cooling VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER 1990 T4 / 4.G Owners Manual

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1
INSTRUMENT PANEL
Illustration instruments and controls
Warning and indicator light symbols
CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT

Keys,
central locking system .... 7, 8
Doors 9
Rear lid 11
Windows, mirrors 12, 13 Safety belts, head restraints . . . .14,19
Seats 20 Luggage compartment, pedals . 28,29
Brakes, Transmission 29, 32 Differential lock 33
Automatic-transmission 35 Steering lock/ignition/starter switch . 38
Starting procedures 39 Instrument cluster 40
Warning/indicator lights 43 Switches 46 Emergency flasher 46
Light switch, turn signals .... 46,48
Cruise control 49
Windshield wipers 50 Ventilation/Heating 51
Air conditioning 54
Heater 57
Sliding roof 62
Roof-rack 68 VEHICLE OPERATION
Break-in period - and afterwards . . 69
Operate your vehicle safety 70
Operate your vehicle economically
and minimize pollution 72
Trailer towing 73 Driving with the all-wheel drive ... 75
VEHICLE CARE
Fuel tank, fuel supply 85,86
Vehicle care (exterior/interior) . . 90, 93 Maintenance, inspection intervals . . 95 Engine compartment lid,
engine compartment 97 Lubricants, engine oil 98,99
Engine oil filter 101
Transmission oil 102
Power steering 103
Cooling system 104 Brake fluid 108
Battery 109
Windshield washers/wipers . . . 112,113
Tires/wheels 114 Difficult operating conditions .... 120
Winter driving 121
Accessories 122
DO-IT-YOURSELF SERVICE
Jack and tools 123 Spare wheel 124
Changing a wheel 125 Fuses, bulbs 128, 130 Adjusting headlights
134

Installing,
replacing the radio . . . . 135
Emergency starting 136
Emergency towing 138
Lifting vehicle . . 140
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Engine, transmission 142

Steering,
suspension, brakes,
body, chassis 143 Emission-control-system 144
TECHNICAL DATA
Engine, spark plugs .
V-belts capacities . . Dimensions
Weights
Vehicle identification 146
147
148
150 151
CONSUMER INFORMATION
Service manuals 152
GAS STATION INFORMATION
Location of servicing points 156
ALPHABETICAL INDEX 158


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CONTROLS
AND
EQUIPMENT

WARNING continned •
The
engine compartment
of any

motor vehicle
is a
potentially hazard­
ous
area.
Before you check anything in the engine compartment, stop
the

engine and
let it
cool down. Always
exercise extreme caution when work­
ing
one the
engine. Heed
all of the

WARNINGS on page
97.

Reduce the risk
of
scalding from
hot

coolant by following these steps.
• If the coolant reservoir cap must be
removed, wait until
the
engine
has

cooled down.
• 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.

•
To
help avoid being burned,
do not

spill
antifreeze
or
coolant
on the ex­

haust system
or hot
engine parts.
Under
some conditions, the ethylene
glycol
in
engine coolant
is
combusti­
ble.
If a
visual check shows that coolant level
and V-belt
are
normal,
but the
warning light continues to
flash,
contact
your
near­
est dealer
to
have
the
cause located
and

corrected.
For more details see "Cooling system"
on

page 104.

If the
coolant gauge needle nears
the

upper end
of
the scale and the engine ap­
pears
to be
overheating,
turn
off the air

conditioner.
Do
not
install accessories
(fog
lights
or
in­
sect screens,
for
example)
on top of the

front
bumper.
They
may
restrict engine
cooling.
5
-
Fuel gauge
The needle
in
the fuel gauge will indicate the fuel level
in the
tank shortly after
the
ignition is switched on.
The fuel tank capacity is
16
gal/60
(syncro
18.5/70)
liters.
When
the
needle reaches the
red
area
at
the bottom there
is a
reserve
of
about 2.6 U.S. gal.
or
10 liters
of
fuel left in the tank.
Time to refuel.


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CONTROLS
AND EQUIPMENT
AIR
CONDITIONER*

WARNING
• Good
visibility
comes
with
windows

free
of fog, condensation and
frost.

• For clear
visibility
and safe
driving
it
is
extremely
important
that
you
thor­

oughly
familiarize
yourself
with
and fol­ low the
operating
instructions
pertain­

ing to the proper use and
function
of
the
ventilation/heating,
defogging/de-

frosting
and air conditioning system in

this
manual. If in
doubt,
consult your
Volkswagen
dealer.

The
air conditioning unit is installed under
the roof of the driver's cab. Ten air outlets permit interior cooling throughout the

vehicle.

Two
climate control switches are located
on the instrument panel.

The
unit operates on the air recirculation
principle.
Air is sucked in through the two
large
air intake grilles at the rear portion of
the unit.

Because
the air conditioner is not nor­mally used at low ambient temperatures it

is
designed to operate only when outside
temperature is above 41° F or + 5° C.
When
the air conditioner is on, tempera­
ture as well as humidity inside the vehicle

is
controlled. During high outside humidi­
ty you can prevent windshield and win­

dows
from fogging by setting the controls
accordingly.

Maximum
cooling is maintained with

standard
heating/ventilation controls
turned off and the windows
closed.

However,
when the vehicle interior is very
hot from standing in the sun, open a win­
dow for a few minutes to permit hot air to

escape.
• iHBll
1
m
Air
outlets/Vents

1 - These air vents can be adjusted or
closed
completely.
• Tilt air vent housing to direct air
flow up or down.
• Turn thumb wheel to direct air
flow sideways.
• To open outlets, position thumb

wheel
in center of vents.
• To close air outlets,
turn
thumb

wheel
to extreme right or left.

2
- These air vents can be adjusted but not
closed.

• Direct air flow by swiveling the
vent housing.
54 * where applicable


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CONTROLS
AND
EQUIPMENT

Operating controls

A
— Fan switch

• Adjust
air
volume
by
turning switch
or
either one
of
the three
speeds.

• With
fan
switch knob
OFF,
the air
con­
ditioner will
not
operate. B
— Temperature control switch

• Turn switch knob
right
for
cooler
air.
• Turn switch knob
left
for
warmer air.
Operating hints
Comfort cooling

• Turn fan switch
A
to
speed
setting "1"
or

"2".
• Turn temperature control switch
B to
desired
position.
• Adjust
air
outlet
vents
as
desired.

Maximum cooling

• Turn fan switch
A to
extreme
right.

• Turn temperature control switch
to ex­

treme
right.
• Adjust
air
outlet
vents
as
desired.

'where applicable
55


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VEHICLE OPERATION

OPERATE
YOUR VEHICLE SAFELY

A
lot has gone
into
the manufacture of your Volkswagen, including advanced engineering techniques, rigid quality
control and demanding inspections.

These
engineering and safety features will be enhanced by you, the safe driver,
• who knows the vehicle and all controls
• who maintains the vehicle properly
• who uses driving skills wisely.

For
your own safety as well as
that
of
those around you - be a responsible
driver. If you
drink,
do not
drive.
The use
of alcohol, drugs and certain medications
will seriously impair perception, reactions and driving ability, substantially increasing
the risk of an accident and personal
injury.
Do not
drive
if you are
tired,
ill or
under

emotional
stress.
The
following
points
are also
important
for
your
safety,
please
observe
them

all.
First
things
first...

• Turn the engine off before performing
any checks or repairs on the vehicle.
• Be sure tires are inflated correctly.

Check
for damage and
tire
wear.
• See
that
wheel bolts or nuts are pro­
perly tightened and not loose or missing.
• Check engine oil level, add if neces­

sary.
Make it a habit to have engine oil

checked
with
every fuel filling.
• Check coolant level to assure sufficient
engine cooling.
• Be sure you have a well charged
battery.
• Check brake fluid level. If too low, have
brake system checked.
• Replenish windshield washer fluid.
• Replace worn or cracked wiper blades.
• See
that
all windows are clear and un­
obstructed.
• Check whether all
light
lenses are

clean.
• Be sure all lights are working and head­
lights are aimed correctly.
• Check under vehicle for leaks.
• Make sure the movement of either

brake,
clutch or accelerator pedal is not hampered in any way.
• Be sure all luggage is stored securely.

You'll
find helpful hints on how to perform most of these checks in this manual. If in
doubt, have these checks performed by
your dealer or any other qualified
mechanic.

Emergency
equipment

It is good practice to carry emergency
equipment in your vehicle. Some of the
things you should have are: emergency
light,
first-aid kit, small shovel, and for the
winter
season,
an ice scraper, snow brush,
a
container or bag of sand or salt, etc.
70


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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
CARE

COOLING
SYSTEM
The cooling system
is
sealed and gener­ ally requires little attention.
The cooling system has been filled at the factory with
a
permanent coolant which
does not need to be changed. The coolant

consists
of a
mixture
of
water
and the
manufacturer's coolant additive
G 11 —

antifreeze
on
glycol basis with anticorro-
sion additives (40% for USA
models;
50%
for Canadian models).
This
mixture
assures
the
necessary frost protection
and protects
the
entire cooling system
against corrosion and
scaling,
and raises
the boiling point of the coolant.
Do
not
reduce
the
concentration
of the

coolant
in the
summer
by
adding plain
water.
The coolant additive proportion
must
be at least
40%
but not more than

60%,
to
maintain the antifreeze protection
and the cooling efficiency. For year round driving, antifreeze is added
at the factory for temperatures down to:

-13°
F/-25°C(USA)

-40°
F/-40°
C
(Canada)

Only
use
quality phosphate-free
anti­

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

dealer.

WARNING Antifreeze is poisonous. Always store antifreeze in its original container and

well
out of the reach of children. If you drain
the
coolant,
it must
be
caught
and

safely stored. Drained coolant should normally not be reused. Always des-

pose
of used coolant observing all en­
vironmental regulations.
Coolant losses
Coolant losses may indicate
a
leak in
the

cooling
system.
In
this
case,
the
cooling
system should
be
inspected immediately by
your
Volkswagen dealer.
It is not
suffi­

cient merely to add coolant.

In a
sealed system, losses can only occur
if
the
boiling point
of the
coolant
is ex­

ceeded as
a
result of overheating.
Overheating can occur
if:

•
the
flow
of air to the
radiator
is

obstructed
by
leaves, dust, insects
or by

additional
lights installed
in
front
of the
radiator grille;

•
the boiling point of the coolant has been
reduced
due to an
incorrect mixture
of

coolant and water;

•
the
radiator fan
is not
working
- see

"Radiator
fan",
or;

•
the vehicle is being driven up
a
long
hill
j

in
a
low gear with engine speed
very
high
and
at
very
high ambient temperature
-

see
"Radiator fan".

If
the cause for the overheating cannot
be

determined
and
corrected, contact
your

Volkswagen dealer immediately, other-
I
wise serious engine damage could result.

104
Always
heed
WARNING on page
97.


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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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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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t'/INTER
DRIVING

VEHICLE CARE

Remember
the following points when
criving in the
winter:

• Winter weather is particularly hard on
ne battery. We recommend having the cattery
checked,
preferably by a
Volks­

wagen dealer, before the cold weather starts - see page 110.
If the vehicle is
left
standing for several
iveeks
at extremely low temperatures, the

rattery
should be removed - see page 111
=or
further
details. • Have the antifreeze concentration in
the cooling system checked before the cold weather starts - see page 107.
• The engine oil must have the correct
viscosity grade for the outside tempera­
tures to be expected - see page 98.
• The best way to protect the bodywork is
to wash and wax it frequently, especially in
winter - see page 90.
• Always use a windshield washer
fluid

with
antifreeze for the windshield and rear
window washer system in winter - see page 112. • Use a scraper to remove snow and ice

from
the windows - see page 91.
• On winter roads the use of winter tires
or all-weather tires
will
improve handling;
this also applies to vehicles
with
all-wheel
drive - see pages 78 and 118.
• When driving in the mountains in winter
it is best to take along a set of snow chains.

Snow
chains may be compulsory for some
mountain roads, and this restriction also

applies
to vehicles
with
all-wheel drive -

see
pages 78 and 119.
121


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