VW’s Parts numbering system.

A quick guide to deciphering VW’s parts numbering system.

Ever wonder how when you give a part number to the parts guy where you buy your spares that he manages to know roughly what it is? Yes, some parts guys have been doing this for years and they do actually remember part numbers no matter how long they are, or some can quickly deciper the sting of numbers and letters quickly in their head, here’s how.

Below is a diagram of a breakdown of a part number and what the groups of letters and numbers denote.

image

You will notice that when you see the numbers printed on parts, listed in VW’s parts programme “ETKA” or found on websites that they are usually displayed in groups of 3 characters. Theres a good reason for this, not only does it make it easier to read but the batches are related.

The first batch of characters give you the vehicle the part is fitted to, they are abbreviated versions of the VW models codes. When the part is a component of an engine or a gearbox then this batch gives you the engine or gearbox type.

The second batch give you the area on the vehicle the component is fitted, the first character of the second batch is the “Main Group” such as engine, suspension, body etc then the 2nd and 3rd characters are the sub group.

The third batch is then the sequential number, these numbers cannot be deciphered nor do they mean anything.

So, as vehicle productions takes place then issues with parts start to happen and the part will get modified or replaced, these changes are noted with a letter after the 9 characters of the part number for example..

025 121 321 [025 is a water boxer engine component, 1 is the engine main group and 21 is the cooling sub croup] is a header tank cap, over the years this product has changed as technology has moved on and the original part has been superceeded and modified first to 025 121 321 A, this part was made obsolete and superceeded with 025 121 321 B.

There is another batch of numbers not listed above and it’s another batch of 3 again and this is a colour code for items such as trim where physically the shape is the same but there is a choice of colour you would see “01C” for black items, “90V” for saddle brown items. All this information is stored within VW’s parts programme “ETKA”

Here follows some codes that are relevent to T3 models.

Model codes.
245 LHD single cab
246 RHD single cab
247 LHD double cab
248 RHD double cab
251 LHD panel van
252 RHD panel van
253 LHD Kombi
254 RHD Kombi
255 LHD Caravelle
256 RHD Caravelle
Engine codes
025 1.9l, 2.1l WBX
028 1.9D, 1.9TD, 1.9TDI
033 1.7D “KY”
068 1.6D “CS”, 1.6TD “JX”

yes, we know t3’s werent fitted with 028 series engines from the factory but we just thought it prudent to add it in as it is such a popular series of engines that are installed in t3’s

Now for the Main Group and Sub Groups.
Engine
Main group Sub group  
1 00 Base engines
1 01 Crankcase, Cylinder head
1 03 Cylinder block with pistons, oil sump, Ventilation for cylinder head cover
1 05 Crankshaft, flywheel, con-rod
1 07 Piston, piston rings
1 09 Camshaft, valves, timing belt
1 15 Oil pump, oil filter support, dipstick, oil cooler
1 17 Oil cooler [air cooled]
1 19 Air cooling, tinware
1 21 Cooling system
1 27 Fuel pump, fuel filter
1 29 Carburettor, air filter, intake system, vacuum system
1 30 Injection pump, injectors, pressure pipes
1 33 Intake system, vacuum system
1 41 Clutch
1 45 Vacuum pump, hydraulic pump, turbo charger
1 98 Repair kits
1 99 Engine carrier and mounts
     
Fuel tank, fuel lines, exhaust and heater
Main group Sub group  
2 01 Fuel tank, filler, expansion tanks, pump and filter
2 51 Exhaust system
2 55 Heater, heat exchanger
2 59 Fresh air and heater
2 60 Air conditioning
2 61 Auxiliary heater [petrol]
2 65 Rear heater
2 72 Auxiliary heater [diesel]
2 98 Repair kits
     
Transmission
Main group Sub group  
3 00 Gearbox – complete
3 01 Transmission case
3 11 Shafts and gears, shift rods, selector forks
3 21 Automatic planetary gear, turbine shaft
3 23 Forward and reverse gears and torque converter [automatic]
3 25 Valve body and strainer
3 99 Transmission securing parts
3 98 Repair kits
     
Front axle
Main group Sub group  
4 07 Front suspension, front hub
4 11 Springs, dampers and anti roll bar
4 19 Steering column, steering rack and pas hydraulics
4 22 Power steering
4 98 Repair kits
     
Rear axle
Main group Sub group  
5 01 Trailing arm
5 07 Final drive housing – auto
5 11 Springs, dampers and anti roll bar
5 17 Final drive and differential – manual
5 19 Final drive and differential – auto
5 98 Repair kits
     
Wheels and brakes
Main group Sub group  
6 01 Road wheels
6 09 Rear brake shoes, drums, cables and backplates
6 11 Brake hydraulics
6 12 Brake servo
6 15 Brake callipers
6 98 Repair kits
     
Hand and foot levers, safety covers
Main group Sub group  
7 11 Gear linkage
7 11 Handbrake
7 11 Cold start cable
7 13 Shift mechanism – auto
7 21 Accelerator pedal and cable , brake and clutch pedal cluster.
7 23 Accelerator cable – automatic.
     
Body
     
8 01 Pedal plate, floor plate, wheel housing, front boot floor plate, floor plate, seat box, side and cross members, spare wheel mounting.
8 03 Floor assembly
8 05 Front panel, rear panel, deformation element, dashboard.
8 07 Bumpers and spoilers.
8 09 A and b pillars, knee pieces. Outer and inner panels
8 13 Rear panel lower part, corner panel, splash plates and shields, inspection cover
8 17 Roof, roof air vents, sunroof
8 19 Heating and ventilation vents
8 21 Automatic step, mud flaps
8 27 Tailgate
8 29 Drop sides, enlarged wooden platform, locker lid, rear lid [pick up models]
8 31 Drivers and passenger doors.
8 37 Front door locks, opening ¼ light parts, window lifter [inc elec.], window seals
8 41 Crew cab door
8 43 Sliding door, sliding door parts, cover for sliding door hinge.
8 45 Glazing and seals.
8 47 Sliding windows in body, side door and partition.
8 53 Mouldings and trims, window guard rails, grills, badges and emblems.
8 57 Dashboard fittings, ashtray. Rear view mirrors, sun visors, grab handles, seatbelts,
8 59 Interior equipment for ambulance.
8 60 Black out covers, weapon holders, flag sockets, net partion lining
8 61 Table, folding table, front bench seat.
8 62 Curtains, mosquito net, central locking system.
8 63 Floor coverings and insulation, partitions., engine under tray [diesel]
8 67 Trim panels, door handles, folding cover for boot.
8 71 Frame with canopy [pick up]
8 77 Steel sliding roof and parts, glass sun roof.
8 81 Front seats.
8 83 Seats in passenger compartment [middle row]
8 85 Seats in passenger compartment [back row]
8 87 Folding seats.
8 98 Repair kits
     
Electrical systems
Main group Sub group  
9 03 Alternators, alternator parts, mountings and v-belts.
9 05 Ignition system.
9 06 Lambda probe.
9 07 Cruise control system
9 11 Starter motors, starter motor components.
9 15 Battery and battery mountings.
9 19 Instruments and associated switches and sensors, cigarette lighter.
9 27 ABS system.
9 37 Fuses and relays for air con.
9 41 Central electrics [fuse box] relays, lighting, light switches.
9 43 Number plate lamps.
9 45 Rear lights and associated switches.
9 47 Interior lights and switches
9 51 Horn
9 53 Column switches, wipers, dip/main switch, indicators. Front indicators.
9 55 Wash wipe system
9 57 Speedo, speedo cable, Tachograph
9 59 Heater fan switch, air con switches, electric fans
9 63 Heated seats
9 65 Auxiliary water pump
9 71 Wiring harnesses
9 98 Repair kits

And, finally..

Colour codes.
01C Black
01Z Dark Brown
041 Black
1AX Smoke Grey
1BG Graphite
1UH Beige Grey
1UT Siaga (beige)
2AW Beige Grey
3BX Light Grey
3HA Balearic Blue
3HH Light Blue
469 Anthracite
4PK Soul (black)
4RL Saddle Brown
581 Cloud White
5BL Black
6AW Light Grey
739 Chrome
7HT Mauritius
90T Cloud White
90V Saddle Brown
A09 Light Grey
GRU Primed

Vw Central electrics, or fuse box if you like.

Sometime in the early 80s VW started phasing out the old trusty “fuse box” and replaced it with what VW would now call the “Central Electrics”.
Not only did they do away with the old, unreliable ceramic fuses they also designed a standard item than could be used across the whole VW range and adapted to suit the model it was slotted into.

This part was fitted into a whole manner of VW’s Golf, Jetta, Caddy, Corrado, Passat as well as the T3.
As time goes on, technology changes and problems arise once parts have been fitted for a length of time, car manufacturers are constantly modifying and changing their inventory, you may find that the part numbers or control numbers have changed but any VW dealer or spares supplier will be able to advise you of any supercessions.
VW as well as identifying relays and control units by their part number they also used printed codes on the visible face of the relay or control unit, these are marked in the column “Control No”

image

Loc. Relay function Control No Part Number
1 Not used  –
2 Not used
3 Control unit for low coolant warning 43 191 919 376 A
4 Retardation relay (jx & ky)   251 919 082
5 Contact close relay for fan for vans with air con 53 321 919 505 A
5 Electric fan   141 951 253 B
6 Twin tone horn 53 141 951 253 B
7 Fog lamp 53 141 951 253 B
8 Relief relay x contact 100 191 937 503
9 Not used  –
10 Not used  –
11 Control unit for rear window wash wipe   191 955 529
12 Indicator/hazard light control unit   191 953 277 A
12 Indicator/hazard light control unit (with towbar)   431 953 231
12 Indicator/hazard light control unit (with roof turn signal)   211 953 231 K
13 Headlamp washer   701 955 200
14 Rotating emergency light   281 941 587
15 Fuse for instrument illumination    
16 Fuse for rear fog lamp    
17 Not used  –
18 Control unit for heated seat   443 919 533
18 Buzzer (ambulance)   3A0 951 307
19 Florescent tube   441 941 583 C
20 Aux. fuse location    
21      
22      
23 Aux. fuse location    
24 Electric windows   431 951 253 H
25 Indicators/emergency lights for headlights (ambulance)   111 953 227 D
25 Cruise control   321 963 141 A
26 Thermo cut out for electric windows   443 937 105

 

Fuse No. Component(s). Rating.
1 Radiator fan. 30 Amp
2 Brake lights. 10 Amp
3 Reading lamps,interior lamps, vanity mirror, clock, fag lighter, radio. 15 Amp
4 Hazard light system. 15 Amp
5 Spare. – – – – – – – –
6 Fog lamps. 15 Amp
7 LH side lights/ tail lights. 10 Amp
8 RH side lights/ tail lights. 10 Amp
9 RH headlamp main beam. 10 Amp
10 LH headlamp main beam. 10 Amp
11 Windscreen wipers and washers switch. 15 Amp
12 2nd heater, electric windows, cruise, electric mirror, A/C, rear wiper 20 Amp
13 Fresh air blower. 20 Amp
14 Heated rear window, heated mirrors, light switch light. 20 Amp
15 Reverse lights. 10 Amp
16 Horn(s) 15 Amp
17 Windscreen wiper motor. 10 Amp
18 Brake warning lamp, heated seats, cruise control, belt warning system. 10 Amp
19 Indicators. 10 Amp
20 Number plate lights, headlamp washers. 10 Amp
21 LH dipped beam. 10 Amp
22 RH dipped beam. 10 Amp

VW T3 M-plate decoder

Here’s a nifty little website and a great little gadget to unlock a lot of information about your van.

On every VW T3 that left the factory there 2 white paper stickers, one was fitted to the inside the first page of the service book and the second was placed in the cab. The position they were fitted in changed from van to van but on right hand drive vans they were usually fitted on the metal cross member above the pedals, the left hand drive vans had them in the footwell near the A pillar.

If you still have your sticker intact then enter the information into the following website and decipher what all those letters and numbers actually mean!

VW-MPlate.com