Visalia Auto Hause

This guy is ok. He has his routine down. He explains everything to where he doesn’t lead you on but is expensive

I have had 2 major repairs at this establishment with great results. They are honest and explained everything in detail. They are a little expensive, but u get what u pay for.
I have and will continue to recommend this business to my friends with German cars.

If you’re on the 5 between L.A. and S.F. and things get dicey, take the detour to Visalia.
I had just done a timing belt change on my ’03 VW Jetta TDI. I thought it was fine. Foolishly, the next day I went from L.A. to Palo Alto. Going up the Grapevine the car surged a couple times. A few minutes later it started smoking to where I could see it in the mirror at 70 mph. IN general, the car was weak.
Oh dear.
At the bottom of the Grapevine (feedlot land) a stop at a service station showed nothing. We decided to find a VW place in Visalia, as that was the closest town.
Pulled into VAH, walked in and there stood Darrel Tresidder. My visions of highway robbery were soon gone.
He is a fine VW/​Audi mechanic who does exemplary work. Yes, the $ 90 Vag-​Com charge is high, but I was in the boonies, and did NOT argue.
Over the next 2 hours I told him all that I had done w/​the timing belt job, advised him of various details on my work, etc.
He cleaned out one air filter I did not know, checked a few things, then took a look underneath. «Oh, I see your problem.»
As modern cars are rolling computers w/​sensors everywhere, one must be diligent in assembling things perfectly. I had re-​assembled some turbo hoses just a tiny fraction off, or a clamp was not PERFECTLY placed.
He righted these, the ‘check engine’ light went off, the power was back, we went for a test drive just to see how it was, I paid $ 190 (gladly) and we were off to Palo Alto once again.
And they don’t throw a fit when a customer (and his dog) stand w/​them in the garage. IT’s a real shop, not a corporate repair facility w/​yellow lines all around.

I had made a playful statement that I wasn’t used to spending 107 dollars on an Oil Change and was told if «you’re bargain shopping, don’t come here. Bring your German car somewhere else because I am the most expensive.» I had already paid for the service but wish I would have shopped around.
I had a check engine light come on and asked if they could identify what it was. He came out with a laptop and a VAG-​COM and said «OK, 90 dollars for me to hook this to the car to figure out what the check engine message is for. Do it?» Knowing better that this process takes less than 1 minute to receive the codes (vehicle’s way of telling the computer what caused the light to come on) from the car, I declined. Other mechanics or dealerships I used to use back in IL would just hook it up, and in 20 seconds tell me «it’s nothing to worry about.» Anyone who knows modern day cars and their electronics know that the smallest most unimportant things can trip the check engine light now a days.
In all fairness, they did a great job and were very careful with my car. I just wish they were a little less defensive with their customers about their high prices. I have no doubt I could trust them to do a major repair on my vehicle (if I’m willing to pay 2 or 3 times more than other reputable German car mechanics). For instance, asked for a quote on brakes, was told to expect around 900 dollars an end. At the dealership, I paid 600 dollars an end. How can the dealership be lower than a third party?