Volkswagen New Beetle. Manual - part 523

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Remove screw -12-.  

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Take off trim -11-.  

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Unclip left cover cap - 3 - and right cover cap - 6 -.  

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Unclip wiring under seat.  

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Disconnect connections -1- for seat backrest heater, if part of original equipment. 

Fig. 8: Disconnecting Connections For Seat Backrest Heater And Airbag 
Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. 

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Pry out retaining clip -2- and take out guide -3- for airbag wiring.  

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Remove bolt -4- on both sides of seat and take backrest off. See Fig. 8 .  

Installing 

Install in reverse order of removal. 

HEAD RESTRAINT GUIDES, REMOVING AND INSTALLING 

Removing 

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Remove head restraint form backrest.  

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Press backrest padding below guide -2- downward and release the locking lug -1- with a screwdriver or 
drift. 

NOTE:

The bolts -4- must be secures with locking fluid D 000 600 A2 (torque setting 20 
N.m).

 

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 

1998-2004 ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT Seats - Frames - New Beetle

  

Fig. 9: Head Restraint Guides 
Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. 

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Pull head restraint guides -2- out.  

Installing 

Install in reverse order of removal. 

SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT, ASSEMBLY OVERVIEW 

1. Seat trim 

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Front right  

2. Bolt/screw  

3. Cover cap, right  

4. Seat  

5. Backrest  

6. Transfer rod 

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For backrest adjustment  

7. Adjustment knob 

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For lumbar support  

8. Cover cap, left  

9. Spacer ring  

10. Adjustment knob 

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For backrest  

11. Cover cap 

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Qty. 2  

NOTE:

The following list refers to items in Fig. 10 .

 

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 

1998-2004 ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT Seats - Frames - New Beetle

  

12. Bolt/screw 

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Qty. 2  

13. Adjustment lever 

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For seat height  

14. Seat trim 

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Front left  

15. Seat height adjustment element  

16. Spring 

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Qty. 2  

17. Bolt/screw  

Fig. 10: Identifying Seat Height Adjustment Assembly 
Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. 

SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT, REMOVING AND INSTALLING 

Removing 

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Remove seat. See FRONT SEATS, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .  

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Remove bolt - 2 - and unclip trim -1-.  

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Unclip cover caps -11- (Qty. 2) and remove bolts -12- (Qty. 2) and remove adjustment lever - 13-.  

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Remove bolt - 17 - and unclip trim -14-. 

NOTE:

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The removal and installation procedures may have to be modified slightly 
depending on equipment variants.  

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Raise seat to its highest position before removing seat, this action relieves 
as much tension as possible on the spring -16-.  

 

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 

1998-2004 ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT Seats - Frames - New Beetle

  

Fig. 11: Locating Seat Height Adjustment Mechanism 
Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. 

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Unhook spring -2- carefully. See Fig. 12 .  

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Remove bolts -arrows- and pull seat height adjustment element -1- out of seat frame. 

Fig. 12: Removing Seat Height Adjustment Element From Seat Frame 
Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. 

Installing 

Install in reverse order of removal. 

FIRE EXTINGUISHER BRACKET (FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE), ASSEMBLY OVERVIEW 

NOTE:

The torque setting for the bolts -arrow- is 10 N.m.

NOTE:

The following list refers to items in Fig. 13 .

 

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 

1998-2004 ACCESSORIES & EQUIPMENT Seats - Frames - New Beetle