Not really a DIY, however, I am pasting together some info I had previously offered that was buried deep in another post.
Hopefully this info will be helpful to anyone that has issue with their auto trans and wants to check the level, drop the pan and refill or top off the auto trans fluid level.
So here goes some hopefully useful info.
I am also not an expert on all the NB auto transmission, but my understanding there were at least 3 different auto trans over the years depending on the engine and model of the car. There was a 4, 5 and 6 speed automatic. There may be some differences between the transmissions, I only have hands on experience with the 09G 6 speed Tiptronic trans that came in my 2003 NBC GLX 1.8t.
That being said, I believe?? that all of these transmission can be checked and filled from the bottom drain plug??? I know that many of the transmissions do have a top fill, which was phased out in later years, but I can tell you it is best NOT to use this top fill as the plastic becomes very brittle over the years and can easily break and replacement parts are bit hard to find.
This may be a bit disjointed, if I have time and the tread will still allow me to edit it, I may clean this info up a bit??
The bottom fill method is for trans pans with the drain plug in them. I do not know the full Beetle Auto trans line up very well, so I do not know if "all" Beetle auto trans have the drain plug/bottom pan fill option. I know that some trans had both a bottom fill and a very hard to reach upper fill port, then later years the upper fill port was eliminated. The problem with the upper fill port is it can be hard to access and easy to break.
Once you figure out how easy the bottom fill can be to use, it is actually a very slick way to fill and check the trans. You have to use the bottom fill/drain to check the proper level anyway.
You need a $5 hand pump from the local auto parts store or Amazon and a cheap Home Depot/Harbor Freight blow gun, some electrical tape or duct tape and 1 small hose clamp. The blowgun extension is just something I happened to fall onto while trying to figure out how to come up with a hollow adapter to fit the bottom fill/drain of the transmission. It was this or purchase some over priced & hard to find special tool. I just happened to have a EUREKA moment standing in my garage looking around for ideas while thinking about what might work. I just happened to look at my blowgun and a light bulb went on in my head. I thought I would be grinding and threading, but unlike my usual luck, the blow gun extension was the right size and thread and screwed right into the trans pan fill/drain hole!
Again, I do not know if all the VW trans pans have the fill/drain plug and it they are all the same size, but the pan fill is stupid easy once you have all the correct pieces in hand, probably less than $15 in parts, vs some $40+ special fill adapter that is hard to find and you still do not have a pump.
I will do the best I can to explain the auto transmission fluid fill procedure and tools I used.
First you need to have an auto trans pan with the drain plug in the bottom. Mine had like a 6 or 7 mm hex wrench/tool on the bottom of the plug. What ever the hex size is to remove the trans drain plug is the same hex size to unscrew the plastic stub tube/fill tube that is recessed inside the trans drain hole. The plastic stub/fill pipe should only be removed if you plan on draining the transmission, otherwise the plastic stub/fill tube stays in the trans for proper level checking. The plug has an aluminum crush washer like a spark plug washer that does not like to be reused without dripping, so you should get a few of these aluminum crush washers.
The VW/Audi trans pan that has the drain typically has the ability to both drain and fill the trans from the bottom of the pan. Up inside the trans drain hole, once you remove the drain plug is a plastic stub/fill tube that treads in that is about 1 1/2" long. To drain the pan, this plastic stub can be un-threaded using the same hex size hex tool that was for the drain plug.
This stub tube extends it the trans pan to allow the proper fluid level to be set. The trans needs to be warm, not hot, to set the proper fluid level, I believe it is about 100-120F?? If you do not know the history of the trans, you may need to make sure the plastic stub tube is in the drain/fill hole. Without the stub tube you cannot properly set the fluid level. The stub tube just need to be finger snug.
To check the trans level, the fluid needs to be warm, the vehicle needs to be level, the fluid needs to be approximately 120F and the engine MUST be running. Start the engine with your foot on the brake, shift the trans through all the gears then put the trans back in part. Then while the engine is still running, you can remove the drain plug and see if the fluid will lightly stream out. Note the fluid will be warm, so be careful not to burn yourself. Also when first removing the drain plug you may get about 1 tablespoon of fluid to leak out initially. What you want is a small, steady stream of fluid, smaller than diameter than a toothpick to come out and is almost ready to start to break into a drip rather than a stream, if this is what you are seeing, the fluid level is likely very close to proper. If you do not get any fluid lightly streaming out, you will need to add fluid a bit at a time and then continue to remove the fill adapter from the fill plug until you have a very small steady stream close to converting to a drip of fluid coming out. This may take some trial and error. No worries if you over fill, you can just let the excess drain out until you are almost to a broken stream of fluid, then you know the level is very close to accurate.
As for fluid options, use a synthetic ATF. You can shop around a bit and suppliers like www.blauparts.com have the proper fluid, however, I have read that many shops use Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF for most of their European auto transmission repairs and rebuilds.
The most difficult part of this entire exercise is locating some form of suitable adapter and a pump for the fluid. Once you find an adapter and pump to fill the trans, then it is VERY easy to fill and set the proper level. You can also easily catch overflow fluid for reuse if needed.
You screw an adapter into the trans pan drain hole, connect up a hand pump and pump away. You do not need to worry about air as this will purge automatically via the trans vent.
If the trans fluid was changed, depending on the trans type, you will need likely at least 3 to either 4-5 Liters of fluid. Start with 3 liters if the pan was off. Fill the trans using the pump then you can disconnect the hose (with engine running) and see if fluid pours back out the fill tube.
Keep filling and removing the hose with the engine running and make sure you shift the trans though all the gears with your foot on the brake. Then put the trans back in park and keep topping off the fluid until you have a small/steady stream that just starts to drip, then the level should be very close or correctly set.
I do not worry too much about the first attempt to get the level 100% as you may get the fluid temp too high during the initial fill. I like to drive the car a few days then recheck the level at the proper temp. Once you have the fluid close, final top off is very quick. I reused the original crush washer on the fill plug until I was happy the level was correct, then I put the new crush washer on the fill plug.
Attached are some links from Amazon with pictures of the type of blow gun and pump I used. I think my blow gun was from Home Depot and the pump I picked up at my local Advance Auto parts. Almost all local parts stores have 1 quart hand pumps for around $5.
Air Blow Gun Kit with Interchangeable Nozzles : http://www.amazon.com/PC-Safety-Blo...id=1368453366&sr=1-6&keywords=safety+blow+gun
Custom Accessories 36670 Pennzoil Fluid Transfer Pump - Quart : http://www.amazon.com/Custom-Access...id=1368453411&sr=1-2&keywords=fluid+hand+pump
The key to this is the blow gun adapter piece, this happened to be the same thread as the trans drain threads. You likely will need to drill the adapter center hole slightly larger, with like a 3/16" drill or slightly larger as this adapter is really a safety restrictor, I think the hole is less that 1/8" and will restrict the fluid volume and it may take longer to fill.
The blow gun extension is smaller than the pump tube, so I just wrapped some duct tape around the tube to increase the circumference and put a small hose clamp on the tube to keep it from leaking fluid while pumping and so it wound not slip off. Electrical tape would also likely work, I think I just happened to have the duct tape and fist reach as I was in a hurry to get the trans filled and I was not worried about aesthetics!
The drain and fill from the bottom of the pan is really a pretty slick set up once you understand how it works and have a pump and adapter.
To remove the original drain plug even if the center hex is stripped, you should be able use use Vice Grips to grab the outside of the plug and remove it from the pan. Once the drain plug is removed, you will need to remove the 1 1/2" plastic stub tube to properly drain the rest of the fluid out of the trans pan. A 6 or 7mm hex driver or Allen wrench is all that is needed, the plastic stub tube is not very tight, maybe finger tight, and will un-thread very easily.
I really suggest getting at least 2 aluminum crush washers as you may want to recheck the fluid after a few days and these aluminum crush washers are one time use.
See attached PDF's below that will give you somewhat of an idea of what the pan and stub tube look like and the crazy VW fluid fill set up, which you do not need if you use the blow gun extension tube and a hand pump.
The transmission pan assembly is made up of the following parts:
1. Transmission pan
2. Transmission drain/fill plug
3. Transmission drain/fill plug washer - consumable item
4. Transmission drain/fill stub tube - plastic tube about 1 1/2 long.
5. 2 magnets for metal partial collection.
The stub tube is CRITICAL, if you do not have this installed in the trans pan, you cannot properly fill the transmission. This stub tube treads into the drain/fill hole, THEN the drain fill plug with the crush washer go on to seal the drain/fill hole.
To properly drain the transmission you have to unscrew or remove the stub tube, otherwise you will have 1-2 liters of fluid still captured in the transmission pan.
Try to look closely at this diagram, it is the best I have. The tube that comes up from the bottom of the transmission drain/fill hole is the stub tube, it thread inside the drain/fill hole. It is only finger tight and has I think a 7mm hex opening in the end so you can use a hex driver or Allen key to remove the tube ONLY when you need to drain the trans fluid from the pan, otherwise the tube is ALWAYS installed into the trans pan.
View attachment VW Trans Pan.pdf
I was also able to locate pictures of the drain plug & washer, the stub tube removed and still on a hex driver with the fluid draining from the pan and a picture of the fill tube in the trans drain opening and a picture of trans magnets, not from a Beetle, but what you DON'T want them to look like.
Some other useful documents below:
View attachment VW 09G Trans Drain & Fill.pdf
View attachment VW 09G Trans fill procedure.pdf
View attachment VW 09G Trans Pan.pdf
View attachment VW Trans Pan.pdf
09G Reference Material - https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/vnKzr6YLw0CMMuEUBd86jY4JGYkFMpAumANiMxDUWVI
Hopefully this info will be helpful to anyone that has issue with their auto trans and wants to check the level, drop the pan and refill or top off the auto trans fluid level.
So here goes some hopefully useful info.
I am also not an expert on all the NB auto transmission, but my understanding there were at least 3 different auto trans over the years depending on the engine and model of the car. There was a 4, 5 and 6 speed automatic. There may be some differences between the transmissions, I only have hands on experience with the 09G 6 speed Tiptronic trans that came in my 2003 NBC GLX 1.8t.
That being said, I believe?? that all of these transmission can be checked and filled from the bottom drain plug??? I know that many of the transmissions do have a top fill, which was phased out in later years, but I can tell you it is best NOT to use this top fill as the plastic becomes very brittle over the years and can easily break and replacement parts are bit hard to find.
This may be a bit disjointed, if I have time and the tread will still allow me to edit it, I may clean this info up a bit??
The bottom fill method is for trans pans with the drain plug in them. I do not know the full Beetle Auto trans line up very well, so I do not know if "all" Beetle auto trans have the drain plug/bottom pan fill option. I know that some trans had both a bottom fill and a very hard to reach upper fill port, then later years the upper fill port was eliminated. The problem with the upper fill port is it can be hard to access and easy to break.
Once you figure out how easy the bottom fill can be to use, it is actually a very slick way to fill and check the trans. You have to use the bottom fill/drain to check the proper level anyway.
You need a $5 hand pump from the local auto parts store or Amazon and a cheap Home Depot/Harbor Freight blow gun, some electrical tape or duct tape and 1 small hose clamp. The blowgun extension is just something I happened to fall onto while trying to figure out how to come up with a hollow adapter to fit the bottom fill/drain of the transmission. It was this or purchase some over priced & hard to find special tool. I just happened to have a EUREKA moment standing in my garage looking around for ideas while thinking about what might work. I just happened to look at my blowgun and a light bulb went on in my head. I thought I would be grinding and threading, but unlike my usual luck, the blow gun extension was the right size and thread and screwed right into the trans pan fill/drain hole!
Again, I do not know if all the VW trans pans have the fill/drain plug and it they are all the same size, but the pan fill is stupid easy once you have all the correct pieces in hand, probably less than $15 in parts, vs some $40+ special fill adapter that is hard to find and you still do not have a pump.
I will do the best I can to explain the auto transmission fluid fill procedure and tools I used.
First you need to have an auto trans pan with the drain plug in the bottom. Mine had like a 6 or 7 mm hex wrench/tool on the bottom of the plug. What ever the hex size is to remove the trans drain plug is the same hex size to unscrew the plastic stub tube/fill tube that is recessed inside the trans drain hole. The plastic stub/fill pipe should only be removed if you plan on draining the transmission, otherwise the plastic stub/fill tube stays in the trans for proper level checking. The plug has an aluminum crush washer like a spark plug washer that does not like to be reused without dripping, so you should get a few of these aluminum crush washers.
The VW/Audi trans pan that has the drain typically has the ability to both drain and fill the trans from the bottom of the pan. Up inside the trans drain hole, once you remove the drain plug is a plastic stub/fill tube that treads in that is about 1 1/2" long. To drain the pan, this plastic stub can be un-threaded using the same hex size hex tool that was for the drain plug.
This stub tube extends it the trans pan to allow the proper fluid level to be set. The trans needs to be warm, not hot, to set the proper fluid level, I believe it is about 100-120F?? If you do not know the history of the trans, you may need to make sure the plastic stub tube is in the drain/fill hole. Without the stub tube you cannot properly set the fluid level. The stub tube just need to be finger snug.
To check the trans level, the fluid needs to be warm, the vehicle needs to be level, the fluid needs to be approximately 120F and the engine MUST be running. Start the engine with your foot on the brake, shift the trans through all the gears then put the trans back in part. Then while the engine is still running, you can remove the drain plug and see if the fluid will lightly stream out. Note the fluid will be warm, so be careful not to burn yourself. Also when first removing the drain plug you may get about 1 tablespoon of fluid to leak out initially. What you want is a small, steady stream of fluid, smaller than diameter than a toothpick to come out and is almost ready to start to break into a drip rather than a stream, if this is what you are seeing, the fluid level is likely very close to proper. If you do not get any fluid lightly streaming out, you will need to add fluid a bit at a time and then continue to remove the fill adapter from the fill plug until you have a very small steady stream close to converting to a drip of fluid coming out. This may take some trial and error. No worries if you over fill, you can just let the excess drain out until you are almost to a broken stream of fluid, then you know the level is very close to accurate.
As for fluid options, use a synthetic ATF. You can shop around a bit and suppliers like www.blauparts.com have the proper fluid, however, I have read that many shops use Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF for most of their European auto transmission repairs and rebuilds.
The most difficult part of this entire exercise is locating some form of suitable adapter and a pump for the fluid. Once you find an adapter and pump to fill the trans, then it is VERY easy to fill and set the proper level. You can also easily catch overflow fluid for reuse if needed.
You screw an adapter into the trans pan drain hole, connect up a hand pump and pump away. You do not need to worry about air as this will purge automatically via the trans vent.
If the trans fluid was changed, depending on the trans type, you will need likely at least 3 to either 4-5 Liters of fluid. Start with 3 liters if the pan was off. Fill the trans using the pump then you can disconnect the hose (with engine running) and see if fluid pours back out the fill tube.
Keep filling and removing the hose with the engine running and make sure you shift the trans though all the gears with your foot on the brake. Then put the trans back in park and keep topping off the fluid until you have a small/steady stream that just starts to drip, then the level should be very close or correctly set.
I do not worry too much about the first attempt to get the level 100% as you may get the fluid temp too high during the initial fill. I like to drive the car a few days then recheck the level at the proper temp. Once you have the fluid close, final top off is very quick. I reused the original crush washer on the fill plug until I was happy the level was correct, then I put the new crush washer on the fill plug.
Attached are some links from Amazon with pictures of the type of blow gun and pump I used. I think my blow gun was from Home Depot and the pump I picked up at my local Advance Auto parts. Almost all local parts stores have 1 quart hand pumps for around $5.
Air Blow Gun Kit with Interchangeable Nozzles : http://www.amazon.com/PC-Safety-Blo...id=1368453366&sr=1-6&keywords=safety+blow+gun
Custom Accessories 36670 Pennzoil Fluid Transfer Pump - Quart : http://www.amazon.com/Custom-Access...id=1368453411&sr=1-2&keywords=fluid+hand+pump
The key to this is the blow gun adapter piece, this happened to be the same thread as the trans drain threads. You likely will need to drill the adapter center hole slightly larger, with like a 3/16" drill or slightly larger as this adapter is really a safety restrictor, I think the hole is less that 1/8" and will restrict the fluid volume and it may take longer to fill.
The blow gun extension is smaller than the pump tube, so I just wrapped some duct tape around the tube to increase the circumference and put a small hose clamp on the tube to keep it from leaking fluid while pumping and so it wound not slip off. Electrical tape would also likely work, I think I just happened to have the duct tape and fist reach as I was in a hurry to get the trans filled and I was not worried about aesthetics!
The drain and fill from the bottom of the pan is really a pretty slick set up once you understand how it works and have a pump and adapter.
To remove the original drain plug even if the center hex is stripped, you should be able use use Vice Grips to grab the outside of the plug and remove it from the pan. Once the drain plug is removed, you will need to remove the 1 1/2" plastic stub tube to properly drain the rest of the fluid out of the trans pan. A 6 or 7mm hex driver or Allen wrench is all that is needed, the plastic stub tube is not very tight, maybe finger tight, and will un-thread very easily.
I really suggest getting at least 2 aluminum crush washers as you may want to recheck the fluid after a few days and these aluminum crush washers are one time use.
See attached PDF's below that will give you somewhat of an idea of what the pan and stub tube look like and the crazy VW fluid fill set up, which you do not need if you use the blow gun extension tube and a hand pump.
The transmission pan assembly is made up of the following parts:
1. Transmission pan
2. Transmission drain/fill plug
3. Transmission drain/fill plug washer - consumable item
4. Transmission drain/fill stub tube - plastic tube about 1 1/2 long.
5. 2 magnets for metal partial collection.
The stub tube is CRITICAL, if you do not have this installed in the trans pan, you cannot properly fill the transmission. This stub tube treads into the drain/fill hole, THEN the drain fill plug with the crush washer go on to seal the drain/fill hole.
To properly drain the transmission you have to unscrew or remove the stub tube, otherwise you will have 1-2 liters of fluid still captured in the transmission pan.
Try to look closely at this diagram, it is the best I have. The tube that comes up from the bottom of the transmission drain/fill hole is the stub tube, it thread inside the drain/fill hole. It is only finger tight and has I think a 7mm hex opening in the end so you can use a hex driver or Allen key to remove the tube ONLY when you need to drain the trans fluid from the pan, otherwise the tube is ALWAYS installed into the trans pan.
View attachment VW Trans Pan.pdf
I was also able to locate pictures of the drain plug & washer, the stub tube removed and still on a hex driver with the fluid draining from the pan and a picture of the fill tube in the trans drain opening and a picture of trans magnets, not from a Beetle, but what you DON'T want them to look like.
Some other useful documents below:
View attachment VW 09G Trans Drain & Fill.pdf
View attachment VW 09G Trans fill procedure.pdf
View attachment VW 09G Trans Pan.pdf
View attachment VW Trans Pan.pdf
09G Reference Material - https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/vnKzr6YLw0CMMuEUBd86jY4JGYkFMpAumANiMxDUWVI