Anchor Motorworks

10/12/2026

Ooh, squiggles! What do they mean? 🤔

Well, on this screen, we're looking at the CAN communication going to the RFA module on a 2017 Jaguar F-PACE.

This Jaguar came in because the key fob wasn't working. The doors wouldn't lock or unlock with the remote, and the car wouldn't recognize the key to start unless you held it against the steering column.

After scanning the vehicle, we found that we couldn't communicate with the RFA module, which is responsible for communicating with the key fob.

So, we pulled apart the trim in the trunk to get to the module and started testing. We load-tested the power and ground circuits, checked the CAN communication with an oscilloscope (that's what those squiggly lines are), and used our scan tool to see what the different modules were doing.

Eventually, we got communication back with the RFA, and everything started working normally again!

I think a lot of people assume mechanics have some magic machine we plug into a car that tells us exactly what's wrong. Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to have one of those! 😂

But the reality is, more often than not, diagnosing modern vehicles involves a lot of testing, checking wiring diagrams, understanding how different modules communicate, and figuring out why something isn't doing what it's supposed to.

And what you're seeing here is just a small part of what went into diagnosing this one issue.

That's also a big part of why we charge for diagnostics. It's not just plugging in a scanner and reading a code. It's the time, equipment, training, and knowledge it takes to actually figure out what's going on.

Sometimes fixing the problem is the easy part. Finding it is where the real work happens!

10/12/2026

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang… we don't love you! 😂

Check out this flywheel Ryan is replacing today on a 2006 VW Jetta TDI. This thing has definitely seen better days!

The original setup uses what's called a dual-mass flywheel. Basically, it's two sections that can move independently of each other, with springs inside to absorb vibrations from the engine. It's a great design when it's working properly, but after a few hundred thousand miles, those springs and internal components wear out.

When they get bad enough, they start knocking and rattling so loudly you'd swear the engine was about to throw a rod! 😬

The good news is that these older 5-speed manuals can be converted to a solid, single-mass flywheel, eliminating that common failure point. The newer 6-speed manuals aren't nearly as forgiving of that conversion, but these 5-speeds handle it well!

Once Ryan gets this one buttoned back up, this Jetta will be ready to tackle the next several hundred thousand miles. That's one of the things we love about these old TDIs. Keep up with the maintenance, fix what wears out, and they'll just keep going!

10/08/2026

Attention single parents and widows!

This Saturday, there's an opportunity to get your vehicle's oil changed completely FREE!

This is specifically for single parents and widows who could use a little help. We still have some openings available, and a couple of us from Anchor Motorworks will be helping out with the oil changes.

With the cost of oil and just about everything else these days, this is a great opportunity to save a little money and get some much-needed maintenance done on your vehicle.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this, please reach out! We'd love to get you taken care of.

And please share this so it reaches someone who could really use the help!

If you're a single parent or widow in need of an oil change, we've got you covered! Join us for a free oil change on Saturday, October 10th, from 2-4pm. Call our church office at (573) 348-3515 to reserve your spot!

10/07/2026

A little maintenance on the boss’s 2002 W8 Passat wagon today.

This one had an intermittent low oil pressure warning popping up, so we replaced the oil pressure sensor and, while we were at it, cleaned out the snow screen too.

This thing is definitely “’04 rich.” A W8 Passat wagon wasn’t exactly a cheap car back then, and 24 years later it’s become a pretty serious oddball. They’re also the kind of cars a lot of shops don’t want anything to do with anymore.

Fortunately, we like the weird stuff.

At Anchor Motorworks, the oddballs are always welcome. Sometimes they just need the right shop to give them a new lease on life.

10/06/2026

Who needs a resonator delete for their C8 RS6 or RS7?

I ended up with a couple sets of brand-new CTS Turbo 3" mid pipes/resonator delete pipes for the 2020+ Audi RS6 and RS7 4.0T, and I don't need them myself.

These normally sell for around $1,000 from CTS Turbo. I'm selling these for $700 per set.

I have two sets available, shipping is available, and we can install them here at Anchor Motorworks as well!

10/06/2026

Just a couple more of the jobs keeping us busy today!

High-pressure fuel pumps on a Range Rover, and a timing belt service on a 2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI.

From routine diesel Volkswagen maintenance to more involved luxury SUV repairs, we specialize in keeping import vehicles on the road.

Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Porsche, Volvo, MINI, and more — imports are what we do at Anchor Motorworks. ⚓🔧

09/30/2026

We get asked pretty often why we're closed on Fridays, especially being here at the Lake of the Ozarks. Now that we finally got this sign up, I figured it was a good time to explain why.

We all have families outside of our Anchor Motorworks family, and I've found that adjusting our hours to a four-day workweek has been a good thing for everyone. It gives us more time with our families, more time to recharge, and honestly, it has helped both here at the shop and at home.

We're here Monday through Thursday, 9–6, working hard to take care of our customers and their vehicles. But Friday through Sunday?

That's family time.

Work is important, and we're incredibly thankful for everyone who keeps us busy—but some things are even more important.

09/29/2026

It’s been so busy around the shop lately that I haven’t had much of a chance to get good photos of what we’ve been up to… but here’s a really nice before and after!

A customer dropped off this starter from a 1953 Chevy. The solenoid was completely seized and wouldn’t activate the starter, and the starter itself had definitely seen better days after more than 70 years.

Michael tore it completely down, cleaned everything up, and made it look like new again. We even had a NOS (New Old Stock) solenoid on the shelf, so we installed that, tested everything, and now it’s ready to go back in the car!

From antique cars to modern exotics, we can remanufacture starters and alternators and get them working as good as new — and Michael makes sure they look the part, too.

09/22/2026

Old vs. new…

Alternator clutch pulley and spark plugs going into this 2013 Volkswagen Golf with the legendary 2.5L 07K engine and 5-speed manual transmission.

These 2.5s are great engines and can rack up the miles, but even the good ones need a little maintenance once in a while.

Fresh plugs, a new alternator clutch pulley, and this one should be all good to go!

09/18/2026

Just a little injector reseal job we knocked out!

This 2010 VW Touareg TDI came in with a noticeable ticking sound while running. After diagnosing it, we found the injector seal on cylinder #1 was leaking. Thankfully, we keep the parts for these in stock, so we were able to get it taken care of without waiting on parts.

Injector seal leaks aren’t quite as common on the 2009–2012 CATA 3.0 TDIs as they are on the 2013+ engines, but they definitely still happen.

Whenever we reseal an injector, we also replace the spring plate and injector cover plate. Reusing worn spring plates can allow the injector to lose proper clamping force and lead to another seal failure, while replacing the cover plates helps prevent future oil leaks.

Do it once, do it right. 🔧