Safety first and foremost
This principle is self-evident, but it should be emphatically emphasized nonetheless: safety has the highest priority when doing DIY. Only get down to such repairs, which you are able to cope with. Don't underestimate the works, with which you have not had much or nothing to do with. A poorly performed repair can be fatal on the road, not only for you, but also for others.
Burning when replacing the fuel filter – why not play Russian roulette right away? Remember: during all repair and maintenance works there is no question of smoking cigarettes.
For drilling, grinding and cutting always wear protective glasses. Glasses are also indicated for work under the car with the power supply system or when cleaning the chassis. For welding work, special glasses are used.
Earmuffs.In such earmuffs you look like Mickey Mouse, but you will protect your ears from the noise of a working engine or during bodywork.
Work gloves will protect your hands against injuries and dirt, but can be dangerous when working with a drill. When the drill handle screws in the glove, then you may seriously injure your hand.
Be careful when working in a poorly ventilated duct. Fuel vapors and exhaust gases can accumulate there. A running engine can cause serious poisoning.
A special protective mask should be worn for painting works. It is also necessary to carefully ventilate the room.
Work on the ignition system requires special care. With the engine running, the system voltage reaches up to 30 000 V. Before checking the system, turn off the engine or carry out the checks, so as not to touch the installation.
Replace the blown fuses with new ones of the same type and maximum amperage (A). It is unacceptable to fix them with a wire or a paper clip. This can damage the device protected by the fuse, or even a car fire.
For safety reasons, you cannot repair the following parts by yourself: front seats, seatbelts, steering wheel and dashboard!
These elements are part of the SRS (keeping travelers in the place during an accident). There are side airbags in the front seats. There are pretensioners in the seat belt winding mechanism. The steering wheel and dashboard on the passenger side house the front airbags. Rough handling can lead to serious accidents. Therefore, it is best to abandon all work with these components!
Such maintenance and repair work may only be performed by an authorized VW workshop. They have special devices for reading fault codes in these mechanisms and trained personnel, which allows you to quickly locate the source of the fault. Mechanics repairing SRS systems are specially trained and registered with the appropriate authorities, as these mechanisms contain explosives and are subject to separate regulations. Therefore, once again a great request: "Hands off" from these components.
