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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 
Seatback
 adjustment 
The backrest is secured and cannot
 tilt
 for
 ward accidentally. 
C
 To adjust, take body weight off the
 bac
krest and push down lever (2) at hinge 
cover on
 right
 side of seat. 
• Exert slight body pressure in the direc
tion
 desired and let lever go to lock
 bac
 krest in position. 
WARNING 
To
 reduce
 the
 risk
 of
 serious
 personal 
 injury
 in an
 accident,
 front
 seat
 passen
gers
 must
 never
 ride
 in a
 moving
 vehi
cle
 with
 the
 seatback
 reclined.
 The
 risk 
of
 personal
 injury
 will
 increase
 with
 in
creasing
 rearward
 angle
 of the
 seat-
 back.
 Safety
 belts
 only
 offer
 optimum 
protection
 when
 the
 seatback
 is up
right
 and
 belts
 are
 properly
 positioned 
on the
 body.
 Improperly
 positioned 
safety
 belts
 cause
 serious
 personal
 in
jury
 in an
 accident. 
 Removing
 bucket
 seats 
• Stand outside vehicle, pull up lever (1) 
and slide seat all the way forward. 
•
 Lift
 stop hook (3) up against springload-
ing,
 hold there and slide seat past stop. 
•
 Release
 stop hook and slide seat
 for
ward out of guide rails. 
When reinstalling seat, reverse the above  procedure. The stop hook (3) need not be 
lifted
 as the seat can
 just
 be pushed past the 
stop. 
 Two-seater* 
Seat
 ajustment
 (forward
 or backward) 
The two seater adjustment lever is located  in
 front
 of the seat. 
The adjustment procedure outlined for the 
 front
 bucket seats also applies to the two 
seater. 
The backrest adjusts at the same
 time
 the  adjustment lever is operated. 
Removing
 two
 seater 
First remove bolts
 from
 the upper hinge on 
the backrest. 
Then proceed as outlined for removal of  the bucket
 seats. 
*where applicable  21 
 
 
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CONTROLS
 AND
 EQUIPMENT 
^EAR SEAT/LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT 
You can expand the luggage compartment 
 load
 surface
 by
 folding
 the
 backrest
 of the 
rear seat bench down. 
Folding
 backrest for 
rear seat bench 
Unlock
 the
 backrest
 by
 pulling strap
 in 
driving direction. Fold backrest down until  it rests
 on
 seat cushion. 
The backrest will
 be
 locked automatically  when returned
 to
 its upright position. Make sure the lap belts remain
 on
 top
 of
 the seat 
cushion,
 ready
 for
 use.  When folding
 the
 seatback
 up,
 make 
sure
 it
 securely locks into place.
 This 
will
 prevent
 objects
 in the
 luggage  compartment from flying forward
 in 
case
 of
 a
 sudden stop. 
Luggage compartment 
Cargo weight should
 be
 located
 in the
 lug
gage compartment
 as far
 forward
 as
 pos
sible. 
Be
 careful when removing large objects 
through
 the
 rear
 lid.
 Sharp edged  objects may damage the defogger wires  in the rear window. 
Keep
 the
 luggage compartment locked 
at
 all
 times
 to
 prevent
 unauthorized 
access
 to the vehicle.  WARNING 
•
 To
 help
 prevent
 poisonous exhaust 
gas from being drawn into the vehicle, 
always keep
 the
 rear lid closed while 
driving. Therefore, do not transport ob
jects larger than those fitting safely  into the luggage
 area. 
•
 Do
 not allow passengers to occupy 
the rear load surface while the vehicle 
 is
 in motion. 
To reduce
 the
 risk
 of
 personal
 injury 
 during
 a
 collision
 or sudden maneuver: 
•
 When transporting luggage or other 
cargo, secure
 it in
 place
 to
 prevent 
 such articles from shifting during
 a 
sudden stop. 
•
 If it is
 necessary to stow luggage
 or 
other items inside the passenger
 com
 partment,
 be
 sure that
 they
 cannot 
fly forward
 in an
 accident
 or
 sudden  maneuver
 and
 injure occupants. 
•
 Never
 exceed the Gross Axle Weight 
Rating
 or the
 Gross Vehicle Weight 
Rating
 which
 are
 specified
 on the 
safety compliance sticker located
 on 
the left door jamb. Exceeding permis
 sible
 weight ratings
 can
 result
 in 
vehicle damage, accidents
 and 
 personal
 injury.
 See also page
 150. 
 
 
 
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CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT 
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION* 
p R 
 f 
N  d 
D 
2 
 f 
1  :'B33-395 
Selector lever positions 
WARNING Apply foot brake when engaging Drive or Reverse. 
P - Park 
Engage Park only when the vehicle is
 sta
nnary. Therefore, when parking your  .snide, apply the parking brake first, and 
:nen move the selector lever completely to  cosition P. To do this depress the but
ton in the handle of the selector lever  and push it through R to P. The transmis-s on is then mechanically locked. 
Depending on the model, your vehicle 
~iay be equipped with an Automatic Shift  _ock (ASL). To move the shift lever from 
re
 P-Park
 position to any other position, 
".vhere applicable  you must depress both the brake pedal 
and the button into handle of the selector lever. 
Shift out of the Park position, before re leasing the parking brake. 
When the vehicle is parked on a steep
 hill, 
 shifting out of Park may be a little harder. 
This is due to the vehicle's weight exerted  on the transmission. 
Warning buzzer 
A warning buzzer will sound when you  open the driver's door with the selector lever left in any other but
 P-Park
 position. 
The warning buzzer will go off as soon as  the selector lever is moved to the
 P-Park 
 position. 
R - Reverse 
Reverse should be selected only when the 
vehicle has come to a full stop and the en
gine is running at idle speed. 
Before you move the selector lever to the 
reverse position you have to depress the 
push button in the handle of the selector 
lever. 
N - Neutral 
Shift to this position for standing with 
brakes applied.  Depending on the model, your vehicle 
may be equipped with an Automatic Shift 
Lock (ASL). To move the shift lever from 
the N-Neutral position to any other
 posi
tion at speeds below 3 mph (5 km/h) or  when the vehicle is stationary, you must 
depress both the brake pedal and the button into handle of the selector lever. 
Do not use Neutral for coasting downhill. 
Coasting downhill with the transmission  in Neutral and the engine not operating 
will result in damage to the Automatic 
transmission. 
D - Normal driving position 
Position D is for normal city and highway 
driving.
 It ranges from zero to top speed,  and all three gears shift automatically, 
depending on engine load and driving 
speed. 
2 - Position for hilly stretches 
This position is to be used for mountain  driving or slow driving, and also when you 
want to make use of the engine's braking  effect. In "2", only the first and second 
gears will engage automatically. 
The road speed must not exceed 54 mph  or 87 km/h. Therefore, only shift down into position "2" when vehicle speed is 
below this speed. It is not necessary to let 
up on the accelerator. 35 
 
 
 
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CONTROLS AND
 EQUIPMENT 
Malfunctions 
if the
 unit
 does not
 operate 
• Outside temperatures may be below 
41° For + 5°C. 
• The air conditioner fuse may have blown. Turn the
 unit
 off and check fuse. 
See
 page 129 for use panel location. 
 General
 hints 
If
 water
 drips
 under
 the
 vehicle 
When outside temperature is high and the 
air very humid, condensed water can drip 
off the evaporator under the vehicle. This 
 is
 normal and does not indicate a leak. 
Payload
 reduction 
The weight of the air conditioner installed  in your vehicle reduces the vehicle's load 
carrying capacity. For weight information, 
see
 sticker on
 left
 doorjamb. 
Maintenance 
The condenser should be checked peri
odically for cleanliness. If clogged
 with 
dirt
 or insects, the condenser should be 
washed down
 with
 water. 
After the winter months and before ex
tended summer
 usage,
 the air conditioner  should be checked and, if necessary, ser
viced by your Volkswagen dealer. 
 
 
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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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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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