VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 1990 T4 / 4.G Owners Manual

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VEHICLE CARE
Adding
coolant

Turn
off the
engine
and allow it to cool
down.

WARNING
Reduce the
risk
of scalding
from
hot

coolant
by
following
these
steps.
• If the cap
from
the expansion
tank

must
be
removed
wait
until
the
engine

has cooled down. The cooling system
is
under
pressure.
•
Protect
face, hands and
arms
by
covering the cap
with
a
large,
thick
rag
to
protect
against
escaping
fluid
and steam.
•
Carefully
and
slowly
turn
cap one

turn
to
allow
excess pressure to es­ cape
before
completely
removing
cap.

Top
up coolant in refill tank. Only when
cooling
system was drained or a lot of
cool­
ant needs to be added, also
fill
expansion
tank.

To
maintain the anti-corrosion properties of the coolant, the antifreeze concentra­
tion should not be reduced, even during
the warm
season.
Increasing
the
antifreeze
in the
coolant

to
more
than
60% is not
only
unecono­ mical, it is also
detrimental
to
engine

cooling.

Only
use quality phosphate-free anti­

freeze
containing ethylene glycol. Such antifreeze is available at your Volkswagen

dealer.

Antifreeze,
other
than
specified by Volks­
wagen,
may cause corrosion of the cool­ ing system,
leading
to
engine
over­

heating
and
damage.

Only
for topping-up coolant, a small amount of antifreeze containing ethylene

glycol
and phosphates may be
used,
if rec­
ommended antifreeze is not available.
• After adding coolant, run the engine at
idle speed for a few seconds.
• Wait for the radiator fan to switch on

and
off again.
• Check coolant level. Add more coolant
if necessary.

Do
not overfill the system.
Excess
coolant will be forced out through
the pressure relief valve in the reservoir
when the engine becomes hot.
Screw cap on
again
tightly.
Radiator
fan

The
electric radiator fan (located in
fror:
r the car behind grille) is controlled by !':
moswitches
from the coolant and enc
TE

compartment temperature.

After
turning
off the
engine,
the
radiate

fan can
continue
to run (up to 10 r>
nutes).
It may also suddenly
start
to rx

again
even
with
the
ignition
switched
c*

Notes
• If the radiator fan does not come c
when the coolant temperature is very high

check
the fuse and replace it if necessar, - see page 129.
• The speed of the radiator fan does nc

depend
on the engine
speed,
therefore
cooling
effect cannot be increased b.
downshifting. As long as the engine runs smoothly and driving an uphill road does
not considerably reduce
speed,
there is n:
need
to downshift.

Always
heed
WARNINGS
on
page
97.


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V-BELT
winter operation
I the beginning of the winter season, have the coolant checked for anti-freeze
ecncentration. If you have to add, only use
Hality
phosphate-free anti-freeze con-
ra. ning ethylene glycol which is available
5".
your Volkswagen dealer.
Tie ratio between water and anti-freeze
r-pends
on the anticipated outside temp-
r'atures. Tension checking
Correct V-belt tension is important for over­
all vehicle performance.
Tensioning and replacing of vehicle V- belts should be performed by your
Volkswagen dealer or a qualified work­ shop.
See page 147 for V-belt designation.
WARNING
To prevent personal injury stay well clear of the V-belt when the engine is
running.
Before checking V-belt
ten­

sion turn the engine off and let it cool

down.
Hot components can burn skin
on contact.
Always heed WARNINGS on page 97. 107


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VEHICLE CARE
BRAKE FLUID 3 ATT
108 Brake fluid reservoir
The brake fluid reservoir is located under the instrument cluster in the dashboard
panel.

To gain access to the reservoir, grasp the two recesses provided on back of the frame cover and pull up.
When replacing the cover, insert the front edge first, then press the cover down
firmly. Make sure it is correctly seated.
Checking fluid level
The correct fluid level is important for the proper functioning of the brake system.
The fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir should always be between the MAX and MIN markings. Your brake fluid level is automatically monitored by the brake
warning light (see page 43).
The fluid level may drop slightly after some time due to the automatic adjustment of
the brake pads. This is no cause for alarm.
If the brake fluid level falls considerably
below the mark
"MIN",
the brake warning
light will come on. Do not continue to oper­
ate the vehicle. The complete brake sys­
tem should be thoroughly checked by your
Volkswagen dealer and the cause cor­
rected.

WARNING • Brake fluid is poisonous. Brake fluid
is also harmful to the paint of your
vehicle.
When adding or replacing brake fluid, make certain to avoid spilling. Brake
fluid will damage fabric, paint, plastics and metal. Cover the areas sorround-ing the reservoir before removing the
filler cap.
• If brake fluid must be added to the
reservoir, use only new and unused
DOT 4 brake fluid that meets SAE
specification J 1703 and conforms to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard

116.
• Do not use any other brake fluid, or
brake fluid that has absorbed moisture
from the open air, or brake fluid that is
dirty. It may cause premature wear or unreliable braking action.
• Do not add or mix DOT 5 silicone
type brake fluid with the brake fluid in your vehicle as severe component cor­rosion may result. Such corrosion
could lead to brake system failure.
Changing brake fluid Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the at­
mosphere. If the watercontent in the brake
fluid is too high, corrosion in the brake sys­
tem may result after a period of time. The boiling point of the brake fluid will also de­
crease considerably. If the brakes are under constant and extreme use, a vapc
lock may result impairing the effectiveness
of the brakes and the vehicle safety. -e s
Dn seat arc
WARNING
The brake fluid must be replaced every 2 years. Your Volkswagen dealer will perform this service for you.
Always heed WARNINGS on page 97.


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VEHICLE CARE

3ATTERY

~he battery
is
located under the
front
pas­
senger
seat.
To
check
the
battery, move

lie
seat all the way forward.

On
vehicles
with
swivel seats,
turn
the
seat
180°
(half circle)
an
then push
for­
ward.
Auxiliary
battery*

The
auxiliary battery
is
located under
the
left
seat.
Push
the
seat all the way forward
to gain
access
to
the battery.

The
auxiliary battery supplies power when the vehicle is stationary.
A
special relay be­
tween the vehicle battery and
the
auxiliary battery prevents
the
vehicle battery from

discharging.
This way, you still have power
to start your vehicle. While driving, both
the vehicle battery
and the
auxiliary bat­
tery are charged.
'where applicable
Always heed WARNINGS on page 97. Battery acid level

Under
normal operating conditions,
the

battery
in
your Volkswagen
is
mainten­

ance-free.

At high outside temperatures
it is
advis­
able,
however,
to
check
the
fluid level
at
regular intervals through
the
transparent
battery housing. The fluid level should
al­

ways
be
between
the "min" and "max"
marks
in
each
cell.

If
the fluid level
is
below the "min" mark,
let

your Volkswagen dealer correct
the
condi­
tion.

WARNING
•
Always shield your eyes and avoid
leaning over the
battery
whenever
pos­

sible.

•
Do not let
battery
acid come in
con­

tact
with
skin,
eyes, fabric, or painted
surface.

•
If
you
get
battery
acid
in
your eyes or

on
your
skin,
immediately rinse
with

cold
water
for several minutes and call a doctor.

•
Do not expose the
battery
to an open

flame
or electric spark. Hydrogen gas generated by the
battery
can explode
and cause personal injury.
109


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VEHICLE
CARE
Winter operation During the winter months, battery capacity
tends to decrease as temperatures drop.
Additionally, more power is consumed while starting, and the headlights, heater, rear window defogger, etc., are used more
frequently. Curtail unnecessary power
consumption,
particularly in city traffic or
when travelling short distances only. Let
your
Volkswagen dealer test the battery's
capacity before winter sets in. A well
charged battery will not only prevent

starting
problems but will also live longer.
If
your
vehicle is left standing for several

weeks
at extremely low temperatures, the battery should be removed and stored
where it will not freeze.
This
will prevent it
from being damaged.
When removing the battery, first discon­ nect both cables (see Charging of Bat­

tery),
then unscrew the battery mounting.
WARNING
Always keep the battery well out of the reach of children.
Always heed WARNINGS on page
97.
Charging of battery
WARNING
•
Always shield
your
eyes and avoid

leaning
over
the battery whenever pos­

sible.

•
Charge battery in a well ventilated

area.
Keep away from open flame or

electrical
spark. Do not
smoke.
Hydro­ gen gas generated by the battery is ex­plosive.

•
Battery acid that may spill during
charging should be washed off with a solution of warm water and baking

soda
to neutralize the
acid.

•
If you get battery
acid
in
your
eyes or
on
your
skin,
immediately rinse with

cold
water for several minutes and
call

a
doctor.

•
Never charge
a
frozen battery. It may
explode because of gas trapped in the
ice.
Allow a frozen battery to thaw out
first.

•
Never use a fast charger as a boo­
ster to start the engine.
This
will
seri­

ously damage sensitive electronic
components,
such as relays, radio,

etc.,
as well as the battery charger.
•
Fast charging
a
battery
is
dangerous
and should only be attempted by a
competent mechanic with the proper
equipment.
Slow battery charging WARNING
•
Heed all WARNINGS and follow in­
structions that come with
your
battery

•
It is not necessary to remove the bat­

tery
from the engine compartment, and it
is
also not necessary to disconnect the

cables.

•
Make sure the electrolyte level in each

cell
is between the "min" and "max" marks. If the fluid level is below the "min" mark, le:

your
Volkswagen dealer correct the condi­

tion.

•
Connect charger cables.
Charger cables must be connected
POSITIVE
(+) to
POSITIVE
(+) and

NEGATIVE
(-) to
NEGATIVE
(-).
Do not connect or disconnect charger

cables
while charger is operating to re­
duce the danger of exploding.


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• Switch on charger.
• Charging
rate
not over 6 Amp.

Vormally,
a battery should be charged at
rc more than 10 percent of its rated
capa­

city.

For
example, a charging current of 4.5

Amp.
would be used on a battery having
• Ah. Rated capacity of the battery in .our vehicle is listed on the battery

"Dusing.

• After charging,
turn
off charger and dis-
ronnect charger
cables.

To
remove
battery
from
vehicle • Disconnect negative ground cable.
• Disconnect positive cable.
• Unscrew bolt of holding plate with open

end
wrench.
To
reinstall
battery
in vehicle •
Place
battery in vehicle and tighten bolt
of holding plate.
• Reconnect positive cable. • Reconnect negative ground cable.

WARNING
Do not
reverse
polarity.

Cleaning
terminals
and
connections
WARNING
• Before
work
is done on the
electrical

system, disconnect the
negative

ground cable.
•
When
working
on the
battery,
be
sure not to short circuit the
terminals

with
tools or
other
metal
objects. This

would
cause the
battery
to
heat
up
very

quickly,
which
could
lead
to
damage
or
explosion and personal
injury.

The
terminals and connections should be kept clean and greased with silicone spray

or
petroleum jelly. Make sure the ground

connection
to the body is
tight
and free of

corrosion.

With
a disconnected
battery
the
engine
must
not run because the
electrical
sys­
tem
will
be damaged. Replacing
battery

A
replacement battery must have the
same
specifications and dimensions as
the original equipment battery.
Specifica­

tions are listed on the battery housing.
Make
sure the replacement battery is in­

stalled
correctly and securely. See "Re­ moving and reinstalling battery".
Always heed
WARNINGS
on
page
97.


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VEHICLE CARE
WINDSHIELD / REAR WINDOW WASHER CONTAINER*
The filler cap is iocated at the left side of the driver's footwell.
Vehicles with rear window wiper and washer have an additional container on
the right in the luggage compartment.
The capacities of the containers are: Windshield washer
container 4.3 qt/4.2 liters Rear window washer
container 1.1 qt/1.0 liters
Filling the containers
To fill the container, unsnap cover and un­ screw the filler cap. After filling the
con­

tainer, screw the cap on tightly and close
cover. Since clear water is usually not adequate
for cleaning the glass, add a cleaning
solu­

tion to the water.
Use winterized washer solvent during the
cold season. It helps to keep your
windshield and rear window clean and pre­
vents the fluid from freezing in the winter.
Do not use engine coolant antifreeze or
any other solution that can damage the
vehicle paint.
Follow the directions on the can for the
correct amount to be used.
After filling the container press the cap onto the filler neck. Adjusting washer jets
When vehicle is stationary, the wate- should hit the windshield as illustrated.
The washer jet for the rear window shoulc be adjusted so that the fluid hits the glass
in the center of the wiped area.
The jets can be adjusted with a needle.
The jets for the headlight washer system' can only be adjusted with a special
tool.
If necessary contact your Volkswagen
deal­

er.
112 * where applicable


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VEHICLE CARE
REPLACING
WIPER
BLADES

•Viper
blades must be in good condition to
:rovide clear vision.

3lean
your wiper blades regularly
with
a vindshield washer solution to prevent

streaking.
If the blades are very dirty, for

example
with
insects, carefully clean the
:lades
with
a sponge or a soft brush.

Replace
your wiper blades once or twice a

/ear.
See your Volkswagen dealer for re-
Dlacement
blades.

Notes
• Commercial hot
waxes
applied
by
auto­

matic
car
washes
have
been
known
to

affect
the
cleanability
of the windshield.
• To
prevent
damage
to
wiper
blades,
do not use gasoline, kerosene,
paint

thinner,
or
other
solvents on or
near
the

wiper
blades.
• To
prevent
damage
to the
wiper
arms

or
other
components, do not
attempt
to

move
the
wipers
manually.
Removing
wiper
blades
•
Raise
the wiper arm and hold wiper

blade
horizontally.
• Depress locking spring (A) and remove

blade
by pulling it towards the glass (B).

Installing
new
wiper
blades • The locking spring must click into place
on the wiper arm.

113


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VEHICLE CARE
TIRES/WHEELS
New tires

New
tires
do not
possess
maximum trac­

tion
and
should
be
driven
at
moderate
speeds
and
with
caution
for the
first
100
miles (160 kilometers).
Tire traction

WARNING
When driving on wet or slushy roads, a wedge of
water
may build up
between

the tires and the road. This phenome­ non is known as aquaplaning or hydro­
planing and may cause
partial
or
com­

plete
loss
of traction, vehicle control or
stopping ability. Always reduce speed

on
wet roads.
Tire service life
The service
life
of
your tires depends
for

the most
part
on the following factors:

Tire pressures
WARNING
•
Incorrect
tire
pressures cause

increased
tire
wear
and adversely

affect
road holding of the vehicle, lead­ ing to
loss
of control and personal
injury.

•
Incorrect
tire
pressures can also
lead to
sudden
deflation, resulting
in
an
accident and personal injury.

Check
your
tire
pressures twice
a
month,
and especially before taking
a
long
trip.
Be

sure
not to
forget
to
check
the
spare tire.
Always check
tire
pressures when the tires are cold. When
the
tires
are
warm,
the
pressure
will
be
higher.
Do not
reduce
the

pressure
of
warm tires.

Use
an accurate
tire
pressure gauge when
checking inflation pressures.
Do not

exceed
the
maximum
tire
inflation pres­ sure listed
on the
tire
sidewalk Cold
tire

inflation pressure means: when
a
vehicle

has
been standing
for at
least
3
hours
or

driven
for
less than 1 mile.
Always include the spare
tire
during
a
pres­ sure check.

Driving habits
Fast
cornering, heavy acceleration
and

hard braking all increase
tire
wear.

Wheel balancing

The
front
wheels
on new
vehicles
are
balanced.
When driving, however, various
conditions can cause
a
wheel
to
become
unbalanced.
This may
be
noticed as vibra­
tions
in the
steering.

Since
tire
imbalance
can
cause wear
or

the steering, suspension
and
tires,
you

should have your wheels rebalanced.
A

wheel should always
be
balanced
if a
nev,

tire
has
been mounted
or a
tire
was re­
paired.

114


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VEHICLE CARE

K >i

|B43-155|

Tire rotation If the
rear tires
are
worn more than
front

tires,
we
recommend
that
you
rotate
the
rear tires
with
the
front
tires
as
shown
in

the illustration.
By
doing this,
all
tires will
have
approximately the same service life.

Tires
should always remain on same
side
of vehicle

After rotation adjust
tire
pressure
and
torque wheel bolts/lug nuts diagonally
to
130
ft
lb/180
Nm.
Refer
to
"Changing
a

wheel"
on page 125
for
details.
Tire
wear

The
original tires
on
your vehicle have
built-in wear indicators. They
are
molded
into
the
bottom
of the
tread grooves
and

will appear
as
approximately
V6
inch (12 mm) bands when
the
tire
tread depth

wears
down
to Vie
inches
(1.6 mm).
Depending
on the
tire
manufacturer, there
are
six to
eight wear indicators evenly

spaced
around
the
circumference
of the

tire. Markings on the sides
of
the tires (e.g.
the letters "TWI"
or a
triangle) show
the
locations
of
the wear indicators.
When
the indicators appear in two
or
more
adjacent grooves,
it is
time
to
replace
the

tires.
We
recommend, however,
that
you

do
not let the
tires wear down
to
this
extent. Worn tires cannot grip
the
road

surface
properly, and are even
less
effec­
tive on wet roads.

WARNING
•
Do not drive
with
worn tires or tires

showing
cuts,
bruises
or other damage
because
they may lead to
sudden
defla­
tion
causing
loss
of
vehicle
control
and
personal
injury.

•
Since
worn tires do not grip the road

surface
properly when driving on wet
roads,
the vehicle may tend to aqua­
plane sooner. We strongly urge you to
replace your tires when the remaining
tread depth is .12
inches
(3 mm).

Incorrect
wheel
alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment
causes
exces­

sive
and
uneven
tire
wear impairing
the

safety
of the
vehicle.
If
you notice
exces­

sive
tire
wear, contact your Volkswagen

dealer.

115


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