The Jetta is a small sedan or station wagon made by Volkswagen, a German automaker. Jetta production began in late 1979 and continues as of 2010. All Jettas offer sporty handling and acceleration, and transverse-mounted engines driving the front wheels. The Jetta uses a traditional starter motor to crank the flywheel when the driver turns the key in the ignition; and starter motors are prone to failure after several years of regular use. The Jetta's electric starter motor can be removed for maintenance or replacement in about an hour.
Drive the car onto a set of car ramps. Chock the rear wheels. Open the hood. Remove the negative battery cable from the battery terminal by loosening the clamp nut with a 10mm wrench. Lift the cable straight up from the terminal and push it aside. Now remove the positive battery cable from the battery in the same fashion.
Remove the battery cover retention bolt (located in front of the battery) with a 10mm socket attached to a ratchet wrench. Set the bolt aside. Remove the battery cover by pressing in at the tab on the front of the cover and by pushing in on the two locking tabs on the sides of the cover. Lift the cover straight up and out of the engine bay and set it aside.
Remove the battery retention bracket by removing the bracket bolt with a 13mm socket and ratchet. Lift the battery straight up and remove it from the engine bay. Remove the 10mm bolts from the battery tray with a socket and ratchet. Tilt the front of the tray upward and pull it out of the engine bay.
Remove the two power steering support line bolts with a 13mm socket and ratchet. Set the bolts aside. Push the power steering line aside to gain access to the starter motor.
Remove the nut from the lower starter motor mounting stud with a 13mm socket and ratchet, working from the underside of the vehicle. Slide the power steering bracket off the starter mount bolt. Now loosen, but do not remove, the lower starter mounting nut with an 18mm socket and ratchet.
Remove the nut from the upper starter motor mounting stud with a 13mm socket and ratchet, working from the underside of the vehicle. Slide the wiring bracket off the stud and place it aside. Remove the wiring connector from the starter by pressing in on the tab and pulling it straight out of the starter. Pry the black cap from the positive wiring connection to the starter with a flat-blade screwdriver. Remove the nut that holds the wire with a 13mm socket and ratchet. Pull the wire from the terminal and push it aside. Remove the negative wire from the starter by squeezing the holding clip and pulling the wire from the starter.
Remove the upper and lower starter retention bolts with an 18mm socket and ratchet from under the vehicle. Lower the starter from the engine bay.
