Maintenance intervals, technical specs, recalls for a3 1997-early 1999 jetta tdi

1. Fluid changes/maintenance intervals
2. Technical Specs
3. Featured equipment/safety ratings
4. Recalls and Technical service bulletins

Did you just buy this car?  Here is a list of common issues that you should check: 1000q: mk3 new owner checklist

Fluid changes/maintenance intervals

Light bulbs: refer to light bulb replacement reference table

Available colors and touch up paint: refer to OEM paint codes

Engine oil:

• Conventional oil: 5000 miles or 6 months, whichever is sooner.
• Semi-synthetic oils: 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever is sooner. 
• Full synthetic oils: 10,000 miles or 6 months, whichever is sooner. 
• Capacity w/filter change: 4.5 L 
• Click here for engine oil list w/references
• How to change your engine oil on the a3

Antifreeze/coolant: 

• Lifetime fill (100,000 mile) for g12/g12+ VW OEM fluid or Pentosin coolant, pink or red in color.
• WARNING: DO NOT MIX OEM or Pentosin with ANY other color coolant or it will turn brown and sludge. If this occurs, you must flush the entire coolant system.
• Mix with distilled water only, tap water will leave mineral deposits
• Capacity: 6.5 Liters
• How to change your antifreeze/coolant: a3

Brake fluid:

• DOT 4 fluid, not compatible with only DOT 3 spec fluid or silicone based DOT 5
• Every 2 years or as needed
• How to change your brake fluid: a3

Clutch fluid

• DOT 4 fluid, not compatible with DOT 3 fluid
• How to change your clutch fluid: a3

Power steering fluid

• 40,000 miles
• VW# G002000 
• To change, suck out the old fluid with a turkey baster and put in new fluid.  Drive the car, repeat.

Manual transmission fluid

• Lifetime fluid (100,000 mile) change interval
• Use API G50 75W-90 (OEM VW) synthetic gear oil or GL4 Mil-L2105
• Fluid capacity for a3: 2.1 quarts/2 liters
• How to change your manual transmission fluid: a3

Fuel filter

• 20,000 miles replacement
• How to change your fuel filter: a3
• http://www.worldimpex.com/item_detail.html?sku=162345

Timing belt

• 60,000 miles replacement
• How to change your timing belt: a3 part 1     How to change your timing belt part 2
• http://www.worldimpex.com/item_detail.html?sku=6394

Air intake filter

• 40,000 miles or 2 years, whichever is sooner
• How to change your air intake filter: a3

Cabin air filter

• N/A on standard car but can be retrofitted, just buy one from a glx jetta, 
• How to change cabin air filter: a3

Brakes/rotors/rear wheel bearings

• Front disc/rear drum, change as needed
• How to change your brakes: a3 jetta front brakes
• How to change your brakes: a3 jetta rear brakes

Other misc. maintenance/modifications: 

• 1000 answered questions: diesel FAQ and "how to" index
• 1000 answered questions: a3 jetta 

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A3 technical specs

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Standard equipment/features

Available colors:

Crash Test Results
NHTSA Ratings
Passenger: Average
Driver: Average
Side Impact Front: Average
Side Impact Rear: Poor
Rollover Rating: Not Tested
NHTSA: Excellent, Good, Average, Poor, Very Poor, Not Tested
IIHS Ratings
Crash Offset: Marginal
Bumper Bash: Good
IIHS: Good, Acceptable, Marginal, Poor, Not Tested

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Recalls

1997 Jetta TDI

1998 Jetta TDI

1999 Jetta TDI

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