2012 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER tow

A WARNING (Continued)
• If engine oil is spilt on cold engine parts it can heat up and Ignite when the engine Is running.
• Always ensure that the engine oil filler cap Is securely tightened after refilling, and that the dipstick Is properly Inserted back Into the guide tube. This will prevent the engine oil from draining out on to hot engine compo-nents when the engine Is running.
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• Do not start the engine if the engine oil level Is above area@. Seek expert assistance. The catalytic converter and the engine could other-wise be damaged.
• When refilling or changing service fluids, please ensure that the correct fluids are added through the correct openings. Incorrect service fluids can cause serious functional problems and engine damage.
Engine oil consumption
n"'n First read and observe the introductory l.-J,:.ll information and safety warnings & on page 353.
Engine oil consumption can vary from engine to engine and can change during the working life of an engine.
The vehicle may consume up to 1.0 litre of engine oil per 2,000 km, depending on how you drive and the conditions in which the car is used. In new ve-
Changing engine oil
n"'n First read and observe the Introductory l.-J,:.ll Information and safety warnings & on page 353.
The engine oil must be changed regularly in ac-cordance with the data given in the service sched-ule.
The engine oil and filter change should be carried out by a qualified workshop due to the special tools and knowledge required, this also applies to the disposal of used oil. Volkswagen Commercial Vehi-cles recommends using a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealership for this purpose.
The engine oil level must never be above I!!S area @. Otherwise oil can be drawn in through the crankcase breather and escape into the atmosphere via the exhaust system. <1
hicles. consumption is likely to be higher for the first 5,000 km. The engine oil level must therefore be checked at regular intervals, preferably when refuelling and before long journeys.
When the engine is working hard the oil level must be kept within area =>Fig. 274 @,for instance dur-ing long motorway cruising in summer, trailer tow-ing or climbing mountain passes. <1
More details on the service intervals can be found in the service schedule.
Additives in the engine oil can cause new engine oil to discolour quickly. This is normal and does not mean that the engine oil should be changed more frequently.
A WARNING
If, In exceptional cases, you have to carry out an oil change yourself, please note the fol-lowing:
• Always wear eye protection. .,.
In the engine compartment 357

A WARNING (Continued)
• Always allow the engine to cool down completely to avoid burns.
• Avoid raising your arms when removing the oil drain plug with your fingers to help prevent oil from running down your arm.
• Use a suitable container when draining the used oil. it must be at least large enough to hold the entire quantity of engine oil re-quired for refilling.
• Never store engine oil in empty food con-tainers, bottles or any other non-original con-tainers as people finding these containers may not know that they contain engine oil.
Coolant
o:::n Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Warning lamp and coolant temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Coolant specification . . . . . 360 Checking the coolant level and refilling coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Never carry out any work on the engine coolant system if you are not familiar with the requisite pro-cedures, or if you do not have access to the cor-rect tools, operating equipment and fluids &. The work should be carried out by a qualified work-shop if you are uncertain. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends using a Volkswagen Com-mercial Vehicles dealership for this purpose.
Serious injuries can be caused if work is carried out incorrectly.
Additional information and warnings:
• Towing a trailer 139
• Preparation for working in the engine compart-ment 350
• Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts =>page 394
358 I Cleaning and maintenance
A WARNING (Continued)
• Engine oil is toxic and must be stored out of the reach of children.
r:Q:.. Before changing the engine oil, first find out W where old oil can be disposed of properly near you.
Used oil must be disposed of in accordance W with regulations governing the protection of the environment. Never dispose of old oil in loca-tions such as gardens, woods, sewerage systems, on streets and roads, or in rivers and waterways. A WARNING
Engine coolant is poisonous and can cause serious Injuries.
• Engine coolant should only be kept in sealed original containers In a safe place.
• Never store engine coolant In empty food containers, bottles or any other non-original containers as people finding these containers may then drink the engine coolant.
• The engine coolant must be stored out of the reach of children.
• Please note that the amount of correct coolant additive used must be sufficient for the lowest ambient temperature that you ex-pect the vehicle to be exposed to.
• Coolant can freeze at extremely cold out-side temperatures, causing the vehicle to break down. Vehicle occupants with Inade-quate winter clothing could then freeze to death as the heating will also no longer func-tion.
Coolant and coolant additives can pollute the W environment. Spilt service fluids must be col-lected then disposed of properly and in an environ-mentally responsible way.

Wheels and tyres
Useful information about wheels and tyres
o:::n Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Handling wheels and tyres .............. .
Rims
368
369
New wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370 Tyre pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Tread depth and wear indicators 372 Tyre damage 373
Spare wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Tyre lettering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Winter tyres . . . . . . . . . . • . • • . . . . . . . . . . . . 378 Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends that work on tyres and wheels is carried out by a qualified workshop. They are familiar with the pro-cedure and have the necessary special tools and spare parts and the proper facilities for disposing of the old tyres. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends using a Volkswagen Commercial Ve-hicles dealership for this purpose.
Additional information and warnings:
• Transporting 125
• Towing a trailer 139
• Braking, stopping and parking 269
• Tyre monitoring system 318
• Cleaning and caring for the vehicle exterior 380
• Consumer information 404
• Vehicle tool kit 416
• Hubcaps 417
• Changing a wheel 420
• Breakdown set 425
A WARNING
New tyres or tyres which are old, worn down or damaged cannot provide full levels of vehi-cle control and braking power.
• Incorrect handling of wheels and tyres can reduce vehicle safety and cause accidents and serious injuries.
A WARNING (Continued)
• All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circum-ference) and the same tread.
• New tyres will have to be run In as they will initially have reduced grip and braking ef-fect. Drive particularly carefully for the first 600 km in order to prevent accidents and se-rious injury.
• Check tyre pressures regularly and always keep to the specified tyre pressure value. If the tyre pressure is too low, it Is possible that the tyre temperature will Increase to such an extent when driving that the tread peels off and the tyre bursts.
• Never drive with worn tyres or tyres that are damaged (cuts, cracks or blisters). Driv-Ing with tyres in this condition can result in blown tyres, accidents and serious Injuries. Worn or damaged tyres must be replaced as soon as possible.
• Never exceed the top speed and load per-mitted for the fitted tyres.
• The effectiveness of the driver assist sys-tems and brake support systems depends on the tyre grip.
• If you notice unusual vibration or if the ve-hicle pulls to one side when driving, stop the car immediately and check the wheels and tyres for damage.
• In order to reduce the risk of losing con-trol of the vehicle, and the risk of accident and serious injury, never loosen the bolts on rims with bolted on rim rings.
• Do not use wheels or tyres if you do not know their history. Used wheels and tyres could be damaged, even If the damage is not visible.
• Old tyres (even if never used) can sudden-ly Jose pressure or burst, especially at high speeds. This can cause accidents and seri-ous injuries. Avoid using tyres that are more than six years old. If you have no alternative, drive slowly and with extra care at all times.
m For technical reasons, it is not generally pos-L!.J sible to use the wheels from other vehicles. This can also apply to wheels of the same vehicle .,.
Wheels and tyres I 367

Spare wheel
Fig. 282 Underneath the vehicle: retaining bolt G) and securing bolt® on the spare wheel bracket
r-T'n First read and observe the introductory L.-.lo:.U Information and safety warnings & on page 367.
Removing the spare wheel
These actions must be carried out in the specified order only &.
• Loosen the retaining bolt 282 G) until it is free using the box spanner from the toolkit.
• Unscrew the securing bolt® completely. The spare wheel bracket is now supported by the re-taining bolt.
• Fit the box spanner in the bracket 283.
• Make sure that the box spanner hook is located in the hole in the bracket 283 (close-up). If the box spanner is hooked in correctly, you should not be able to pull it out towards the back of the ve-hicle.
• Hold the box spanner with both hands.
• Lift the box spanner upwards together with the spare wheel bracket and guide the box spanner to the right. The head of the retaining bolt and the re-cess on the spare wheel bracket should be flush.
• Guide the box spanner downwards with the spare wheel bracket.
• Remove the spare wheel.
Storing the removed wheel
• Fit the box spanner in the spare wheel bracket.
• Place the replaced wheel in the spare wheel bracket.
• Lift the box spanner together with the spare wheel bracket in such a way that the head of the retaining bolt is guided through the recess in the spare wheel bracket.
374 I Cleaning and maintenance
Fig. 283 Underneath the vehicle: spare wheel bracket with box spanner inserted
• Move the spare wheel bracket together with the box spanner towards left, and place it on the re-taining bolt.
• Screw in the securing bolt, and tighten it with the box spanner.
• Screw in the retaining bolt, and tighten it with the box spanner.
When the spare wheel is not the same as the
other tyres mounted on the vehicle
If the spare tyre is not the same as the tyres that are mounted on the car-for example with winter tyres -only use the spare tyre for a short period of time and drive with extra care &.
Refit the normal, functional road wheel as soon as possible.
Follow these guidelines:
• Do not drive faster than 80 km/h (50 m ph).
• Avoid full acceleration, sudden braking and fast driving through bends in the road.
• The tyre pressure must be checked as soon as possible after fitting the spare wheel =>page 371.
The tyre pressure of the spare wheel should be checked together with the normal tyres, at least once a month. The spare wheel should have the highest pressure allowed for the vehicle 371.
A WARNING
Incorrect use of the spare wheel can lead to a loss of control over the vehicle, to collisions or other accidents and cause serious injuries.
• Never use a spare tyre if it is damaged or worn down to the tread wear Indicators. .,..

A WARNING (Continued)
• In some vehicles, the spare wheel could be smaller than the standard wheel. The small spare wheel has a sticker with the text "80 km/h" or "50 mph". This is the maximum speed at which you are permitted to drive with this tyre.
• Never drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph). Do not accelerate quickly, brake suddenly or drive at high speed through bends.
• The spare wheel must always be secured firmly with the wheel bolts supplied by the factory.
Tyre lettering
Fig. 284 International tyre lettering.
A WARNING (Continued)
• After fitting the spare wheel, the tyre pres-sure must be checked as soon as possible =>page 371.
m If possible, stow the spare wheel or the re-L!..J moved wheel safely in the luggage compart-ment. In vehicles with a breakdown set, the re-moved wheel cannot be secured.
m Depending on the vehicle equipment, some L!..J vehicles may be factory-fitted with a spare wheel bracket in the luggage compartment. ru First read and observe the introductory infonmation and safety warnings & on page 367.
=>Fig. 284 Tyre lettering (example) Meaning
G) Product name Individual tyre lettering from manufacturer.
DOT The tyre complies with the legal requirements of the USA De-
0 partment of Transportation, responsible for tyre safety stand-ards.
Wheels and tyres 375

r1ih In the interests of environmental protection, 'r!!S the engine compartment should be washed only in specially provided wash bays. This pre-vents toxic waste water containing oil, grease and
fuel from entering the sewerage system. In some districts, washing the engine compartment any-where else may be prohibited. Cleaning and caring for the interior
o::JJ Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Handling seat covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Cleaning cloth seat covers, fabric trim and Alcantara® upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Cleaning and caring for natural leather covers 391
Cleaning leatherette upholstery . . 392
Cleaning stowage compartments, drink holders and ash trays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392 Cleaning and caring for the dash panel, wooden trims and plastic parts . . . . . . . . . . 392
Cleaning seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392 Cleaning cool box . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . 393
Cleaning seat rails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Cleaning opaque shades 393
Modern fabrics, such as dark denim, are often not colourfast. Light-coloured upholstery (soft materials or leather) is particularly sensitive to staining caused by these fabrics, even if you are careful. This is not caused by a fault in the upholstery, but by the non-colourfast nature of the garments.
Leaving stains, dirt and other deposits on the sur-face of vehicle components and cloth seat covers for a long time can make it difficult to clean and treat them. Stains, dirt and deposits may become impossible to remove, particularly if left for a long time.
Additional information and warnings:
• Cleaning and caring for the vehicle exterior 380
• Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts 394
A WARNING
Car care products can be toxic and hazard-ous. Unsuitable care products and Incorrect application of care products can cause acci-dents, serious injuries, burns or poisoning.
388 Cleaning and maintenance
A WARNING (Continued)
• The care product must be kept In its origi-nal sealed container.
• Read the manufacturer's Instructions.
• Never store car care products in empty food containers, bottles or any other non-original containers as people finding these containers may not know that they contain care products.
• Keep children away from care products.
• The products can give off harmful fumes during use. They should therefore only be used outside or In well-ventilated spaces.
• Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other volatile fluids to wash, clean or care for your vehicle. These substances are toxic and highly Inflammable.
A WARNING
Incorrect care and cleaning of vehicle parts can Impair the safety features of the vehicle and cause serious Injury.
• Vehicle parts must be cleaned according to the manufacturer's Instructions.
• Only use approved or recommended cleaning products.
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• Cleaning products that contain solvents at-tack the material and may cause Irreparable damage.
• Stains, dirt and other deposits containing aggressive and solvent-based Ingredients at-tack the material and may cause Irreparable damage, even If only left for a short time.
• Stains, dirt and other deposits should be re-moved as quickly as possible and not allowed to dry In.
• To avoid damage, stubborn stains should be removed by a specialist cleaning company, .,.

Cleaning leatherette upholstery
,......-('n First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings & on page 388.
Only use water and neutral detergents to clean the ieatherette upholstery.
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Do not use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, spot removers or similar products on the leath-erette upholstery. These may cause the materi-al to become hard and brittle prematurely. Cleaning stowage compartments, drink holders and ash trays
,......-('n First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings & on page 388.
Cleaning stowage compartments and drink holders
Some stowage compartments and drink holders have a removable rubber insert in the base.
• Moisten a clean, lint-free cloth with water and clean the parts.
• If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a special solvent-free plastic cleaning product.
Cleaning the ashtray
• Remove and empty the ashtray.
• Wipe the ashtray with a cloth to clean it.
To clean the snuffer, use a toothpick or similar ob-ject to pick out the ashes. Cleaning and caring for the dash panel, wooden trims and plastic parts
,......-('n First read and observe the introductory Information and safety warnings & on page 388.
• Moisten a clean, lint-free cloth with water and clean the parts.
• Treat plastic parts (inside and outside the vehi-cle) and the dash panel with a special solvent-free plastic cleaning and care product that has been approved by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
""'&.
• Treat wooden trims with a mild soap solution.
Cleaning seat belts
,......-('n First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings & on page 388.
Large particles of dirt on the automatic belt prevent it from roiling back properly and thus from working effectively.
The seat belts must never be removed for cleaning purposes.
3921 Cleaning and maintenance
A WARNING
Cleaning agents that contain solvents cause the surface of the airbag modules to become porous. In an accident that triggers the air-bag, loose plastic parts can cause serious in-jury.
• Never clean the dash panel or the airbag covers with cleansers that contain solvents. • Remove dirt with a soft brush ,., &.
• Carefully pull the dirty seat belt right out and leave it out.
• Clean the seat belt with a mild soap solution.
• Allow the seat belt fabric to dry completely.
• Do not allow the seat belt to roil up until it has dried completely. 11>

A wARNING
Check the condition of all seat belts regularly. If the belt webbing or any other part of the seat belt becomes damaged have it removed and replaced immediately by a qualified workshop. Damaged seat belts are very dan-gerous and can cause severe or fatal injuries.
• Never use chemical cleaning agents on the seat belts or their components. Further-more the seat belts may not come Into con-tact with corrosive fluids, solvents or sharp objects. These could considerably weaken the webbing.
• After cleaning, allow seat belts to dry completely before rolling them up. Otherwise the automatic belt retractors could become damaged and thus Impair their function.
Cleaning cool box
)""""'('n First read and observe the Introductory L.-J,:,JJ Information and safety warnings & on page 388.
Cleaning seat rails
)""""'('n First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings & on page 388.
Clean the surface of the seat rails on a regular ba-sis
• Use a narrow nozzle on a vacuum cleaner to remove sand, dirt etc. from the seat rails.
Cleaning opaque shades
)""""'('n First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings & on page 388.
For the best cleaning results have the opaque shades dry cleaned.
A WARNING (ConUnued)
• Avoid allowing foreign bodies or liquids to enter the slot for the seat belt buckle. This could prevent the belt buckle and seat belt from working properly.
• Never try to repair, modify or remove the seat belts yourself.
• Damaged seat belts must be replaced im-mediately with new seat belts approved by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for your ve-hicle type. Seat belts subjected to stress and stretched during an accident must be re-placed by a qualified workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if there is no apparent damage. The belt anchorage should also be checked.
• Clean the cool box with a household detergent before using it for the first time and whenever it needs cleaning.
• To prevent mould and mildew from forming in the cool box when it is not being used for long peri-ods, place a folded dry towel between the box and its lid.
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If seats are moved when the seat rails are soiled, the seat rails and the seat feet could be damaged.
Please refer to the information on the labels sewn into the opaque shades before cleaning in a wash-ing machine.
Vehicle care and maintenance 393