A WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents and severe injuries.
• Wiper blades should therefore always be changed if they are damaged or worn and no longer clean the windscreen properly.
Indicator lamp
Q)
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the glass before using the wipers. When parking the vehicle in cold weather, it may be helpful to leave the front windscreen wipers in the service position 119.
Lit up Possible cause
Windscreen washer fluid level too low.
Several warning and indicator lamps will light up briefly as a functional check when the ignition is switched on. They will go out after a few seconds.
Wiper lever
Fig. 92 Next to the steering wheel: wiper lever for operating the front wipers.
Solution
Fill up the washer fluid reservoir as soon as possible =>page 120.
Q)
Failure to observe illuminated indicator lamps and text messages can lead to your vehicle be-ing damaged.
[QJ First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings & on page 116.
Move the lever into the required position
® Off Switches off the wipers.
Interval wipe for the windscreen.
® LOW Slow wipe.
@ IOOH Fast wipe.
Lights and vision 117
Move the lever into the required position
0 lx Flick wipe -wipes briefly. Push and hold the lever down for longer to wipe more quickly.
® ,··.··· \X:) Pulling the lever aclivates the wash and wipe system for cleaning the windscreen.
® CQ Interval wipe for the rear window. The wiper will wipe the window approximately every 6 seconds .
0 ........ Pushing the lever activates the wash and wipe system for cleaning the rear window.
Q)
If the ignition is switched off while the wipers are still switched on, the wipers will continue to wipe on the same setting when the ignition Is switched on again. If there Is frost, snow or other obstructions on the windscreen or rear window, the wipers and wiper motor could be-come damaged.
• Remove any snow and ice from the wipers before setting off.
Wiper functions
Q)
Do not switch on the wipers when the window is dry. Using the wipers when the windscreen Is dry can damage the windscreen.
m The wipers will only function when the igni-W lion is switched on and the bonnet and tail-gate are closed.
m The rear window wiper is switched on auto-W matically if the front wipers are switched on and reverse gear is engaged.
Wiper response in various situations:
When the vehicle is stationary. When switched on, the wipers will temporarily be switched to the next setting down.
While the wash and wipe system is run-ning.
The Climatronic will switch to air recirculation mode for approxi-mately 30 seconds to prevent the smell of the windscreen wash-er fluid from entering the vehicle interior.
When the interval wipe is switched on. The wiper intervals vary according to the vehicle speed. The faster the vehicle is travelling, the shorter the interval.
Headlight washer system
The headlight washer system cleans the lenses on the headlights.
Once the ignition has been switched on, the head-lights will be washed the first time the windscreen washer system is used, and every fifth time there-after. To do this, pull the wiper lever towards the steering wheel when the dipped beam headlights or main beam are switched on. Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from the headlights at regular in-tervals, for instance when filling the tank.
118 Before the journey
In winter, you should remove any snow from the headlight washer nozzles in the bumper to keep the headlight washer system in working order. Re-move any ice with a de-icer spray.
m The wipers will try to wipe away any obsta-W cles that are on the windscreen. The wipers will stop moving if the obstacle blocks their path. Remove the obstacle and switch the wipers back on again.
Service position for the front wipers
Fig. 94 Wiper blades in service position.
r--('n First read and observe the introductory L-J,::.IJ information and safety warnings & on page 116.
The wiper arms can be lifted off the windscreen when in the service position 94. Carry out the following steps to move the wipers to the serv-ice position:
Rain sensor
CD
®
Fig. 95 Next to the steering wheel: adjusting rain sensor® in wiper lever.
r--('n First read and observe the introductory L-J,::.U information and safety warnings & on page 116.
When the rain sensor is activated, it automatically controls the frequency of the wiper intervals, de-pending on the amount of rain &. The sensitivity of the rain sensor can be adjusted manually. Man-ual wipe 117.
• The bonnet must be closed 350.
• Switch the ignition on and then off again.
• Briefly press down the wiper lever 92 @).
Place the wiper arms back onto the windscreen before driving away. Briefly press the wiper lever down to bring the wiper arms back to the original position.
Lifting the front wipers
• Move the wiper arms to the service position be-fore lifting
• When lifting the wiper arm hold it only by the wiper blade mounting.
CD
• In order to prevent damage to the bonnet and the wiper arms, the wiper arms should only be lifted when in the service position.
• Always return the wiper arms to the wind-screen before starting your journey.
Push the lever to the desired position 95:
@ Deactivates the rain sensor.
CD Rain sensor is active -automatic wipe when necessary.
® Adjusting the sensitivity of the rain sensor:
-Switch to the right-high sensitivity.
-Switch to the left -low sensitivity.
Lights and vision 119
The rain sensor will remain active after the ignition is switched off and back on again and will function again if the wiper lever is in position G) and if the vehicle is travelling at speeds higher than approxi-mately 16 km/h (10 mph).
Changes to the functioning of the rain sensor
Possible causes for faults and misinterpretations concerning the sensitive surface 96 of the rain sensor include:
• Damaged wiper blades: a film of water or smears caused by damaged wiper blades can in-crease the time the wipers are switched on, can shorten the length of the intervals between wipes or cause the wipers to run continuously.
• Insects: insects hitting the surface can cause the wipers to be activated.
• Salt deposits: in winter, salt deposits can cause the wipers to continue to wipe the windscreen when it is almost dry.
• Soiling: dry dust, wax, windscreen coatings (lo-tus effect) or detergent deposits (automatic car wash) can cause the rain sensor to become less sensitive and react too slowly or even not at all.
• Crack in the windscreen: when the windscreen is impacted by a stone, a wash cycle is triggered if the rain sensor is on. The rain sensor will then reg-
ister the reduction in sensitivity of the surface and adjust accordingly. The size of the crack could af-fect the way in which the sensor activates the wip-ers.
A WARNING
The rain sensor will not always detect every rain shower and activate the wipers.
• If necessary, switch on the wipers manual-ly if the water on the windscreen restricts the field of vision.
m At regular intervals, clean the sensitive sur-L!...J face of the rain sensor and check the wiper blades for damage 96 (arrow).
m We recommend that you use an alcohoi-W based glass cleaner to remove wax and pol-ish.
Checking and refilling the windscreen washer fluid level
Fig. 97 In the engine compartment: cap of washer fluid reservoir.
r--T'n First read and observe the introductory L-J,:,JJ information and safety warnings & on page 116.
The windscreen washer fluid level should be checked regularly and topped up as necessary.
120 I Before the journey
A filter can be found in the feed throat of the wash-er fluid reservoir. The filter keeps large dirt particles away from the washer jets when refilling. The filter should only be removed for cleaning. if the filter is damaged or cannot be found when refilling, these dirt particles will reach the system and will block the washer jets.
• Open the bonnet & 350.
• The washer fluid reservoir is identified by the $ symbol on the cap 97.
• Check whether there is enough windscreen washer fluid in the reservoir.
• To top up, mix clean water (not distilled water) with a washer fluid recommended by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Observe the dilution in-structions on the packaging.
• At low temperatures, add a special anti-freeze agent so that the fluid cannot freeze &.
Vehicle care and maintenance
Caring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior
o:n Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382 Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors . . . . . . 382
Cleaning and changing wiper blades 383
Waxing and polishing the vehicle 384
Cleaning and caring for chrome and aluminium trim parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Cleaning and caring for the decorative film . . 385
Cleaning wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Care of rubber seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
De-icing door lock cylinders . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . 387
Undersea! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Cleaning the engine compartment . 387
Regular and expert care helps to maintain the val-ue of the vehicle. Proper maintenance may also be one of the requirements for the approval of warran-ty claims in the event of corrosion or paint defects.
Suitable care products are available from Volkswa-gen Commercial Vehicles dealers.
Additional information and warnings:
• Preparation for working in the engine compart-ment ::-page 350
• Cleaning and caring for the interior ::-page 388
• Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts ::-page 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.
• The care product must be kept In Its origi-nal sealed container.
380 Cleaning and maintenance
A WARNING (Continued)
• 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 thus cause serious Injury.
• Vehicle parts must be cleaned according to the manufacturer's Instructions.
• Only use approved or recommended cleaning products.
CD
Cleaning agents that contain solvents attack the material and can cause damage.
r:Q:... In the interests of environmental protection, "C!S the vehicle should only be washed in special-ly provided wash bays. This prevents waste water contaminated with oil, grease or fuel from entering the sewerage system. In some countries, washing vehicles anywhere else may be prohibited.
r:Q:... Environmentally-friendly care products "C!S should be used.
r:Q:... Leftover car care products should not be dis-"C!S posed of with ordinary household waste. Read the manufacturer's instructions.
Washing the vehicle
r-f'n First read and observe the introductory Information and safety warnings & on page 380.
The longer substances such as insects, bird drop-pings, resinous tree sap, road dirt, industrial de-posits, tar, soot or road salt and other corrosive materials remain on the vehicle, the more damage they do to the paintwork. High temperatures (for in-stance in strong sunlight) accelerate the corrosion process. The underside of the vehicle should also be cleaned thoroughly and regularly.
Car washes
Please observe the signs on the automatic car wash. Before using an automatic car wash take the usual precautions, such as closing all windows and folding in the exterior mirrors, in order to avoid damage to the vehicle. You must consult the car wash operator if there are special parts on your ve-hicle such as spoilers, roof luggage carrier systems or radio aerials ::.CD.
The paint is so hard-wearing that the car can nor-mally be washed without problems in an automatic car wash. However, the effect on the paint de-pends to a large extent on the design of the car wash. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recom-mends the use of car washes without brushes.
To remove any wax residue from the windows and to stop wipers rubbing, please note the following points ::.page 382, Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors.
Washing the car by hand
When washing by hand, first soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse off as well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a glove or a brush using only light pressure. Start with the roof and work from the top to the bottom. Use a shampoo for very stubborn dirt only.
The sponge or glove should be wrung out thor-oughly at regular intervals.
Clean the wheels, sill panels etc. last. Use a differ-ent sponge for this purpose.
A WARNING
Parts of the vehicle with sharp edges can cause Injury.
• Protect your hands and arms from cuts on sharp parts, for example when cleaning the underbody or the inside of the wheel hous-lngs.
A WARNING
After the car has been washed, the braking effect could set in later than normal and ex-tend the braking distance as the brake discs and brake pads will be wet, or iced up In win-ter.
• You can "dry and de-ice" the brakes by performing careful braking manoeuvres. Make sure that you do not endanger any oth-er road users or violate any legal regulations when doing so.
CD
• The water should be no warmer than +so•c (+140.FJ.
• Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight in order to avoid damage to the vehicle palntwork.
• Never clean with insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar products as these can damage the surface.
• Never clean the headlights with a dry cloth or sponge. Always use a wet cloth or sponge. lt is best to use soapy water.
• Washing the vehicle In cold weather: if the vehicle is rinsed with a hose, do not direct the water at the lock cylinders or the gaps around the doors, boot, or bonnet. The locks and seals could freeze.
CD
Observe the following guidelines before driving the vehicle into an automatic car wash in order to avoid damage to the vehicle:
• Ensure that the gap between the guide rails In the car wash is sufficient for the vehicle track. If the track is too narrow your wheels and tyres will be damaged.
• Switch off the rain sensor before driving the vehicle Into an automatic car wash.
• Check that the car wash is tall and wide enough for your vehicle.
• Fold In the exterior mirrors. Electrically fold-Ing exterior mirrors must be moved electrically. Do not fold them in and out by hand.
• In order to prevent damage to the palntwork on the bonnet, fold the wipers back onto the windscreen after drying the wiper blades. Do not drop the wipers onto the glass.
• Lock the tailgate to prevent it from opening accidentally In the car wash.
Removing wax
Car washes and care products could leave wax deposits on the glass surfaces. Wax residue can only be removed using a special cleaning product or cleaning cloths. Wax deposits on the wind-screen can cause the wiper blades to rub. Volks-wagen Commercial Vehicles recommends that a glass cleaning cloth G 052 522 A1 be used to re-move wax deposits from the windows and exterior mirrors each time the vehicle is washed.
A window cleaning agent specifically for removing wax will stop the blades rubbing if added to the windscreen wash water. Dilute the cleaner as in-structed. Grease-removing cleaners will not re-move wax deposits =-CD.
Special cleaners, glass cleaners and glass clean-ing cloths are available from Volkswagen Commer-cial Vehicles dealerships.
Removing snow
Use a small brush to remove snow from the win-dows and exterior mirrors.
Removing ice
The best method for removing ice is to use a de-icer spray. If you use an ice scraper, do not move it to and fro, but push it in one direction only. Mov-ing the ice scraper backwards can cause dirt to scratch the window.
Cleaning and changing wiper blades
Fig. 285 Changing the wiper blades.
1"'111 First read and observe the introductory l..-J,:.U information and safety warnings & on page 380.
A WARNING
Dirty or misted windows reduce visibility and Increase the risk of accidents and severe in-juries.
• Only drive when you have a clear view through all windows.
• Ice, snow and mist must be removed from the inside and outside of all windows.
CD
• Never combine the recommended cleaning agents with other cleaning agents for use in the windscreen washer fluid. This can cause the in-gredients to separate and block the windscreen washer jets.
• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and Ice from windows and mirrors. This can cause the glass to crack.
• The heating elements for the rear window heater are on the Inside of the rear window. Never apply stickers over the heating elements and never clean the inside of the rear window with corrosive or acidic detergents or any other chemicals.
The factory-fitted wiper blades are coated with graphite. The graphite coating ensures that the wiper blade moves quietly over the windscreen. If the graphite coating is damaged, the windscreen wiper will become louder. .,..
Vehicle care and maintenance 383
Check the condition of the wiper blades on a regu-lar basis. Rubbing wiper blades should be changed if damaged or cleaned if dirty
Damaged wiper blades should be replaced imme-diately. Wiper blades can be bought from a quali-fied workshop.
Cleaning wiper blades
Note for the front wipers: move the wiper arms to the service position before lifting them 116.
• When lifting the wiper arm hold it only by the wiper blade mounting.
• Clean the wiper blade carefully using a damp cloth
• Place the wiper arm back onto the windscreen.
Changing the wiper blades
• Move the wiper arms to the service position be-fore lifting 116.
• When lifting the wiper arm hold it only by the wiper blade mounting.
• Press and hold the release button 285 G) and simultaneously pull off the wiper blade in the direction of the arrow.
• Insert a new wiper blade with the same length and design onto the wiper arm. Push it on until it engages.
• Place the wiper arm back onto the windscreen.
Changing the wiper blade for the rear window
• When lifting the wiper arm hold it only by the wiper blade mounting.
• Lift and fold back the wiper arm.
Waxing and polishing the vehicle
r--f"n First read and observe the Introductory L-J,::,JJ Information and safety warnings & on page 380.
Waxing
waxing protects the paintwork. You will need to re-wax the vehicle with a good hard wax if water no longer clearly forms small drops and runs off the paintwork when it is clean.
Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the car wash, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recom-mends protecting the paint with a coat of hard wax at least twice a year.
384 I Cleaning and maintenance
• Release the wiper blade in the direction of the arrow 286 G).
• Pull off the wiper blade in the direction of the ar-row®.
• Insert a new wiper blade with the same length and design on to the wiper arm against the direc-tion of the arrow. Push it on until it engages®.
• Push the release against the direction of the ar-row G) in order to lock the wiper blade.
• Place the wiper arm back onto the rear window.
A WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and Increase the risk of accidents and severe Injuries.
• Therefore, always change wiper blades If they are damaged and worn and or longer clean the windscreen properly.
CD
• Damaged or dirty wipers could scratch the windscreen.
• Detergents containing solvents, hard sponges and other sharp objects can damage the graphite coating.
• Do not use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint thinner or similar products to clean the win-dows.
Polishing Is only necessary If the paint has lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be brought back by applying wax.
The car must be waxed after polishing if the polish used does not contain wax compounds to seal the paint.
CD
• In order to avoid damage, painted parts with a matt finish, plastic parts, headlight lenses and the tail lights should not be treated with polish or hard wax.
• Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or dusty environment or when the vehicle is dirty.