The Official Sportwagen DIY/FAQ Thread

[Code3VW]

Welcome to the Sportwagen Do-It-Yourself, How-To and Frequently Asked Question Thread.
How to add something to the FAQ?

If you have anything that you would like added to this list, or to report broken links, please use the report post to moderator function.

Don't forget our Technical Forums that are broken down into more specific sections like interior, car audio and electronics, specific engines, transmissions etc.

To search within this thread, please press Control+F or Command (Open Apple)+F on your keyboard. (Note: Just because nothing is returned does not mean that it is not here, your search term may not be used in the description). Many items and issues may fit into all categories, so it is best to spend a couple minutes looking through the whole thread.

NOTE: Some of this may be duplicated information from the MK5 and/or MK6 forums. If you are unable to find a DIY that is not Sportwagen specific, check the DIY/FAQ threads in those forums as well.

Sections
01) Typical Problems & Questions
02) Oil & Servicing
03) Body & Exterior
04) Interior
05) Wheels & Tires
06) Lighting
07) Electrical
08) Radio & Navigation System
09) Vag-Com / VCDS
10) Suspension & Handling
11) Engine, Exhaust & Transmission
12) Brakes
13) Racks & Carriers
14) Miscellaneous

[Code3VW]

Typical Problems & Questions

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT: 2010 JSW SE & TDI 9W2 Bluetooth Settlement (MK6 Forum Link)

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT: 2010 JSW SE & TDI 9W2 Bluetooth Settlement (JSW Forum Link)

Condensation in your headlights? - 98DUB

Cheap fix for wind noise and door rattles - John Y

Wiper Arm Shutter - KIDVersion 1

Break In Procedure - Off-Site Link

[Code3VW]

Oil & Servicing

TDI oil and filter change with oil extractor - jwbekens

2.5L oil and filter change - edisonr

2.5L engine cover removal - texallen01

MK5 Removing MK5 ECU - FuN:TuRBO

[Code3VW]

Body & Exterior

Roof Rail Removal - Offsite Link

Service Mode for Wipers (to replace, to leave up before a snow storm, etc) - BsickPassat

Dent Repair with Dry Ice - Orient Express

Front Bumper License Plate Hole Plug - reelknead1

Front Bumper Removal - .KIX.

Rear Bumper Cover Removal - andylyco

[Code3VW]

Interior

TECHNICAL BULLETIN: Rear Armrest Will Not Lower - TB 74 10 02 (TP2021420) - PanEuropean

Aluminum Glove Box Handle - 71sbeetle

OEM European Underseat Drawers - 71sbeetle

Dash Cubby - JTwGTI

How to Remove and Open Your Instrument Cluster - 71sbeetle

Removing the airbag warning stickers from your sun visors - Orient Express

Removing Center Console - NLR32

Replacing Shift Knob - OldSkoolNJ

Interior Trim Removal - siagolf

Steering Wheel Removal - Off-Site Link

Upgrading to a Multi-Function Steering Wheel (MFSW) - prairiewriter

Adding a MFSW with paddles to a DSG-equipped JSW - raelx

[Code3VW]

Wheels & Tires

Stance - pennswoods

Disabling Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) using Vag-Com/VCDS - snobrdrdan

Basic Information about Wheels, Tires, and Offset - svander

[Code3VW]

Lighting

Installing OEM Front Fog Lights

Activating Rear Fog Light
Updated DIY guide for activating rear fog lights (PDF file)

Lamin-X Smoked Sidemarkers - santos.

Installing Höen Xenonmatch bulbs in fog lights - 71sbeetle

Replacing Dome, Map, and Footwell Lights with LEDs - RobMan8023

Replacing Footwell Lights - Super Steve

Replacing Sidemarker Lights - sfpegasus

Retrofitting Puddle Lights - Toeball

Retrofit OEM HIDs with LED DRLs - Offsite Link

[Code3VW]

Electrical

Installing Auto-Dimming and/or Homelink Mirror - spockcat

OEM European Chirp Alarm Siren - TXRanger83

Stealth Garage Door Opener - 71sbeetle

Homelink Install - Orient Express

Valentine One Radar Locator hardwire and concealed display - 71sbeetle

Hard Wiring a Radar Detector - RC-Cola

How to access menus if you don't have a multifunction steering wheel (MFSW) - iPinch

Replacing cloth battery surround with OEM hard plastic box - fixmy59bug

[Code3VW]

Radio & Navigation System

Radio Removal and RNS Install - oempls

OEM Backup Camera (BUC) - Code3VW

RNS-510 Coding - BarryT82

9W7 Bluetooth Swap from 9W2 in 2010 JSW - 71sbeetle

Clarivue RNS-510 Screen Protector - 71sbeetle

Control your iOS 4.1 device via 9W7 voice commands (iPhone/iPod Touch) - iPinch

Wiring modification when Upgrading to RNS-510 Version E or F - phatz314

[Code3VW]

vag-com / vcds

VCDS (Vag-Com) for Beginners - Code3VW

Vag-Com Locator Searchable Map - martytime

VCDS MKVI / MK6 Platform, Handy Coding Tweaks - Dana@Ross-Tech

Vag-Com Screen Shots - 71sbeetle

[Code3VW]

Suspension & Handling

Suspension Removal and Installation of Coilovers - 98DUB

Installing Tiguan springs - dieselfreak86

Koni Coilover Install - mxpx09rawker

[Code3VW]

Engine, Exhaust & Transmission

What is DSG - waterpumper

[Code3VW]

Brakes

[Code3VW]

Racks & Carriers

OEM Roof Rack Modification - andylyco

Roof Rack Picture Thread - xybaby

[Code3VW]

Miscellaneous

[rootrider]

placeholder

[bravinseattle]

You are the man.

[Code3VW]

going to want to specify mk5 or mk6, where applicable

That will be present in the Version 2 changelog.

[shirtsTDI]

This is an AWESOME thread!! Thanks Code3VW (and others who contributed if applicable) for putting this together for us. Any chance of making this a sticky? This really needs to be on top.

Cheers!!

[andylyco]

I made this a sticky, and I'll probably delete any non FAQ posts and lock it to keep it clean. Let me know what you think. This is a great Christmas present- thanks!

[rootrider]

I made this a sticky, and I'll probably delete any non FAQ posts and lock it to keep it clean. Let me know what you think. This is a great Christmas present- thanks!

my recommendation is to leave the thread open for at least a while... it'll make it easier for people to post up thoughts, links, etc. Once things are more fleshed out then there may be a reason to lock the thread and remove old posts... not that I'm a fan of doing so in an faq thread.

[shirtsTDI]

Just thought of something that should be on here - The break-in instructions that rootrider put up a couple months ago. That will be very informational for many of the people who are just now buying the TDIs.

[rootrider]

that was Drivbiwire's break-in schedule from tdiclub... it comes pretty well recommended:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=252501

[Code3VW]

that was Drivbiwire's break-in schedule from tdiclub... it comes pretty well recommended:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=252501

Added here. Good find, sir!

[Andy P]