check engine light VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 1990 T4 / 4.G User Guide

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VEHICLE
OPERATION

In the
driver's
seat
•
Check operation of horn.

•
Adjust seat for easy reach of controls.

•
Adjust head restraints to your
size.

•
Adjust inside and outside rear view mir-
brs.

•
Use safety belts as directed.

•
Assure yourself
that
all passengers,

especially
children, are properly buckled up.

•
Check operation of
foot
and parking

orakes.

•
Check all warning and indicator lights
v/hen starting the engine.

•
Do not leave vehicle idling unattended.

•
Lock all doors
from
inside to prevent in­ advertent opening of doors
from
inside
and unwanted
entry
from
outside. On the
road

•
Always drive defensively. Expect the

unexpected.

•
Observe speed
limits
and obey road

signs.

•
Use signals to indicate
turns
and lane

changes.

•
Turn on headlights at dusk.

•
Always keep a safe distance
from
the
vehicle in
front
of you, depending on
traf­

fic, road and weather conditions.

•
Reduce speed at
night
and during incle­
ment weather.

•
If you smell gas fumes in the vehicle,
drive
with
the windows open, but keep the rear lid
closed.
Have the cause im­
mediately located and corrected.

•
Make frequent rest stops, at least
after

every two hours of driving.

•
When
tired
pull off the road, stop and
take a rest. Turn the engine off. Do not sit in the vehicle
with
engine idling. Engine ex­haust is dangerous if inhaled.
•
When stopped or parked, always set
the parking brake. Move the selector lever
to "P" (Automatic transmission) or move
the gearshift lever to reverse or
first
gear (Manual transmission). When parking on

hills,
turn
wheels
toward
the curb.

•
When stalled or stopped for repairs,
move the vehicle well off the road. Turn on
emergency flasher and use other warning

devices
to alert other motorists. Do not park or operate the vehicle in areas where
the hot exhaust system may come in
con­

tact
with
dry
grass,
brush, fuel spill or other material which can cause a fire.

•
Make it a habit to have the engine oil

checked
with
every fuel filling.


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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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VEHICLE OPERATION
After driving over
difficult
terrain,
espe­
cially through water or mud, the following
is
important:
• Disengage the differential lock*.
• After long drives through deep mud, the
brakes must be checked and cleaned if
they are
dirty.
This will prevent damage to
the brakes and premature wear.
• After driving through deep water, take
out oil dipstick and check to see whether
there are drops of water on the dipstick or if the oil level has risen. In
that
case,
the oil
must be changed immediately.
• If during an off-road drive the vehicle

has
become stuck (dug its way
into
the
ground) or the underside was stuck by
rocks
or similar, check undercarriage,
brake lines and oil pan for damage. • The engine compartment and vehicle
underbody must be cleaned if they are
very
dirty
so
that
the function of all mova­ ble and electrical/electronic parts is main­
tained.
•
Clean
heavy soil from wheels and tires,

check
tires for damage or foreign objects in treads.
•
Clean
turn
signals, lights and license
plate.
• Dry brake system by driving a short dis­
tance
with
brake pedal slightly depressed.

This
will help regaining normal braking ac­
tion
and help prevent the possibility of the
vehicle pulling to one side while braking.
Performance
testing

If the
Vanagon/Transporter
Syncro re­

quires
testing
on a
dynamometer
(en­

gine
output
analysis and
brake
test)
the

transaxle
drive
shaft
must
be discon­ nected.
The
differential
lock
must
not be en­ gaged.
84 "where applicable


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VEHICLE CARE
ENGINE OIL
Engine oil consumption t 3 normal for your engine to consume oil.

T-Q
rate of oil consumption depends on
re quality and viscosity of
oil,
the speed at
Mich
the engine is operated, the climate,

read
conditions as well as the amount of : ution and oxidation of the lubricant.

Because
of these variables, no standard
•e:e
of oil consumption can be esta-
:
shed,
but drivers should expect an in­
creased
oil consumption at high speeds
s.nd when the engine is new.
• The
engine
in your
vehicle
depends
on oil to
lubricate
and cool all of its
mov­

ing
parts.
Therefore
the
engine
oil
should be checked
regularly
and
kept
at
the
required
level.
•
Make
it a
habit
to
have
the
engine
oil

level
checked
with
every
fuel
filling.

• Lack of
sufficient
engine
oil may
lead

to
severe
engine
damage.

• The oil pressure
warning
light
is not
an oil
level
indicator.

Always
heed
WARNINGS
on
page
97.
The
engine oil dipstick and the oil filler

neck
are located behind the license plate

lid.

Checking the
engine
oil
level

The
best time to check the engine oil level
is
when the oil is warm.
• Turn off the engine.
• To get a true reading, the vehicle should

be
on level ground. After turning off the en­

gine,
wait a few minutes for the oil to return
to the crankcase.
• Flip license plate down.
• Pull out dipstick and wipe it clean
with
a

rag.

• Reinsert dipstick; push it in all the way. • Pull dipstick out again. The oil level is
correct if it is between the "max" and "min" marks on the dipstick.
• If oil level is below "min" mark, or not
showing on dipstick, add oil immediately.
• Make sure
that
the dipstick is com­
pletely in.
Adding
engine
oil • Unscrew cap from oil filler neck.
• Pull extension tube out of filler neck as
far as it will go.
• Only add the amount of oil needed. The
difference between the "min" and "max" marks on the dipstick is about
1
U.S. quart
or
1
liter. Always select a quality oil
with
the
correct specification. See "Lubricants" on
page
85.
Do not exceed the MAX
marking.

Otherwise,
the excess oil may be drawn in
through the crankcase breather into the exhaust system. The oil would then burn in
the catalytic converter and cause dam­
age.

•
Push
in the extension tube, replace fil­
ler cap and hand tighten securely.

WARNING

The oil
filler
cap
must
be secure to avoid oil spill causing
fire
hazard.


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VEHICLE CARE
ENGINE OIL FILTER
: he oil
filter
should be changed at the inter-

,als
listed in your Maintenance booklet.
• Remove old oil
filter
element and dis­

card.

• Use
only
Oil
filter
part
No.:

070115561
as
otherwise
engine
damage

can occur.
• Lightly coat seal of new
filter
element

with
oil. • Screw on
filter
element and hand-
tighten according to manufacturer's instructions on the carton or on the
filter

element.
• Fill engine
with
appropriate amount of
engine oil.
• Run engine at various speeds for three
to five minutes and check for leaks.
• Check dipstick for correct oil level, top
up if necessary.

Always
heed
WARNINGS
on
page
96 and 97. 101


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VEHICLE CARE

Refill
tank

Checking
the coolant level

The coolant level should
be
checked from time
to
time, and always before going on
a
longer
trip.

WARNING

To
reduce the risk of being burned, never open the hood if you see or hear
steam or coolant
escaping
from the en­
gine compartment.
Wait
until
no steam

or
coolant can be seen or heard before
carefully opening the
hood.
Expansion
tank
The refill tank and
the
expansion tank are in
the
engine compartment.
The coolant level
is
normally checked only in
the
refill tank (behind
the
license plate
lid).
The expansion tank needs checking only
if
a
large amount
of
coolant
is
lost
or if the

warning
light
in the
water temperature gauge lights up.
On
the
refill
and the
expansion tank,
the

cap
need
not
be taken
off,
since the tanks
are transparent.

On
the refill tank, the coolant level must
be

between
the
min.
and
max. marks when
engine
is
cold
and not
running. When
engine
is
warm, coolant level
may be

slightly above max. mark.
The expansion tank
is
equipped
with
an
electric coolant level checking device.
When the coolant level is too low, the warn­ ing
light
in the
coolant temperature gauge

(see
page
43)
will flash
until
the
coolant
level has been restored
to
normal.

Always heed WARNINGS on page 97.
105


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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
General notes

The original equipment tires
and
wheel
rims
on
your
vehicle comply with
all

applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Standards.

If you
wish
to
equip
your
vehicle with tires
or wheels other than those installed
at the

factory, please note
the
following:

•
If
you plan
to
install other than the
ori­

ginal
equipment tires
and
wheel rims,

ask
your
Volkswagen dealer.

•
For
technical reasons
it is not
possi­

ble
in
every
case
to use
wheels from
other vehicles
-
under certain condi­
tions
not
even wheels from
the
same
vehicle
model.

•
Wheel rims
and
wheel bolts
or lug

nuts are matched to fit
your
Volkswagen.

•
When installing different wheels
(for

example,
wheels with winter tires),
the

correct wheel bolts
or
lug nuts with
the
proper length
and
conical shape must
be used. The secure fit of the wheels and
the proper functioning
of the
brake system are dependent upon this.
•
Using tires and/or wheels which have
not been approved
by
the manufacturer
for
your
vehicle
type
can be detrimental
to vehicle safety.

•
If
wheel trim discs
or a
front
spoiler
are

installed,
make
sure the airflow for cooling
the brakes
is not
obstructed.

•
Before
you
plan
on
exchanging steel
wheels, light alloy wheels,
or
snow tires
already mounted on wheel rims, consult

your
Volkswagen dealer. He has the tech­
nical
information necessary
to
advise
you which wheel rims and wheel bolts
or
lug
nuts are compatible with the original
factory installations.
WARNING
•
The
use of the wheel rims and wheel
bolts
or
lug nuts that do not meet
speci­

fications
of the
original factory
install­

ed equipment will affect the safe oper­
ation
of
your
vehicle and may cause an
accident and personal
injury.
Tire specifications

Tire
specifications
are
imprinted
on the
sidewall
of
the tires.
If in
doubt, check with

your
Volkswagen dealer.

All
passenger car and some light trucks tires must conform
to
Federal Safety
Requirements
in
addition
to
these
grades.

Treadwear

The treadwear grade
is a
comparative
rating
based
on the
wear rate
of the
tire
when tested
on a
government test course. For example,
a
tire graded
150
would wear
one
and a
half
(IV2)
times
as
well
as a
tire
graded 100.
The
relative performance
of

tires depends
on
actual conditions
of use,
however,
and may
depart significantly
from
the
norm
due to
variations
in
driving
habits,
service practices
and
differences
in road characteristics and
climate.

Traction A, B, C

The traction grades, from highest
to
lowest,
are A, B and C and
represent
the

tire's ability
to
stop
on wet
pavement
as
measured
on
government test surfaces
of

asphalt
and concrete. Atire marked
C
may
have poor traction performance.


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