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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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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
ENGINE
COMPARTMENT LID
mu
have access to the engine compart-
•Mit
lid from inside the luggage compart- -ent.
"lb
open the
lid,
roll the floor covering out of
~9
way and
turn
both lock handles to the
Tb close the lid, reverse the above proce- ;jre.
ENGINE
COMPARTMENT
Always exercise extreme caution when
working on the engine. WARNING
•
Before you check anything in the en
gine compartment, stop the engine,
fully set the parking brake and remove
the ignition key.
•
Do not work on
your
car if you are
tired or ill, under emotional stress or under influence of drugs, medication
or alcohol.
•
Always let the engine cool down. Hot
components will burn skin on contact.
•
Do not spill engine oil, ATF, brake
fluid,
antifreeze and washer solvent on hot engine components, especially not
on the exhaust system.
These
fluids
are
flammable.
•
Always disconnect the battery
ground strap if you must work on the
fuel
system or the electrical system.
Never
smoke or work near heaters or
other fire hazards if you must work
around
fuel.
Always keep an approved
fire extinguisher immediately
avail
able.
Be
especially careful if engine is run
ning:
•
If work must be done with the engine
running, always fully set the parking
brake,
and make sure the shift lever is
in Neutral (Manual transmission) or
Park
(Automatic transmission).
•
Always be alert and extremely
cau
tious around the engine at
all
times par
ticularly when the engine is running.
•
Always exercise extreme caution to
prevent
neckties,
jewelry,
long hair or
loose clothing from getting caught in
the fan blades, the V-belts, or any other
moving
engine parts.
•
To avoid electrical shock and per
sonal
injury
never
touch ignition ca
bles
or components of the high voltage
electronic ignition system while the en
gine is running or even when starter is
cranked.
97
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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
BRAKE FLUID 3 ATT
108 Brake fluid reservoir
The brake fluid reservoir is located under the instrument cluster in the dashboard
panel.
To gain access to the reservoir, grasp the two recesses provided on back of the frame cover and pull up.
When replacing the cover, insert the front edge first, then press the cover down
firmly. Make sure it is correctly seated.
Checking fluid level
The correct fluid level is important for the proper functioning of the brake system.
The fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir should always be between the MAX and MIN markings. Your brake fluid level is automatically monitored by the brake
warning light (see page 43).
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the automatic adjustment of
the brake pads. This is no cause for alarm.
If the brake fluid level falls considerably
below the mark
"MIN",
the brake warning
light will come on. Do not continue to oper
ate the vehicle. The complete brake sys
tem should be thoroughly checked by your
Volkswagen dealer and the cause cor
rected.
WARNING • Brake fluid is poisonous. Brake fluid
is also harmful to the paint of your
vehicle.
When adding or replacing brake fluid, make certain to avoid spilling. Brake
fluid will damage fabric, paint, plastics and metal. Cover the areas sorround-ing the reservoir before removing the
filler cap.
• If brake fluid must be added to the
reservoir, use only new and unused
DOT 4 brake fluid that meets SAE
specification J 1703 and conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
116.
• Do not use any other brake fluid, or
brake fluid that has absorbed moisture
from the open air, or brake fluid that is
dirty. It may cause premature wear or unreliable braking action.
• Do not add or mix DOT 5 silicone
type brake fluid with the brake fluid in your vehicle as severe component corrosion may result. Such corrosion
could lead to brake system failure.
Changing brake fluid Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the at
mosphere. If the watercontent in the brake
fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake sys
tem may result after a period of time. The boiling point of the brake fluid will also de
crease considerably. If the brakes are under constant and extreme use, a vapc
lock may result impairing the effectiveness
of the brakes and the vehicle safety. -e s
Dn seat arc
WARNING
The brake fluid must be replaced every 2 years. Your Volkswagen dealer will perform this service for you.
Always heed WARNINGS on page 97.
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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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