How to Change an Oil Pan Skid Plate in a VW Jetta

Change the skid plate under your VW Jetta.

After an accident many components of your car will twist or bend, such as the engine skid plate. The skid plate under the oil pan on the bottom of your Volkswagen Jetta engine may also begin to rust out from all the weathering and road salts. When this happens, you will need to replace the skid plate with a new one to ensure no potholes, debris or other object on the road will damage any key components -- especially the oil pan under the vehicle's engine.

Things You'll Need

• Wrench set
• Skid plate

Instructions

1. Park your VW Jetta on a level location, such as your driveway.

2. Shut off the vehicle.

3. Lay on your back in front of the vehicle and slide under the engine with the wrench set.

4. Locate the large square-shaped aluminum skid plate bolted under the engine of the VW Jetta. The skid plate is bolted into the car frame at each corner by eight to 10 bolts, depending on the year of the car.

5. Fit the proper sized wrench on the bolts and unscrew the counter-clockwise, usually a 6-mm wrench.

6. Remove all of the bolts and slowly drag the skid plate out from under the car.

7. Slide the new skid plate under the front of the car.

8. Slide under the engine again and tighten all the bolts through the skid plate to secure it in place.

References

• Home: VW Jetta Manual
• Car Quebec: Volkswagen Jetta