Norm Reeves Volkswagen Official Blog

Looking for a great bite to eat, along with fantastic drinks and a fun atmosphere? Allow us to introduce you to Pub Thirty-Two, one of our newest favorite spots in Mission Viejo. With their locally sourced, seasonal dishes, craft cocktails, and delicious late night menu, Pub Thirty-Two will soon enough be your go-to weekend spot.

About Pub Thirty-Two

At Pub Thirty-Two, you’ll find an experience that’s fit for a professional corporate meeting, or a night out with friends. Their farm-to-fork menu items change seasonally, and you can trust that you’ll be getting the most authentic ingredients thanks to their partnerships with local farms in the area.

Where it All Began

While Pub Thirty-Two is situated in Mission Viejo, its beginnings are rooted in Ireland. Founder Diarmuid Noone had grown up helping at his parents’ pub, and soon found that it had become his own passion. After working in many different restaurants and pubs in Europe and North America, he settled in Southern California.

After opening Molly Bloom’s in San Clemente, Diarmuid decided to bring his favorite type of restaurant to Mission Viejo — a farm-to-fork, neighborhood pub — and Pub Thirty-Two was born.

The Pub Thirty-Two Menu

Now, let’s get to the good stuff: the Pub Thirty-Two food and drink items. Serving brunch, lunch, and dinner, you’ll find tons of options for whatever the occasion.

The Food

Some of our personal favorite dinner menu items include the Western Burger, Farmhouse Caesar, and Caramelized Brussels. If you’re headed out for brunch, check out the Irish Egg Benedict, the Breakfast Burrito, or the classic Fish and Chips.

Pub Thirty-Two also offers a happy hour/late night menu, which includes Cheese & Charcuterie, Curry Fries, Chicken Drums, and much more!

The Drinks

Pub Thirty-Two offers a very wide variety of drinks, including craft cocktails and 150 different types of whiskey. These include bourbon, American, rye, Canadian, Japanese, and of course, Irish whiskies, so you can have your pick of the barrel.

Redefine Your Night Out at Pub Thirty-Two

If Pub Thirty-Two sounds like your kind of place, it’s time to stop by! Stay up to date with the latest events and menu items by following them on Facebook, and plan your next lunch, dinner, or brunch date today!

Every Volkswagen comes with a radiator responsible for cooling the engine. To work correctly, the radiator needs a full, clean supply of coolant, or antifreeze, to flush its cooling system.

It’s important to check your coolant regularly to ensure that it’s at a proper level. Doing so may seem daunting for some drivers in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Newport Beach, but it’s easier than you might think.

Follow our step-by-step guide below to check the coolant level inside your Volkswagen. If you need help or have any questions, call our service center at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore in Irvine for assistance.

Checking Your Coolant Levels

• Lift the hood of your Volkswagen and locate a clear tank with a blue lid. This tank contains your coolant and should have minimum/maximum lines on it.
• Locate the minimum and maximum lines on the tank. The coolant’s level should be between the two.
• If your coolant is closer to the minimum line, simply refill it. You can pick up coolant at most automotive service centers, but we recommend visiting a dealership to get antifreeze specifically manufactured for your Volkswagen.
• Screw the lid back on and close the hood of your Volkswagen.
• Congratulations! Your coolant should be good to go.

Troubleshooting

Checking the coolant level for your Volkswagen is relatively easy, but it’s important to keep the following tips in mind to avoid accidents or mishaps:

• Never open the coolant lid while your engine is hot. This is dangerous, and you could wind up getting burned. When checking the coolant level, wait for your engine to cool down.
• Some coolants, like the ones from Volkswagen, are premixed. Others require a 50/50 mix of water. Before topping off your antifreeze, read its label to make sure that it doesn’t need to be mixed into a solution.
• Coolant expands while it heats up, so avoid filling it above the maximum line.
• Avoid skin contact when using coolant. If some gets on your hands or another surface of your body, wash it thoroughly to prevent the coolant from absorbing into your skin.
• Typically, coolant is yellow, red, green, or blue. If it’s rusty, colorless, or has debris floating in it, flush your cooling system and add new coolant.
• If your coolant has an oily, sludgy texture, take your vehicle to a Volkswagen dealership immediately. There could be leakage from the internal head gasket, which only a factory-trained technician can fix.

Still Need Help?

If you need help checking the coolant level for your Volkswagen, Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore in Irvine is happy to assist you. Our certified technicians can walk you through the process step by step and will make sure that your coolant level is correct before leaving.

You can schedule an appointment with us online or by calling our service center at 877-871-3235. Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore in Irvine is conveniently located at 20 Auto Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618.

Whether you drive with a manual or an automatic, your vehicle’s transmission is essential to its performance. Your transmission requires regular preventative maintenance to keep it performing properly, and getting it flushed at recommended intervals is key to its health.

You may be wondering what a transmission flush is, why it’s important, and when you should schedule one for your Volkswagen. In this article, Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore in Irvine goes over everything drivers in Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, and Rancho Santa Margarita need to know about transmission flushes before scheduling a maintenance appointment with your mechanic.

What Is a Transmission Flush?

A transmission flush is a maintenance procedure that involves removing all of the fluid from a transmission, running new fluid through it with a machine to clean out the sludge, and filling it with new fluid. This process cleans your entire transmission and is an excellent way to maintain your vehicle’s performance.

It’s easy to confuse transmission flushes and routine fluid changes, but they’re actually quite different. During a transmission fluid change, the fluid is drained using gravity and replaced. However, some of the old transmission fluid remains afterwards, since it doesn’t use a machine to clear everything out.

A flush, on the other hand, uses a machine to get rid of all of the fluid and contaminants that cause transmission problems. Both are excellent procedures for maintenance, but it’s important to get a transmission flush rather than a simple change when your vehicle’s maintenance schedule calls for one.

Do I Really Need a Transmission Flush?

Transmission flushes are essential to any vehicle’s health. Like any kind of fluid used in a car, transmission fluid breaks down over time, becomes less effective, and ultimately damages your transmission. Flushing this fluid prevents your transmission from wearing prematurely, and keeps your vehicle performing the way it’s supposed to.

When Should I Flush My Transmission?

Your owner’s manual includes a service schedule with recommended intervals for transmission flushes. But generally, we recommend getting a transmission flush every 30,000 miles or every two years. These intervals may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, so be sure to read your owner’s manual for more specific instructions.

What Are Some Signs That I Need a Transmission Flush?

Your vehicle demonstrates some clear-cut signs when it needs a transmission flush or other transmission service. Here are five of them:

• Loud grinding noises
• Slipping gears
• Inability to shift gears
• Stalling
• Inconsistent performance and power

If your car shows any of the following symptoms, take it to a mechanic for service immediately. Your transmission fluid could be contaminated, but other mechanical issues could be at play as well. Only a certified professional can diagnose the exact cause.

Transmission Service at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore in Irvine

If you think that your vehicle needs a transmission flush, make an appointment at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore in Irvine. The certified technicians in our state-of-the-art facility can find out why your transmission is acting up and will make any repairs, replacements, or fluid flushes necessary to get it back up and running.

The certified technicians at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore help drivers throughout Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Mission Viejo care for their transmissions and are fully committed to your satisfaction. To make your appointment today, contact us online or by calling 877-871-3235.

Your ignition coil is a small engine component that has lots of responsibility. By transferring power from your battery to the spark plugs, an ignition coil lights a vehicle’s fuel and allows it to run.

If your ignition coil fails, your engine can’t do its job. Faulty ignition coils can be a major safety hazard if not taken care of and eventually lead to expensive repairs

Drivers near Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Newport Beach may experience the following five symptoms if their ignition coils need replacing.

Your Vehicle Backfires

Does your car exhaust smell like gasoline or release black smoke? If so, your vehicle is backfiring, or releasing unused fuel through your exhaust system.

Vehicles backfire for a number of reasons, including faulty or worn ignition coils. Backfiring can be a danger to your safety, so have a body shop inspect your engine to determine whether your ignition coil needs to be replaced.

Fuel Economy Decreases

A failed ignition coil could be eating away at your gas mileage. When this occurs, your vehicle is using more fuel to make up for the inadequate transfer of power between your battery and spark plugs.

If you’re making more trips to the gas pump but haven’t changed your driving routine, have a mechanic inspect your engine for damage to your ignition coil.

Engine Misfiring

When your engine misfires, you could experience vibrating, a loss of power, decreased fuel economy, or a rougher ride while driving. Other times, it may feel like your vehicle is stalling or about to break down.

An engine could misfire for several reasons. Your ignition coil might be the culprit, but it’s important that you check with your mechanic to diagnose the problem and get it repaired.

Vehicle Stalls or Doesn’t Start

Your car may not start when an ignition coil stops working. Other times, your vehicle will stall or shut off.

If a car doesn’t start due to a failed ignition coil, your engine’s spark plugs aren’t receiving enough charge from the battery. A mechanic can figure out why your vehicle isn’t starting, but we have a suspicion that your ignition coil needs to be replaced.

A Check Engine Dashboard Light Appears

It’s never fun when your check engine light appears. But when it does, there’s a good chance that your engine’s ignition coil isn’t performing correctly.

Anytime you notice your check engine light, schedule a maintenance appointment immediately. There could be several mechanical problems with your engine and only an experienced professional can diagnose the exact cause.

Find Out What’s Causing Your Engine Problems

If you’ve experienced any of these symptoms while driving near Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, or Mission Viejo, your ignition coil may need to be replaced. Our team of certified technicians at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore in Irvine can determine the cause of your engine troubles, so contact us or schedule an appointment if your vehicle is performing erratically.

For immediate assistance, call 877-871-3235. Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore in Irvine is conveniently located at 20 Auto Center Drive.

What’s worse than driving around Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Newport Beach with squeaking brakes? At Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore Irvine, we’d say there’s nothing worse. That’s why we wrote this article: We want to help you get to the root of the issue.

Have you ever wondered, “Why are my brakes squeaking?” Keep reading to discover the answer!

What’s Causing Those Gosh-Darned Squeaking Brakes?

Here’s an overview of four common reasons that your automobile’s brakes might be squeaking when driving. Three of the reasons deal with disc brakes, and one of the reasons has to do with drum brakes. Read on!

1. Moisture: The brakes are squeaking because the vehicle sat out overnight. This only applies to disc brakes. If you don’t store your car in either a garage or some other climate-controlled environment, moisture will collect on the brake rotors. This is due to factors like rain, dew, humidity, and condensation. This moisture will cause rust, which the pads will scrape off the rotors as the brake turns. This rust will get caught in the brake pad, making it squeak and squeak and squeak.

2. Thin pads: The brakes are squeaking because of thinning pads. This only applies to disc brakes. When the brake pads start to wear out and get thin, their wear indicators will start to poke through. These are small steel tabs that the manufacturer installs under the brake pads. It’s a friendly (and squeaky!) way of reminding you that you need to get your brake pads replaced ASAP.

3. Metallic pads: The brakes are squeaking because of high metal content in the pads. This only applies to disc brakes. It only applies to disc brakes that are made with cheap brake pads, as they usually have a high metal content. To avoid this issue, you should only use top-quality brake pads that are produced with organic materials, such as resin, rubber, Kevlar®, fiber, etc.

4. Unlubricated brakes: The brakes are squeaking because they need to be lubricated. This only applies to drum brakes. In this case, the shoe-to-backing-plate contact points are dry, and they’re starting to rust. Like the situation outlined in the first bullet point, this will cause a rhythmic squeak every time the wheel goes ‘round. Use a high-temperature anti-seize lube to fix it.

Is It Dangerous if Your Brakes Are Squeaking?

No, it’s not really dangerous. But it’s incredibly annoying. You don’t have to live with this awful noise.

How to Fix Squeaking Brakes

Although you might be capable of fixing those squeaky brakes on your own, we recommend that you bring your vehicle to a professional. The team of expert automotive technicians at our world-renowned Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore Irvine Service Center can help! They can fix just about anything.

Stop Squeaking Brakes at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore Irvine

To stop squeaking brakes on your car, simply call us, chat with us online, fill out a form, or stop by our service center to schedule brake service today.

There’s nothing better than enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with your family. There’s the delicious turkey, the flavorful stuffing, the creamy mashed potatoes, and the sweet cranberries. To really prepare yourself for the food coma, why not get your hunger all set during the OC Turkey Trot 5K?

This annual run occurs every Thanksgiving morning, and it’s your chance to push yourself in the race–so you can feel like you’ve earned all the eats and treats!

OC Turkey Trot 5K When & Where

There are several fun races and events tied in with the OC Turkey Trot 5K. The event takes place at Irvine Valley College in Lot 5 next to Performing Arts Boulevard. There are different races and events for varying ages and skill levels:

• 1 Mile Turkey Dash- 7:30 a.m.
• Turkey Feast Combo- 7:30 a.m.
• 5K Race-8 a.m. with elite runners in first wave
• Kids Dash: 9:10 a.m. with age divisions every 10 minutes

If you’ve already registered, you can pick your packet up the day before the race at Road Runner Sports Laguna Beach between noon and 6 p.m. Online registration closes on Monday, November 25^th at 10 a.m., but you can do later registration in person during packet pickup.

What to Expect at the OC Turkey Trot 5K

On top of friendly competition and a variety of different races on Thanksgiving morning, this event will have some fun for everyone. There will be a mini expo that you can explore with your little ones. There will also be food as well as local vendors showcasing some of their products and services.

There will also be a photo booth where you and your family and friends can take holiday-themed selfies, or you can have your picture taken by staff!

Running for Charity

The proceeds of the OC Turkey Trot 5K will benefit two charities:

Urban Health Alliance/Race 4 the Environment dedicates their work to providing public awareness, education, prevention, and insightful remedies for health as well as assisting in helping the environment. They educate the public about health hazards, such as lead, asbestos, pesticides, air/land/water quality, and more.

To Return is an organization that began in Tanzania in the Kilimanjaro region to help better the lives of porters and mountain guides. The organization provides better climbing equipment and clothing to improve working conditions, and it also offers scholarships for budding climbers and porters.

Head out to the OC Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning to dedicate your time and energy to great causes–and to really get your appetite going for the big feast!

When it’s time to head to the beach from Irvine, Garden Grove, or San Juan Capistrano to check out some sets, it helps to have a spacious and reliable vehicle to help you cart your board across the Costa Mesa Freeway, Garden Grove Freeway, or along the PCH. But if you’re setting out for your next ride and you’re contemplating the best cars for surfers, you may want to check out the assorted variety at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore Irvine.

We’re here to showcase a few models that are some top picks for surfers, based on the cargo space, the accessibility, and even the features!

Volkswagen Golf SportWagen

VW Golf SportWagen Inventory

The Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is an energetic hatchback that certainly offers a lot inside and out. The vehicle includes a 1.4-liter turbocharged and intercooled 4-cylinder engine that boasts 147 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. This engine also includes direct injection, which pumps fuel directly into the combustion chamber, which reduces fuel waste. This allows the VW Golf SportWagen to get every drop of its EPA-estimated 27/36/31 city/highway/combined MPG.¹

The interior offers 94.3 cubic feet of space that’s perfect for five passengers—or a few boards in back. The VW Golf SportWagen includes 30.4 cubic feet of cargo volume, which can expand to 66.5 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are folded.

Volkswagen Tiguan

VW Tiguan Inventory

If you’re looking to get a little higher off the ground and even expand your cargo space, you may want to consider an SUV like the VW Tiguan. This vehicle includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged/intercooled 4-cylinder engine that can produce 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque while achieving an EPA-estimated 22/29/25 city/highway/combined MPG.²

The VW Tiguan can accommodate seven passengers over three rows of seating with 123.9 cubic feet of cabin space. The vehicle includes 33 cubic feet of cargo space in back. However, folding down the last two rows will expand the cargo area to 65.7 cubic feet.

Surf-Centric Volkswagen Accessories

VW Accessory Builder

Both vehicles have been considered the best cars for surfers due to their expansive cargo areas and performances that seamlessly blend power and efficiency. However, there are some helpful VW accessories that you can install to help you get more out of your trips to the beach. There are plenty of roof racks to consider where you can throw your boards up top and head to your favorite spots with your friends. You can even get a tow hitch installed, so you can bring your boards and accessories by trailering them behind your vehicle.

Browse Your Options & Schedule Your Test Drive

Now that you’ve got a bit of a stronger sense of the top surfing cars in the Volkswagen lineup, you’ll be ready to tailor your search for when it’s time to find a new set of wheels. When you’re ready, you can come see us at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore Irvine to get a closer look at these options. You can even get behind the wheel to see what they can really do on the road!

Schedule your test drive with us at Norm Reeves Volkswagen Superstore Irvine. We’re happy to help drivers in Irvine, Garden Grove, and San Juan Capistrano find the right car and the best VW accessories for their surfing adventures!

¹29 city/37 highway mpg (2019 Golf SportWagen 1.4L, 6-speed manual transmission). EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary and depends on several factors, including your driving habits and vehicle condition.

²22 city/29 highway mpg (2019 Tiguan 2.0L, 8-speed automatic transmission). EPA estimates. Your mileage will vary and depends on several factors, including your driving habits and vehicle condition.