1990 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER towing

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1
INSTRUMENT PANEL
Illustration instruments and controls
Warning and indicator light symbols
CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT

Keys,
central locking system .... 7, 8
Doors 9
Rear lid 11
Windows, mirrors 12, 13 Safety belts, head restraints . . . .14,19
Seats 20 Luggage compartment, pedals . 28,29
Brakes, Transmission 29, 32 Differential lock 33
Automatic-transmission 35 Steering lock/ignition/starter switch . 38
Starting procedures 39 Instrument cluster 40
Warning/indicator lights 43 Switches 46 Emergency flasher 46
Light switch, turn signals .... 46,48
Cruise control 49
Windshield wipers 50 Ventilation/Heating 51
Air conditioning 54
Heater 57
Sliding roof 62
Roof-rack 68 VEHICLE OPERATION
Break-in period - and afterwards . . 69
Operate your vehicle safety 70
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution 72
Trailer towing 73 Driving with the all-wheel drive ... 75
VEHICLE CARE
Fuel tank, fuel supply 85,86
Vehicle care (exterior/interior) . . 90, 93 Maintenance, inspection intervals . . 95 Engine compartment lid,
engine compartment 97 Lubricants, engine oil 98,99
Engine oil filter 101
Transmission oil 102
Power steering 103
Cooling system 104 Brake fluid 108
Battery 109
Windshield washers/wipers . . . 112,113
Tires/wheels 114 Difficult operating conditions .... 120
Winter driving 121
Accessories 122
DO-IT-YOURSELF SERVICE
Jack and tools 123 Spare wheel 124
Changing a wheel 125 Fuses, bulbs 128, 130 Adjusting headlights
134

Installing,
replacing the radio . . . . 135
Emergency starting 136
Emergency towing 138
Lifting vehicle . . 140
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Engine, transmission 142

Steering,
suspension, brakes,
body, chassis 143 Emission-control-system 144
TECHNICAL DATA
Engine, spark plugs .
V-belts capacities . . Dimensions
Weights
Vehicle identification 146
147
148
150 151
CONSUMER INFORMATION
Service manuals 152
GAS STATION INFORMATION
Location of servicing points 156
ALPHABETICAL INDEX 158


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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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iLER TOWING
VEHICLE OPERATION
phLT .'jlkswagen was primarily designed
pr : assenger transportation. If you plan to
m*
B.
trailer you should be mindful that

MLT
:ar will be performing a service it was
•cr "tended for. The additional load will
Wee durability and economy of per-
m~ ance. • :. :ow a trailer, your Volkswagen may
mc. -9 more frequent maintenance due to
ft* extra
load.

Gc not tow a trailer during the break-in kriod of your vehicle.
Keep an eye on your coolant tempera-
fere gauge. If coolant temperature warn- rc light comes on pull off the road to a sa's place to allow engine to cool down.
Maximum trailer weight
A vailer for your vehicle is limited to a
typi-

ca class I trailer. The maximum gross
Bier weight and the tongue load must not
eoeed the specifications listed in the
[fechnical Information/Data section of this
ranual.

Do not exceed the gross vehicle weight
•rhich is the weight of the driver, passen­ ger, luggage, trailer hitch and tongue
weight of the loaded trailer. Trailer hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to
the gross trailer weight. The hitch must be suitable for your vehicle and trailer and
securely bolted to the body. Always check
with the trailer hitch manufacturer to make
sure that you are using the correct hitch. Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitch must be installed in a way not to interfere with the impact-absorbing
bumper system. No modifications should
be made to the vehicle exhaust and brake
systems. From time to time check that all hitch mounting bolts remain securely fas­

tened.

If not towing a trailer for a long period of

time,
remove the trailer hitch. This pre­
vents the hitch from causing damage should your vehicle be struck from behind.
When removing the trailer hitch, seal all bolt holes to prevent water and exhaust
fumes from entering the vehicle.
Trailer brakes If your trailer is equipped with a braking

system,
check to be sure that it conforms
to all regulations.
The trailer brake system must not be di­ rectly connected to the vehicle's brake sys­

tem.
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of
your vehicle to the cold tire pressure listed on the label on the left front door jamb. In­
flate trailer tires to trailer and tire manufac­
turer's specifications.
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your car and trailer.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Do not connect the trailer light system directly
to the light system of your vehicle. Be sure
to check with your Volkswagen dealer for
correct wiring, switches and relays.
Before you tow a trailer
Correct and even load distribution. All ob­
jects inside the trailer should be held securely in place to guard against shifting, be it forward, backward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger in a moving
trailer.


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VEHICLE OPERATION

For
best roadability adjust your load to the
maximum allowed tongue load. To be sure

measure
tongue load of loaded trailer on
bathroom
scales.

Check
that
both sides of your trailer can be

seen
from the driver's seat. If necessary in­
stall extended rear-view mirrors.

Check
proper working of vehicle and
trailer lights.

Check
cold
tire
pressure of both vehicle

and
trailer.

Be
sure trailer safety chains are properly

connected
from trailer to the hitch on the

vehicle.
Leave enough slack in the chains
to permit turning corners.

Trailer
towing
tips
Your
vehicle handles differently when tow­ ing a trailer because of the additional
weight. Safety, performance and economy
will greatly depend on how carefully you
load
your trailer and operate your "rig."
Before
you actually tow your trailer, prac­
tice turning, stopping and reversing in an
area
away from
traffic
until
you learn the
feel of your vehicle and trailer
unit.

Reversing
is
difficult
and requires practice.

Steering
while reversing is generally oppo­
site of
that
when backing your vehicle with­
out a trailer.

Observe
speed limits. In some areas

speeds
for vehicles towing trailers are lower than for regular vehicles.
Maintain a greater distance between your

vehicle
and the one in
front.
You will need more room to stop.

When
passing remember
that
you cannot
accelerate
as fast as you normally would

because
of the added load. Make sure you
have
enough room to
pass.
After passing
allow plenty of room for your trailer before

changing
lanes again.

Avoid
jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
Slow
down in crosswinds and on rougi"

roads.
Be especially carefull when
pas­

sing
other vehicles and trucks.

When
parking always block the wheels o: both vehicle and trailer. Do not park
with
a
trailer on a slope. If it cannot be avoided dc
so
only after the following:
• Apply brakes.
• Have someone place wheel blocks
under both vehicle and trailer wheels.
• With wheel blocks in place slowly re­

lease
brakes
until
wheel blocks absorb the

load.

• Apply parking brake.
•
Place
transmission in
"P"
for automatic
or in
first
or reverse gear for manual trans­
mission.

74


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[VEHICLE
CARE

DIFFICULT
OPERATING
CONDITIONS

Driving
under
difficult
conditions

The
vehicle construction and equipment is
designed
for normal operating conditions.

This
also applies to the frequency and the extent of service requirements as stated in
the Maintenance brochure.
If you are planning to drive your vehicle
under
difficult
operating conditions (for

example,
continuous trailer towing, very hot or cold weather, very dusty conditions,
poor fuel quality etc.) you may
want
to
make
special preparations such as chang­
ing to appropriate oil viscosity, having your

car
thoroughly inspected. Furthermore,
the maintenance should be matched to
the operating conditions (see page 95).
Operating
your
vehicle
outside
the

USA
or
Canada

Government
regulations in the United

States
and
Canada
require
that
automo­

biles
meet specific emission regulations

and
safety standards. Therefore, vehicles

built
for the USA and
Canada
differ
from

vehicles
sold in other countries.
If you plan to take your vehicle outside the
continental limits of the United States or
Canada,
there is the possibility
that

• unleaded fuels for vehicles
with
cataly­
tic converter may not be available;
• fuel may have a considerably lower
octane rating. Improper fuel may cause
engine damage;
• service may be inadequate due to lack
of proper service facilities, tools or testing
equipment;
• replacement parts may not be readily

available.

Volkswagen
cannot be responsible for
mechanical
damage
that
could result

because
of inadequate fuel, service or
parts availability.
Certain
Volkswagen models are available
for delivery in Europe under our
tourist
delivery and
return
shipment program.

For
details consult your Volkswagen

dealer
or
write
to:

USA
Volkswagen United States, Inc. Tourist Delivery
P.O.
Box 3951
Troy, MJ 48007-3951

Canada
Volkswagen
Canada,
Inc. Tourist Delivery 1940 Eglinton Avenue
East

Scarborough,
Ontario
M1L2M2

If you bought your vehicle abroad an:

want
to bring it back home, be sure M inquire about shipping and forwardin:
requirements, as well as current impc

and
customs regulations
first.

Make
sure the vehicle meets Unite:

States
emission regulations and safe:

standards.
Otherwise it may prove tc:

costly
or even impossible to add the eqi : ment necessary to bring the vehicle in::

compliance
with
these regulations a-:

standards.

Canadian
regulations require
that
any c= not complying to standards has to

shipped
back to the car's country of oric -
at the owner's expense.


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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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EMERGENCY
TOWING
WITH
COMMERCIAL TOWTRUCK

The
following information is to be used by
commercial
tow truck operators who know how to operate their equipment safely.
General
hints

•
Whenever possible, tow
with
front

wheels
off ground.

•
Vehicle may be
lifted
in rear and moved
to position for
front
hook-up.

•
The
Vanagon
cannot be towed
with
con­

ventional sling-type equipment. Towing
with

this type of equipment will cause bumper
and
body panel damage.

Vanagon
with
Automatic
Transmission

Tow
with
dollies under rear wheels or on
flat
bed truck to avoid damage to auto­matic transmission.

WARNING
Never
allow
passengers to
ride
in a

towed
vehicle
for any reason.
Front
Hook-up

•
Attach wheel
lift
equipment to wheels.

•
Attach safety straps to wheels.
•
Attach safety chains to axle platform.

•
Towing clearance: 6-12 inches
between tires and ground.

•
Towing
Speed/Miles:
Automatic
Transmission
-30 mph/30 mi

Manual
Transmission
-
50 mph/50 mi.

138


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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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