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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 
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 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 
Changing the
 engine
 oil 
 Have
 your engine oil changed regularly, 
but at least twice a year (see Maintenance 
booklet). 
This
 is very important because the lubri cating properties of oil diminish gradually 
during normal operation of the vehicle. 
If you drive mostly short distances, or if 
you operate the vehicle in dusty
 areas,
 or  under predominantly stop-and-go traffic 
conditions, or when temperatures remain  below freezing for extended periods, the 
engine oil should be changed more fre
quently. 
Due
 to the detergent additives in the oil, 
the fresh oil will look dark after the engine 
 has
 been running for a short time. This is 
normal and there is no reason to change 
the oil more often than recommended by 
the manufacturer. 
Always
 heed
 WARNINGS
 on
 page
 96 
100 and97-
 WARNING 
•
 Drain
 the oil
 into
 a
 container
 that
 is 
designed for
 this
 purpose, one
 that
 is 
 large
 enough to hold at
 least
 the oil 
filling
 of your
 engine. 
•
 Wear
 eye
 protection. 
• To
 reduce
 the
 risk
 of burns
 from
 hot 
engine
 oil let the
 engine
 cool
 down
 to 
the touch. 
•
 When
 removing
 the oil
 drain
 plug 
with
 your fingers,
 keep
 as far
 away
 as  possible.
 Always
 keep
 your
 forearm 
parallel
 to the ground to
 help
 prevent 
hot oil
 from
 running
 down
 your arm. 
• Engine oil is poisonous. Keep it
 well 
out of the
 reach
 of children. Con
tinuous
 contact
 with
 used
 engine
 oil is 
 harmful
 to your skin.
 Always
 protect 
your skin by
 washing
 thoroughly
 with 
 soap and
 water. 
•
 Always
 dispose of used
 engine
 oil 
properly.
 Do not
 dump
 it on
 garden
 soil, 
wooded
 areas,
 into
 open
 streams
 or 
down
 sewage
 drains. 
• Recycle used
 engine
 oil by
 taking
 it to 
a used
 engine
 oil collection
 facility
 in 
your
 area,
 or
 contact
 a service
 station. 
 • Turn off the engine. 
• Remove the oil drain plug (arrow) when 
the engine is still warm and allow the oil to 
 drain. 
•
 Always
 use a new
 gasket
 when 
reinstalling
 the plug. Do not
 overtighten. 
•
 Fill
 the engine
 with
 oil. Do not
 overfill. 
Always
 check engine oil level
 with
 dipstick 
 as
 described on previous page. 
Engine
 oil capacity is listed under 
"Capacities",
 page 147. 
Local
 zoning ordinances or environmental 
regulations will tell you how you can 
dispose
 of used engine oil. Should the dis carding of the old oil present a problem to 
you,
 we suggest you have the oil changed 
at your dealer or a service station. 
 
 
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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 
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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TECHNICAL DATA 
V-BELTS
 CAPACITIES 
for waterpump/alternator. 9.5 x 1100 LA
 Fuel
 tank 16.0 gal/60 liters 
for A/C compressor . . . 12.5x1153 LA Syncro: 
for power steering .... 9.5 x 1080 18.5 gal/70 liters  Noteg
 Reserve
 (of
 total
 capacity) >. .. 2.5 gal/10 liters 
The V-belts are among the most severely Coolin3
 sVstem186
 ^t/17-5 ll,ers 
 stressed
 parts of a vehicle. The belts there- Automatic 
fore have very high quality requirements. transmission fluid (ATF) 3.2 qt/3.0 liters 
When replacing a belt, it is not sufficient to Windshield washer container 4.3 qt/4.2 liters 
 use
 just
 any belt of the same
 size.
 For safe 
operation, use only Original Volkswagen
 Rear
 window washer container 1.1 qt/1.0 liters 
V-belts
 specially designed for your Engine oil 
vehicle.
 The correct belts can be obtained
 with
 filter
 change 4.8 qt/4.5 liters  at your Volkswagen dealership.
 without
 filter
 change 4.2 qt/4.0 liters 
Do
 not
 fill
 above "max" mark. 
The oil level should be checked while topping up. 
Difference between "min" and "max" marks 
on the dipsticks is approx. 1 qt/1 liter 
 
 
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GAS
 STATION
 INFORMATION 
1 -
 Jack
 and tools, see page 123. 
2
 - Windshield washer container, capacity 4.3 qt/4.2 liters. 
3
 -
 Fuse
 box, see page 128. 
4 - Brake
 fluid
 reservoir, see page 108. 
5
 - Spare wheel, see page 124. 
6 - Battery, see page 109. 
7 -
 Fuel
 filler neck (rear wheel drive), capacity 16 gal/60 liters. 
8 -
 Rear
 window washer container, capacity 1.1 qt/1.0 liters. 
9 -
 Fuel
 filler neck (syncro), capacity 18.5 gal/70 liters. 
10 - Air cleaner, see page 103. 
11 - Power steering
 fluid
 reservoir, see page 103. 
12 - Engine oil dipstick/oil filler neck, see page 99. 
13
 - Coolant
 refill
 tank, see page 105. 
14 - ATF dipstick, see page 102. 
157 
 
 
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