17mm Hex key/socket for gear box drain/fill plug

3

3800rpmDiesel

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Apr 29, 2006
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Fall River, NS, Canada
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'03 Jetta Wgn 5spd w/ mods, '03 Wgn 5spd stock, '05 Passat Wgn - chainless.
I want to check/change my manual transmission fluid, and I'm having a hard time finding the 17mm hex key required. Ideally I could get one of these in a socket form - so I can put it on the end of my torque wrench or other rachet...

The one for sale on Roseland's site (http://www.metalnerd.com/images/products/cat05/mn2567.jpg) will not attach to a rachet. I went on worldimpex and tdiparts.com and could not seem to find what i'm looking for. Local stores here don't have a 17mm allen key - let alone one in a socket form to use with a rachet.

Does such a tool exist (where?) or do I have to settle for a 17mm allen key?

Thanks.
 
MOGolf

MOGolf

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B

bigfoot

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86 jetta 210.000 mi.like new. also 2005 passat tdi 41 mi gal
3800rpmdiesel-get a metric bolt plus [2] 17 mm nuts that fit the threads put bolt in vice screw on one nut then screw on the second one. tighten nuts together real tight put the 17 mm nut into the plug .put wrench on bolt end turn plug out also can put back in. works for me.
 
Y

ymz

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2003 Jetta TDI Wagon, 2003 Jetta TDI Wagon
Princess Auto doesn't have such an animal ????

You could always do as MOGolf suggests and stick the MetalNerd tool (from Roseland) into a socket and torque that...

I don't believe that the torque value on the transmission filler/drain plugs is that critical, btw...

Yuri.
 
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K

KAROL

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Odessa,TX
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2013 JSW TDI
paramedick said:
Snap-on sells a stubby little 17mm hex socket for a 3/8 ratchet. Pricey little devil, but it works flawlessly.
Click to expand...
I got mine at least 10 years ago,if you don't loose it
it will be the last one you buy,great tool.
 
Dimitri16V

Dimitri16V

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sears used to sell one . Harbor freight has a set of metric allen sockets including 17mm.
 
C

csstevej

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If you have one of your wheel lugnuts different (anti theft) the tool thats it comes with is a 17 mm flip it over and put the hex end in and use a 17 mm open end to wrench it,i just did mine ,if not harbor freight sells a set of metric allen sockets for around $20.00.:)
 
doc_m

doc_m

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yup princess auto has them in a set... also why not use your lug nut? was mentioned to me when i thought about checking it but have not yet.
 
3

3800rpmDiesel

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Fall River, NS, Canada
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'03 Jetta Wgn 5spd w/ mods, '03 Wgn 5spd stock, '05 Passat Wgn - chainless.
got the plugs out

... so i found a 17mm hex socket :D , checked the fluid level, and it was down at least an inch below the fill plug hole (front of car was up on stands). probably too low eh? i know that's its supposed to be level w/ fill plug when car is level, but I don't think it should be an inch down from that slight angle of the car being up on stands in the front..... sound right?

BTW, I'm glad i found one to fit my torque wrench, because I would've easily turned the plugs a lot more past the reccommended 18ft.lbs. I've got a history of over-tightening nuts/bolts - need something to keep me in check...:rolleyes:

probably head to the dealer tomorrow and pick up two 1L jugs of G52 gear oil and change it out. I want G52 right?

thanks in advace for the help boyz! Happy Drivin. :D
 
paramedick

paramedick

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3800rpmDiesel said:
checked the fluid level, and it was down at least an inch below the fill plug hole (front of car was up on stands). probably too low eh? i know that's its supposed to be level w/ fill plug when car is level, but I don't think it should be an inch down from that slight angle of the car being up on stands in the front..... sound right?
Click to expand...
Actually, it does sound like it's correct. Roll it off the ramps and see if any drains out.
 
dremd

dremd

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I have a bolt with a 17mm head (which I bent in a vise to check fluid in my air cooled transaxle) that originally held the starter-> Trans-> Engine of my 66 Vw Bus. I had to replace it with a longer one when I upgraded to a 12volt starter. Tickles me that VW still uses a 17mm allen for trans fluid 40 years later. Makes me want to buy a TDI even more now.
 
Dimitri16V

Dimitri16V

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3800rpmDiesel said:
... so i found a 17mm hex socket :D , checked the fluid level, and it was down at least an inch below the fill plug hole (front of car was up on stands). probably too low eh? i know that's its supposed to be level w/ fill plug when car is level, but I don't think it should be an inch down from that slight angle of the car being up on stands in the front..... sound right?

BTW, I'm glad i found one to fit my torque wrench, because I would've easily turned the plugs a lot more past the reccommended 18ft.lbs. I've got a history of over-tightening nuts/bolts - need something to keep me in check...:rolleyes:

probably head to the dealer tomorrow and pick up two 1L jugs of G52 gear oil and change it out. I want G52 right?

thanks in advace for the help boyz! Happy Drivin. :D
Click to expand...
Changed the gear oil on my PD last weekend. Only 1.5 lts came out and I had the front on ramps so the oil can pool around the drain plug and let it drain for 2 hrs. Oil came out clean, no shavings and pretty clear. Put 2 lts of Motul 300, didn't notice any difference in shifting, guess I'll to wait for winter .
 
F

Franko6

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Sw Missouri
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Jetta, 99, Silver`
I took a 17mm bolt and welded it onto a piece of 1/2" round bar stock and bent it over 90 degrees. You have to have a welder and a supply of metric nuts. That's never been a problem for me... 5 minutes... no travel time.. didn't have to buy a bunch of other tools in a kit I didn't need....
 
ctnatureboy

ctnatureboy

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3800rpmDiesel said:
i know that's its supposed to be level w/ fill plug when car is level, but I don't think it should be an inch down from that slight angle of the car being up on stands in the front..... sound right?
Click to expand...
Nope. There's a Technical Bulletin that updates the fill level/procedure. If you use the conventional fill-to-plug method there wont be enough fluid in the transmisison.

A copy of the bulletin can be found here: http://www.myturbodiesel.com/images/pdf/a5translevel.pdf
 
ctnatureboy

ctnatureboy

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This funnel has a piece of vinyl tubing fitted into the end of it and works great for filling the transmission via the reverse switch as per the bulletin.

 
X

Xuchen

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Baltimore, MD
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2003 Jetta GL 5pd
a lot of gear oil sells in quarts instead of liters. can I buy 2 quarts (about 1.9L) instead of straight 2L?
 
Y

ymz

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Xuchen said:
a lot of gear oil sells in quarts instead of liters. can I buy 2 quarts (about 1.9L) instead of straight 2L?
Click to expand...
General consensus is that your transmission will be happier with VW fluid in it... Is there a reason you're changing it now? The fluid normally lasts a very long time...
ctnatureboy said:
This funnel has a piece of vinyl tubing fitted into the end of it and works great for filling the transmission via the reverse switch
Click to expand...
..um.. if you fill it via the reverse switch, won't the fluid flow backwards?

Yuri
 
X

Xuchen

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X

Xuchen

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ymz said:
General consensus is that your transmission will be happier with VW fluid in it... Is there a reason you're changing it now? The fluid normally lasts a very long time...
Click to expand...
I feel the car is harder to shift now plus that it has almost 120k miles. People on the forum suggest changing it every 100k miles. Also there's a long discussion on which fluid to use, Red Line MTL (75w90) seems to be a good one.
 
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