Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
General Repair Notes
Transmission
- Observe rules of cleanliness for working on the transmission → Rules for cleanliness when working on transmission .
- Do not run engine with end cover removed or without ATF filling and do not tow vehicle.
- Only install clean parts: Remove packing from replacement parts immediately prior to installation and not before.
- After installing, the following fluid levels must be checked and topped off if necessary: ATF in planetary gear → ATF level, checking and topping off and axle oil in front final drive → Gear oil level in front final drive, checking . Capacities and specifications → Capacities .
O-rings, seals, gaskets
- Always replace O-rings, gaskets and seals.
- After removing gaskets, examine contact surface on housing/shaft for burr resulting from removal or for other signs of damage.
- Thoroughly clean housing joint surfaces before assembling.
- To install, thinly coat gaskets along outer circumference and on sealing lip with ATF.
- Lightly lubricate O-rings with ATF when installing to prevent the rings from being pinched when components are assembled.
- Only use ATF for automatic transmission components. Other types of lubrication cause faults to occur in the transmission hydraulics.
- Open sides of oil seals face fluid side.
- When pressing in new gaskets, make sure the sealing lip does not run on the same point as the sealing lip of the old seal (use insertion depth tolerances).
- After installing, the following fluid levels must be checked and topped off if necessary: ATF in planetary gear → ATF level, checking and topping off or axle oil in front final drive → Gear oil level in front final drive, checking . Capacities and specifications → Capacities .
Bolts and nuts
- Loosen bolts in reverse of tightening sequence.
- Nuts and bolts which secure covers and housings should be tightened in stages according to specified sequence and tightening method.
- Loosen and tighten bolts and nuts for securing covers and housings in a diagonal sequence and in stages, when no tightening sequence is specified.
- The tightening torques stated apply to unoiled bolts and nuts.
- Replace self-locking bolts and nuts.
- Clean threads of bolts that were applied with locking fluid using a wire brush. Then insert bolts with locking fluid AMV 185 101 A1 .
- Threaded holes into which self-locking bolts or bolts coated with locking fluid are installed, must be cleaned (e.g. tap). Otherwise there is a risk that the bolts will shear the next time they are removed.
Locking elements
- Do not over-stretch circlips.
- Always replace circlips which have been damaged or over-tensioned.
- Circlips must be properly seated in the base of the groove.
Bearings
- Install needle bearings with the lettering on the bearing (the side with thicker metal) facing towards the drift.
- Insert bearing with axle oil or ATF, depending on installation location.
- Do not interchange outer or inner races of bearings of the same size.
- Always replace taper roller bearings on one shaft together and use new bearings from a single manufacturer.
Adjustment shims
- Use a micrometer to measure shims at several points. Varying tolerances make it possible to measure the required shim thickness exactly.
- Inspect for burrs and signs of damage. Install only shims that are in perfect condition.
Guided Fault Finding
Always perform Guided Fault Finding using Diagnostic Operation System VAS 5051 A before starting disassembly and assembly work.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.