1990 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER brakes

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iLER TOWING
VEHICLE OPERATION
phLT .'jlkswagen was primarily designed
pr : assenger transportation. If you plan to
m*
B.
trailer you should be mindful that

MLT
:ar will be performing a service it was
•cr "tended for. The additional load will
Wee durability and economy of per-
m~ ance. • :. :ow a trailer, your Volkswagen may
mc. -9 more frequent maintenance due to
ft* extra
load.

Gc not tow a trailer during the break-in kriod of your vehicle.
Keep an eye on your coolant tempera-
fere gauge. If coolant temperature warn- rc light comes on pull off the road to a sa's place to allow engine to cool down.
Maximum trailer weight
A vailer for your vehicle is limited to a
typi-

ca class I trailer. The maximum gross
Bier weight and the tongue load must not
eoeed the specifications listed in the
[fechnical Information/Data section of this
ranual.

Do not exceed the gross vehicle weight
•rhich is the weight of the driver, passen­ ger, luggage, trailer hitch and tongue
weight of the loaded trailer. Trailer hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to
the gross trailer weight. The hitch must be suitable for your vehicle and trailer and
securely bolted to the body. Always check
with the trailer hitch manufacturer to make
sure that you are using the correct hitch. Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitch must be installed in a way not to interfere with the impact-absorbing
bumper system. No modifications should
be made to the vehicle exhaust and brake
systems. From time to time check that all hitch mounting bolts remain securely fas­

tened.

If not towing a trailer for a long period of

time,
remove the trailer hitch. This pre­
vents the hitch from causing damage should your vehicle be struck from behind.
When removing the trailer hitch, seal all bolt holes to prevent water and exhaust
fumes from entering the vehicle.
Trailer brakes If your trailer is equipped with a braking

system,
check to be sure that it conforms
to all regulations.
The trailer brake system must not be di­ rectly connected to the vehicle's brake sys­

tem.
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of
your vehicle to the cold tire pressure listed on the label on the left front door jamb. In­
flate trailer tires to trailer and tire manufac­
turer's specifications.
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your car and trailer.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Do not connect the trailer light system directly
to the light system of your vehicle. Be sure
to check with your Volkswagen dealer for
correct wiring, switches and relays.
Before you tow a trailer
Correct and even load distribution. All ob­
jects inside the trailer should be held securely in place to guard against shifting, be it forward, backward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger in a moving
trailer.


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VEHICLE OPERATION

For
best roadability adjust your load to the
maximum allowed tongue load. To be sure

measure
tongue load of loaded trailer on
bathroom
scales.

Check
that
both sides of your trailer can be

seen
from the driver's seat. If necessary in­
stall extended rear-view mirrors.

Check
proper working of vehicle and
trailer lights.

Check
cold
tire
pressure of both vehicle

and
trailer.

Be
sure trailer safety chains are properly

connected
from trailer to the hitch on the

vehicle.
Leave enough slack in the chains
to permit turning corners.

Trailer
towing
tips
Your
vehicle handles differently when tow­ ing a trailer because of the additional
weight. Safety, performance and economy
will greatly depend on how carefully you
load
your trailer and operate your "rig."
Before
you actually tow your trailer, prac­
tice turning, stopping and reversing in an
area
away from
traffic
until
you learn the
feel of your vehicle and trailer
unit.

Reversing
is
difficult
and requires practice.

Steering
while reversing is generally oppo­
site of
that
when backing your vehicle with­
out a trailer.

Observe
speed limits. In some areas

speeds
for vehicles towing trailers are lower than for regular vehicles.
Maintain a greater distance between your

vehicle
and the one in
front.
You will need more room to stop.

When
passing remember
that
you cannot
accelerate
as fast as you normally would

because
of the added load. Make sure you
have
enough room to
pass.
After passing
allow plenty of room for your trailer before

changing
lanes again.

Avoid
jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
Slow
down in crosswinds and on rougi"

roads.
Be especially carefull when
pas­

sing
other vehicles and trucks.

When
parking always block the wheels o: both vehicle and trailer. Do not park
with
a
trailer on a slope. If it cannot be avoided dc
so
only after the following:
• Apply brakes.
• Have someone place wheel blocks
under both vehicle and trailer wheels.
• With wheel blocks in place slowly re­

lease
brakes
until
wheel blocks absorb the

load.

• Apply parking brake.
•
Place
transmission in
"P"
for automatic
or in
first
or reverse gear for manual trans­
mission.

74


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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

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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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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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

EXTERIOR

Washing
and
waxing

The
paint on your Volkswagen is very dura­ ble but must be protected
from
losing its
luster due to outside influences. There­
fore, wash and wax your Volkswagen
often. The longer the
dirt
is
left
on the paint, the greater the risk of damaging the

glossy
finish, either by scratching if the
dirt
is
rubbed
into
the paint, or simply by the

chemical
effect
dirt
particles have on the paint surface.
Do not
wash
or wax in
direct
sunlight,
or

when
the
sheet
metal
is hot. Do not use hot
water.
Lukewarm
to cool
water
is

kinder
to the
paint.

WARNING
•
Do not
wash,
wax or dry the
vehicle

with
the
engine
running.

•
Do not
clean
the
underside
of chas­

sis,
fenders,
wheel
covers, etc.,
without
protecting
your
hands
and
arms.
You
may cut
yourself
on
sharp-edged
metal

parts.

•
Moisture,
ice and
road
salt
on
brakes

may
affect
braking
efficiency.
Test
the

brakes
carefully
after
each
vehicle

wash.
Do
not aim the water jet directly at door,
hatch or rear lid locks. Tape the key holes
to prevent water
from
seeping
into
the lock

cylinders.
Water in lock cylinders should be removed
with
compressed air. To pre­
vent locks
from
freezing in the winter, squirt glycerine or lock de-icer
into
the lock

cylinders.
Do not use any
solution
that
can
damage
the
body
paint.

Use
plenty of water, a car-wash and wax
solution and a soft sponge or hose brush.
Begin
by spraying water over the dry sur­

face
to remove all loose
dirt
before apply­ ing the car-wash and wax solution. Use
plenty of water to rinse the vehicle off.

Wipe
everything dry
with
a chamois to avoid water spots.

When
having your vehicle washed at an automatic car
wash,
be sure to observe all
the precautions suggested by the
esta­
blishment.
The
underside of the vehicle picks up d ~
and road salt. To guard against corrosic it is important to remove mud, debris a":
road salt
from
the underside
with
i
powerful jet of water. Be sure to include t"
wheel housings, bumpers, muffler, tailp :- and brackets. This should be done twice

year
and is best accomplished after the \ hide has been driven through a hea

rain.
Let engine and exhaust cool do,"
before washing.

Waxing
is not really needed when y:.
have
used a car-wash and wax solution
you do not use a car-wash liquid
with
wa^ apply wax to preserve the natural shine :
the body paint. To obtain a long last-:
finish,
apply hard wax. Wax again whe
water remains on the surface in lar:-
patches
instead of forming beads a": rolling off.

This
will
make
dirt
easier to remove e :
will
prevent the paint
from
being damage:

from
industrial dust, tree sap or bird drz~-
pings.

Use
a polish when it becomes evident tha:
waxing no longer accomplishes the jot
the polish you are using does not conta
wax, apply hard wax after polishing.


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VEHICLE
CARE

Weatherstrips
Keep silicone sprays
off the
windshield
to avoid wiper smear
in
rain.
To seal properly, weatherstrips around
hood,
hatch, windows, doors,
etc.,
must
be pliable. Spray with silicone
or
coat with
talcum powder
or
glycerine
to
retain
flexibility
of the
rubber
and to
protect against freezing
in the
winter.

Sliding roof quide rails

To assure that
the
sliding roof* function properly, clean
the
guide rails
and
lubri­

cate with silicone spray
at
least once
a

year.
See
your Volkswagen dealer
for
cor­ rect procedures
and
lubricant.
Dull finishes and plastics

Plastic parts, such
as
light bulb lenses,
decorative stripes, panels, bumpers,
etc.,

will come clean with regular washing. Should additional cleaning
or
spot
re­
moval
be
necessary,
use a
soft brush
or

cloth soaked with
a
mild detergent
solu­

tion.
Then rinse thoroughly
and im­
mediately with clear water.
Do not use anything which could mar the
plastic
or
dull finished surface, such
as

wax, polish, abrasive detergents
or
chemical cleaning solvents.

Sliding door

The sliding door mounting points,
the
guide tracks
and the
roller guides should be lubricated regularly
and as
often
as
necessary.

Bright metal trim

Bright
or
black anodized trim will come
clean with regular washing.
To
protect metal
trim,
use car
wax. Remove spots
or

dirt from chrome
and
stainless steel with
a

chrome cleaner. Apply
a
chrome polish
for

continued luster and protection.
Steel wheels

Always include
the hub
caps
and
whee rims when washing your vehicle
to
remove
road dirt, salt sprays and brake dust.
If
nec
essary,
use a
commercial wheel cleaner
t:
remove accumulated brake dust. Pain:
scratches should
be
touched
up to
prever

corrosion.

Light alloy wheels

To preserve
the
decorative appearance
c-
the light aluminium cast, some specie
care
is
necessary.
In
addition
to
road
dr
and salt sprays, brake metal dust
is
alsc
corrosive.
If
left
on too
long,
brake meta
dust
can
cause pitting. Wash
the
wheels
with
a
sponge
or
hose brush every othe-
week. Road salt should
be
remove:
weekly with
an
acid free cleaning solutior Every three months (after regular clear­
ing)
the
wheels should
be
coated
wit-
petroleum jelly
or car
wax.
Rub it in
firml.

with
a
soft cloth. Never
use
abrasive
c
metal polishing cleaning agents.
Remember that moisture,
ice and
roac
salt
on
brakes
may
affect braking
eff

ciency. Test
the
brakes carefully afte'
each washing. Heed warning
on
page
29.

92
*
where applicable


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