1990 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER tow

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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 CARE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID / MANUAL TRANSMISSION OIL
Automatic Transmission Fluid
The torque converter and the transmis­
sion are lubricated with Automatic Trans­ mission Fluid (ATF).
The final drive requires hypoid oil SAE 90,
which does not have to be changed.
Checking the ATF level
The ATF has to be checked at frequent intervals, for instance, when the engine
oil is being checked or at least at the intervals specified in your Maintenance
booklet.
Always heed WARNINGS on page 97. A correct ATF level is very important for
transmission operation.
To obtain an accurate reading, the
vehicle must be on level ground, and the
fluid must have reached operating
tem­

perature. Normally, after a cold-start the
fluid will reach operating temperature when the vehicle has been driven for ab­
out 6 miles or 10 km. If the ATF is too cool
or too hot, the fluid level reading will be inaccurate.
WARNING Before checking the ATF, the selector
lever must be securely locked in the Park position and the parking brake ap­
plied firmly.
Checking the ATF level is potentially hazardous because the hot engine has
to be running during the check. Do not
attempt to check the ATF before read­ ing all WARNINGS on page 97.
The ATF filler neck is in the engine com- partement on the left hand side. The dip­
stick is attached to the
plug.
Pull it out
and wipe clean first before inserting it to
take a reading. The Automatic transmission may be da­
maged by even a tiny speck of dirt.
Only use lint free rags to wipe the dip­
stick.
To get a true reading, the ATF must be at operating temperature.
You have enough ATF if the fluid level is between the two marks on the dipstick. I:
should never be above or below these marks. If level is too high or too low do not
just add or drain ATF. Have your dealer check and correct the cause as soon as possible.
For correct ATF specifications, see "Lub­
ricants" on page 85.
Changing the ATF
The ATF has to be changed at the inter­ vals specified in your Maintenance boo­klet.
Do not tow the vehicle or run the engine
without ATF in the transmission.
Manual Transmisson Oil Both transmission and final drive are
combined in one housing. The lubrican: used is hypoid oil which does not have tc
be checked or changed. If you shoulc
suspect a leak, contact your VW dealer.


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VEHICLE
CARE
I

AIR CLEANER
A
dirty
filter
element reduces engine
out­
put and increases fuel consumption and

can
cause premature engine wear.
Normally, it is not required to service the
air cleaner more often than recommended in the Maintenance booklet. If the vehicle

is
driven on very dusty roads, the air

cleaner
must be serviced more frequently,

even
daily. We recommend
that
you have
the air cleaner serviced by your
Volks­

wagen dealer or a qualified workshop.
If
your
air
filter
must
be
changed more
frequently,
we
recommend
that
you have
your
Volkswagen dealer show
you the
procedure
before
you
attempt
doing
it

yourself.

The
paper
filter
element must never
be
cleaned
or
soaked
with
gasoline, clean­

ing
solvents or oil. POWER STEERING*
The
fluid
reservoir is located behind the
licence
plate lid.

The
power steering is filled
with
ATF Dexron®.

A
correct
fluid
level in the reservoir is im­
portant
for the proper functioning of
power steering.
With the engine running, the
fluid
level in the power steering system must be
checked
at regular intervals. The
fluid
level
should always be between the "max"
and "min" markings. If the level should go below the "min" marking, have the power
steering system inspected by your
Volks­

wagen dealer. It is not sufficient to
just
add hydraulic fluid.
WARNING

•
Be
sure
not to
confuse brake fluid

and
hydraulic fluid.
If
the wrong fluid
is
used,
the systems may fail.

•
If the
power steering system should

fail,
or if the
engine
is not
running
(for

example
while
being
towed),
you
will
still
be
able
to
steer
the
vehicle, how­
ever, more
effort
will
be required.
Note

Since
the hydraulic
fluid
also functions as

a
lubricant, serious damage to the pump
and to other components of the system
could result if there is insufficient hydraulic

fluid
in the system.

Always
heed WARNINGS on page
97. "where applicable


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VEHICLE CARE
REPLACING
WIPER
BLADES

•Viper
blades must be in good condition to
:rovide clear vision.

3lean
your wiper blades regularly
with
a vindshield washer solution to prevent

streaking.
If the blades are very dirty, for

example
with
insects, carefully clean the
:lades
with
a sponge or a soft brush.

Replace
your wiper blades once or twice a

/ear.
See your Volkswagen dealer for re-
Dlacement
blades.

Notes
• Commercial hot
waxes
applied
by
auto­

matic
car
washes
have
been
known
to

affect
the
cleanability
of the windshield.
• To
prevent
damage
to
wiper
blades,
do not use gasoline, kerosene,
paint

thinner,
or
other
solvents on or
near
the

wiper
blades.
• To
prevent
damage
to the
wiper
arms

or
other
components, do not
attempt
to

move
the
wipers
manually.
Removing
wiper
blades
•
Raise
the wiper arm and hold wiper

blade
horizontally.
• Depress locking spring (A) and remove

blade
by pulling it towards the glass (B).

Installing
new
wiper
blades • The locking spring must click into place
on the wiper arm.

113


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[VEHICLE
CARE

DIFFICULT
OPERATING
CONDITIONS

Driving
under
difficult
conditions

The
vehicle construction and equipment is
designed
for normal operating conditions.

This
also applies to the frequency and the extent of service requirements as stated in
the Maintenance brochure.
If you are planning to drive your vehicle
under
difficult
operating conditions (for

example,
continuous trailer towing, very hot or cold weather, very dusty conditions,
poor fuel quality etc.) you may
want
to
make
special preparations such as chang­
ing to appropriate oil viscosity, having your

car
thoroughly inspected. Furthermore,
the maintenance should be matched to
the operating conditions (see page 95).
Operating
your
vehicle
outside
the

USA
or
Canada

Government
regulations in the United

States
and
Canada
require
that
automo­

biles
meet specific emission regulations

and
safety standards. Therefore, vehicles

built
for the USA and
Canada
differ
from

vehicles
sold in other countries.
If you plan to take your vehicle outside the
continental limits of the United States or
Canada,
there is the possibility
that

• unleaded fuels for vehicles
with
cataly­
tic converter may not be available;
• fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Improper fuel may cause
engine damage;
• service may be inadequate due to lack
of proper service facilities, tools or testing
equipment;
• replacement parts may not be readily

available.

Volkswagen
cannot be responsible for
mechanical
damage
that
could result

because
of inadequate fuel, service or
parts availability.
Certain
Volkswagen models are available
for delivery in Europe under our
tourist
delivery and
return
shipment program.

For
details consult your Volkswagen

dealer
or
write
to:

USA
Volkswagen United States, Inc. Tourist Delivery
P.O.
Box 3951
Troy, MJ 48007-3951

Canada
Volkswagen
Canada,
Inc. Tourist Delivery 1940 Eglinton Avenue
East

Scarborough,
Ontario
M1L2M2

If you bought your vehicle abroad an:

want
to bring it back home, be sure M inquire about shipping and forwardin:
requirements, as well as current impc

and
customs regulations
first.

Make
sure the vehicle meets Unite:

States
emission regulations and safe:

standards.
Otherwise it may prove tc:

costly
or even impossible to add the eqi : ment necessary to bring the vehicle in::

compliance
with
these regulations a-:

standards.

Canadian
regulations require
that
any c= not complying to standards has to

shipped
back to the car's country of oric -
at the owner's expense.


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DO-IT-YOURSELF-SERVICE

REPLACING BULBS
Before starting to replace a bulb, switch off
the respective circuit.
Do not touch the glass part of the new bulb
with bare fingers. Finger prints left on the
glass evaporate when the bulb gets hot,
the vapor settles on the reflector surface and dims it.
Always use the same
type
of bulb. The designation is marked on the bulb.
It is advisable to always
carry
a box of
spare bulbs in the vehicle. Bulbs can be
obtained from any VW dealer.
It should contain, at least, the following
bulbs which are important for traffic safety:

12V/70/50W
- Headlight

12V/21
/5W -
Front
turn
signal and
front
side marker light

12V/21W
- Rear
turn
signal

12V/3W
- Rear side marker light

12V/21/5W
- Brake and tail lights
12V/4W
- Licence plate light Headlights
The outer units are for low and high beams and have two filaments. The auxiliary
driving lamps are for high beam only and have one filament.
Should it become necessary to replace a
headlight bulb, the air intake grille must be
removed first. • With a screwdriver loosen the five
quick-release screws along upper edge c
grille.
•
Pull
the grille slightly toward you.
•
Then
lift the grille out of its retainer.

130


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DO-IT-YOURSELF-SERVICE

EMERGENCY
STARTING

Starting by
pushing
or towing

Vehicles
with
Automatic Transmission
cannot
be started by
pushing
or
towing.

Vehicles
with
Manual
Transmission
must
not
be started by
pushing
or
towing.

Damage to the catalytic converter and/or
other parts of the vehicle may result. Starting
with
jumper
cables

WARNING
•
Always shield your eyes and avoid
leaning over the battery whenever
pos­

sible.

•
Do not allow battery acid to contact

eyes
or
skin.
Flush any contacted area

with
water
immediately.

•
Improper use of booster battery to
start a vehicle may
cause
an
explosion.

•
Vehicles batteries generate explo­

sive
gases.
Keep sparks, flame and lighted cigarettes away from batteries.

•
Do not charge a frozen battery; allow
it to thaw out first. Gas trapped
in the ice may cause an explosion.

•
Do not try to jump start any vehicle

with
a low electrolyte level in the bat­ tery.

•
The voltage of the booster battery
must also have a 12-volt rating. The

capacity
(Ah) of the booster battery

should
not be lower than
that
of the
dis­

charged
battery. Use of batteries of dif­
ferent voltage or substantially different

Ah
rating may cause an explosion and
personal
injury.
•
Applying
a
higher
voltage
booster

battery
will
cause
expensive
damage
tc

sensitive
electronic
components,
such
as
relays,
radio,
etc...

•
Vehicle
with
discharged
battery: turn off

lights
and
accessories,
move
lever
to N or

P
(Automatic
transmission)
or into
Neutra

(Manual
transmission)
and set
parking

brake.

Always
heed WARNINGS on page 97.


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