Technical Bulletin
Model(s)

Year

Eng. Code

Trans. Code

VIN Range From

VIN Range To

Beetle
Convertible

2013-2016

All

All

AT_DM800001

AT_GM818889

Condition
61 16 01 June 29, 2016 2044681
Wear/Chafe Marks on Convertible Top Material
Customer may complain of wear marks on either side of the convertible top (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Example of wear mark in top material

Technical Background
Improper distance between the fold of the top frame and the fold of the top material allows the top material to rub
against itself causing wear over time.

Production Solution
Optimized process for checking the storage of the convertible top fabric when the top is open.

Page 1 of 6
© 2016 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Service
Procedure:
Replace convertible top cover
 Replace the convertible top cover according to the repair manual. See Repair Manual Group 61 “Convertible
Top Cover, Removing and Installing” in ELSA.

Check/adjust convertible top frame
After replacing of the convertible top cover:
 Check the distance between the fold of the linkage and the fold of the convertible top cover on the left and
right side when the convertible top cover is stored (Figures 2, 3 and 4).

Figure 2: Overview of convertible top cover when stored.

Page 2 of 6
© 2016 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin

Figure 3: Area of concern (both left and right sides)
 The distance of the folds between linkage and convertible top cover in the area of the stitched seam must be
at least 3 mm (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Ensure a 3 mm gap exists between the folds of the convertible top cover when stored (both sides).
Tip:
There is an adjustment screw in each of the main bearings to change the distance between the folds if the gap is
too small (Figure 4).
 Adjust the top to have the proper gap between the folds of the convertible top cloth by turning the adjustment
screws in the main bearings. One turn on the main mounting screw (Figure 5) equals a distance change
between the fabric folds of approximately 6 mm.

Page 3 of 6
© 2016 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin

Figure 5: Main mounting screw (left and right)

Page 4 of 6
© 2016 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Warranty
To determine if this procedure is covered under Warranty, always refer to the Warranty Policies and
Procedures Manual 1)
Model(s)

Year(s)

Eng. Code(s)

Trans. Code(s)

VIN Range From

VIN Range To

Beetle
Convertible

2013-2016

All

All

AT_DM800001

AT_GM818889

SAGA Coding
Claim Type:

Use applicable Claim Type 1)

Service Number:

6128

Damage
Code
0018

Parts Manufacturer

HST

Damage Location
(Depends on Service No.)

--

Use applicable when
indicated in Elsa (L/R)

Beetle Convertible

Labor Operation 3) : Convertible Top Assembly
Remove and Reinstall

61011900 = 330 TU

Labor Operation 3) : Convertible Top Cloth Remove
and Reinstall

61281950 = 320 TU

Labor Operation 3) : Check Convertible Roof

61010199 = 10 TU

Labor Operation 3) :

61011599 = 10 TU

3ME 2)

If necessary
 Adjust Convertible Roof (left and right side)
Causal Part: Use Labor Operation

61011599
Diagnostic Time 4)

GFF Time expenditure

01500000 = 00 TU max.

Road Test

01210002 = 00 TU
01210004 = 00 TU

NO
NO

Page 5 of 6
© 2016 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Bulletin
Technical Diagnosis

01320000 = 00 TU max.

NO

Claim Comment: Input “As per Technical Bulletin 2044681” in comment section of Warranty Claim.
1)

Vehicle may be outside any Warranty in which case this Technical Bulletin is informational only

2)

Code per warranty vendor code policy.

3)

Labor Time Units (TUs) are subject to change with ELSA updates.

4)

Documentation required per Warranty Policies and Procedures Manual.

Required Parts and Tools
Part No:

Part Description

Quantity

5C3 871 036 B*

Convertible Top Cover*

1*

*Use VIN search to determine correct color code when ordering.
For Special Tools see Repair Manual.

Additional Information
All part and service references provided in this Technical Bulletin are subject to change and/or removal.
Always check with your Parts Dept. and Repair Manuals for the latest information.

Document Control Revision Table
Instance Number

Published Date

Version Number

Reason For Update

2044681/1

June 29, 2016

V611601

Original Publication.

Page 6 of 6
© 2016 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.