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VEHICLE
 CARE 
General notes 
The original equipment tires
 and
 wheel 
 rims
 on
 your
 vehicle comply with
 all 
applicable
 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standards. 
If you
 wish
 to
 equip
 your
 vehicle with tires 
or wheels other than those installed
 at the 
factory, please note
 the
 following: 
•
 If
 you plan
 to
 install other than the
 ori
ginal
 equipment tires
 and
 wheel rims, 
ask
 your
 Volkswagen dealer. 
•
 For
 technical reasons
 it is not
 possi
ble
 in
 every
 case
 to use
 wheels from 
other vehicles
 -
 under certain condi
tions
 not
 even wheels from
 the
 same 
vehicle
 model. 
•
 Wheel rims
 and
 wheel bolts
 or lug 
nuts are matched to fit
 your
 Volkswagen. 
•
 When installing different wheels
 (for 
example,
 wheels with winter tires),
 the 
correct wheel bolts
 or
 lug nuts with
 the 
 proper length
 and
 conical shape must 
be used. The secure fit of the wheels and 
the proper functioning
 of the
 brake  system are dependent upon this. 
 •
 Using tires and/or wheels which have 
not been approved
 by
 the manufacturer 
for
 your
 vehicle
 type
 can be detrimental 
to vehicle safety. 
•
 If
 wheel trim discs
 or a
 front
 spoiler
 are 
installed,
 make
 sure the airflow for cooling 
the brakes
 is not
 obstructed. 
•
 Before
 you
 plan
 on
 exchanging steel 
wheels, light alloy wheels,
 or
 snow tires 
already mounted on wheel rims, consult 
your
 Volkswagen dealer. He has the tech
 nical
 information necessary
 to
 advise 
you which wheel rims and wheel bolts
 or 
 lug
 nuts are compatible with the original 
factory installations. 
WARNING 
•
 The
 use of the wheel rims and wheel 
bolts
 or
 lug nuts that do not meet
 speci
fications
 of the
 original factory
 install
ed equipment will affect the safe oper
ation
 of
 your
 vehicle and may cause an 
accident and personal
 injury. 
 Tire specifications 
Tire
 specifications
 are
 imprinted
 on the 
 sidewall
 of
 the tires.
 If in
 doubt, check with 
your
 Volkswagen dealer. 
All
 passenger car and some light trucks  tires must conform
 to
 Federal Safety 
 Requirements
 in
 addition
 to
 these 
grades. 
Treadwear 
The treadwear grade
 is a
 comparative 
 rating
 based
 on the
 wear rate
 of the
 tire 
when tested
 on a
 government test course.  For example,
 a
 tire graded
 150
 would wear 
one
 and a
 half
 (IV2)
 times
 as
 well
 as a
 tire 
graded 100.
 The
 relative performance
 of 
tires depends
 on
 actual conditions
 of use, 
 however,
 and may
 depart significantly 
from
 the
 norm
 due to
 variations
 in
 driving 
 habits,
 service practices
 and
 differences 
in road characteristics and
 climate. 
Traction A, B, C 
The traction grades, from highest
 to 
 lowest,
 are A, B and C and
 represent
 the 
tire's ability
 to
 stop
 on wet
 pavement
 as 
 measured
 on
 government test surfaces
 of 
asphalt
 and concrete. Atire marked
 C
 may 
have poor traction performance. 
 
 
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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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HANGING
 AWHEEL 
DO-IT-YOURSELF-SERVICE 
WARNING 
 •
 If you have a flat tire, move a safe 
distance
 off the road.
 Turn
 off the 
engine, the emergency flasher on and  use other warning devices to alert 
other motorists. 
•
 Passengers must not remain in the 
vehicle when it is
 jacked
 up. 
•
 Make
 sure that passengers wait in a 
safe
 place away from the vehicle and 
well
 away
 from
 the roadway
 and
 traffic. 
•
 Before you change a wheel, be sure 
the ground is level and
 firm.
 If neces
sary, use
 a
 board under the jack. 
•
 Set the parking brake and block the 
wheel opposite the defective wheel on 
the other side of the vehicle. Engaging 
a
 gear or placing the Automatic trans
 mission
 selector lever in P (Park)
 posi
tion is not a substitute for fully setting 
the parking brake. 
 Stepl 
•
 Take out the bag with jack and tools 
from under the driver's seat. 
Step 2 
•
 With the wheels
 still
 firmly resting on 
the ground, remove the hub cap/wheel 
cover of the defective wheel.  Wheels with wheel cover 
(left
 illustration) 
•
 The wheel cover can be pulled off with 
puller clip and lug wrench. 
Wheels with hub cap 
 (right
 illustration) 
•
 Remove chrome plated hub cap with 
puller clip and lug wrench.
 Insert
 clip in 
holes at rim of a hub cap. Put wheel 
wrench through
 clip,
 brace one end of 
wrench on wheel rim and pull lightly on 
other end. 
When you place the hub cap face down,  you can use it as a
 tray
 for lug bolts
 (front 
wheels) or lug nuts
 (rear
 wheels). 
125 
 
 
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DO-IT-YOURSELF-SERVICE 
Fuse arrangement No. Component Amp. No. Component Amp. 
From left to right:  1 
Radiator fan  30 17 Windshield wiperengine  10 
2  Brake lights  10 
18 Brake warning light, 
3  Interior lights, illuminated  heated driver's seat, 
Make-up mirror, clock,
 ciga
 cruise control system 10 
rette lighter, radio  15 19 Turn signals  10 
4  Emergency flasher system  15 20 Number plate light, 
5  Vacant  headlight washer 
10 
6  Vacant  21 Low beam left 
10 
7  Tail and side light left  10 
22 Low beam right  10 
8  Tail and side light right 
10 
9  High beam right  10 
10  High beam left 
10 Additional fuses 
11  Windshield wipers and washer 
15 (in separate holders) 
12  Cruise control system 
Air conditioner, power  above the fuse box: 
windows, auxiliary heater,  Instrument lightning 
10 
electric outside mirrors,  Overheating fuse for auxiliary heater 
10 
auxiliary heat exchanger,  Main fuse for auxiliary heater 
20 
rear window wiper  20 Central locking  20 
13  Fresh air fan 
20 Automatic fuse for window lifter 
20 
14  Rear window heating, heated 
rear view mirror, light for  Color codes 
15 
16  lighting switch 
Back-up lights 
Double tone horn  20 
10 
15  10 Amp. fuses - red 
15 Amp. fuses - blue 
15 
16  lighting switch 
Back-up lights 
Double tone horn  20 
10 
15  20 Amp. fuses - yellow 
30 Amp. fuses - green 
The number on the face of the fuse is the  amperage rating. 
 
 
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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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GAS
 STATION
 INFORMATION! 
• Attach safety chains on axle platform -
not
 around
 brake
 lines. 
Towing clearance: four inches between 
tires and road. 
Towing speed/distance: 
Automatic Transmission - 30 mph/  30 miles (48 kmh/48 km). 
Manual
 Transmission - 50 mph/50 miles 
(80 kmh/80 km). 
|
 B25-586 
Rear
 Hook-up 
 • Attach wheel
 lift
 equipment to wheels. 
• Attach safety straps to wheels. 
• Attach safety chains to trailing arms. 
• Towing clearance: 6-12 inches 
between tires and ground. 
• Towing Speed/Miles:  Automatic Transmission -30 mph/30 mi 
Manual
 Transmission -
50 mph/50 mi. 
 Vanagon
 Syncro 
Front
 and
 Rear
 Hook-up 
The Vanagon Syncro cannot be towed 
 with
 conventional sling-type towing equipment nor
 with
 wheel
 lift
 equipment or 
wheel dollies to avoid damage to the all-
wheel drive system. Use flat-bed tow truck 
only. 
139 
 
 
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TECHNICAL
 DESCRIPTION 
FRONTWHEEL SUSPENSION 
• Independent upper and lower control 
arm 
• Stabilizer 
•
 Coil
 springs  • Shock absorbers 
Syncro  • Independent wheel suspension by 
means
 of double wishbones
 with
 coil 
springs and telescopic shock absorbers. 
• Double
 jointed
 shafts 
• Stabilizer bar 
•
 Viscous
 coupling 
Steering 
 •
 Rack
 and pinion 
• Safety steering column  REAR WHEEL SUSPENSION 
• Independent semi-trailing arms
 with 
integrated axle support 
•
 Coil
 springs 
• Shock absorbers 
Syncro  • Independent wheel suspension by way 
of diagonal arm axle
 with
 coil springs and 
telescopic
 dampers. 
• Double
 jointed
 drive shafts 
• Differential lock as optional extra. 
 BRAKES 
• Hydraulic dual-circuit power-assisted 
brake system
 with
 pressure regulator for  rear wheel circuit. Front wheels
 with
 disc 
brakes,
 rear wheels
 with
 self-adjusting 
drum brakes. 
• Parking brake for rear wheels. 
Body/Chassis  • All steel unitized body 
• Frame plates reinforced
 with
 side and 
cross
 members. 
143 
 
 
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