1990 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER Syncro

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-
VEHICLE
OPERATION

Driving on dry roads

Attention

"his
is an
all-wheel drive multipurpose
rassenger
vehicle which
will
handle
and

maneuver
differently
from
an ordinary
pas­

senger
car in driving conditions which may

occur
on
streets
and
highways
and off-

'oad.
As
with
other vehicles
of
this type,
if

you make sharp turns
or
abrupt maneu­

vers,
the
vehicle
may
roll over
or
may
go
kit
of
control and
crash.
You should read
:he driving guidelines
and
instructions
in

the Owner's
Manual.
The
driver
and all
oassengers
should wear safety belts
at all

times.

Do
not
engage
the
differential lock on nor­
mal
dry
roads
as it
will
not
provide any ad­
vantage. Under these circumstances,
an
engaged differential lock
will
impair the ve-
nicle's
maneuverability and
will
cause
ex­

cessive
tire
wear.
Driving on wet, slippery roads

Due
to the
all-wheel drive,
the
engine
power
is
transmitted evenly
to a
moder­
ately slippery road surface.
On
wet surface

As
with
any
other vehicle, excessive driv­ ing speed on very wet roads can cause hy­
droplaning
and
loss
of
vehicle control.
Therefore, slow down.
The
differential lock* must
not be
engaged.

Important
instructions
on
the
differential

locks
are to be found on page
33/34.

On
slippery surfaces

On
slippery surfaces the rear axle differen­

tial
lock may only be engaged when
start­
ing
from
a
standstill
or at
very low
speeds.

When
the
road surface has improved
the
lock should
be
disengaged again. On
snow covered surfaces

On
a
snow covered road, maintain traction by making gradual changes
in
speed
or
di­
rection. Avoid sudden maneuvers. Be alert
to problems other drivers around you may be having which could create
a
hazardous
situation
for
you.
In heavy snow, maintaining reasonable
momentum
is
important
for
safe vehicle
operation. Try
to
keep moving
by
using
the
L-gear and
a
steady accelerator pedal
at

low
speed.

WARNING
•
Always
maintain
a safe driving

speed,
especially
when
road and

weather
conditions are poor.

•
Excessive
driving speed on very wet
roads can cause hydroplaning and

loss
of vehicle control.

•
Always avoid forceful and
abrupt

braking action.
You
could block all four
wheels simultaneously and lose
con­

trol
of the vehicle.

•
The braking capability of your Vana-
gon/Transporter Syncro is
greatly
de­
pendent on the
traction
of your tires.

'where applicable 79


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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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VEHICLE OPERATION
After driving over
difficult
terrain,
espe­
cially through water or mud, the following
is
important:
• Disengage the differential lock*.
• After long drives through deep mud, the
brakes must be checked and cleaned if
they are
dirty.
This will prevent damage to
the brakes and premature wear.
• After driving through deep water, take
out oil dipstick and check to see whether
there are drops of water on the dipstick or if the oil level has risen. In
that
case,
the oil
must be changed immediately.
• If during an off-road drive the vehicle

has
become stuck (dug its way
into
the
ground) or the underside was stuck by
rocks
or similar, check undercarriage,
brake lines and oil pan for damage. • The engine compartment and vehicle
underbody must be cleaned if they are
very
dirty
so
that
the function of all mova­ ble and electrical/electronic parts is main­
tained.
•
Clean
heavy soil from wheels and tires,

check
tires for damage or foreign objects in treads.
•
Clean
turn
signals, lights and license
plate.
• Dry brake system by driving a short dis­
tance
with
brake pedal slightly depressed.

This
will help regaining normal braking ac­
tion
and help prevent the possibility of the
vehicle pulling to one side while braking.
Performance
testing

If the
Vanagon/Transporter
Syncro re­

quires
testing
on a
dynamometer
(en­

gine
output
analysis and
brake
test)
the

transaxle
drive
shaft
must
be discon­ nected.
The
differential
lock
must
not be en­ gaged.
84 "where applicable


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VEHICLE CARE
=UELTANK
|he fuel filler neck is located above the -gnt
front
wheel. Syncro model: above the
-;nt rear wheel.
mm key A (see page 7) is used for the lock-
acle
tank cap. The syncro model has a separate key for the lockable tank cap.
capacity of the tank is 16.0 gal/60

:ers
(Reserve is 2.5 gal/10 liters of
total

rapacity).
5/ncro model: 18.5 gal/70 liters (Reserve

2
5 gal/10 liters of
total
capacity). Trouble-free refueling depends on the cor­
rect use of the filler nozzle.

Always
insert the nozzle fully
into
the fuel filler neck, to completely open the spring-loaded flap located
just
below the filler
neck opening. Make sure the filler nozzle

is
not tilted.

Do
not
fill
the fuel tank too quickly, other­
wise the fuel may foam up and cause the
nozzle
to switch off too
soon.

As
soon as the nozzle switches off auto­ matically for the
first
time, the tank is full.
Do
not try to add more fuel, because the

expansion
space in the fuel tank will be
filled - the fuel can then overflow when it
becomes
warm.
WARNING

Never
carry
additional
fuel
containers

in
your
vehicle.
Such
containers,
full
or

empty,
may
leak,
cause an explosion,
or
result
in
fire
in case of a collision.

85


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[
VEHICLE
CARE

LUBRICANTS I
Climate Tropical
40'
30-
20- 10-
0-

10'

20

30'
Single grade oil
Multi grade oil
Gasoline Engines
|B25-565/21

Engine
Your engine was factory filled with an all- season high quality engine oil. If you need
to add oil between oil changes use any high quality petroleum or synthetic based
oil with correct specifications.
The following term must appear on the oil container singly or in combination with
other designations: "API Service SF or
SG".

Engine oils are graded according to their
viscosity. The proper grade to be used in your engine depends on existing climatic
or seasonal conditions. Refer to the temperature chart when
selecting engine oil. As temperature ranges of the different oil grades overlap,
brief variations in outside temperatures
are no cause for alarm. It is also permissi­ ble to mix oil of different viscosities if you
find it necessary to add oil.
When using SAE 10 W or SAE 5 W-20 or SAE 5 W-30 engine oil, avoid high speed
long distance driving if outside tempera­
ture rises above the indicated limits.
Engine Oil Identification Symbol
Select an oil for your vehicle which
con­

forms to the standards of the American Pe­
troleum Institute (API). A symbol has been added to the top of some oil containers to help in selecting the correct oil.
-l -l
/ / SAE '. j -2
t—i iow-3o jji -3

1B25-
532
98 (1) The top portion indicates the oil quality
by API designations.
(2) The center portion shows the SAE oil
viscosity grade.
(3) The lower portion indicates that the oil
has fuel saving capabilities. Transmission
Manual transmission: Hypoid oil SAE 80 (Mil-L-2105 or

API/GL4).

Automatic transmission:
ATF Dexron® or Dexron II® for torque cor
verter and hypoid oil SAE 90 (Mil-L-2105
E

orAPI/GL5) for final drive.
Front axle differential (Syncro only)
Hypoid oil SAE 80 (Mil-L 2105 B M
API/GL 4) or synthetic transmission oi
G50,
SAE75W-90.
The lubricant used does not have to be
changed.

Should the need arise to add oil, it shoulc
only be done with the necessary workshop equipment.
Power steering
ATF Dexron®
Lubricant additives
Volkswagen does not recommend the use of oil additives. It may adversely af­
fect your warranty.


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VEHICLE CARE

Tire
care
Inspect your tires at least every 2,000
miles (3,000 km) for wear and damage.

WARNING
• Avoid
damaging
tires
and
wheel

rims.
If you
must
drive
over
a
curb
or

other
obstacle,
drive
slowly
and at an
angle.
Frequently
check
tires
for un­

even
wear
and
damage.

•
Remove
imbedded
material.

•
Replace
worn
or
damaged
tires

immediately.

•
Replace
missing
valve
dust
caps.
• Keep oil,
fuel,
brake
fluid,
etc.
away

from
tires.

• Keep
tires
inflated
correctly.

• Mark tires before removing them.
Remount tires on the same vehicle side

because
the rotation direction should stay
the same.
• Store removed tires in a
cool,
dry and
preferably dark place. Tires which are not
on wheels should be stored standing up.

Tires
age even if they are not being
used.

Tires
which are older than 6 years should only be used cautiously in an emergency.
Wheels
and
tire
replacement

Wheels
and tires approved by the manu­
facturer have been specially matched to
your vehicle and contribute largely to the road-holding and driving characteristics of
the vehicle.
• Fitting and repairing tires requires
expert knowledge and special tools. This
work should only be performed by a
spe­
cialist.
• For safety reasons, tires should be

replaced
in pairs and not individually. The
tires
with
the deepest tread should always be mounted on the
front
wheels.
• In the interest of maximum safety and
best all-around vehicle handling, always
buy replacement radial tires
that
have the

same
specifications
with
regard to
tire

size,
design, load carrying capacity, tread pattern, tread depth etc. This also applies
to Volkswagen recommended alternate replacement tires.
• Never mount used tires if you are not
sure of their previous history.
• Whenever replacing a tubeless tire,
always install a new valve stem. Tire repair
should only be performed by a specialist.
WARNING

•
Never
mix
tires
of
different
design
such as
steel
belted
radials
with
radial
bias
belted
or
bias
ply
tires
etc.
Mixing

tire
types
will
adversely
affect
road
holding
and can
lead
to loss of
vehicle

control
and
personal
injury.

• New
tires
do not possess
maximum

traction.
They
tend
to be
slippery.
Break
new
tires
in by
driving
cautiously

at
moderate
speed for the
first
100

miles
(160
kilometers).

Applies
additionally
to the Syncro:

All
four wheels on the vehicle must always have tires of the same
size,
construction
and tread type so
that
the viscous coupling

does
not abnormally activate the
front

wheel drive. Different tires on the
front
or rear wheels exert additional stress on the
drive
train
components, causing increa­

sed
tire
wear and impair vehicle control.


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VEHICLE CARE

WARNING

The
traction
grade
is based on
brak­
ing
(straightahead)
traction
tests
and
does not
include
cornering
(turning)

traction.

Temperature
A, B, C
The temperature grades A (the highest), B and C, represent the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat. Sustained high tem­peratures can reduce
tire
life, and lead to
sudden
tire
failure. Grade C corresponds
to a performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor

Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades
B
and A represent higher levels than the minimum required by law.

WARNING

The
temperature
grade
for
this
tire
is
established
for a
tire
that
is
properly
inflated
and not
overloaded.
Excessive
speed,
underinflation,
or excessive loading,
either
separately
or in combi­

nation,
can cause
heat
buildup,
possi­
ble
tire
failure,
loss of
control
and
per­

sonal
injury.
Snow
tires

The tires for your vehicle were selected for optimal performance under normal driving
conditions.

For
winter driving, the roadability of your
vehicle can be improved by installing all
season
tires or radial snow tires (M + S)

with
or
without
studs1).
That applies also to the Syncro - see page 78.
When installing snow tires, please note the following:
• Only radial ply snow tires must be

installed.
Ask your Volkswagen dealer for
the recommended
tire
size.

• Snow tires should be mounted on all
four wheels.
• The
tire
pressures for snow tires are the

same
as for summer tires. However, do not

exceed
the maximum
tire
pressure listed
on the sidewalk
• Snow tires should have the same load
capacity as original equipment tires and
should be mounted on all four wheels. • Snow tires do not
fulfill
their purpose, if
the tread depth is
less
than
%2
in (4 mm).

WARNING
•
Tires
with
badly
worn
treads
and
studs are
very
dangerous.
Make
sure

they
are
replaced
immediately.

•
Never
mix
tires
of
different
design
such as
steel
belted
radials
with
radial
bias
belted
or
bias
ply
tires
etc.
Mixing

tire
types
will
adversely
affect
road
holding
and can
lead
to loss of
vehicle

control
and
personal
injury.

• Snow tires
with
studs should be run at
moderate speeds when new in order to
give the studs time to settle.

Do
not drive a vehicle equipped
with
snow
tires at prolonged high
speed.
Snow tires
do not have the same degree of traction on
dry, wet or snowfree roads as a normal tire. Furthermore, snow tires wear rapidly
under these conditions.
• Where snow tires are compulsory on
certain roads, this also applies to vehicles

with
all-wheel-drive.
118 1)
Check
with
your local Motor Vehicle Bureau for

possible
restrictions.


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VEHICLE CARE

Snow
chains

Snow
chains
can be used on the rear ./heels only.

Dnly use chains
with
fine pitch links pro­
dding no more than V2 in/15 mm
from
tire

"ead
and side walls, including tensioner.
.'/heels
must
rotate
freely
in all
steering
positions
with
chains mounted
to
prevent
damage
to
body, axle
or
brake compo­
nents.
Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer's instructions.

Remove
chains when roads are free
of

snow. Otherwise, they can
be
damaged
and impair vehicle handling.
Syncro models only

Conventional snow chains may
not be

used
with
205/70
x
14 tires on
5V2
J
x 14

wheels which
are
mounted
on
your

vehicle.
The
use
of
conventional snow
chains
is
only possible
on
smaller tires (e.g. 185
R
14C). Ask your VW dealer.
Where possible, snow chains should
be

fitted
to
all four wheels.
If
only two chains are available, these must be
fitted
to
the rear wheels.

Cable
type chains may also be
fitted
on all
standard tires
and
wheels (including
205/70
x
14 tires on 5Vz
J x
14 wheels), however, they should only be used when
road conditions require them. Always
remove snow chains when road condi­
tions improve. Be sure
to
follow all state and local regulations pertaining to the use
of snow chains.

WARNING

To
prevent personal
injury,
wear
pro­

tective gloves when fitting cable
chains
on your wheels. Always follow
the instructions
of
the manufacturer.


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