A3 (1993 to 3/1999) Volkswagen Jetta and Golf
technical specifications and tech hints

A3 (1993 to 3/1999) Volkswagen Jetta and Golf
tech hints

Oil cooler seal

The oil cooler seal on the ABA engine becomes brittle after time. A good time to do some preventative maintanance is when the coolant hoses are replaced, as the most difficult part of replacing the oil cooler seal is removing and installing the coolant hoses attached to the oil cooler. With the hoses off, the job becomes trivial. First the oil filter needs to be removed and then a 24mm nut (can use 1 inch socket instead of 24mm socket) must beremoved. With no hoses attached to the oil cooler, the oil cooler is easily removed. A new seal can be installed and the 24mm nut tightened to 18ft-lbs.

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Final drive seal kit

Final drive seal replacement and home made final drive seal replacement tool for VW Golf and VW Jetta

Doing a clutch job (we prefer to use a SACHS clutch kit) and having the transmission out on a VW Golf or VW Jetta transmission is the opportune time to replace the VW final drive seals. Ask any VW mechanic or backyard enthusiast and they’ll tell you that these transmissions will last forever (OK, maybe not the reverse gears on the A3’s if you are in the habit of not coming to a complete stop in reverse before popping it into first and beginning your forward motion), as long as you don’t loose the final drive fluid. And what causes loss of final drive fluid in higher mileage VW’s? The biggest culprit is old, worn out final drive seals.

Replacement of these seals is relatively easy with the trans on the ground in front of you but does require a special tool to pull the final drive hub out of the trans.

1. Get a piece of stock 1/4 inch by 1 1/2 inch by 6 inch long metal (I got mine from Home Depot) and drill a 1/2 inch diamter hole in the center of it.
2. Drill two 5/16 inch diamter holes 1 3/4 inches on both sides of the center hole which you just drilled in step 1.
3. Place a 90mm long 10 mm bolt (17mm head, 10mm diameter by 1.5mm pitch) thru the center hole drilled in step 1 and wind a 17 mm nut half way up the 17mm bolt (this 17 mm bolt will later be threaded into the transmission thru the center hole of the final drive hub).
4. Place two 30mm long 8mm bolts (13mm head, 8mm by 1.25mm) thru the holes drilled in step 2. Once the bolt is thru the hole, thread a 13mm nut half way onto it.
5. Remove the seal in the center of the final drive hub (seal is the size of a quarter).
6. Take this tool over to your trans and thread the 8mm bolts into two of the diagonally opposite bolt holes on the final drive hub. Tighten the 8mm nuts snuggly against the 6 inch long stock metal.
7. Thread the 10mm bolt into the trans thru the center of the final drive hub. Once the bolt is snug, tighten the 10mm nut in the direction of the 6 inch long stock metal. As you turn the nut, the hub will slowly come out of the trans and the seal will be easily accessible for replacement.

Final drive seal kits (part number 816-702).

SACHS clutch kits
• KIT331G14 1985-1992 VW Golf / VW Jetta with 8v engine
• KIT331G15 1987-1992 VW Golf / VW Jeta with 16v engine
• KIT331G15 1993-3/1994 VW Golf / VW Jetta with 2.0 engine
• KIT70128 3/1994-3/1999 VW Golf / VW Jetta with 2.0 engine

Our SACHS clutch kits include the crank, mainshaft and pushrod seals and bushing, crank gasket and clutch bolts which are stretch bolts and need to be replaced.

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A3 (1993 to 3/1999) Volkswagen Jetta and Golf
AAA, AHU and ABA technical specifications

Volkswagen / Audi Parts Specials

Atlantic Imported Auto Supply

1-800-322-6006
2 Dyment Way Barrington, NH 03825
Hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30am to 5:00pm
Sat: 9:00am to noon EST