Beetle 6-speed...the Auto blues are over!

que4dog

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Location
Louisiana
TDI
2001 VW Beetle TDI
My 2001 VW Beetle TDI is now equipped with a 6-speed manual because the 01M auto gave me the blues but now that’s a thing of the past! I was able to complete this task with great success and everything works (back-up lights, cruise, safety switch etc.) like it should from the factory. I’m enjoying great gas mileage 46+ mpg 25/75 City/Highway combined and around 50mpg highway. It goes 80 mph at around 23rpm. I attached a few pics of the project for your review.























 

dweisel

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Location
Wheeling, West Virginia
TDI
dweisel isn't diesel anymore!
Looks like you did good. Where did you source your manual tranny and other parts? Roughly how much did the swap cost?

I'm trying to decide whether to trade off an 02 Beetle w/auto 118k miles tranny seems to slip when NOT under load or just do a swap when it gets to that point.

What did you use for a guide to get you through this project?

What did your donor manual trans come out of?
 
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que4dog

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Location
Louisiana
TDI
2001 VW Beetle TDI
[FONT=&quot]This is definitely a task that will require patience but it is worth it. There are tons of information but not much information specifically on the Beetle but most of the procedures are similar. I owe my thanks to those before me that tackled this task and provided pages of information specifically RyanP, Boertje, Alphaseinor and many others. I believe my total cost with fluids, parts, misc tools etc was under $3000. I ordered all my parts from RyanP which came up to just over $2600 with the exchange rate. Others have completed the task for cheaper by finding their own parts or with a 5-speed swap. Mine is a 6-speed and it makes a difference.

[/FONT] Ordered from RyanP



 
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boertje

Veteran Member
Joined
May 24, 2002
Location
Coeur d'Alene, ID
TDI
'01, '01, '03, ‘06 NB - TDIs all.
Que4dog, I like it! Looks like I'm going to have to "steal" some of your pics for the howto. Got anything else bug specific I can include? Especially on the shifter would be great. Also do you have anymore pics on ECU location?
I see the howto in pic one open to page 8 and 9. Wow, someone actually used it!
 
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que4dog

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Location
Louisiana
TDI
2001 VW Beetle TDI
Que4dog, I like it! Looks like I'm going to have to "steal" some of your pics for the howto. Got anything else bug specific I can include? Especially on the shifter would be great. Also do you have anymore pics on ECU location?
I see the howto in pic one open to page 8 and 9. Wow, someone actually used it!
Yes I could help out. Do you need steps to the ECU location or just a picture of the ECU? Any specific pictures of the shifter?
 

boertje

Veteran Member
Joined
May 24, 2002
Location
Coeur d'Alene, ID
TDI
'01, '01, '03, ‘06 NB - TDIs all.
I'll take whatever you can provide to clarify the process for the bug so yeah, whatever pics you have for ECU location and more on modifying the shifter would be great.
 

que4dog

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Location
Louisiana
TDI
2001 VW Beetle TDI
Que4dog,...
I see the howto in pic one open to page 8 and 9. Wow, someone actually used it!
LOL! I just noticed that. Yes, you were a great help and I studied your manual like I was in school.

I'm putting together information/pictures of the shifter and ECU (Beetle specific) for you. I'll post it this morning.
 

que4dog

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Location
Louisiana
TDI
2001 VW Beetle TDI
2001 Beetle Shifter and Center console removal

2001 Beetle Shifter and Center console removal

Push in on the side button of the shifter knob and pull up to remove it.


Pry the cap on the each side of the console with a flat head screwdriver and remove the Phillips screw under it. (repeat on right side also).


The top layer of the console is held on with clips, just pull up after first removing the arm rest if equipped. Also remove wiring for 12v plug.


Remove cover to front of console with 12v outlet.
Remove lower half of console (note:there are two star screws to the rear)


Remove the top cover from the shifter and disconnect electrical connectors



Remove shifter cable


Remove shifter (Two nuts on top Two on the bottom in rear of shifter under the car)



Shifter removed
 

boertje

Veteran Member
Joined
May 24, 2002
Location
Coeur d'Alene, ID
TDI
'01, '01, '03, ‘06 NB - TDIs all.
Now we're talking. I did pull the dash open to clean the crap out from around the ECU. Took a pic or 2 while I was at it.
 

que4dog

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Location
Louisiana
TDI
2001 VW Beetle TDI
To access the ECU and TCU in a Beetle TDI (2001)

To access the ECU and TCU in a Beetle TDI (2001)

Push center section of dash towards the windshield to remove.


Remove screws as shown to remove right upper panel.


Remove upper right panel


To access the TCU, remove screws to remove lower right panel


TCU is to the left and Cabin Air filter to the right (good time to change the cabin filter because it will be dirty).


Now, remove the upper left panel


To access the ECU, remove the lower left panel




Now you have access to the ECU (to the right on Pic)
 

kurtisk

Active member
Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Location
Tampa, Florida
TDI
2015 Passat SEL TDI, red on black, Stock; 2000 New Beetle TDI Auto swapped for 5spd, Cybergreen on Black, PSI Power Box; 2015 Golf Sportwagen SE TDI, red on tan; 2014 Beetle Convertible TDI Premium Edition, pearl white on black leather
2000 NBC ecu

I am doing the swap and unsure of the ecu wiring. It looks like from your pic that the 4th pin from the right on the last row of the ecu is the right one to hook the cruise to. Can you confirm?
 

boertje

Veteran Member
Joined
May 24, 2002
Location
Coeur d'Alene, ID
TDI
'01, '01, '03, ‘06 NB - TDIs all.
I am doing the swap and unsure of the ecu wiring. It looks like from your pic that the 4th pin from the right on the last row of the ecu is the right one to hook the cruise to. Can you confirm?
You might want to check with the howto in my sig for more detail on the pin out.
 

que4dog

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 20, 2012
Location
Louisiana
TDI
2001 VW Beetle TDI
I am doing the swap and unsure of the ecu wiring. It looks like from your pic that the 4th pin from the right on the last row of the ecu is the right one to hook the cruise to. Can you confirm?
That wire is ECU #66 coming from the clutch pedal switch. The other wire from the clutch pedal switch is pin#5 from socket 175. So in summary, I got a whole new wire and connected it to the second wire on the clutch pedal switch and ran it all the way to pin #66 on the ecu (bypassed the other steps). Connected the new to the empty pin in #66. Feel free to ask any additional questions. Also Boertje manual is a valuable source.
 
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