Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual: Engine cooling

Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual / Guide for using trailers / Technical prerequisites / Engine cooling

Since higher demands are placed on the engine cooling system when a trailer is being towed, the cooling system is uprated in conjunction with factory fitted towing attachments if this is a technical necessity. This is carried out, for example, by installing a more powerful or second radiator fan and/or larger radiator. Vehicles with air conditioning and those prepared for topical climates with air conditioning already have an uprated engine cooling system. On the Passat, a more powerful radiator fan (PR no. 0Y2) can also be factory installed as a single fan. This makes it easier to retrofit a trailer towing system.

The cooling system should also be uprated if a towing attachment is retrofitted and provision for this has not been made in the factory. If this is not done, overheating of the cooling system cannot be ruled out if the engine is placed under high load (gradients, high ambient temperatures, heavy trailer). During conversion, the parts listed in ETKA (electronic parts catalogue) must be used for engine cooling in combination with trailer towing. In addition, the work instructions from the relevant workshop manuals must be followed.

It is only possible to choose not to uprate the cooling system if assurance can be given that the engine will only be placed under medium load, e.g.

stay well below the gross combination weight

high ambient temperatures are unlikely

the vehicle is not driven up long, steep gradients

no very long journeys are undertaken

In any case, the coolant temperature gauge must be observed carefully. If the needle of the display moves too far into the hot zone, the speed of the vehicle should be reduced immediately. In an emergency, it may even be necessary to stop and allow the engine to cool down. In this instance, the engine should be allowed to idle for about 2 minutes to avoid any build up of heat.

Note

On vehicles with air conditioning, cooling of the engine can be assisted by switching off the air conditioning system. In this way, there will be an improvement in pulling away and overtaking.

If an except is made in uprating the cooling system (i.e. uprating has been dispensed with), the new owner must be informed of this fact when the vehicle is sold.

Exterior mirrors

If the traffic behind the trailer cannot be seen with the exterior mirrors fitted as standard, additional mirrors are necessary. Both exterior mirrors must be fitted in this instance to extension brackets that can be folded in and the mirrors must be adjusted so that the view to the rear is assured at all times.

Trailer detector control unit -J345-

General description: The trailer detector control unit -J345- detects a power consumption of at least 5 W → Remark when “towi ...

Uprated shock absorbers and coil springs

Diving or dipping of the rear end between pulling vehicle and trailer can be avoided with the use of uprated shock absorbers and coil springs on the rear axle. These ...

Other materials:

Assembly overview - condenser
Condenser, receiver Note The illustration shows the Modine condenser. 1 - Condenser Different versions. Refer to → Electronic Parts Catalogue. Removing and installing → Cha ...

Removing and installing thermostat for small cooling circuit
Removing – Remove coolant pump → Chapter. – Remove bolts in the sequence -F … A-. – Detach coolant pump from ...

Checking maximum wheel lock
The maximum wheel lock is determined with the aid of the wheel alignment computer. – When the values for the maximum wheel lock lie outside the tolerances, then check following: Are steering or suspen ...