1990 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER light

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VEHICLE
CARE

MERIOR

3 ass

.5=
the
same cleaning agents
as for ex-
f
-
or
and polish
dry.

:abric

Lse
a
vacuum cleaner
or a
soft bristle
brjsh
to
remove dust
and
loose dirt from
ri'peting,
upholstery, headliner
and
other r
Ti.
Dirt stains
can
usually
be
removed :h
a
lukewarm soap water
or all
purpose
: eaner solution,
or a
dry foam cleaner.
For

reasy, oily and other stubborn stains,
use

= spot remover.
Do not
pour
the
liquid
on

~e fabric. Dampen
a
clean cloth
and rub
rarefully, starting
at the
edge
and
working
ward.
Plastic, vinyl and leather/leatherette
Use
a
clean, damp cloth
or
sponge
to
keep
this trim free from dust.
For
other soilage, use
a
lukewarm solvent free
all
purpose
cleaning solution
or a
mild saddle soap
for

vinyl and leather
trim.
Remove water spots and soap traces with
a
clean, damp cloth
or sponge.
Use a
clean, soft cloth
to rub
dry.
Grease,
tar or oil
stains
can be
removed
with
a
clean cloth
or
sponge soaked with all purpose cleaner
or
with
a
solvent type
vinyl
or
leather cleaning agent.
Occasionally apply
a
colorless vinyl
or
leather preservative
to
retain
the
material's
luster
and
pliability. Safety belts

Keep belts clean. Dirty belts may not re­
tract properly. Do not remove belts from
the vehicle. Do not use chemical clean­ ing agents, bleach or dyes. They contain
corrosive properties which will weaken
the webbing. Do not allow inertia reel safety belts to retract before they are
completely dry.

For cleaning,
use a
mild soap water
solu­

tion.
Let
belts
dry out
thoroughly and away
from direct
sun
light.

Use the opportunity to inspect the belts
for damage. If you discover damage, see your dealer.


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VEHICLE CARE
ENGINE OIL
Engine oil consumption t 3 normal for your engine to consume oil.

T-Q
rate of oil consumption depends on
re quality and viscosity of
oil,
the speed at
Mich
the engine is operated, the climate,

read
conditions as well as the amount of : ution and oxidation of the lubricant.

Because
of these variables, no standard
•e:e
of oil consumption can be esta-
:
shed,
but drivers should expect an in­
creased
oil consumption at high speeds
s.nd when the engine is new.
• The
engine
in your
vehicle
depends
on oil to
lubricate
and cool all of its
mov­

ing
parts.
Therefore
the
engine
oil
should be checked
regularly
and
kept
at
the
required
level.
•
Make
it a
habit
to
have
the
engine
oil

level
checked
with
every
fuel
filling.

• Lack of
sufficient
engine
oil may
lead

to
severe
engine
damage.

• The oil pressure
warning
light
is not
an oil
level
indicator.

Always
heed
WARNINGS
on
page
97.
The
engine oil dipstick and the oil filler

neck
are located behind the license plate

lid.

Checking the
engine
oil
level

The
best time to check the engine oil level
is
when the oil is warm.
• Turn off the engine.
• To get a true reading, the vehicle should

be
on level ground. After turning off the en­

gine,
wait a few minutes for the oil to return
to the crankcase.
• Flip license plate down.
• Pull out dipstick and wipe it clean
with
a

rag.

• Reinsert dipstick; push it in all the way. • Pull dipstick out again. The oil level is
correct if it is between the "max" and "min" marks on the dipstick.
• If oil level is below "min" mark, or not
showing on dipstick, add oil immediately.
• Make sure
that
the dipstick is com­
pletely in.
Adding
engine
oil • Unscrew cap from oil filler neck.
• Pull extension tube out of filler neck as
far as it will go.
• Only add the amount of oil needed. The
difference between the "min" and "max" marks on the dipstick is about
1
U.S. quart
or
1
liter. Always select a quality oil
with
the
correct specification. See "Lubricants" on
page
85.
Do not exceed the MAX
marking.

Otherwise,
the excess oil may be drawn in
through the crankcase breather into the exhaust system. The oil would then burn in
the catalytic converter and cause dam­
age.

•
Push
in the extension tube, replace fil­
ler cap and hand tighten securely.

WARNING

The oil
filler
cap
must
be secure to avoid oil spill causing
fire
hazard.


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VEHICLE CARE
ENGINE OIL FILTER
: he oil
filter
should be changed at the inter-

,als
listed in your Maintenance booklet.
• Remove old oil
filter
element and dis­

card.

• Use
only
Oil
filter
part
No.:

070115561
as
otherwise
engine
damage

can occur.
• Lightly coat seal of new
filter
element

with
oil. • Screw on
filter
element and hand-
tighten according to manufacturer's instructions on the carton or on the
filter

element.
• Fill engine
with
appropriate amount of
engine oil.
• Run engine at various speeds for three
to five minutes and check for leaks.
• Check dipstick for correct oil level, top
up if necessary.

Always
heed
WARNINGS
on
page
96 and 97. 101


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VEHICLE
CARE

COOLING
SYSTEM
The cooling system
is
sealed and gener­ ally requires little attention.
The cooling system has been filled at the factory with
a
permanent coolant which
does not need to be changed. The coolant

consists
of a
mixture
of
water
and the
manufacturer's coolant additive
G 11 —

antifreeze
on
glycol basis with anticorro-
sion additives (40% for USA
models;
50%
for Canadian models).
This
mixture
assures
the
necessary frost protection
and protects
the
entire cooling system
against corrosion and
scaling,
and raises
the boiling point of the coolant.
Do
not
reduce
the
concentration
of the

coolant
in the
summer
by
adding plain
water.
The coolant additive proportion
must
be at least
40%
but not more than

60%,
to
maintain the antifreeze protection
and the cooling efficiency. For year round driving, antifreeze is added
at the factory for temperatures down to:

-13°
F/-25°C(USA)

-40°
F/-40°
C
(Canada)

Only
use
quality phosphate-free
anti­

freeze containing ethylene glycol. Such antifreeze
is
available at
your
Volkswagen

dealer.

WARNING Antifreeze is poisonous. Always store antifreeze in its original container and

well
out of the reach of children. If you drain
the
coolant,
it must
be
caught
and

safely stored. Drained coolant should normally not be reused. Always des-

pose
of used coolant observing all en­
vironmental regulations.
Coolant losses
Coolant losses may indicate
a
leak in
the

cooling
system.
In
this
case,
the
cooling
system should
be
inspected immediately by
your
Volkswagen dealer.
It is not
suffi­

cient merely to add coolant.

In a
sealed system, losses can only occur
if
the
boiling point
of the
coolant
is ex­

ceeded as
a
result of overheating.
Overheating can occur
if:

•
the
flow
of air to the
radiator
is

obstructed
by
leaves, dust, insects
or by

additional
lights installed
in
front
of the
radiator grille;

•
the boiling point of the coolant has been
reduced
due to an
incorrect mixture
of

coolant and water;

•
the
radiator fan
is not
working
- see

"Radiator
fan",
or;

•
the vehicle is being driven up
a
long
hill
j

in
a
low gear with engine speed
very
high
and
at
very
high ambient temperature
-

see
"Radiator fan".

If
the cause for the overheating cannot
be

determined
and
corrected, contact
your

Volkswagen dealer immediately, other-
I
wise serious engine damage could result.

104
Always
heed
WARNING on page
97.


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VEHICLE CARE

Refill
tank

Checking
the coolant level

The coolant level should
be
checked from time
to
time, and always before going on
a
longer
trip.

WARNING

To
reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you see or hear
steam or coolant
escaping
from the en­
gine compartment.
Wait
until
no steam

or
coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the
hood.
Expansion
tank
The refill tank and
the
expansion tank are in
the
engine compartment.
The coolant level
is
normally checked only in
the
refill tank (behind
the
license plate
lid).
The expansion tank needs checking only
if
a
large amount
of
coolant
is
lost
or if the

warning
light
in the
water temperature gauge lights up.
On
the
refill
and the
expansion tank,
the

cap
need
not
be taken
off,
since the tanks
are transparent.

On
the refill tank, the coolant level must
be

between
the
min.
and
max. marks when
engine
is
cold
and not
running. When
engine
is
warm, coolant level
may be

slightly above max. mark.
The expansion tank
is
equipped
with
an
electric coolant level checking device.
When the coolant level is too low, the warn­ ing
light
in the
coolant temperature gauge

(see
page
43)
will flash
until
the
coolant
level has been restored
to
normal.

Always heed WARNINGS on page 97.
105


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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
Winter operation During the winter months, battery capacity
tends to decrease as temperatures drop.
Additionally, more power is consumed while starting, and the headlights, heater, rear window defogger, etc., are used more
frequently. Curtail unnecessary power
consumption,
particularly in city traffic or
when travelling short distances only. Let
your
Volkswagen dealer test the battery's
capacity before winter sets in. A well
charged battery will not only prevent

starting
problems but will also live longer.
If
your
vehicle is left standing for several

weeks
at extremely low temperatures, the battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze.
This
will prevent it
from being damaged.
When removing the battery, first discon­ nect both cables (see Charging of Bat­

tery),
then unscrew the battery mounting.
WARNING
Always keep the battery well out of the reach of children.
Always heed WARNINGS on page
97.
Charging of battery
WARNING
•
Always shield
your
eyes and avoid

leaning
over
the battery whenever pos­

sible.

•
Charge battery in a well ventilated

area.
Keep away from open flame or

electrical
spark. Do not
smoke.
Hydro­ gen gas generated by the battery is ex­plosive.

•
Battery acid that may spill during
charging should be washed off with a solution of warm water and baking

soda
to neutralize the
acid.

•
If you get battery
acid
in
your
eyes or
on
your
skin,
immediately rinse with

cold
water for several minutes and
call

a
doctor.

•
Never charge
a
frozen battery. It may
explode because of gas trapped in the
ice.
Allow a frozen battery to thaw out
first.

•
Never use a fast charger as a boo­
ster to start the engine.
This
will
seri­

ously damage sensitive electronic
components,
such as relays, radio,

etc.,
as well as the battery charger.
•
Fast charging
a
battery
is
dangerous
and should only be attempted by a
competent mechanic with the proper
equipment.
Slow battery charging WARNING
•
Heed all WARNINGS and follow in­
structions that come with
your
battery

•
It is not necessary to remove the bat­

tery
from the engine compartment, and it
is
also not necessary to disconnect the

cables.

•
Make sure the electrolyte level in each

cell
is between the "min" and "max" marks. If the fluid level is below the "min" mark, le:

your
Volkswagen dealer correct the condi­

tion.

•
Connect charger cables.
Charger cables must be connected
POSITIVE
(+) to
POSITIVE
(+) and

NEGATIVE
(-) to
NEGATIVE
(-).
Do not connect or disconnect charger

cables
while charger is operating to re­
duce the danger of exploding.


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VEHICLE CARE
WINDSHIELD / REAR WINDOW WASHER CONTAINER*
The filler cap is iocated at the left side of the driver's footwell.
Vehicles with rear window wiper and washer have an additional container on
the right in the luggage compartment.
The capacities of the containers are: Windshield washer
container 4.3 qt/4.2 liters Rear window washer
container 1.1 qt/1.0 liters
Filling the containers
To fill the container, unsnap cover and un­ screw the filler cap. After filling the
con­

tainer, screw the cap on tightly and close
cover. Since clear water is usually not adequate
for cleaning the glass, add a cleaning
solu­

tion to the water.
Use winterized washer solvent during the
cold season. It helps to keep your
windshield and rear window clean and pre­
vents the fluid from freezing in the winter.
Do not use engine coolant antifreeze or
any other solution that can damage the
vehicle paint.
Follow the directions on the can for the
correct amount to be used.
After filling the container press the cap onto the filler neck. Adjusting washer jets
When vehicle is stationary, the wate- should hit the windshield as illustrated.
The washer jet for the rear window shoulc be adjusted so that the fluid hits the glass
in the center of the wiped area.
The jets can be adjusted with a needle.
The jets for the headlight washer system' can only be adjusted with a special
tool.
If necessary contact your Volkswagen
deal­

er.
112 * where applicable


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