1990 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER Owners Manual

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VEHICLE
OPERATION

WARNING continued
•
The permanently engaged allwheel-
drive
will
provide
good
performance on relatively wet or slippery
roads.
Be
sure
to use these features and advantages
wisely. Do not let the excellent traction
which your VW
SYNCRO
offers lead

you
to underestimate the difficulties
and risks involved in negotiating wet or
slippery
roads. Always drive defen­

sively
and adapt vehicle operation and
driving speed to road and
traffic
condi­

tions.
Driving Off-Road
WARNING
The Vanagon/Transporter
Syncro
is not an off-road or all
terrain
vehicle. Use of
this or any other vehicle under off-road
conditions
requires special skills and knowledge. The off-road operation of
this or any other
vehicle
can
lead
to per­
sonal
injury.

•
Driver and all
passengers
must
wear

safety belts at all times.

•
Keep your thumbs and fingers on
the outside of the steering wheel.
Potholes
or rocks can
jerk
the
wheel

from your grip; it really hurts if a spoke
catches
you on the way around.

Off-Road
Driving
Driving off-road places extra demands
on

your vehicle and on you, the driver.
If
under

exceptional
circumstances
you
judge
it

safe
and
appropriate
to
leave
the
paved highway,
first
make sure
that
your vehicle

is
in top
mechanical condition. Make cer­

tain
that
all
vehicle systems
are
function­ ing normally,
in
particular,
for
example,

that
the engine, especially the cooling
sys­

tem,
is
operating properly and
that
trans­
mission,
brakes and steering are function­ ing normally. Tires must have adequate

tread,
be
free
of
damage
and be
adequately inflated.

Before
driving over
difficult
terrain, such as

mud,
sand,
water, snow
or
steep
slopes,

we recommend engaging
the
differentia lock*
at low
speed.
Important
information
regarding
the
differential lock
is on
page

33/34.

Whenever
you
operate your
car you
should
be
well
and fit, but
your physical

and
mental condition
are
especially
im­

portant
when driving
off
the road.

As
a
general rule
you
should
go
only where others have gone before.

Always
obey applicable
Federal,
State
and
local regulations
and
above
all re­

spect
and protect the environment. Do
not

scar
the
land, avoid unnecessary wheel
spinning and other driving behavior which

will
create
ruts
and destroy vegetation.
Be

careful when parking and when standing

with
a hot
engine. The catalytic converter

with
which your vehicle
is
equipped devel­

ops
very high temperatures which can set
dry grass and brush
on
fire. Respect
the

wildlife, leave animals
to
themselves
and

do not destroy their areas
of
refuge. Above
all,
be
considerate and operate your vehi­

cle
sensibly and safely. Nature
is a
natural
resource
which belongs
to
all
of
us.
'where applicable


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Volkswagen
Professionals—

Trained
to
Know
Your
Car Volkswagen owners expect quality customer oriented service. Volkswagen dealers understand this.
They
provide factory trained and certified technicians,
state
of the art equipment and genuine Volkswagen
parts
for your car.
Competent know-how and commitment
to
you and your car,

that's
Volkswagen Service.


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ADVERTISEMENT
There are only Genuine VW Parts in
your new VW.
That's one reason why it runs like a new VW.
No one knows your new VW in quite the same way as the people
who built it. And when it comes to replacement parts, we build them to the same standards and specifications as the original equipment.
We've made sure that these genuine replacement parts are built
with the same enduring quality that you would look for in a new VW.
To be sure you're getting the best in genuine replacement parts
for your VW, ask your dealer about the Autobahn line of parts. It's
a convenient way of choosing from among the most popular main­
tenance and replacement parts with the kind of quality that you
want to put in your automobile.
Shown on the opposite page are just a few of the genuine re­
placement parts available at our parts department. We'll be glad to
help you select the right ones for your car.
And they are backed by our Limited Parts Warranty. Even after
your New Car Warranty has run out and you have a repair per­
formed,
our Limited Parts Warranty ensures that we will repair or replace every defective Genuine VW Part, used in the repair, for
6 months or 6,000 miles or 10,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.*
© 1989 Volkswagen of America, Inc. * See ouf parts department for


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ADVERTISEMENT

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a
sporty
flair, there are spoilers, wind-deflectors,

fog
lights and driving lights.
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listening pleasure: Electronic radio/cassette combinations with state-of-the-art features
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VEHICLE OPERATION

I'iving
off-road on Steep Inclines
I Sidehills
Before reviewing how to drive up steep
• s and along sidehills, make note of an -oortant point. If you don't make it to the

co.
or your vehicle is about to slide or roll
= :eways,
turn
off the engine, put it
into

I
'3t
gear, put on the parking brake and get

W
on the uphill side and walk down. An
:^nce
of prevention is
worth
a pound of i.re.
Steep
Inclines
When preparing to climb a steep incline,
first
find out whether you can make it. If
necessary,
walk the course. Be sure there

is
enough clearance on all sides of the ve­
hicle to avoid damage. If you have the
slightest doubt don't try it! It is always a
good idea to make a
trial
run to get the feel
of the surface and how much
effort
is
needed.
Go straight uphill. When the tires
begin to
spin,
apply a
little
extra gas and let
them dig in slightly. Step on the brakes
while you shift
into
reverse and drive straight back down. That's
right
- in re­

verse
gear, clutch out and driving.
Abso­
lutely not in neutral and
trying
to let your­
self down on the brakes. To avoid sideroll remember never
turn
your vehicle
side­

ways on a hill or steep incline.
On
your attempt, give yourself a running
start. Accelerate to the hill and then,
just

as
you approach the top,
ease
off the gas
to slow down.
When driving down, keep the vehicle heading straight downhill in low gear and
under control. If it begins to slide, don't lock up the brakes. You can't steer a
skid­

ding wheel. Touch the gas instead to
straighten your car out.


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VEHICLE OPERATION
Sidehills
Do
not
attempt
to go across the side of a
hill as this is extremely hazardous. If it is
absolutely necessary to drive on a hill
which is not very steep it should always be
done
with
extreme caution. Whenever
possible,
avoid doing it! And too, when
you're getting out of your vehicle on a
sidehill,
be sure to always exit on the uphill

side.
Surfaces
on sidehills are deceptive. What
may look like solid ground may actually
make your vehicle slide since most of the
weight is going to be on the downhill

wheels.
When your vehicle starts to slide, instantly
turn
downhill. Take care not to
lock the wheels which may cause the vehi­

cle
to slide out of control and cause per­
sonal
injury.
Sand
When driving on
sand,
be sure to stay on top of it. You can do this by driving
with
enough speed to maintain momentum.
When crossing short patches of
sand,
study the situation
first
and then proceed

with
cautious and steady speed and keep up the momentum. Avoid long stretches of
dry, loose
sand.
If it is absolutely neces­

sary
to drive on dry, loose
sand,
it may be
necessary
to partially deflate the tires to in­

crease
traction. To avoid getting stuck, maintain a steady but slow
speed.

WARNING

Tires
must
be
reinflated
when
back
on
hard
ground. Just a
short
distance
of

driving
on
hard
ground
or on
pavement

with
underinflated
tires
can cause sub­
stantial
damages
to
your
tires,
loss of

vehicle
control
and
personal
injury.


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iVater

•
Exercise
extreme caution when driving
T'ough water. Driving
into
unfamiliar
a:er
can be dangerous. Always check

~e
depth before attempting to make a

possing.

7,'ading depth - see page 149).
Vi nen it is necessary to drive through deep ater, shift
into
low gear and maintain a

ready
and slow
speed.
Engage differen-
:=] lock* (see page 33).

Be
very careful about stopping broadside
r a stream of running water as the tre-
-endous
force of the water against the
flat

; de of the vehicle could cause it be swept :ownstream
with
the current. With even only a few inches of water run­

ning,
do not stop if you are on an unpaved

surface.
Moving water may wash the
foot­
ing out from under your tires and make it

impossible
for you to get moving again.

When
reaching dry ground, your wet
brakes
may have very
little
braking power.
Help
dry your brakes out by riding your

brakes
for a short distance to avoid losing
control and personal
injury.


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