2015 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER ESP

Automatic switch-off for electrical consumers
The intelligent vehicle electrical system automati-cally implements a range of measures to prevent the battery from discharging under high loads:
• The idling speed is increased so that the alter-nator provides more electricity.
• The performance of large electrical consumers may be reduced or they may be switched off com-pletely.
• The supply of electricity to the 12-volt sockets and the cigarette lighter is interrupted temporarily while the engine is being started.
The vehicle electrical system cannot always pre-vent the vehicle battery from discharging. For ex-ample, if the ignition is left on for an extended peri-od of time with the engine off, or if the parking light is left on when the vehicle is parked for an exten-ded period.
What can cause the vehicle battery to discharge?
• Long periods at a standstill in which the engine is not running, especially if the ignition is switched on.
• The use of electrical consumers when the en-gine is switched off.
• When the supplementary heater is in operation =>page 332.
A WARNING
Incorrectly attaching the battery and using In-correct vehicle batteries can cause short cir-cuits, fire and serious Injuries.
366 I Cleaning and maintenance
A WARNING (Continued)
• Always use maintenance-free and leak-proof batteries that have the same properties, specifications and dimensions as the factory-fitted vehicle battery.
A WARNING
A highly explosive mixture of gases Is given off when the vehicle battery is being charged.
• Vehicle batteries should only be charged in well-ventilated spaces.
• Never charge a vehicle battery once it has been frozen. Discharged vehicle batteries can even freeze at temperatures of around o•c (+32.FJ.
• The vehicle battery has to be replaced if it has ever been frozen.
• Incorrectly connected cables can cause a short circuit. First connect the positive cable and then the negative cable.
CD
• Never make or break connections between vehicle batteries if the ignition is switched on or the engine is running. Never use a vehicle battery that does not correspond with the vehi-cle's specifications. The vehicle's electrical system or electronic components could be damaged, which could lead to electrical faults, for example In the start/stop system.
• Never connect equipment that provides electricity, such as solar panels or a battery charger, to the 12-volt socket or to the cigarette lighter to charge the vehicle battery. This can damage the vehicle electrical system.
Dispose of the vehicle baltery as required by legislation. Batteries may contain toxic sub-stances such as sulphuric acid and lead.
Electrolyte can pollute the environment. Clean up any service fluid leakages and dis-pose of them property.

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

type. Refer to the vehicle documentation and ask a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealership if necessary. Handling wheels and tyres
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Fig. 280 How to swap wheels.
.....-r'n First read and observe the introductory L-W! Information and safety warnings & on page 367.
The tyres are the most used and most underesti-mated parts of a vehicle. Tyres are very important as the narrow tyre surfaces are the only contact between the vehicle and the road.
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pres-sure, driving style handling and fitting.
The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle's design. The tyres and rims approved by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles are specially matched to the characteristics of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good road holding and safe handling.
Avoiding damage to the tyres
• If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obsta-cle, drive slowly and at a right angle if possible.
• Inspect the tyres regularly for damage such as cuts. cracks or blisters.
• Remove foreign objects that are in the outer tyre tread and have not penetrated the Inner tyre 373.
• Always respond to any warning messages giv-en by the tyre monitoring system=:opage 318.
• Damaged or worn tyres must be replaced im-mediately =:o page 373.
• Regularly check the tyres for hidden damage =:-page 373.
368 Cleaning and maintenance
• Never exceed the top speed and load permitted for the tyres that are fitted =:o page 375.
• Protect the wheels, including the spare wheel, from contact with corrosive substances, including oils, lubricants, fuel and brake fluid =:o &.
• Replace missing dust caps immediately.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
Tyres with directional tread pattern have been de-veloped to roll in one direction only. An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with directional tread =:o page 375. The di-rection of rotation must be adhered to. This is the only guarantee for optimum grip and helps to avoid aquaplaning, excessive noise and wear.
If, however, the tyre is fitted in the opposite direc-tion to the tread pattern, you must take more care when driving as the tyre is now no longer being used according to its designation. This is particu-larly important on wet roads. The tyres must be re-placed as quickly as possible or be fitted with the tread in the correct direction.
Rotating wheels front to rear
Regularly rotating the wheels as shown in the illus-tration =:o Fig. 280 is recommended to help ensure that tyres wear evenly. All the tyres will then last for about the same time.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends having the wheels changed by a qualified work-shop.
Tyres that are older than 6 years
Tyres age through physical and chemical process-es that can impair their function. Tyres that are stored unused for an extended period will harden and become brittle more quickly than tyres which are in constant use.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends re-placing tyres that are more than 6 years old with new tyres. This also applies for tyres, including the spare wheel, which appear to still be in good con-dition and whose tread depth has not yet reached the minimum value stipulated by legislation =:o &.
The age of a tyre can be determined from the man-ufacturing date, which Is a component of the tyre identification number (TIN) =:o page 375. .,..

Storing tyres
Mark tyres before you remove them to indicate the direction of rotation. This ensures you will be able to mount them correctly when you replace them (left, right, front, rear). When removed, the wheels or tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and pref-erably dark place. Do not store tyres mounted on the rim vertically.
Any tyres not fitted on rims should be kept in suita-ble sleeves to protect against dirt and should be stored vertically (standing on the tread).
All-terrain tyres
Some vehicles can be fitted at the factory with "all-terrain tyres". These tyres have a deep-tread pro-file that alters the vehicle's driving properties (such as comfort, consumption, braking distance, corner-Ing behaviour, rolling noise)=>&.
A WARNING
Corrosive liquids and other substances can cause visible and Invisible damage to the tyres, which can cause the tyre to burst.
• Always keep chemicals, oils, lubricants, fuel, brake fluid and other corrosive substan-ces away from the tyres.
A WARNING
Old tyres (even if never used) can suddenly lose 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.
Rims
,....-('n First read and observe the Introductory L-J.:.ll information and safety warnings & on page 367.
The design of the wheel bolts is matched to the rims. If different rims are fitted, the correct wheel bolts with the right length and correctly shaped bolt heads must be used. This ensures that wheels are fitted securely and that the brake system works properly =>page 420.
For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from other vehicles. This can al-so apply to wheels of the same vehicle type.
A WARNING
The deep-tread profile of all-terrain tyres can considerably increase the braking distance or cornering behaviour and thus cause acci-dents and serious injuries.
• Always bear the modified vehicle handling in mind, and drive carefully.
CD
Avoid heavy impacts and drive round obstacles whenever possible. Tyres, particularly low-pro-file tyres, can be considerably compressed and deformed by potholes and curb edges especial-ly. This can cause the tyre's webbing reinforce-ment to brake, and cause dents or rips on the side walls or deformations or cracks on the rims.
Old tyres should be disposed of as required !!IS by legislation. The tyres and rims approved by Voikswagen Com-mercial Vehicles are specially matched to the char-acteristics of the vehicle and make a major contri-bution to good road holding and safe handling.
Wheel bolts
Wheel boils must always be tightened with the cor-rect tightening torque =>page 420.
Rims with bolted-on rings
Rims with bolted-on rings consist of several com-ponents. These components are fastened using special bolts and special fastening technology. This ensures that the wheel functions proper1y, does not leak, remains safe and runs true. For this reason, damaged rims should be replaced. They may only .,..
Wheels and tyres I 369

be repaired by a qualified workshop. Volkswagen Commercial Vehides recommends using a Volks-wagen Commercial Vehicles dealership for this purpose => &.
Rims with bolted-on trims
Rims may have removable trims that are attached to the rim with self-locking bolts. Damaged trims may only be repaired by a qualified workshop. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends us-ing a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealership for this purpose => &.
Rim identification
In some countries, new rims are legally required to contain certain specifications on them. The follow-ing information may appear on the rims (varying from region to region):
• Seal of conformity
• Rim size
• Name of manufacturer or brand name
• Date manufactured (month/year)
• Country of origin
• Production number
New wheels and tyres
r--f'n First read and observe the introductory L-Wl information and safety warnings & on page 367.
New tyres
• Drive particularly carefully for the first 600 km with new tyres as the tyres have to be run in. Tyres that have not been run in have reduced grip=>& and braking effect => &.
• All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and the same tread.
• The tread depth of new tyres may vary, accord-ing to the type and make of tyre and the tread pat-tern.
370 I Clcanmg and maintenance
• Raw materials batch number
• Product code
A WARNING
The use of unsuitable or damaged rims can impair vehicle safety and cause accidents and serious injury.
• Only use rims that have been approved for the vehicle.
• Check the rims regularly for damage and replace as necessary.
A WARNING
Incorrect loosening and tightening of the bolts on rims with bolted-on rings can cause accidents and serious Injury.
• Never remove the bolts on rims with bot-ted-on rings.
• All work on rims with bolted-on rings must be carried out by a qualified workshop. Volks-wagen Commercial Vehicles recommends us-ing a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles deal-ership for this purpose.
Replacing tyres
• Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front tyres or both rear tyres together) => &.
• Old tyres should only be replaced by tyres that have been approved by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for the vehicle type. Make sure that the tyres used are correct in respect of size, diameter. load-carrying capacity and maximum speed.
• Never use tyres with an effective size that is larger than tyres approved by Volkswagen Com-mercial Vehicles. Larger wheels could rub against the body or other parts of the vehide.
Additional information for vehicles with tyre monitoring system
For vehides with a tyre monitoring system, the sys-tem will have to be "re-synchronised" after any wheel changes, regardless of whether the wheel in question is being fitted in the same or in a different position =>page 318.
Further information about the tyre monitoring sys-tem, how it functions and what you must know
=>page 318. Jl>

A wARNING
New tyres will have to be run in as they will Initially have reduced grip and braking effect.
• Drive particularly carefully for the first 600 km in order to prevent accidents and se-rious injury.
A WARNING
Wheels must have the necessary freedom of operation. If the wheels do not have the nec-essary freedom of operation, the tyre could rub on parts of the running gear, the vehicle body and the brake lines. This can lead to a fault in the brake system and to tread separa-tion and thus to a tyre bursting.
Tyre pressure
r-T'n First read and observe the introductory L-k.U Information and safety warnings & on page 367.
The correct tyre pressure for factory-fitted tyres is shown on the tyre pressure label and applies to all-season, summer and winter tyres. The tyre pres-sure label is located on the lock column on the left front door.
If the tyre pressure is too low or too high, the tyres will wear prematurely and the vehicle will not han-dle well => &. The correct tyre pressure is particu-larly important at high speeds. Incorrect tyre pres-sure causes premature wear and can cause a tyre burst.
The pressure should therefore be checked at least once a month and before starting a journey.
The given tyre pressure applies to cold tyres. Tyre pressure is always higher in warm tyres than it is in cold tyres.
For this reason, never reduce the pressure in warm tyres to adjust the tyre pressure. This would result in low tyre pressures that could potentially cause the tyre to burst suddenly.
Checking tyre pressure
Always check the tyre inflation pressure on "cold" tyres. A "cold" tyre can be defined as one on a ve-hicle that has only been driven a few kilometres (miles) within 3 hours prior to the test and at low speeds.
A WARNING (Continued)
• The actual tyre size must not exceed the tyre dimensions of manufacturers approved by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and must not rub on any vehicle body parts.
m Despite identical size details, the actual size L!..J of the various tyre makes may vary from these specified dimensions, or the tyre contours may vary considerably.
m Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles-approved L!..J tyres are guaranteed to have the dimensions that are suitable for the vehicle. The salesperson will have to provide a certificate from the tyre man-ufacturer for other tyre makes to prove that the tyre is also suitable for the vehicle. This certificate must be stored in a safe place in the vehicle. • The tyre pressures should be checked regularly and only when the tyres are cold. Always check all the tyres. including the spare if fitted. The tyre pressure should be checked more frequently in colder regions, but only if the vehicle has not been moved beforehand. The tyre pressure tester must function correctly.
• The tyre pressures must be adjusted to suit a heavy vehicle load.
• After altering the tyre pressures, please ensure that the valve caps are screwed on and observe any information and instructions on setting the tyre monitoring system =>page 318.
The temporary spare wheel is filled to the highest tyre pressure permissible for the vehicle.
A WARNING
Too high or too low a pressure may cause the tyre to suddenly lose pressure or burst while the vehicle is in motion. This can cause seri-ous accidents and fatal Injuries.
• If the tyre pressure Is too low, it is possi-ble that the tyre temperature will increase to such an extent when driving that the tread peels off and the tyre bursts.
• Fast speeds or overloading of the vehicle can cause overheating, sudden tyre damage including tyre bursts and ripping of the tread surface and thus to a loss of control of the vehicle.
• If the tyre pressure is too low or too high, the tyres will wear prematurely and the vehi-cle will not handle well. .,.
Wheels and tyres 371

A WARNING (Continued)
• Worn tyres reduce the possibility of con-trolling the vehicle well in normal and difficult driving situations and Increase braking dis-tance and the risk of sliding. Tyre damage
...--m First read and observe the introductory l-.W.I Information and safety warnings&,. on page 367.
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visi-ble. Any unusual vibrations or signs that the car is pulling to one side may indicate that one of the tyres is damaged =:. &,..
• Reduce your speed immediately if you suspect that a wheel is damaged.
• Check the tyres and rims for damage.
• If the tyre is damaged, do not drive on. Seek expert assistance.
• If there is no visible damage, drive slowly and cautiously to the next qualified workshop in order to have the vehicle checked.
Foreign bodies in the tyre
• Leave the foreign body in the tyre if it has en-tered the inner tyre. However, foreign bodies that are stuck between the tyre tread blocks can be re-moved.
• For vehicles with a spare wheel: where appro-priate, change the damaged wheel =:>page 420 If required, seek expert assistance when changing the damaged wheel. Volkswagen Commercial Ve-hicles recommends using a Volkswagen Commer-cial Vehicles dealership for this purpose.
• For vehicles with a breakdown set: the tyre can be sealed and pumped up using the tools in the breakdown set =:.page 425. Go to a qualified workshop. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles rec-ommends using a Volkswagen Commercial Vehi-cles dealership for this purpose.
Tyre wear
The tyre wear is affected by several factors, for ex-ample:
• Driving style.
• Unbalanced wheels.
• Running gear setting.
Driving style-fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking all increase tyre wear. The run-ning gear should be checked by a qualified work-shop if the tyres show excessive wear despite a normal driving style.
Unbalanced wheels -the wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors encoun-tered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which results in steering vibration. Un-balanced wheels will affect levels of wear on the steering system and the suspension. In this case the wheels should be balanced again. New tyres have to be balanced after fitting.
Running gear setting-incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of the vehicle. The wheel alignment should be checked by a qualified workshop if tyres show ex-cessive wear.
A WARNING
If you notice unusual vibration or the car pull-Ing to one side while the vehicle is In motion, this may indicate that one of the tyres is dam-aged.
• Reduce speed immediately and park the vehicle without obstructing traffic.
• Check the tyres and rims for damage.
• Never drive on if wheels or tyres are dam-aged. Seek expert assistance Instead.
• If there Is no visible damage, drive slowly and cautiously to the next qualified workshop In order to have the vehicle checked. Wheels and tyres 373

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