so many old Chryslers and Hondas on the road. I love the Chrysler 2.2 / 2.5 and the Honda B18 so much... great engines!

[@1one3_Racing]

The high end Euro cars are built for the first owner, not the second or third. Most people who buy them own them for 3-5 years and trade up. It's why second hand prestige cars are 1/3 brand new price. There is a lot on the market, people with money will buy brand new, only posers and people with aspirations of granduer will buy a second hand prestige. So unfortunately we have to deal with the post warranty super expensive repairs. Fact is, our X5 BMW is one of the best cars I've ever driven and one of the only cars (aside from my truck) that I can drive for 5 hours straight and still be able to walk after. The features and creature comforts are insanely awesome. For my wife, I'm glad it checks the oil and the tyre pressures and has all the parking sensors and the electric tailgate since my kids are too short to pull it down. The auto adjusting headlights are great when we're towing the camper and race car and it's just a great cruiser.

[@djcybercorgi]

@@1one3_Racing You'd have to be a total nerd to think that dudes who buy 2nd hand BMWs aren't getting laid like crazy, which is the whole point of having a car for status.

[@1one3_Racing]

@@djcybercorgi maybe I got the wrong colour?

[@Th3Sc0rp10wns]

dont sell it Pete you will be shooting yourself in the foot. they are one of the best SUV's on the market like you said. the cooling system is now fixed and thats really the main weakness with any VW product. from my experience working at a VW dealership in Australia. i have seen this sort of thing happen many times before to pretty much every car in the VW lineup from any generation post 2000s. those VW test plans really do help when diagnosing and can save you a lot of time and money in the customers pocket at the end of the day.

[@nissan911]

I believe these trucks are awesome! The first owner probably didn’t take good care of it. That’s why these problems occurred! I believe if you do the basic check up and maintenance maybe all of this could’ve been avoided

[@davidhancock91]

I see and read about these odd things happening to Touaregs. My 2011 TDI has done 211,000km. I am about to give it a big service . ALL fluids, transmission service, brake pads, ALL filters. All of this to be on the safe side. The only issue I have had was Air con fan went at 200,000km. Even original battery lasted 11 years. Awesome car. Drives like a newish car.

[@birdmanbmw87]

Don't sell, your video on it two years ago put this vehicle on my radar and I've owned my 11 tdi for about a year and omg I couldn't be happier even out in the desert heat of AZ these things rock

[@badopinion]

We loved ours very much and it caused it no trouble. New car is a Q7 and I still miss this one. That mechanic did a wonderful job for you.

[@kurjan1]

I have owned 3 Touareg's, still own my '04... (other two I traded up to my current being a Cayenne) never had one single issue other then normal maintain. BUT, they only get serviced by a VW dealer. I have found widely and repeatedly on all the Touareg forums, people who tinker f@#k them up every time. If you can't afford to fix them properly and you whine about the cost, for Gods sake don't own it. I'm sure you'd be happier with a Toyota or a Ford or a Jeep.

[@ahmed91750]

What a freaking nightmare, man I love toyota’s

[@ahmed91750]

An 06 to 07 land cruiser would be the polar opposite to this VW in terms of reliability, I would love to see you own and build one on the channel .

[@vonbraun8051]

@@ahmed91750 Those Landcruisers are awesome beasts! I love them. They will run forever, but repairs are very expensive. Not a cheap car to keep on the road. Lousy gas mileage. Parts very expensive. But I'd buy one in a second if I could.

[@ahmed91750]

@@vonbraun8051 my dad owns an 06 with the 4.5L straight 6 engine, he put over 300k kilometres on it and I can’t remember the last time it had an issue, they are such badass trucks.

[@eldismemushi]

Toyota is garbage compared to the Touareg

[@vah-mingmoua9599]

I had somewhat of a similar symptoms. I had a 2000 4runner. Great rig everything was good except for the most bizarre problem. As soon as I would turn the high beam on, it qould downshift to the lowest gear regardless of speed, and same thing would happen when cruise control is engaged. Long story short, the cluster master circuit board had a hair pin Crack somewhere and was causing all that non sense. After many different changing this, changing that, it finally was all fixed up with a new used cluster assembly.

[@vonbraun8051]

There's an old saying. A diesel engine is a lot like a woman. If you treat it well and look after it it will reward you with lifetime loyalty. But, if you treat it poorly, even once, it will never forget. I think the previous owner did not give that car the love and service it needed. The second owner is usually the one who pays the price of the neglect or abuse of the first owner. Probably why you got a good price, too. They are cool cars, though.

[@biostatclint]

Thanks for this video, very timely. My 2011 Touareg TDI did the exact same thing last night. The temp reduction with higher RPMs is the same and very confusing . Today was supposed to be 600 miles on the road. Not excited to see how long it sits at VW for this. I got frustrated with it today and preordered a CyberTruck. Torgue is why I drive diesel, so electric is the next logical step since I am losing faith in diesel. Previously had a Ram with ecodiesel and got tired of shared custody with the dealership on that one. Update: Brought mine to VW shop and it was a cooling system solenoid. It took several days to arrive, but cured the problem 100%. I've run several thousand miles since, about half towing. Now the stepper motor went bad....it's always something with this damn Treg.

[@ln5747]

Sounds like US has no clue how to maintain diesels. In Europe these TDIs are workhorses with little problems and go for hundreds of thousands miles with routine servicing on the most part.

[@marcelwessel839]

Glad to see that your mechanic was able to find the problems the car had. The thing with especially modern german cars is that there are so many different ecus, wiring and security systems in the cars that just tossing parts at them doesn't work anymore. Parts are expensive and without proper diagnostics your problems will never be solved. As many others stated: just lease them, keep a warranty on them and then sell them. They are not build to be worked on by anybody else but the dealership. Just fact by a mercedes master technician from Germany.

[@timblizzard4226]

I've driven a VW Passat to 300,000 kms before, and loved it. Never went though a dealership.

[@MyBridgestone24]

This is a comical debate as it hits really close to home. I almost bought a 2011 Touareg TDI two years ago and didn’t because of your first vid of the steering column issue (among the other forum stated issues). I recently bought a 2018 SQ5 and have been cringing waiting for the first check engine light. I even got the extended warranty to help ease my nerves. I find myself missing the worry free days of my trusty 2006 Honda Accord, which I kept as a backup car for when the Audi inevitably leaves me stranded. I’ve only had the Audi for two months and I am already considering selling.

[@roycemcmahon6940]

I smell a little bs on the hose creating suction, it is the highest point of the cooling system and will have a hard time pulling air downwards. Other issue is why didn't anyone put a computer on the obd II port and watch the temp when the guage started going haywire? You can get one that your phone can monitor. I was having a cooling problem with my Porsche and using the computer gives the real temp. However it sounds like the thermo needed swapped out anywho. Thanks for posting as I just bought one these for pulling.

[@joedim]

Every single day that we are alive on this earth there is something new to learn...many greetings from Greece!

[@PatrickSzczypinski]

It's a bummer that these issues popped up for you and I totally get the dilemma. I got a 2011 Touareg with 90,000 miles on the clock and almost a full dieselgate warranty last September specifically to tow our camper (approx. 3000 lbs) on long trips and maybe a car trailer at times. You're totally right that there is nothing which compares to it for crushing highway miles and towing in comfort while still being a hoot to drive. There's also nothing which compares to it when it comes to shop time and service - a non-factory tow kit resulted in about 1.5 weeks in the shop and $800 in parts and labor just to get brake lights on the trailer, all after I spent a week on it myself. The drivetrain, motor, and trans are pretty bulletproof but everything else feels tense and there is almost absolutely no working on this thing myself. So far, we're two 600 mile round trips in to the camping season with absolutely no issues, this most recent one in 95º F heat with AC cranked. Doesn't mean I don't sometimes wonder if it just won't start and, now, if the temp gauge is gonna spike... Good luck with the 4Runner and congrats on regaining some confidence in your ride.

[@ln5747]

A Cayenne is better for all that, mostly the same but plusher and keeps the off road tech for this generation.

[@vonbraun8051]

Not to say he shouldn't have switched to the 4Runner, BUT, let's be fair. This Touareg did have over 160k miles on it and is 10 years-old. As for Toyota being automatically better, I put at least $5,000 in repairs on my FJ in the past three years. Wheel bearings, CV, alternator, A/C and power steering. It runs great and I'd have no problem taking it across country, but I bet I've spent more on my Toyota than what was spent on this VW. Also, didn't he brag about getting a really good price on this thing when he bought it? Try getting a good price on a 4Runner or FJ. What it comes down to is what others have said--lost confidence.

[@jeffreymoore4132]

What a repair adventure, and an excellent example of German engineering ethos. That's what gives me pause-what other design eccentricities does that SUV have laying in wait for you. If you knew that car backward and forward, I'd say sure hold on to it, but this isn't a performance car you get to know and get rewarded for that knowledge. It's an appliance.

[@anydaynow01]

Yeah, if he's going to throw parts at something there's more reward in getting an older Toyota or 90's Pathfinder. He might even be able to import a diesel Patrol. German engineering is fantastic, until the warranty runs out.

[@KiranPatel-fk1pg]

This is why you don't buy a 250k+ VW

[@DStead2239]

@@KiranPatel-fk1pg No, that is why you don't buy vw fullstop

[@kristians2704]

@@DStead2239 well, in Europe they are the best selling car brand by far.

[@DStead2239]

@@kristians2704 Because they're local🤦‍♂️

[@jefferyjaikumar5179]

Bummer you sold the treg. I have a 2016 VR6. Had a 2011 VR6 and decided to get a newer one with lower miles with the idea of keeping it for a while. I agree, great vehicle and best I have owned from VW. Definitely have to be ok with the repair costs because it won't be cheap when things do go. At least the powertrain is covered for 10yrs 100k which may catch some issues.

[@paulinelocke6904]

I had the same problem for 2 years and finally found the problem. A simple fix. A small reducer in the pipe work and one was blocked. I removed all 4 as they were clogged. Car drives like a dream no problem of over heating. No mechanic could find the solution.

[@girat08]

Sell this bomb… keep the 2jz m3, its as simple as that :)

[@Randywatson34]

That generation of 3.0 TDI were really junky. This generation with the plastic intake were a bit more reliable.

[@ofnarcr]

That's a case where the ecu might have really the problem all along but it took the guy all that time and all those repairs to figure it out but a guy's gotta put food on the table so he justifies misdiagnosis by making it look like all those other things were problems too. I see it every day and i can't fault it because flat rate is a garbage way to get paid. No shade meant to the mechanic whatsoever. Sometimes you gotta go through the whole process to figure something out and just getting paid for fixing an ecu in the end after tinkering with it for so long would leave a guy homeless. Could be wrong. Just a little insight to how this stuff plays out sometimes.

[@mikeyoung00]

12:02 "Like a high stakes game of blackjack where you're rolling the dice...". Take it from me in Mississippi where we have legal casino gaming, there are no dice involved in the game of blackjack.

[@witchcraftauto]

Hahaha it never even crossed my mind!

[@mondomoleno.3404]

Great choice! I was once tempted by a VW. They lured me in with a GTI badge and a nice interior. A quick look online and I was driving home in my Toyota Corolla - Down 74 HP, but up in years of longevity and resale value.

[@777ElectroHarmony777]

This shop knows their stuff. Great job Rob, you sir are a freaking legend. For $1,500 CA for that work and expertise that fixes the issue is an awesome deal! Too many dishonest mechanics out there

[@JNGarage144]

I am going to go hug my Touareg and hope that my 2013 does not suffer any of these issues

[@DStead2239]

Light external pressures will cause failure, so no hugs lol. The only way to own a reliable german car is to leave it in the garage and NEVER drive it.

[@grad0n]

You need to talk to Darkside Developments for some upgrades!

[@bcatz454]

This guy at Autoevolution is what separates mechanics from parts changers/technicians. Can say that I've only come across a few like his kind in all my years. Another shop I recommend in the GTA is Andre at Ecowagens for all the VW/Audi stuff.

[@speed_shooter]

Welcome to the 4runner club! I've got a 2020 SR5P and it's awesome! The only downside... CA gas prices make my 102 mile round trip commute kind of a drag.

[@jordanseay216]

Your modem VW isn’t a lemon. It’s just modern VW. Their quality has gone down the toilet in the last 20 or so years.

[@timblizzard4226]

Iv'e owned 2, plus an Audi, and loved all of them. Drove 1 to over 300,000kms, now on one that's approaching 200,000. Haven't experienced any major issues.

[@jordanseay216]

@@timblizzard4226 that’s good. Maybe it’s just the USDM VW Audi AG cars.

[@smoothasbrothers]

This Exact problem happened to our 2018 volkswagen caddy 2.0 TDI. Ended up being the electric water pump having a internal electrical fault which volkswagen had a tech bulletin on

[@douglasb.1203]

What's a 2018 volkswagen caddy?

[@ln5747]

​@@douglasb.1203a van

[@rickcristiani9814]

Full credit to Rob,great technician. You have saved me hours of labor and money. Thanks

[@mmodtomic7119]

This video is gonna be a life saver for someone someday. If you aren't in love with the V-dub, sell it. I have an '05 Jeep GC with a 5.7 Hemi. It too, is a maintenance hog...but, it's a CHEAP maintenance hog and I have thus far been able to easily fix all it's ills in the driveway. I love it so I'm gonna keep it!

[@renoreno3685]

Problems will arise with any vehicle. Shaken confidence is hard to rebuild, even worse when it’s your wife’s / child’s vehicle. BUT this illustrates the importance of getting “qualified” diagnosis (probably one of the toughest things a Mechanic will do). The other thing I find amazing is Mechanics in the 3rd world (ie rebuild an alternator over replace). BTW nice Toyota (looks like Dave twisted your arm - lol).

[@PANTYEATR1]

good job for selling it! there's beauty in simplicity. i always get simple and easy to work on vehicles

[@BuiltbyaGeek]

Dude I know how you are feeling. I’ve had my ‘09 TDi in the dealership so many times in the last year. $15k in warranty work so far and just this week I had a catastrophic failure of the high pressure fuel pump which means another $12k of work to replace everything the fuel has touched. Luckily I have warranty but I just don’t trust it so considering selling it. On the up side though, I basically have a brand new car lol.

[@yoshisaurusrex3767]

If its new, does that mean all of the same fun starts again? I dont trust these things lol

[@BuiltbyaGeek]

@@yoshisaurusrex3767 Hopefully it means I get a few years without issues.. but you just never know.

[@ln5747]

That's ridiculous. These TDIs are very robust in Europe with rarely any bills even close to that. Is the diesel quality as good in the US? I've also heard diesel mechanics aren't so great in US because gas/petrol is vastly more popular, whereas in Europe it's diesel and so every mechanic is very experienced with maintaining diesel.

[@hosnikadikran589]

I have same exact problem with my Touareg. But I was disappointed because there was not much details about the solution in this video., I'm struggling with issue for a while and no one has the patience your mechanic has to solve it

[@wslater56]

What a great mechanic - full respect. I have an 07 V10 and am totally reliant on my mechanic. Fortunately its still humming sweetly after 260,000km. Possibly because VW QC was better in that day and no rogue repair work on it

[@JoesGoldenGarage]

Oooooh I get to buy these on the cheap at the VW auctions TDI reflash cars with ext warranty. They sell these once a month out of the Atlanta area. I’m sure other parts of the country as well. They are such great rides if you can handle these maintenance woes. I had a 2004 v8 that ate a set of tires very 15k Still tho I love the cayenne in disguise.

[@radoadamov9201]

The steering column module is actually only $150 from the dealer. Luckily I know how to change it and adapt the immobilizer. It's really not that expensive as you said in the video. It took me 3 hours, either know how to fix it yourself or sell it if you complain about owning it.

[@Mpeterson1286]

I'm a VW tech and I've never seen that issue. Carbon buildup in the lower intakes from the EGR and injectors getting old and dumpy are more common. Did you replace the EGR cooler?

[@MyHomeGarage]

I knew it was a odd ball. I checked every forums everywhere for common faults before getting one I never even heard of anything like that. Q7 Porsche Q5 toaureg same drivetrains.

[@hellodlo]

just bought a '17 touareg with very low miles and loving it so far, thanks for making this video, sorry to see it go but understandable with family on board. too bad they don't make these in NA anymore!!

[@bryan_turner]

If I could find a TDI Touareg for 10k, I'd have 2 of them. They're significantly more than that down here in the Pacific Northwest.

[@vonbraun8051]

Yep, you are right. IF one can find one they are not cheap. A lot of comments here about how they are cheap but the VW TDI holds it price amazing these days. Cheap ones are usually the ones that weren't serviced enough or driven too hard and diesel guys know to stay away from them. That might have been what they bought here.

[@sullygtx9350]

I almost bought a TDI Touareg but decided on a E70 X5 diesel instead. Compound turbo inline 6 that has been refined since the 90s was the selling point for me. Plus with a delete and tune the M57 is nearly bulletproof.

[@cyclonus01]

Man I'm debating between these two exact cars myself. How's your x5 35d so far and what year did you get,?

[@sullygtx9350]

@@cyclonus01 I absolutely love it man. I found one with just about every option you can get for $15k. I got a 2012 because I wanted the LCI goodies like the LED halos. So far I've deleted the EGR and put on a race pipe from TuneMyEuro. It throws a CEL right now because of that but I already have my ATM downpipe ready to go on with a tune. Plus apps like bimmercode and protool let you customize things like lighting and unlocking cool features.

[@cyclonus01]

@@sullygtx9350 cool how many miles does your have? Did you do the full abc delete?

[@sullygtx9350]

@@cyclonus01 currently at 118000 miles. Haven't done the delete yet, but I have all my parts ready to go on. As soon as I have a free weekend I'll be going at it. Also doing passenger side engine mount and harmonic balancer while I'm in there. Also, you can definitely find a nice one for a lot cheaper than what I paid. I'm picky and wanted specific things like HUD, sport package, heated steering wheel, and rear air suspension without having 3rd row seats. I recommend using a VIN decoder when looking for one so you know exactly what options a car has. There's also a FB group called North American BMW diesel owners with good info. You can pick up an already deleted one for a good price there.

[@cyclonus01]

@@sullygtx9350 yeah I'm on that group already. I just saw your Channel. You have the exact style I was eyeing. Sport activity package with honeycomb wheels. What are your thoughts on buying a high mileage one with 80 to 90k on it if im going to delete it

[@danpedraza9586]

I just had to replace my ad blue pump. It was free of charge thanks to that warranty after the diesel gate scandal. Lol other than that it’s been fantastic

[@tarasions777]

How many kilometres has yours?

[@danpedraza9586]

@@tarasions777 roughly 217261km I live in the United States it's 135k miles

[@andysgaragetherapy]

This is a wild gremlin chase! Yikes! Glad it’s fixed but if the headaches are frequent I’d say move along... but I’m sure you have a solid plan coming.

[@michaelgbuck]

2 years ago, I managed to get a 2012 Touareg TDI and it still has a warranty because it's low mileage. Let's hope I don't see either of these issues after the warranty is expired.

[@vonbraun8051]

Don't forget you do have an extended diesel-gate warranty. I think it's 4 years and 120k miles after the fix date (which would be located sticker under the hood) which ever is greater. That warranty covers all things related to the diesel system (fuel pump, sensors, injectors, etc.). In the US, at least.

[@feloniousmonk3049]

@@vonbraun8051 It is whichever is greater, in the court decree. I'm at 72k miles on my 2014 tdi Lux.

[@mrmooney25]

Silly Pete, when are you going to learn that German cars are for leasing not buying.

[@mikefoehr235]

Man are you spot on. German cars are collasal piles of donkey 💩

[@AStick3Pedals]

My name is Dimitri and I love these 😂😂

[@malcolmgooding991]

Given it had done 250K KM and you got it for 10/11K dollars I think it was a bully bargain. Chances of getting faults liek that are very slim. I woull have kept it, someone got a nice car.

[@DavidHarnadek]

VW Audi are like strippers. They're only happy when you're throwing money at them.

[@jeremyb4493]

A vw dealer tech friend told me years ago to stay away from the Toureg. Of course most fwd gm issues, large and small, seem to be rooted in stupid little wiring and connector issues (including my Chevrolet Uplander work van) so you have headaches at both ends of the pricing spectrum.

[@peterengelmann3720]

It is sad that you sold the Touareg Peter. I own the same one right down to the colour. I love the car even with it electrical gremlins. I mean my parking assist wasn't working from Day 1 but after replacing the one front sensor it worked for about two weeks. Gotta scan it again to find out what is wrong with it now but something I can live without if need be. Second item to fail was the light height sensor, changed it and working fine again. Third item that again hasn't worked since I purchased it, was the door handle sensors. So I have to unlock and lock using the remote buttons. Again something I can live with. Now I know that you are in Ontario like myself, I was wondering where you got parts for the Touareg? I am in Eastern Ontario south of Ottawa but when I lived in Brampton I used to get parts for my Passat at The Source VW but I found out they have now Closed due to Owner Death. Any good VW bone yards in your area that you know of? Hope you reach out to me, Thanks Peter

[@MG-fo5om]

this type of malfunction can happen with every car, for instance, 8 years ago my 2003 rav4 (that Japanese simplicity car ) suddenly starts to not change the gears, after changing a lot of solenoids, filter, ATF fluid, after spending a lot of money its cam out that there is a common issue with that ecu's they have a cold soldered resistor in it after resoldering transmission starts to work as it should. Another story with my other ( Japanese Reliable car) that repair costs me around 2000$, the reason was like in the video temperature gage suddenly shows overheating. They change the thermostat twice, the water pump, and a lot more, and in the end, it was also the same cold soldered resistor inside the instrument cluster, simple resoldering was resolved the problem.

[@Bytelovin]

My TDI Transporter T5 also had one of those weird problems. It got a really rough idle and sounded like V8. In the end it was the fuel rail sucking in AIR, it had some kind of micro hairline fracture, somewhere, you could not see it with the naked eye and the car wouldn't give any codes. After a new fuel rail, pressure sensor, pressure regulator and 4 new injectors runs like a champ.

[@gwot]

yeah, my sister has a 2011 GTI, I'm her mechanic and I HATE IT. Although it wasn't to this extent, but i replaced so many things on it, and a few things under warranty too.

[@TassieLorenzo]

Would you say it's a stout and robust car? :) Perhaps a 2011 Civic Si would've held up better, but VW enthusiasts really seem to love their GTIs and GLIs! :)

[@gwot]

@@TassieLorenzo stout and robust? as in its physical chassis? Yeah it's pretty stiff, I can jack up from any jack point and it'll lift the entire side of the car with basically no flex, although it is pretty short with short suspension travel. Metals used on it looks to be thicker and well engineered, 10 years later through 10 winters there's no significant rust (I personally did the initial oil spray when brand new with all plastic and splash guards taken off, then oil sprayed again every fall), the jack points are of a thick metal with thick rubbery rock guard type paint, I'd say almost twice as thick as the Honda ones, and definitely more robust than regular pinch weld jack points. Built quality is not bad, materials used is better than the Japanese competitions, such as soft touch everywhere with hardly any hard plastic. Just the mechanicals and electricals are not reliable, I've fixed 3 other golfs with broken wires at hinge points, and horrendous job to do. Brakes alone require 3 different socket types, one's a special triple square, were as a civic, or most Japanese you just need the basic hex bolt socket. I can see why the VW fans love them, it does drive very well and handles pretty good. Seat of the pants feel, it feels better than my STi, even though my STi out performs it in every category. My sister got it cuz it looks cute, only reason she got it for. I woulda put her in a Civic Si for sure.

[@ln5747]

​@@gwotyou can't compare a GTI to a TDI for reliability.

[@dh7277]

i love my 2009 Touareg TDI... except when i hate it. Stranded in Utah with broken driveshaft centre bearing, choking on diesel fumes from a leaking turbo housing (replaced but I still wonder if it was an incorrect diagnosis), random electrical faults and expensive exhaust repairs. Now its under VW emissions warranty for 2 more years with 270kms on the clock. So i will keep it at least until the warranty runs out. I do not understand why the company that invented the simple reliable beetle now creates complex unreliable vehicles. If i wanted an easy stress free life i would buy a 4Runner.

[@ln5747]

They aren't unreliable in TDI format. The whole of Europe knows this, only seems to be US who (allegedly) has this experience.

[@xozindustries7451]

That’s rough, worth the price to get it fixed though, 10 year old Volkswagen problems, but what are you going to replace it with? A new Yukon is like $75k, and those aren’t diesels.

[@Vara169]

Wow, I had an issue just like this, with a 2007 twin turbo 3 litre diesel Peugeot 407. On and off for months, did everything I could, symptoms identical to this one, but finally it started to push coolant out. Was a blown head gasket, probably just a minor one , but got worse over time. Sold the beautiful car for scrap. Lucky for this one that it was the ECU.

[@jp2246]

Unbelievable! I agree, sadly, very likely would have been a frustrating experience going through the dealership! Kudos to Rob!

[@SimonStrother]

Selling the Touareg will be a decision youll regret bc you're not going to find anything else that does what it does so well.

[@LTrejo91]

Your car shouldn't make you feel unconfident or untrustworthy.. Great choice on the sell (even tho the VW has great specs and could go on "forever" after this issue). Another car may suit your needs a lot better. P.s. Keep the 2jzm3

[@ricoraxelhd]

Man I fully understand why you ultimately decided to sell it, and am so excited for your replacement!

[@LafemmebearMusic]

Had a 2014 q7 that did this omg! They actually didn’t figure it out and the dealership bought the car back, was upside on it what a mess that was. I miss that q7 still sigh. Every time I pass one I’m like why did mine die and this guy driving buy has clearly had his for years. 🤷🏾‍♀️ after that happened my faith was shook too.

[@vonbraun8051]

Lot of 4Runner talk here and I have owned a few myself. Best vehicle ever (imho). These days they are going for, used, thousands more than last year. I tried to buy a new one last month but was told by the dealer that new ones were on a 4-month wait list. Used ones are out there but get ready to pay a lot. A LOT.

[@taydencornish]

These engines have a wax Thermostat that's also ecu controlled... So if it knows it may get hot soon i.e high load situations up hills it will prematurely open the Thermostat more to keep it cooler... Also the wax melts at 110 opening the Thermostat also... That's why it hits that and draws back down.

[@EcBuddy123]

Wait a limited 4runner with sr5 wheels? Weird... But sweet ride! Definitely built to last! 08 4runner with 182k (miles) on the clock and going

[@rickfetz469]

I have a 2014 VW Touareg with 90k miles. I bought it to drive to Alaska and back but with Covid I can’t get into Canada. I have an extended warranty but it expires in December 2021. I am told these care can be driven forever. I too am worried about getting stuck on the Canadian Alaska Highway whenever I can get back into Canada. Thoughts?

[@skiptastic1000]

Good luck, bring a tent ⛺️ and a bicycle

[@naten555]

Early ones aren't that great. Buy a 2013 up if you are going to buy one(they fixed all the issues.) I have a cayenne diesel and it's great no issues in 50k miles (has 100k on it now.) tows 8k, 35mpg, drives amazing, handles amazing. Newer toyotas drive like crap, under powered, and are not efficient (this is coming from someone thats a 90s Toyota freak, tacomas, mkiv supras, various lexus cars, etc I've owned them all.)

[@monarkyasashi]

Sad to see it go, purely selfish reasons, since I was looking forward to your adventures providing insight into potential issues with my 2012. Have to respect the reason you folded but would have prefered if you'd gone with a Prado/Lexus GX series which was the only real contender I considered against the T-Reg. Honestly though at this point if my 2012 has any major issues I'm likely to buy another T3 TDI and work on the existing at my leisure because there's nothing else that compares across the board, GX460 would be there if the MPG weren't garbage. I can take my T-Reg anywhere I'd take my '00 Wrangler, it's more comfortable at any speed but where as I feel death is inevitable in the Jeep at 70 mph the T-Reg is smooth as butter at 110 mph and generally getting 23-24 mpg driving it like it's stolen.

[@florian_montuzet]

Please bring back the old speed academy days with track cars and trackdays and stuff for track nerds !

[@justincroteau4959]

We’ve been stuck in lock down for the last 6 months in Ontario. I’m sure they’ll get some track time in now that things our slowly getting back to normal.

[@on-site4094]

If u own a german car out of warranty.. the wallet gets a flushed frequently ....congratz on the 4 runner

[@kamata93]

Own a Passat B7 EU version and bought it out of warranty. No issues apart from thermostat. Having it since 2017. Thats it… I really think US version of European cars are built much cheaper.

[@tiknife8654]

All others are the same. Tesla, Ford, GM, Toyota all the same.

[@ummagumma21]

2006 Jetta TDI with 270k miles, no major replacements out of warranty, a few $100-200 parts here and there, and basic maintenance performed by myself every 10k miles. Proactively replacing the cam and lifters was the only "major" thing, and with a timing belt change and water pump the service was just over $1000 at an independent VW mechanic. If you're willing to put up with the quirks and find a good mechanic for the eventual bigger items, VAG is just as reliable as any other car out there that has comparable tech and trim. And I have not been easy on my car by any means...

[@kenku5125]

Totally understandable. Family first. Looking forward to see what you end up doing with the 4Runner.

[@fastnb]

I set a maximum repair budget (outside normal wear) with my vehicles, to decide if it's time to buy something else. An "X" amount for 3months period.

[@motoroadrunner9589]

My touareg v8 does weird coolant overheating light thing too. Out of nowhere after a couple hour drive it may pop up with the light. It's happened 3 times now. But over 6 months or more apart from one another. So weird! Or then that I never see my temp go up or if it does it goes up maybe 1-2 lines.

[@jdmderick]

Bad/loose earth wire causes the needle swoop as well.....