Removing and installing electric drive motor: VW Golf VI

🧭 Before you start

De-energise the high-voltage system, disconnect the 12V battery, remove the sound proofing and wheel housing liner, clamp and drain the coolant. Undo the drive shafts and pendulum support, set the charger aside and detach the high-voltage wiring, equipotential conductors and power electronics connections. Support the motor on the scissor platform, remove the mounting bolts and lower it out. On installation renew all loosened nuts and bolts, tighten to specification, seal with inspection lacquer and check the coolant pump clip arrow points upwards.

Fits: VW Golf VI (5K, 2008–2013)

• Opens: coolant
• Special tools named: VAS 5085, VAS 6410
• Renewed: all loosened nuts

Don't miss

• High-voltage de-energising and recommissioning must be done by a qualified technician.
• Clean the equipotential bonding contact surfaces until rust- and grease-free before refitting.
• Cut the screening stars so the high-voltage wires are not damaged.
• Renew every nut and bolt that was loosened.
• Arrow 3 on the coolant pump clip must point upwards.
• Mark tightened fasteners with inspection lacquer.

Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.

🔩 Torque settings

Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.

ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.

📋 Procedure

1. ⚠ High voltage in the electric vehicle's high-voltage systemDanger of electric shock!Work on the high-voltage system is also necessary for the following work sequence. Now de-energise the high-voltage system . — De-energise high-voltage system
2. Disconnect 12V battery.
3. Clamp off coolant hose at top of electric drive motor V141 using hose clamp, up to Ø 25 mm3094.
4. Remove sound proofing General body repairs, exterior50Noise insulation.
5. Remove front part of wheel housing liner General body repairs, exterior66Wheel housing liner.

6. Release and remove electric drive motor V141.
7. Unscrew air conditioner compressor and suspend using suitable piece of wire heating-ventilation-air conditioning system87.
8. Unscrew bolt (1) (8 Nm). Open hose bracket (3). Remove bracket (2). — 8 Nm (5.9 lb-ft)
9. Clamp off coolant hose at bottom of electric drive motor V141 using hose clamp, up to Ø 25 mm3094.
10. Drain coolant off by releasing clip (3) and disconnecting coolant pipe (2) at bottom from electric drive motor V141.
11. Unscrew drive shafts (50 Nm + 45°). — 50 Nm (37 lb-ft) + 45°
12. Unscrew hexagon nut (1) (40 Nm + 90°). Remove hexagon bolt (2). — 40 Nm (30 lb-ft) + 90°
13. Unscrew hexagon nut (3) (100 Nm + 90°). Remove pendulum support (4). — 100 Nm (74 lb-ft) + 90°
14. Release clip (1) and disconnect coolant pipe (2) at top from electric drive motor V141.
15. Unscrew bolt (B) (6 Nm). — 6 Nm (4.4 lb-ft)
16. Remove charger 3 for high-voltage batteryAX6 and lay to one side with coolant hoses connected.
17. Open high-voltage wire bracket (1) and detach high-voltage wires.
18. Unscrew bolt (3) (3 Nm), bolts (4), (5) (9 Nm), (6) and (7) (20 Nm) and remove bracket. — 3 Nm (2.2 lb-ft)
19. Unscrew nut (arrow) (23 Nm). Remove equipotential bonding conductors (1) and (2) from stud. — 23 Nm (17 lb-ft)
20. Disconnect high-voltage wire (arrow) from connection and distribution box 1SX1(1).
21. Loosen bolts (arrows) and open connection and distribution box 1SX1.
22. Undo screws (arrows). [Note: The wiring harness (1) and the gearbox temperature sensor are not installed in all vehicles.]
23. Disconnect connector (arrow). Expose wiring harness (1) and route to gearbox.
24. Open high-voltage wire bracket (1). Unscrew bolts (arrows) and remove bracket (2).
25. Release fuses (arrows) and detach selector lever cable.
26. Unscrew bolts (2) and (4) and remove retaining strap (1). Leave coolant pump (3) hanging with connected lines. Ensure correct position when installing.
27. Unscrew nuts (arrows) (5 Nm) and remove cover (1) from power and control electronics for electric driveJX1. — 5 Nm (3.7 lb-ft)
28. Unscrew nuts (arrows) (15 Nm). Unscrew screw connections (1) (18 Nm) and remove high-voltage wires together with star for screening from power and control electronics for electric driveJX1. — 15 Nm (11 lb-ft)
29. Cut 3 screening stars (arrows) in order to avoid damaging high-voltage wires.
30. Unscrew bolts (arrows) (15 Nm) and remove connections. — 15 Nm (11 lb-ft)
31. Unscrew bolts (arrows) (6 Nm) and remove insulating plate. — 6 Nm (4.4 lb-ft)
32. Loosen bolt (1) (60 Nm + 90°). — 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) + 90°
33. Loosen bolt (1) (60 Nm + 90°). — 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) + 90°
34. Position bracket for electric drive motor V141 on scissor-type assembly platformVAS 6131 A. Secure bracket under electric drive motor V141.
35. Unscrew bolts from engine and gearbox mounting using stepladder VAS 5085.
36. Slowly lower scissor-type assembly platformVAS 6131 A together with electric drive motor V141 and ensure free movement. [Note: The contact surfaces of the equipotential bonding conductor must be checked prior to installation.The contact surfaces must be clean, rust- and grease-free.Otherwise, repair the contact surfaces using the contact surface cleaning setVAS 6410Electrical system; General information97Contact surface cleaning set VAS 6410.]
37. Note installation position of coolant pump.
38. Arrow (3) on clip (1) must point upwards.
39. Tighten all threaded connections to specified torques and seal with inspection lacquer.
40. Renew all loosened nuts and bolts.

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