1990 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER check oil

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CONTROLS AND
EQUIPMENT

=ailure
of one
brake
circuit
I the brake pedal travel should suddenly
icrease,
one of the brake circuits may

_ave
failed. Should this happen, you will
m able to bring your vehicle safely to a

s:op,
however, you will have to push hard­
er on the brake pedal and it will take a onger distance to stop the vehicle.
Con­

tact your Volkswagen dealership for as­
sistance.

Brake
wear

~he brakes on our automobiles are still subject to wear depending largely on oper­ating conditions and driving habits. On ve­

hicles
which are driven mostly in stop-and-
50 city
traffic
or which are driven hard, the
crake linings should be checked by your

Volkswagen
dealer more often than
specified
in the Maintenance brochure.

Front
spoiler
If you
install
a
front
spoiler on
your
vehi­
cle, be
sure
the air
flow
to the
front

brakes
is not
obstructed,
otherwise
the

brake
system
could
overheat.
Parking
brake
lever

The parking brake lever is located between the
front
seats.

• To set the parking brake, pull the lever

until
strong resistance is
felt.
The parking
brake must be pulled up all the way so
that

the vehicle cannot be moved. When the ig­ nition is on, the brake warning
light
will

light
up.
• Depress brake pedal and hold while re­

leasing
parking brake. To release the park­
ing brake, pull the lever slightly up, de­

press
the release
button
(arrow), and then
push the lever all the way down. When the parking brake is fully released, the brake
warning
light
will go out.
WARNING

•
Release
the
parking
brake
fully.
A

partially
engaged
brake
will
overheat

the
rear
brakes,
reduce
their
effective­
ness and cause excessive
wear.

•
Always
set the
parking
brake
when

parking
your
vehicle.
Move
the
selector
lever
to "P"
(Automatic
transmission)

or
move
the
gearshift
lever
to "R" or "1"
(Manual
transmission).
On
hills

also
turn
the
wheels
toward
the curb.
31


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CONTROLS
AND
EQUIPMENT

WARNING
/ INDICATOR
LIGHTS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
your vehicle is equipped
with
several
•nportant indicator and warning devices to
~ionitor the continued reliable operation of .our vehicle. Familiarize yourself
with

:hese
devices so if one should come on .ou know what to do.
-allure to heed applicable warnings and "nportant vehicle information may result in

serious
personal injury or vehicle damage.

WARNING
•
Whenever
stalled
or stopped for
epair,
move
the
vehicle
a
safe
distance
off the road, stop the
engine
and
turn

on the
emergency
flasher
(see
page

46).
• The
engine
compartment
of any

-lotor
vehicle
is a
potentially
hazard­
ous
area.
Before
you check
anything
in

?ie
engine
compartment,
stop the
engine
and let it cool down.
Always

exercise
extreme
caution
when
work­
ing
under
the
engine
hood.
Heed
all of
re
WARNINGS
on
page
97.
page

1 - Brake 43

2
- Safety belt 18

3
- Turn signals 44
4 - Alternator 44
5
- For additional light
6 - For additional light 7 - Oil pressure 43
8 - High beam 45
9 - Coolant temperature/level . . . 45
10 - For additional switch 9 10
B25-5t?

1-Brake
« ->

The
light comes on while the engine is
cranking.
It goes out after the engine is started and the parking brake is
fully
released.
This is your assurance
that
the
brake warning light is functioning properly.
If the brake warning light does not light JC
while cranking the engine or setting :ne parking brake, there may be a malfunction in the electrical system. In this
case
c;~-
tact your Volkswagen dealer.
'where applicable
Always
heed
WARNINGS
on next page


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I CONTROLSAND EQUIPMENT
WARNING If the brake warning
light
does not go
out
with
the engine running and the parking brake released or lights up
while driving, the fluid level
in
the brake
fluid reservoir may
be
too low.
This might be
due
to
a
leak in one of the two independently functioning brake circuits.
If the brake pedal travel has increased,
one of the brake circuits may have

failed.
Avoid driving the vehicle and have it towed to the nearest Volkswa­
gen dealer or qualified workshop for re­ pair.
If brake pedal travel has not increased

and
braking performance remains un­
impaired,
proceed carefully to
your

nearest Volkswagen dealer or qualified
workshop to have the braking system inspected and corrected.

For detailed information see
"Brakes" on

page 29. 2-
Safety belt
|
A
FASTEN
BELTS

Refer
to
"Safety belts"
on
page
14 for

details.

3
-
Turn
signals E^

Refer
to
"Turn
signal/headlight dimmer
switch lever" on page 49 for details.
4
- Alternator

This
light comes
on
when
the
ignition
is
turned on and goes out after the engine
is
started.
If the
light does
not go out
after

starting
and
revving-up
the
engine
momentarily
or
lights
up
while driving,
there may be a malfunction
in
the electrical system
or
the V-belt
to
the alternator may be loose
or
broken.

In
this
case,
turn
the engine off and

contact
your
Volkswagen dealer.

5
- For additional
light

6
- For additional
light
7
- Engine Oil pressure

When
the
ignition
is
turned
on, the oil
pressure warning light comes on for a bulb

check.
It
should
go out
after
the
engine
has
started.

If the
warning light does
not go out or

flashes
while driving
(above
2000
engine rpm a buzzer
will
sound simultaneously),
it

indicates,
that the oil pressure is too low.

Stop the engine immediately, check the
engine
oil
level
and add
oil, if necessary.
If engine oil level is normal, but the
light

continues to flash, do not continue to
operate the vehicle. This could damage
the engine.

Turn
the engine off and contact the nearest Volkswagen dealer for assistance.

The oil pressure warning
light
is not an indicator for low engine oil level. To

check
the oil level, always use dipstick
(see page 99).

Make
it a habit to have the engine oil
level checked
with
every
fuel filling.


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VEHICLE OPERATION

OPERATE
YOUR VEHICLE SAFELY

A
lot has gone
into
the manufacture of your Volkswagen, including advanced engineering techniques, rigid quality
control and demanding inspections.

These
engineering and safety features will be enhanced by you, the safe driver,
• who knows the vehicle and all controls
• who maintains the vehicle properly
• who uses driving skills wisely.

For
your own safety as well as
that
of
those around you - be a responsible
driver. If you
drink,
do not
drive.
The use
of alcohol, drugs and certain medications
will seriously impair perception, reactions and driving ability, substantially increasing
the risk of an accident and personal
injury.
Do not
drive
if you are
tired,
ill or
under

emotional
stress.
The
following
points
are also
important
for
your
safety,
please
observe
them

all.
First
things
first...

• Turn the engine off before performing
any checks or repairs on the vehicle.
• Be sure tires are inflated correctly.

Check
for damage and
tire
wear.
• See
that
wheel bolts or nuts are pro­
perly tightened and not loose or missing.
• Check engine oil level, add if neces­

sary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil

checked
with
every fuel filling.
• Check coolant level to assure sufficient
engine cooling.
• Be sure you have a well charged
battery.
• Check brake fluid level. If too low, have
brake system checked.
• Replenish windshield washer fluid.
• Replace worn or cracked wiper blades.
• See
that
all windows are clear and un­
obstructed.
• Check whether all
light
lenses are

clean.
• Be sure all lights are working and head­
lights are aimed correctly.
• Check under vehicle for leaks.
• Make sure the movement of either

brake,
clutch or accelerator pedal is not hampered in any way.
• Be sure all luggage is stored securely.

You'll
find helpful hints on how to perform most of these checks in this manual. If in
doubt, have these checks performed by
your dealer or any other qualified
mechanic.

Emergency
equipment

It is good practice to carry emergency
equipment in your vehicle. Some of the
things you should have are: emergency
light,
first-aid kit, small shovel, and for the
winter
season,
an ice scraper, snow brush,
a
container or bag of sand or salt, etc.
70


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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
After driving over
difficult
terrain,
espe­
cially through water or mud, the following
is
important:
• Disengage the differential lock*.
• After long drives through deep mud, the
brakes must be checked and cleaned if
they are
dirty.
This will prevent damage to
the brakes and premature wear.
• After driving through deep water, take
out oil dipstick and check to see whether
there are drops of water on the dipstick or if the oil level has risen. In
that
case,
the oil
must be changed immediately.
• If during an off-road drive the vehicle

has
become stuck (dug its way
into
the
ground) or the underside was stuck by
rocks
or similar, check undercarriage,
brake lines and oil pan for damage. • The engine compartment and vehicle
underbody must be cleaned if they are
very
dirty
so
that
the function of all mova­ ble and electrical/electronic parts is main­
tained.
•
Clean
heavy soil from wheels and tires,

check
tires for damage or foreign objects in treads.
•
Clean
turn
signals, lights and license
plate.
• Dry brake system by driving a short dis­
tance
with
brake pedal slightly depressed.

This
will help regaining normal braking ac­
tion
and help prevent the possibility of the
vehicle pulling to one side while braking.
Performance
testing

If the
Vanagon/Transporter
Syncro re­

quires
testing
on a
dynamometer
(en­

gine
output
analysis and
brake
test)
the

transaxle
drive
shaft
must
be discon­ nected.
The
differential
lock
must
not be en­ gaged.
84 "where applicable


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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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