1990 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER tires

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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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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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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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AINTENANCE
VEHICLE CARE

Ibur
vehicle has been designed to help «eep maintenance requirements to a mini--jm. However, a certain amount of regu­
lar maintenance is still necessary to as­ s-re your vehicle's safety, economy and re- ability.

Maintenance
Service is
required
every

12
months
or
every
15,000
miles
(24,000

kilometers),
whichever occurs
first.

I addition, it is necessary to perform an oil

nange
6 months after each Maintenance

Service,
or after each 7,500 miles (12,000
•: (ometers) whichever occurs
first.

"he
first
oil change must be performed 6 ~ionths after the delivery of the vehicle or
after 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers).
Under
difficult
operating
conditions, for

example
at extreme low outside tempera­
tures or in very dusty regions, etc., some
service
work should be performed bet­
ween the intervals specified.

This
applies particularly to: • oil changes, and
• cleaning or replacing the air
filter.

The
maintenance work should be per­ formed by Volkswagen dealers because
they have the expertise, the workshop facilities and the special tools required. It is important
that
this work is per­
formed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Proof
of servicing in accordance
with
the
maintenance schedule may be a condition
for upholding a possible warranty claim
made
within the warranty period.
Safety
and
environmental
concerns

place
very strict limits on the nature of re­

pairs
and adjustment on engine and trans­
mission
parts which an owner can per­
form.
Tampering
with
safety-related
parts
can
endanger
you as
well
as
other

motorists.

Always
observe environmental regula­ tions when disposing of old engine oil,
used
brake fluid,
dirty
engine coolant,
spent batteries or worn out tires.

95


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VEHICLE CARE
TIRES/WHEELS
New tires

New
tires
do not
possess
maximum trac­

tion
and
should
be
driven
at
moderate
speeds
and
with
caution
for the
first
100
miles (160 kilometers).
Tire traction

WARNING
When driving on wet or slushy roads, a wedge of
water
may build up
between

the tires and the road. This phenome­ non is known as aquaplaning or hydro­
planing and may cause
partial
or
com­

plete
loss
of traction, vehicle control or
stopping ability. Always reduce speed

on
wet roads.
Tire service life
The service
life
of
your tires depends
for

the most
part
on the following factors:

Tire pressures
WARNING
•
Incorrect
tire
pressures cause

increased
tire
wear
and adversely

affect
road holding of the vehicle, lead­ ing to
loss
of control and personal
injury.

•
Incorrect
tire
pressures can also
lead to
sudden
deflation, resulting
in
an
accident and personal injury.

Check
your
tire
pressures twice
a
month,
and especially before taking
a
long
trip.
Be

sure
not to
forget
to
check
the
spare tire.
Always check
tire
pressures when the tires are cold. When
the
tires
are
warm,
the
pressure
will
be
higher.
Do not
reduce
the

pressure
of
warm tires.

Use
an accurate
tire
pressure gauge when
checking inflation pressures.
Do not

exceed
the
maximum
tire
inflation pres­ sure listed
on the
tire
sidewalk Cold
tire

inflation pressure means: when
a
vehicle

has
been standing
for at
least
3
hours
or

driven
for
less than 1 mile.
Always include the spare
tire
during
a
pres­ sure check.

Driving habits
Fast
cornering, heavy acceleration
and

hard braking all increase
tire
wear.

Wheel balancing

The
front
wheels
on new
vehicles
are
balanced.
When driving, however, various
conditions can cause
a
wheel
to
become
unbalanced.
This may
be
noticed as vibra­
tions
in the
steering.

Since
tire
imbalance
can
cause wear
or

the steering, suspension
and
tires,
you

should have your wheels rebalanced.
A

wheel should always
be
balanced
if a
nev,

tire
has
been mounted
or a
tire
was re­
paired.

114


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VEHICLE CARE

K >i

|B43-155|

Tire rotation If the
rear tires
are
worn more than
front

tires,
we
recommend
that
you
rotate
the
rear tires
with
the
front
tires
as
shown
in

the illustration.
By
doing this,
all
tires will
have
approximately the same service life.

Tires
should always remain on same
side
of vehicle

After rotation adjust
tire
pressure
and
torque wheel bolts/lug nuts diagonally
to
130
ft
lb/180
Nm.
Refer
to
"Changing
a

wheel"
on page 125
for
details.
Tire
wear

The
original tires
on
your vehicle have
built-in wear indicators. They
are
molded
into
the
bottom
of the
tread grooves
and

will appear
as
approximately
V6
inch (12 mm) bands when
the
tire
tread depth

wears
down
to Vie
inches
(1.6 mm).
Depending
on the
tire
manufacturer, there
are
six to
eight wear indicators evenly

spaced
around
the
circumference
of the

tire. Markings on the sides
of
the tires (e.g.
the letters "TWI"
or a
triangle) show
the
locations
of
the wear indicators.
When
the indicators appear in two
or
more
adjacent grooves,
it is
time
to
replace
the

tires.
We
recommend, however,
that
you

do
not let the
tires wear down
to
this
extent. Worn tires cannot grip
the
road

surface
properly, and are even
less
effec­
tive on wet roads.

WARNING
•
Do not drive
with
worn tires or tires

showing
cuts,
bruises
or other damage
because
they may lead to
sudden
defla­
tion
causing
loss
of
vehicle
control
and
personal
injury.

•
Since
worn tires do not grip the road

surface
properly when driving on wet
roads,
the vehicle may tend to aqua­
plane sooner. We strongly urge you to
replace your tires when the remaining
tread depth is .12
inches
(3 mm).

Incorrect
wheel
alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment
causes
exces­

sive
and
uneven
tire
wear impairing
the

safety
of the
vehicle.
If
you notice
exces­

sive
tire
wear, contact your Volkswagen

dealer.

115


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