wheel VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 1990 T4 / 4.G Owner's Manual

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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

IVING
YOUR
SYNCRO

me Vanagon/Transporter Syncro is
quipped
with
a new type of four-wheel :'>/e system, very much
different
from

rcnventional systems
that
have to be man- -=i!y engaged when needed. The
Vol­

kswagen all wheel drive system is always

e-gaged.
Only the amount of power being
-ansmitted to the
front
and rear wheels
:~anges
according to requirements.

Cue
to this extraordinary drive concept,

:~e
Syncro is a very efficient road vehicle I
nich
has a wide variety of
uses
and appli-
:ations. It has proved its virtues in poor Bather and road conditions and
posses­

ses
limited off-road capabilities.
This
chapter is provided to help you to
sen­

sibly and safely use the superior driving
characteristics of the Vanagon Syncro to
their best advantage. It also contains tech­
nical
information and operating instruc­
tions to the extent
that
these vary
from

those applicable to the conventional
Vana­

gon or Transporter.

Be
sure to carefully read this chapter be­
fore starting to drive your Syncro so
that

you
will
become thoroughly familiar
with
its features and be able to operate it cor­
rectly and safely. Always heed the warn­
ings and other instructions contained in
this chapter and in your Owner's
Manual.
Because
the Vanagon/Transporter Syncro

is
not an off-road or all terrain vehicle, this
chapter does not contain all of the informa­

tion
required to operate such a vehicle under all types of off-road or weather
con­

ditions.

Above
all use common
sense.
Do not let the excellent traction of your Vanagon/
Transporter Syncro lead you to under­ estimate the difficulties and risks involved in driving on wet, slippery and rough road

surfaces.
Always drive defensively and
adapt vehicle operation and driving speed
to road,
traffic
and weather conditions.


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VEHICLE
OPERATION

The
function
of the
all-wheel
drive
and how it
works

In contrast to conventional four wheel
drive systems
that
require transmissions
to be manually engaged when needed,
the Vanagon/Transporter Syncro all-wheel
drive system is always engaged. Only the
amount of power being transmitted to the

front
and rear wheels changes automati­
cally
as the road surface demands.
The automatic distribution of power is
accomplished
through a
fluid
shear
cou­

pling (viscous coupling)
that
is
part
of the

front
axle. The design of the viscous
cou­
pling keeps driving force losses to a mini­
mum while distributing the forward
thrust

to all four wheels when needed. When the going gets rough, especially
when wet, slippery or snow covered roads

cause
the rear or
front
wheels to slip, the

viscous
coupling automatically transfers driving force to the other wheels to help
you keep moving.
The distribution of drive forces allows the
Syncro
to adapt to changing road surfaces
and provide increased traction automati­

cally.
The Syncro driver is therefore able to

fully
concentrate on the road and
traffic

conditions.
This
extraordinary drivetrain concep:

makes
the Vanagon/Transporter Syncrc
an extremely efficient road vehicle suit­
able for a wide variety of uses and applica­
tions. While it has proved is ability to han­
dle poor weather and road conditions anc
has
limited off-road capabilities, re­
member your Vanagon/Transporter
Syn­

cro is not an off-road or all-terrain vehicle.
76


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VEHICLE OPERATION

Advantages off the all-wheel drive

The Vanagon/Transporter Syncro
all-
wheel drive system
has the
following
ad­

vantages over
a
two-wheel drive vehicle:
Driving Power
Driving Power
is
greatly increased
by the

continual all-wheel drive especially
on
snow
and
slippery surfaces, when starting
off from
a
standstill,
and
when driving
on
rough roads.
Within reason, your Vanagon/Transporter Syncro
can go
places where other
vehi­

cles
may
likely
get
stuck.
It is
easier
to
stop
on slippery hills
and get
going again.
Moving Force
As
the
driving force applied
to the
road goes
to
four wheels instead
of two, the

amount
of
slip
is
considerably reduced.
This improves
the
traction between tire and road surface
and
thereby,
the
drive-
ability
on
slippery road surfaces. On vehicles with two-wheel drive,
the
driv­
ing wheels
can
spin
on
slippery surfaces
if

too much acceleration
is
applied. This
greatly reduces tire grip
and can
result
in
loss
of
vehicle control.
By distributing
the
driving forces
to
four
in­

stead
of two
wheels,
the
wheels
of the
Va­ nagon/Transporter Syncro
are
less likely
to spin under
the
same conditions.
Snow tires
With
the
all-wheel drive system
the
Vana­ gon/Transporter Syncro
is
good
for
winter
driving even with standard tires. However,
we recommend
the use of all
season tires
or radial snow tires (M
+
S) with
or
without

studs*,
on all
wheels,
for
better driving,
cornering
and
braking,
in
winter weather.
Details under "Snow tires"
on
page
118

also apply.
Snow chains
Snow chains can improve both road traction
and braking when driving
in
severe winter
weather. Therefore,
use
snow chains
on

your all-wheel drive vehicle when required. For additional information,
see
page
119.
Operation
In contrast
to
conventional all-wheel drive
systems that require transmissions
to be

manually engaged when needed,
the Va­
nagon/Transporter Syncro all-wheel drive
system
is
always engaged. Only
the

amount
of
power being transmitted
to the

front
and
rear wheels changes automati­ cally
as the
road surface demands.
The

Syncro driver
is
therefore able
to
fully
con­

centrate
on the
road and traffic conditions.
The differential lock*
for the
rear axle must only
be
used when
the
vehicle
is
stuck
or
in immediate danger
of
becoming stuck. For further information
on the
differential
lock,
see
page
33.

78 "Check with your local Motor Vehicle Bureau
for

possible restrictions.
'where applicable


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-
VEHICLE
OPERATION

Driving on dry roads

Attention

"his
is an
all-wheel drive multipurpose
rassenger
vehicle which
will
handle
and

maneuver
differently
from
an ordinary
pas­

senger
car in driving conditions which may

occur
on
streets
and
highways
and off-

'oad.
As
with
other vehicles
of
this type,
if

you make sharp turns
or
abrupt maneu­

vers,
the
vehicle
may
roll over
or
may
go
kit
of
control and
crash.
You should read
:he driving guidelines
and
instructions
in

the Owner's
Manual.
The
driver
and all
oassengers
should wear safety belts
at all

times.

Do
not
engage
the
differential lock on nor­
mal
dry
roads
as it
will
not
provide any ad­
vantage. Under these circumstances,
an
engaged differential lock
will
impair the ve-
nicle's
maneuverability and
will
cause
ex­

cessive
tire
wear.
Driving on wet, slippery roads

Due
to the
all-wheel drive,
the
engine
power
is
transmitted evenly
to a
moder­
ately slippery road surface.
On
wet surface

As
with
any
other vehicle, excessive driv­ ing speed on very wet roads can cause hy­
droplaning
and
loss
of
vehicle control.
Therefore, slow down.
The
differential lock* must
not be
engaged.

Important
instructions
on
the
differential

locks
are to be found on page
33/34.

On
slippery surfaces

On
slippery surfaces the rear axle differen­

tial
lock may only be engaged when
start­
ing
from
a
standstill
or at
very low
speeds.

When
the
road surface has improved
the
lock should
be
disengaged again. On
snow covered surfaces

On
a
snow covered road, maintain traction by making gradual changes
in
speed
or
di­
rection. Avoid sudden maneuvers. Be alert
to problems other drivers around you may be having which could create
a
hazardous
situation
for
you.
In heavy snow, maintaining reasonable
momentum
is
important
for
safe vehicle
operation. Try
to
keep moving
by
using
the
L-gear and
a
steady accelerator pedal
at

low
speed.

WARNING
•
Always
maintain
a safe driving

speed,
especially
when
road and

weather
conditions are poor.

•
Excessive
driving speed on very wet
roads can cause hydroplaning and

loss
of vehicle control.

•
Always avoid forceful and
abrupt

braking action.
You
could block all four
wheels simultaneously and lose
con­

trol
of the vehicle.

•
The braking capability of your Vana-
gon/Transporter Syncro is
greatly
de­
pendent on the
traction
of your tires.

'where applicable 79


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VEHICLE
OPERATION

WARNING continued
•
The permanently engaged allwheel-
drive
will
provide
good
performance on relatively wet or slippery
roads.
Be
sure
to use these features and advantages
wisely. Do not let the excellent traction
which your VW
SYNCRO
offers lead

you
to underestimate the difficulties
and risks involved in negotiating wet or
slippery
roads. Always drive defen­

sively
and adapt vehicle operation and
driving speed to road and
traffic
condi­

tions.
Driving Off-Road
WARNING
The Vanagon/Transporter
Syncro
is not an off-road or all
terrain
vehicle. Use of
this or any other vehicle under off-road
conditions
requires special skills and knowledge. The off-road operation of
this or any other
vehicle
can
lead
to per­
sonal
injury.

•
Driver and all
passengers
must
wear

safety belts at all times.

•
Keep your thumbs and fingers on
the outside of the steering wheel.
Potholes
or rocks can
jerk
the
wheel

from your grip; it really hurts if a spoke
catches
you on the way around.

Off-Road
Driving
Driving off-road places extra demands
on

your vehicle and on you, the driver.
If
under

exceptional
circumstances
you
judge
it

safe
and
appropriate
to
leave
the
paved highway,
first
make sure
that
your vehicle

is
in top
mechanical condition. Make cer­

tain
that
all
vehicle systems
are
function­ ing normally,
in
particular,
for
example,

that
the engine, especially the cooling
sys­

tem,
is
operating properly and
that
trans­
mission,
brakes and steering are function­ ing normally. Tires must have adequate

tread,
be
free
of
damage
and be
adequately inflated.

Before
driving over
difficult
terrain, such as

mud,
sand,
water, snow
or
steep
slopes,

we recommend engaging
the
differentia lock*
at low
speed.
Important
information
regarding
the
differential lock
is on
page

33/34.

Whenever
you
operate your
car you
should
be
well
and fit, but
your physical

and
mental condition
are
especially
im­

portant
when driving
off
the road.

As
a
general rule
you
should
go
only where others have gone before.

Always
obey applicable
Federal,
State
and
local regulations
and
above
all re­

spect
and protect the environment. Do
not

scar
the
land, avoid unnecessary wheel
spinning and other driving behavior which

will
create
ruts
and destroy vegetation.
Be

careful when parking and when standing

with
a hot
engine. The catalytic converter

with
which your vehicle
is
equipped devel­

ops
very high temperatures which can set
dry grass and brush
on
fire. Respect
the

wildlife, leave animals
to
themselves
and

do not destroy their areas
of
refuge. Above
all,
be
considerate and operate your vehi­

cle
sensibly and safely. Nature
is a
natural
resource
which belongs
to
all
of
us.
'where applicable


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VEHICLE OPERATION

I'iving
off-road on Steep Inclines
I Sidehills
Before reviewing how to drive up steep
• s and along sidehills, make note of an -oortant point. If you don't make it to the

co.
or your vehicle is about to slide or roll
= :eways,
turn
off the engine, put it
into

I
'3t
gear, put on the parking brake and get

W
on the uphill side and walk down. An
:^nce
of prevention is
worth
a pound of i.re.
Steep
Inclines
When preparing to climb a steep incline,
first
find out whether you can make it. If
necessary,
walk the course. Be sure there

is
enough clearance on all sides of the ve­
hicle to avoid damage. If you have the
slightest doubt don't try it! It is always a
good idea to make a
trial
run to get the feel
of the surface and how much
effort
is
needed.
Go straight uphill. When the tires
begin to
spin,
apply a
little
extra gas and let
them dig in slightly. Step on the brakes
while you shift
into
reverse and drive straight back down. That's
right
- in re­

verse
gear, clutch out and driving.
Abso­
lutely not in neutral and
trying
to let your­
self down on the brakes. To avoid sideroll remember never
turn
your vehicle
side­

ways on a hill or steep incline.
On
your attempt, give yourself a running
start. Accelerate to the hill and then,
just

as
you approach the top,
ease
off the gas
to slow down.
When driving down, keep the vehicle heading straight downhill in low gear and
under control. If it begins to slide, don't lock up the brakes. You can't steer a
skid­

ding wheel. Touch the gas instead to
straighten your car out.


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VEHICLE OPERATION
Sidehills
Do
not
attempt
to go across the side of a
hill as this is extremely hazardous. If it is
absolutely necessary to drive on a hill
which is not very steep it should always be
done
with
extreme caution. Whenever
possible,
avoid doing it! And too, when
you're getting out of your vehicle on a
sidehill,
be sure to always exit on the uphill

side.
Surfaces
on sidehills are deceptive. What
may look like solid ground may actually
make your vehicle slide since most of the
weight is going to be on the downhill

wheels.
When your vehicle starts to slide, instantly
turn
downhill. Take care not to
lock the wheels which may cause the vehi­

cle
to slide out of control and cause per­
sonal
injury.
Sand
When driving on
sand,
be sure to stay on top of it. You can do this by driving
with
enough speed to maintain momentum.
When crossing short patches of
sand,
study the situation
first
and then proceed

with
cautious and steady speed and keep up the momentum. Avoid long stretches of
dry, loose
sand.
If it is absolutely neces­

sary
to drive on dry, loose
sand,
it may be
necessary
to partially deflate the tires to in­

crease
traction. To avoid getting stuck, maintain a steady but slow
speed.

WARNING

Tires
must
be
reinflated
when
back
on
hard
ground. Just a
short
distance
of

driving
on
hard
ground
or on
pavement

with
underinflated
tires
can cause sub­
stantial
damages
to
your
tires,
loss of

vehicle
control
and
personal
injury.


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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
=UELTANK
|he fuel filler neck is located above the -gnt
front
wheel. Syncro model: above the
-;nt rear wheel.
mm key A (see page 7) is used for the lock-
acle
tank cap. The syncro model has a separate key for the lockable tank cap.
capacity of the tank is 16.0 gal/60

:ers
(Reserve is 2.5 gal/10 liters of
total

rapacity).
5/ncro model: 18.5 gal/70 liters (Reserve

2
5 gal/10 liters of
total
capacity). Trouble-free refueling depends on the cor­
rect use of the filler nozzle.

Always
insert the nozzle fully
into
the fuel filler neck, to completely open the spring-loaded flap located
just
below the filler
neck opening. Make sure the filler nozzle

is
not tilted.

Do
not
fill
the fuel tank too quickly, other­
wise the fuel may foam up and cause the
nozzle
to switch off too
soon.

As
soon as the nozzle switches off auto­ matically for the
first
time, the tank is full.
Do
not try to add more fuel, because the

expansion
space in the fuel tank will be
filled - the fuel can then overflow when it
becomes
warm.
WARNING

Never
carry
additional
fuel
containers

in
your
vehicle.
Such
containers,
full
or

empty,
may
leak,
cause an explosion,
or
result
in
fire
in case of a collision.

85


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