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INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS
page
1 - Air vents 51
2 - Light switch and thumb wheel for instrument illumination 46
3 - Safety belt and brake warning lights 43, 47
4 - Speedometer with trip odometer 40 5 — Warning/indicator lights 6, 43
6 - Clock or tachometer with fuel gauge and coolant temperature gauge 40,41
7 - Rear window defogger switch 47
8 - Emergency flasher switch 46 9 - For additional switch
10 - Air vents, left and right 51
11 - Ashtray 64
12 - Loudspeaker grille
13 - Fuses 128 14 - Turn signal/headlight dimmer switch lever 48
15 - Horn page
16 - Digital clock 40
17 - Steering lock/ignition/starter switch 38
18 - Temperature switch for auxiliary heater 57
19 - Windshield wiper/washer lever 50
20 - Secondary heat exchanger switch 53
21 - Emission Control System (ECS) 45
22 - Climate controls 51
23 - Air vents 51
24 - Radio1)
25 - Cigarette lighter 63 26 - Glove compartment 64
1) A separate brochure is provided for your factory-installed
radio.
If you replace your radio, please be sure to read the notes
in the chapter "Do-it-yourself Service", page 135.
Note
Some features mentioned are standard equipment on some
models only or are options on others.
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CONTROLS
AND
EQUIPMENT
•
Never shift into Reverse (R) or Park
(P) when the vehicle is in motion.
•
Do not remove the key from the ig
nition steering lock until you have
parked the vehicle, because removal
of the key
will
lock the steering wheel.
•
If the selector lever is unintention
ally moved into Neutral (N)
while
driv
ing,
take
your foot off the accelerator pedal and
wait
until the engine speed
has
dropped to idling before selecting
a driving position.
Maneuvering
•'/hen
alternating between forward and
-averse
- for
instance,
while
maneuvering
ne
vehicle
into a tight parking
space
-
:nly
shift when the
vehicle
has
come
to a
full stop and the
engine
is running at idle
soeed.
Stuck
in snow, mud or sand
When
alternating between forward and
reverse
in an effort to free the
vehicle,
depress
the
accelerator
pedal
slightly
while
the
transmission
is in
gear,
and
release
the
accelerator
pedal
while
shifting.
Do not
race
the
engine
and
avoid
spinning
the
wheels.
Do not repeat
"rocking"
back and
forth
with
wheels
spinning
at high engine speed and heavy
throttle,
as serious damage may
be caused to the automatic transmis
sion
and other critical parts.
Kickdown
device
The
kickdown
device
gives
maximum
acceleration
when the
accelerator
pedal
is
pressed
down
past
the full throttle
posi
tion.
Depending
on
road
speed
and
engine
speed,
either the upshift is
delayed
(forced
throttle) or the box
changes
down
into
the next lower
gear.
WARNING
Be
careful when using the kickdown on
slippery
roads. Rapid acceleration may
cause
skidding.
Stopping
•
When
stopping briefly, at a traffic light
for
example,
it is not
necessary
to
move
the
selector
lever
to
Neutral.
Simply
apply
the
brakes.
To start
again
release
brake
and
accelerate.
•
The driving
positions
must
never
be
used
for holding the
vehicle
at rest
uphill.
Always
use your foot
brakes
when
stopped
on
inclines.
WARNING
•
Never get out of the driver's seat
when the engine is running and the
selector
lever is not securely locked in
the P position.
•
If you must leave the vehicle move
the selector lever securely into the P
position
and apply parking brake
firmly.
Towing
To
tow the
vehicle
see instructions
"Emergency
towing" on
page
138.
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fCONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
TURN SIGNAL / HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH LEVER
Turn signals
The turn signal indicator light flashes when you operate the lever (ignition on).
Lever up - right turn signal
Lever down - left turn signal
The turn signals are cancelled automatic ally when you have completed a turn (for
example when turning a corner), and the
steering wheel returns to the straight-
ahead position.
If a turn signal fails, the indicator light
flashes about twice as fast. A light bulb may have to be replaced. Headlight dimmer
With headlights on (light switch in second
stop),
you can switch to either high or low beam by pulling the lever toward the steering wheel past the point of resistance.
When high beam is on, the indicator light will light up.
Headlight flasher
With headlights on or off, you can signal with your headlights (in lieu of horn), by repeatedly pulling the lever just up to the
point of resistance.
Lane changer
Move the lever up or down just to the point
of resistance - the indicator light must also flash at the same time. The lever will
return to the OFF position when released.
The lever will return to the OFF position when released.
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VEHICLE
OPERATION
In the
driver's
seat
•
Check operation of horn.
•
Adjust seat for easy reach of controls.
•
Adjust head restraints to your
size.
•
Adjust inside and outside rear view mir-
brs.
•
Use safety belts as directed.
•
Assure yourself
that
all passengers,
especially
children, are properly buckled up.
•
Check operation of
foot
and parking
orakes.
•
Check all warning and indicator lights
v/hen starting the engine.
•
Do not leave vehicle idling unattended.
•
Lock all doors
from
inside to prevent in advertent opening of doors
from
inside
and unwanted
entry
from
outside. On the
road
•
Always drive defensively. Expect the
unexpected.
•
Observe speed
limits
and obey road
signs.
•
Use signals to indicate
turns
and lane
changes.
•
Turn on headlights at dusk.
•
Always keep a safe distance
from
the
vehicle in
front
of you, depending on
traf
fic, road and weather conditions.
•
Reduce speed at
night
and during incle
ment weather.
•
If you smell gas fumes in the vehicle,
drive
with
the windows open, but keep the rear lid
closed.
Have the cause im
mediately located and corrected.
•
Make frequent rest stops, at least
after
every two hours of driving.
•
When
tired
pull off the road, stop and
take a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in the vehicle
with
engine idling. Engine exhaust is dangerous if inhaled.
•
When stopped or parked, always set
the parking brake. Move the selector lever
to "P" (Automatic transmission) or move
the gearshift lever to reverse or
first
gear (Manual transmission). When parking on
hills,
turn
wheels
toward
the curb.
•
When stalled or stopped for repairs,
move the vehicle well off the road. Turn on
emergency flasher and use other warning
devices
to alert other motorists. Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas where
the hot exhaust system may come in
con
tact
with
dry
grass,
brush, fuel spill or other material which can cause a fire.
•
Make it a habit to have the engine oil
checked
with
every fuel filling.
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VEHICLE OPERATION
OPERATE
YOUR VEHICLE ECONOMICALLY AND
MINIMIZE
POLLUTION
Your
personal
style
of
driving
determines your operating costs,
exhaust
emissions and noise levels. To obtain the best
possi
ble fuel economy,
minimize
pollution
and
save
wear and tear on the engine, brakes
and tires, observe the following points:
• Keep a
light
foot
on the accelerator.
• Drive smoothly, avoid abrupt changes
in speed as much as possible.
• Avoid jack rabbit starts and sudden
stops.
• Avoid unnecessary idling. Turn the
engine off.
• "Warm up" idling wastes gas. Start the
engine
just
before you are ready to drive.
Accelerate
slowly and smoothly.
• Do not drive longer than necessary in
the lower gears. By upshifting early you
can
economize on fuel consumption. • Organize your trips to include in several
errands.
• Any additional weight carried in the
vehicle reduces fuel economy. Always keep cargo to a minimum and remove all
unnecessary
items.
• Remove roof and ski racks when not in
use.
• All electrical consumers contribute to
increased
fuel consumption. Therefore,
use
fan, rear window defogger, etc., only
when needed.
• Check your vehicle's fuel consumption
regularly. Keep a
written
tally sheet or use
the
trip
odometer. Fuel consumption will
vary
with
traffic, road and weather condi
tions.
• Have your vehicle serviced by an
Volkswagen
dealer at the specified inter
vals
(see page 95 and your Maintenance brochure). • Air cleaner should be inspected to
assure
proper engine "breathing".
• Battery should be fully charged.
• Wheels should be properly aligned.
• Tires should be inflated to correct pres
sures.
Check
tire
pressures regularly - at least once a month.
• The published ENVIRONMENTAL-
PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) and Trans
port
Canada
mileage
estimates
may not
agree
with
your
actual
highway
mileage
which
will
vary,
depending
upon
vehicle
load
and speed,
road
and
weather
condi
tions,
trip
length,
etc.
• Have the engine oil level checked
with
every fuel filling. Engine oil consumption
is
normal but tends to be higher when the
engine is new. The use of quality engine oil
and a correct engine oil level are essential
for vehicle performance and economical operation at all times.
72
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VEHICLE
OPERATION
The
function
of the
all-wheel
drive
and how it
works
In contrast to conventional four wheel
drive systems
that
require transmissions
to be manually engaged when needed,
the Vanagon/Transporter Syncro all-wheel
drive system is always engaged. Only the
amount of power being transmitted to the
front
and rear wheels changes automati
cally
as the road surface demands.
The automatic distribution of power is
accomplished
through a
fluid
shear
cou
pling (viscous coupling)
that
is
part
of the
front
axle. The design of the viscous
cou
pling keeps driving force losses to a mini
mum while distributing the forward
thrust
to all four wheels when needed. When the going gets rough, especially
when wet, slippery or snow covered roads
cause
the rear or
front
wheels to slip, the
viscous
coupling automatically transfers driving force to the other wheels to help
you keep moving.
The distribution of drive forces allows the
Syncro
to adapt to changing road surfaces
and provide increased traction automati
cally.
The Syncro driver is therefore able to
fully
concentrate on the road and
traffic
conditions.
This
extraordinary drivetrain concep:
makes
the Vanagon/Transporter Syncrc
an extremely efficient road vehicle suit
able for a wide variety of uses and applica
tions. While it has proved is ability to han
dle poor weather and road conditions anc
has
limited off-road capabilities, re
member your Vanagon/Transporter
Syn
cro is not an off-road or all-terrain vehicle.
76
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VEHICLE OPERATION
Advantages off the all-wheel drive
The Vanagon/Transporter Syncro
all-
wheel drive system
has the
following
ad
vantages over
a
two-wheel drive vehicle:
Driving Power
Driving Power
is
greatly increased
by the
continual all-wheel drive especially
on
snow
and
slippery surfaces, when starting
off from
a
standstill,
and
when driving
on
rough roads.
Within reason, your Vanagon/Transporter Syncro
can go
places where other
vehi
cles
may
likely
get
stuck.
It is
easier
to
stop
on slippery hills
and get
going again.
Moving Force
As
the
driving force applied
to the
road goes
to
four wheels instead
of two, the
amount
of
slip
is
considerably reduced.
This improves
the
traction between tire and road surface
and
thereby,
the
drive-
ability
on
slippery road surfaces. On vehicles with two-wheel drive,
the
driv
ing wheels
can
spin
on
slippery surfaces
if
too much acceleration
is
applied. This
greatly reduces tire grip
and can
result
in
loss
of
vehicle control.
By distributing
the
driving forces
to
four
in
stead
of two
wheels,
the
wheels
of the
Va nagon/Transporter Syncro
are
less likely
to spin under
the
same conditions.
Snow tires
With
the
all-wheel drive system
the
Vana gon/Transporter Syncro
is
good
for
winter
driving even with standard tires. However,
we recommend
the use of all
season tires
or radial snow tires (M
+
S) with
or
without
studs*,
on all
wheels,
for
better driving,
cornering
and
braking,
in
winter weather.
Details under "Snow tires"
on
page
118
also apply.
Snow chains
Snow chains can improve both road traction
and braking when driving
in
severe winter
weather. Therefore,
use
snow chains
on
your all-wheel drive vehicle when required. For additional information,
see
page
119.
Operation
In contrast
to
conventional all-wheel drive
systems that require transmissions
to be
manually engaged when needed,
the Va
nagon/Transporter Syncro all-wheel drive
system
is
always engaged. Only
the
amount
of
power being transmitted
to the
front
and
rear wheels changes automati cally
as the
road surface demands.
The
Syncro driver
is
therefore able
to
fully
con
centrate
on the
road and traffic conditions.
The differential lock*
for the
rear axle must only
be
used when
the
vehicle
is
stuck
or
in immediate danger
of
becoming stuck. For further information
on the
differential
lock,
see
page
33.
78 "Check with your local Motor Vehicle Bureau
for
possible restrictions.
'where applicable
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-
VEHICLE
OPERATION
Driving on dry roads
Attention
"his
is an
all-wheel drive multipurpose
rassenger
vehicle which
will
handle
and
maneuver
differently
from
an ordinary
pas
senger
car in driving conditions which may
occur
on
streets
and
highways
and off-
'oad.
As
with
other vehicles
of
this type,
if
you make sharp turns
or
abrupt maneu
vers,
the
vehicle
may
roll over
or
may
go
kit
of
control and
crash.
You should read
:he driving guidelines
and
instructions
in
the Owner's
Manual.
The
driver
and all
oassengers
should wear safety belts
at all
times.
Do
not
engage
the
differential lock on nor
mal
dry
roads
as it
will
not
provide any ad
vantage. Under these circumstances,
an
engaged differential lock
will
impair the ve-
nicle's
maneuverability and
will
cause
ex
cessive
tire
wear.
Driving on wet, slippery roads
Due
to the
all-wheel drive,
the
engine
power
is
transmitted evenly
to a
moder
ately slippery road surface.
On
wet surface
As
with
any
other vehicle, excessive driv ing speed on very wet roads can cause hy
droplaning
and
loss
of
vehicle control.
Therefore, slow down.
The
differential lock* must
not be
engaged.
Important
instructions
on
the
differential
locks
are to be found on page
33/34.
On
slippery surfaces
On
slippery surfaces the rear axle differen
tial
lock may only be engaged when
start
ing
from
a
standstill
or at
very low
speeds.
When
the
road surface has improved
the
lock should
be
disengaged again. On
snow covered surfaces
On
a
snow covered road, maintain traction by making gradual changes
in
speed
or
di
rection. Avoid sudden maneuvers. Be alert
to problems other drivers around you may be having which could create
a
hazardous
situation
for
you.
In heavy snow, maintaining reasonable
momentum
is
important
for
safe vehicle
operation. Try
to
keep moving
by
using
the
L-gear and
a
steady accelerator pedal
at
low
speed.
WARNING
•
Always
maintain
a safe driving
speed,
especially
when
road and
weather
conditions are poor.
•
Excessive
driving speed on very wet
roads can cause hydroplaning and
loss
of vehicle control.
•
Always avoid forceful and
abrupt
braking action.
You
could block all four
wheels simultaneously and lose
con
trol
of the vehicle.
•
The braking capability of your Vana-
gon/Transporter Syncro is
greatly
de
pendent on the
traction
of your tires.
'where applicable 79
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