Fix It

Replacing the windshield wiper blades for a Volkswagen 2006 Jetta can easily be done by the owner. If the wiper blades are damaged, dirty or worn, they will not properly clean the windshield which can become a driving hazard. Checking the condition of your wiper blades the same time as you change the oil is a good rule of thumb. There are different styles of wiper blades for the 2006 Jetta that can be purchased from most auto parts stores or a Volkswagen dealership.

Instructions

1

Insert and turn the ignition key to the "On" position but do not start the engine.

2

Press the wiper blade lever to the "On" position and turn the ignition key to the "Off" position. This will position the wipers on the windshield in order to access the blades.

3

Pull the wiper blades away from the windshield into an upright position.

4

Press the blade release button on the tip of the wiper arm.

5

Remove one blade at a time by pulling down on the wiper.

6

Slide the replacement blade onto the wiper arm until it clicks into place. Lower the wiper arm back onto the windshield.

7

Insert and turn the ignition key to the "On" position but do not start the engine.

8

Press the wiper blade lever to the "On" and "Off" position then turn the ignition key to "Off." This will place the wipers back in their normal operating position.

Blown reverse light bulbs are the most common reason that your 1996 Volkswagen Jettas reverse lights will not illuminate. At its core, however, the reverse light system is controlled by a simple two-wire switch, called a reverse or back-up switch, attached to the transmission. When the switch fails, it will prevent the lights from illuminating at all. Removing and replacing the reverse switch, while outwardly simple, requires removal of the battery box and air box to provide enough clearance for your tools.

Instructions

1

Park the Jetta and set the parking brake. Let the engine cool for at least one hour.

2

Open the hood and support it in an raised position, using the hood support rod.

3

Unclip and remove the battery box cover. Disconnect the cables from the battery, starting with the negative cable followed by the positive cable, using a combination wrench. Remove the battery retaining strap using a ratchet. Lift the fuse box off of the battery, then pull the battery out of the battery box. Unbolt the battery box from the engine compartment using a ratchet.

4

Squeeze the spring clamp attaching the air box to the intake duct using pliers. Move the clamp away from the air box. Unclip and remove the air box cover, then pull the air filter out of the air box. Unbolt the lower half of the air box using a ratchet. Pull the air box out of the intake tube, then lift it out of the engine compartment.

5

Look between the right side of the transmission housing and the inner engine compartment wall, directly below the air box mounting point. The reverse switch is located directly below the upside-down L-shaped shift linkage at the top of the transmission housing. Alternatively, the reverse switch is located on the top right side of the transmission housing, if you are working on a Jetta fitted with an automatic transmission.

6

Unplug the two-pin electrical connector at the rear of the reverse switch. Unscrew the reverse switch from the transmission using an adjustable wrench.

7

Screw the new reverse switch into the transmission housing by hand. Tighten the switch to 15 foot-pounds, using a crow foot wrench and a torque wrench. Plug the electrical connector into the end of the switch.

8

Push the air box into the intake tube, then slide the spring clamp into place. Reinstall the lower air box into the engine compartment, followed by the air filter and air box cover.

9

Reinstall the battery box and battery. Place the fuse box over the top of the battery, then reattach the battery cables, starting with the positive cable followed by the negative cable. Tighten the battery terminal bolts using a combination wrench.

10

Reattach the battery box lid and close the Jettas hood.

The Jetta has been manufactured by Volkswagen since 1979. Since its introduction, Volkswagen has equipped the Jetta with a stereo system. The Jetta stereo requires a switched power source and a constant power source to function properly. A switched power source is off when the vehicle is off, which prevents the stereo from draining the battery. A constant power source provides continuous power to the stereo, enabling it to retain station presets and the time.

Instructions

Constant Power

1

Open the hood. Disconnect the black negative wire connected to the battery, using a small crescent wrench.

2

Slide the factory radio from the dash of the Jetta, exposing the wires. This procedure will vary by model year. Consult the owners manual for specific directions.

3

Connect a power wire with in-line fuse to the positive terminal on the Jettas battery, using a small crescent wrench. The in-line fuse should be as close to the battery as possible.

4

Route the power wire from the battery through an existing hole in the rear wall of the engine compartment that separates the engine from the seating area. You may need to drill a hole to do this.

5

Route the power wire through the Jettas dashboard to the rear of the radio and trim the excess length with wire cutters.

6

Locate the yellow constant-power wire coming from the back of the factory stereo.

7

Remove the plastic wire coating from the ends of both the yellow wire from the radio and the power wire with in-line fuse. Connect them by twisting the bare wire ends together and wrapping with electrical tape.

Switched power

8

Locate the red switched-power wire coming from the back of the factory stereo.

9

Remove the plastic wire coating from the ends of the switched power wire and a 5-foot section of stereo wire. Twist the bare ends of both wires together and wrap in electrical tape.

10

Route the stereo wire through the Jettas dashboard to the fuse box.

11

Remove the radio fuse from the fuse box by erring to the diagram in the owners manual.

12

Remove the plastic coating from the end of the stereo wire that is closest to the fuse box and attach the bare wire to a fuse tap.

13

Reinsert the radio fuse and the fuse tap together in the fuse box.

14

Reinstall the radio and connect the negative battery cable. Close the hood.