Product Description This new service manual is the only source of comprehensive and up to date maintenance and repair information for all models of the Volkswagen GTI, Golf and Jetta models from 1985 through 1992. Volkswagen has sold more than 860,000 of these popular cars since 1985. Here is a sample of some of the information you will find:
-Fundamental automotive concepts, including explanations of basic
troubleshooting, safe and effective workshop practices, and tools.
-Complete tune-up specifications, plus troubleshooting and repair of the
electronic ignition system and knock sensors.
-Troubleshooting and repair of CIS, CIS-E, Digifant I and Digifant II fuel
injection systems and the CIS-E Motronic engine management system.
-Emission control tests, repairs and adjustments, including testing and
replacing the oxygen sensor, and resetting the OXS warning light.
-Automatic and manual transmission maintenance, troubleshooting,
adjustment and repair, and manual transmission rebuilding.
-Anti-lock braking system (ABS) troubleshooting and repair.
-Body adjustments and repairs, including sunroof.
-Complete electrical system troubleshooting and repair, including
Fairly completeNovember 19, 2008 I bought this book to help me replace the heater core in a 1991 Jetta my son bought cheap from a mechanic, because the mechanic didn't want to go through the hassle of replacing the core (officially a 7.3-hour job; more for me), which involved removing the steering wheel, dashboard, gauges, heater vents, controls, etc. I had read on VW sites that this was the best after-market book out there, so I spent the extra money. It is more complete and has better diagrams than most of the Chilton or Haynes manuals I have owned, but I don't own either of those for this model, so I can't make a direct comparison. It is much thicker, and quite a bit more expensive. I figured it was worth it since replacing the heater core myself saved me at least $450 in labor costs.
I got through the job in a weekend without too many wrong turns. One problem with the manual on this job is that it is not very specific about how to detach the heater box from the fresh air blower, and the diagram in the book is from a different model. To be fair, the book can't have a specific diagram for each and every model it covers, as it covers eight years and four different engine configurations. (There are two metal clips attaching the heater box to the blower housing, if you're doing this job.)
The numbering of procedures in the book is a little confusing at first, but I caught on. Also, the wiring diagrams are broken down into different systems on different models for different years, so sometimes it takes a bit to find what you are looking for, especially if you are looking for a particular color-coded pair of wires that you forgot to label when you detached them. (Don't ask how I know this.) The organization of these diagrams would be great if you were looking for a specific fault in a specific system, I would imagine.
Overall, it's a good book and seems fairly complete. I'm looking forward to doing some other little repairs on the car, such as replacing the cylinder head gasket (valve cover gasket) and other things that come up on a 124,000-mile car. If you are planning to do repairs and maintenance yourself, I would say this is a good investment. If you are doing a simple job or want to leave the complicated jobs for a mechanic, you might get by on a cheaper book.
Excellent but incompleteSeptember 21, 2007 I bought this book because I found the Mk3 Vw Golf version invaluable. I can say that any American buying this manual will find that it is by far, more useful that say the Haynes version, or chat room searches, as far as level of detail goes. It fails me only a couple of details. First. I am in Europe and the manual does not appear to cover or at least reference (at least I cant find it) my PB engine code, therefore making it necessary for me to interpret some explanations and try to compare them to my car. Secondly it let me down on the model version differences, for example I have a 92 run out 8valve model with 16valve Gti spec, but I still don't know if my bee-sting aerial is powered or not. Also I find no reference as to how the child locks work. Trivial points I know but I think worth mentioning as the book is slightly on the expensive side. The Bentley Mk3 golf manual is perfect, since, the main engine described (The ABA) was developed specifically for the American market, so the manual travels very well. Otherwise you will not find a finer reference book. On hind sight due to the complex Vw range I shouldn't expect Bentley to cover as you Americans say "all the bases". 8/10 -1 for price -1 for European discrepancies.
a good bookJuly 7, 2007 This book was written for the shop mechanic who works for the car dealer and who can't afford to go wrong because the work they do is insured-- This book is much better than the cheaper varietys sold at auto parts stores. Highly recomended.
Best manual out thereJuly 5, 2007 I also have the Chilton's manual for the mk2's and the Bentley is far superior. Highly recommend it for your own work. Put in a new flywheel and clutch, water pump and motor mounts in a 16v. Great manual.
Good shop manualJanuary 6, 2007 Good shop manual. Not as good as the factory Honda manuals, but Bentley does a good job. I have found that if you can find multiple manuals, they typically give you better overall vehicle coverage. In this case, I don't think VW wrote a manual so this is what's available.
