General Information

PROCEDURE

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car and is so popular worldwide that its class of vehicles became known as the Golf class. The body is a load-bearing, all-steel, five-door hatchback. The rear seat can be folded down to increase the luggage compartment volume.

The engine range includes displacements from 1.3 to 1.8 L liters. In addition to gasoline engines, diesel engines with a displacement of 1.6 or 1.6 L liters with turbocharging can be installed. The base model has front-wheel drive, but a Golf Syncro model with all-wheel drive is also available, in which a viscous coupling acts as the center differential, automatically redistributing torque between the axles depending on the load on each axle.

The steering is rack-and-pinion type, and some versions have power steering. The brake system is dual-circuit hydraulic with a vacuum booster. Front brakes are disc; rear brakes are drum or disc, depending on the version. Some brake system versions have an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Transmissions were four-speed or five-speed manual, and also automatic. The Volkswagen Jetta has a four-door sedan body. The Jetta does not differ from the Golf in its units and assemblies.

This Manual covers repair of the second-generation Golf and Jetta models produced from 1983 to 1992. This Repair Manual is intended for service station and repair shop personnel, as well as individual owners.

This manual will help identify vehicle malfunctions. Troubleshooting methods are also described. Repair is based on replacing faulty assemblies and parts with new ones.

Brief Vehicle Technical Specifications

PARAMETER	GOLF	JETTA
Body type	closed, load-bearing five-door or three-door Hatchback	closed, load-bearing four-door Sedan
Number of seats (including driver)	5	5
Overall dimensions, mm:
– length	3985	4315
– width	1664	1664
– height	1414	1414
Wheelbase (distance between axles), mm	2475	2475
Minimum turning radius at outer front wheel track, m	5,2	5,2
Ground clearance at full load, mm	120	120
Cargo mass carried in trunk, kg	75	75
Wheels	Pressed steel, disc or cast light alloy wheels with rim size 5Jx13 or 5.5Jx13
Tires (low-profile)	175/70SR13/805, 155SR13/7 8S
Steering	Rack-and-pinion type (power steering optional)
Service brake system	Hydraulic, dual-circuit with booster
Brake units:
– front	discs
– rear	drums, discs
Electrical wiring system	Single-wire, negative terminal of power source connected to ground
Nominal system voltage, V	12
Battery	36 A·h or 45 A·h
Alternator	Bosch or Motorola 45 A or 65 A
At Start	Bosch
Mass of equipped vehicle (with full fuel tank, spare wheel, tools), kg	1320 – 1440	1360 – 1440
Gross mass (equipped vehicle mass with full load), kg	2600	2640
Towed trailer mass, kg:
– with brakes	1000 – 1200	1000 – 1200
– without brakes	420 – 440	435 – 455