Volkswagen Transporter T4 - documentation and photo reports on repairs. Technical characteristics of T4 Caravel

Born in 1950. It was based on the Volkswagen Käfer (aka Beetle), so this van had a rather low power boxer engine air-cooled - the one that was on the Beetle. The van has achieved unprecedented success, for several reasons. It was simple, but relatively reliable car, and it was quite inexpensive. Moreover, it had practically no competitors in its class.

Of course, success had to be consolidated, so in 1967 it entered the production lines of factories. He saved many design features predecessor, but it was already possible to drive it, even against the wind, which the T1 stubbornly refused to do, especially with a 38 hp engine. With. On second-generation vans, dual-circuit brakes appeared (after 1970, the front brakes even became disc brakes), and a three-speed automatic transmission as an option, and a line of more powerful engines. These buses lasted on assembly lines until 1979, after which they were replaced by a new, third series, and were produced in Brazil right up to 2013.

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In the photo: Volkswagen Kafer, Volkswagen T1 and Volkswagen T2

Volkswagen T3 became the last Transporter with a rear engine and power steering rear wheels. Already at the time of production launch, it seemed outdated - such a layout could no longer be found among competitors. But, apparently, the designers of the Transporters rested so sweetly on their laurels that they did not notice how serious battles for a place in the sun had already begun in the segment. By the 80s of the last century, the Transporter was no longer the only representative of the class in Europe, and certainly in the world even more so. For the sake of fairness, we note that there was a lot of new things in the T3, after all, this is the first Transporter that was not built on the basis of the previous generation. Despite the fact that in many countries the T3 was received a little cooler than its manufacturers wanted, it remained on the assembly line for a long time: from 1979 to 1992. All this time, the German genius struggled with the task of stimulating sales of this van. Therefore, in the 80s, the Volkswagen T3 became the leader in terms of the ability to install additional options. There were electric windows, a radio, a cassette player, and central locking, and a tachometer, and alloy wheels, and electric mirrors, and ABS, and even four-wheel drive on the Syncro model.

Simultaneously with the design of “goodies” for the T3, specialists were designing a new van with front-wheel drive, front-engine, more modern and promising. The Volkswagen T4 became just such a Transporter - unlike all previous ones. It was developed in the 80s and entered production in 1990. That is, T4 became the last Transporter of the “old school” - the T4 diesel engine does not have capricious pump injectors and direct injection, his electrics do not burn out at the first opportunity, but chassis... But more on this a little later.

She passed like a caravel...

Despite its venerable age (our T4 was produced in 2003, this is one of the last T4s), the upholstery, panels, plastic – everything looks quite decent. Maybe the car was kept in a garage? No, it is used regularly, the mileage is already almost 290 thousand kilometers. Inside, it immediately becomes clear that the designers took the time to think about passenger comfort. On the side pillar there is a climate control unit in the passenger compartment, and above each seat there is a personal adjustment of the air flow direction. There are only six seats, which means there are also six adjustments. Well, being a passenger in this car must be a pleasure. If there is a need to transport large cargo, the seats can be folded. In this case, they form a flat floor, and the rear door can be used for loading. Now it's time to move behind the wheel.

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Driving a Volkswagen T4

But the rest of the buttons and knobs deserve a separate story. Of course, there are electric windows, air conditioning, and heating. windshield, and electric mirrors – everything that is required for convenient operation of the car. But the main merit of all the adjustments and drives of these electrical things is that since 2003 they have not burned out, fallen off or shorted out. Everything works as it should be for a “German” of that wonderful time, when it was still the standard of quality and reliability.

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This can be partly explained by the lack excess quantity electronics. Take, for example, the temperature control in the cabin. Well, why do we need to poke our fingers at the button, setting an incomprehensible 21.5°C? You can twist the knob and set a comfortable temperature with an almost eternal knob, without the help of any potentially “buggy” electronics and without this excessive precision. I suspect that stones may now be thrown at me: a retrograde, a conservative and an opponent of progress. Perhaps, but in the T4 Transporter everything has been working for the second decade, but in the T5 such splendor is not observed: there are just buttons, but there is much less reliability in it. The developers clearly did not intend to “carry air” in the minibus. All space that can be used at least somehow has its purpose. Even the compartment next to the speaker in the door has its own organization and a lid with a lock - it’s convenient to carry documents there. All small things can be placed in pockets, compartments, cells and other places designated for this purpose.

The heavily battered steering wheel looks a little strange: all the handles and elements have virtually no signs of wear, and the steering wheel is worn like the wheel of a pirate brig. But this is most likely a price to pay for its expensive appearance: it would be just a piece of plastic, it would look newer, but cheaper. It is unlikely that in Germany they thought that they commercial vehicles They will travel in Russia for 13-15 years and please their owners for so long.

Turning the key wakes up the 2.5 liter turbodiesel. We turn on the first gear, press the gas pedal, and the “herd” of one hundred and two “horses” accelerates the minibus very vigorously. On these machines you can find different units, the weakest of which is a 60-horsepower 1.9-liter naturally-aspirated diesel engine. The Transporter can move with it, but it drives with difficulty. Our engine is quite enough to not only drive, but also actively change lanes, overtake, and even frankly dare in traffic.

You drive the car with pleasure: the dimensions are visible, the steering wheel is informative, the brakes are gentle but not flimsy, it’s easy to control the force, and if you want, you can press the passenger’s nose into the panel. You can “have a blast,” or you can roll up a “goat’s leg” and play like an old grandfather carrying tomato seedlings to the dacha. The most interesting thing is that it will be good either way, the Transporter is ready for any driver. The chassis performed very well: there was not even any roll when turning, although we entered them at such a speed that we regretted the lack of lateral support in the seats. I’m glad that a normal person wouldn’t do this on a bus, but we were just fooling around, we can be forgiven - it’s a test drive after all. Another important element city ​​trips - this is parking (damn it). Finding a place to stop a minibus is, of course, not an easy task (at least in St. Petersburg), but if a place is found, you can get into it like on the Oka. The turning radius is very small, so with at least a slightly developed eye, it’s not difficult to squeeze into the desired patch of space. The only ergonomic miscalculation is the position of the lever parking brake. It is hidden below, almost close to the driver's seat. The car was clearly not made for those who like to “drift” on front wheel drive, and that might even be a good thing.

You need such a Transporter yourself!

As we already said, we were lucky with the engine. Until now, it has not required intervention; according to the owner, it does not eat oil; according to its own observations, it does not smoke, pulls well, and runs smoothly. In cold weather, as befits a diesel engine, it can show its character. It’s not that it won’t start at all, but starting becomes difficult: on the second or third attempt after 10-15 seconds of starter operation, all this at a temperature below 20°C. It’s better to take the battery with you under the blanket at night (although the question here is more about the battery, not the internal combustion engine), and in the morning prepare some kind of aerosol from the “ Quick start" By the way, it’s easy to use, the air intake is located on the hood lid, you can spray it directly there. Since the current owner of the car is a rare technical perfectionist (by his own definition), last winter the fuel equipment underwent a complete inspection. The craftsmen, having disassembled the injection pump and removed the injectors, came to the conclusion that all this had been done in vain, and no repairs were required. They put everything back together and sent the Volkswagen to continue running along the roads. There was only one “serious” breakdown - the pedal assembly was worn out, and a crack appeared on the clutch master cylinder. The new original cylinder cost seven thousand, although it was possible to buy this part of the now popular Chinese brand Noname thousand for three. By the way, the container itself is for brake fluid for the brakes themselves and the clutch drive there is one, so if the level of “brake fluid” for any reason tends to zero, then first the clutch will disappear, and only then the brakes.

The endurance of this minibus is partly due to its design, which is not “spoiled” by technically complex solutions used in later models. Yes, and maintainability is better here, and the cost of “consumables” in comparison with many more modern “Germans” is more than modest. The owner of the T4 says that this car forgives a lot. This Transporter had to drive with a timing belt installed incorrectly by crooked craftsmen (they made a mistake by a tooth), and with oil that was already in its third term, and in general it was not much pampered with care. Moreover, the current owner knows this for certain; a lot happened before his eyes. But the Volkswagen still drives. I wonder how much more he can run if now they love him, take care of him and call him “the favorite car of Corporal Zbruev”? I'd bet on a million. Not rubles, of course, kilometers.

Volkswagen Caravelle is a passenger version of the popular car Volkswagen Transporter with an increased level of comfort. This is a comfortable minibus, optimally suited for passenger transportation. Thanks to your functionality And high quality The model has earned the trust of many consumers and motor transport companies in Europe and Russia.

The caravel appeared on the roads quite a long time ago. The car owes its name to the ships of the Spanish conquistadors, on which they conquered the oceans. For almost 30 years, the Volkswagen Caravel has been effectively conquering the roads, delivering true pleasure to the driver and passengers, regardless of the conditions.

Model history and purpose

The debut of one of the most popular European minibuses took place in 1990. The first generation was a classic rear-wheel drive minivan with an inconspicuous design and a rear engine. The model was produced in small series and quickly found its buyer. Minibuses with straight body lines sold well. However, reviews of the Volkswagen Caravelle I were not always positive. Comfort level and individual technical parameters the consumer did not like it. All this led to the fact that in 1997 the German brand completed production of the first generation of the minivan.

Restyling 1st generation

Volkswagen Caravel underwent restyling and soon appeared in an updated form with a redesigned line of engines. The modernization turned out to be superficial and affected the design of the front end and individual parts of the body. However, the rating of the model has increased due to restyling. Changes in the technical part concerned an increase engine compartment, which made it possible to place various units inside. The front suspension struts have been moved, and the hood parameters have been changed. The model received new 4- and 5-cylinder engines and turbodiesels with increased power. Were also improved braking system, safety features and interior. The base model has become more comfortable. The interior of the car has been refined, and the upholstery has been made more expensive using high-quality velor for the seats.

2nd generation

In 2002, the second generation of the Volkswagen Caravelle premiered. The model received many common features with more premium Volkswagen Multivan. They had almost identical bumpers and headlights. Options include a 4Motion all-wheel drive system, 2-zone climate control and an automatic transmission. New Volkswagen The caravel was offered in 2 versions of the base: long and short. The first one could accommodate up to 9 people. The quality of the interior has also improved, making travel more comfortable. The engine range has expanded (all engines have become more environmentally friendly and economical).

Particular attention was paid to safety. The creators of the second generation Caravelle did everything to ensure that passengers and the driver were as protected as possible. The car now has airbags, new seat belt anchors, a new steering column and improved ABS.

2002 also saw the premiere of Caravelle Business for business clients. Model completed modern systems communication and new dashboard. Additionally, various devices and equipment were offered: refrigerator, TV, kettle, trash bin.

3rd generation

In 2015, the German brand began sales of the third generation Volkswagen Caravelle. In the “base” the car will receive 3-zone climate control and dual LED headlights, and the line of units includes modern turbodiesels with increased efficiency.

Currently, the Volkswagen Caravelle is one of best models of its segment. The scope of application of the machine is limited exclusively to the transportation of people, however, the large and spacious interior allows you to transport various loads.

Video review, review and test drive of Volkswagen Caravelle

Specifications

Dimensions:

• length – 5292 mm;
• width – 1904 mm;
• height – 1990 mm;
• wheelbase – 3400 mm;
• ground clearance - 165 mm;
• minimum turning diameter – 11900 mm.

IN basic configuration The model has 4 doors and 7 seats.

Dynamic characteristics:

• maximum speed – 146 km/h (diesel), 163 km/h ( gasoline engine);
• acceleration to 100 km/h – 22.3 seconds (diesel), 17.3 seconds (gasoline engine);
• fuel consumption (diesel) – 5.6 l/100 km (highway), 6.5 l/100 km (combined cycle), 9.8 l/100 km (city);
• fuel consumption (gasoline engine) - 7.8 l/100 km (highway), 9.2 l/100 km (combined cycle), 12.8 l/100 km (city).

Capacity fuel tank– 80 l.

The curb weight of the vehicle is 2108 kg, gross weight– 3000 kg.

Characteristics of tires and wheels Volkswagen Caravel - 205/65 R16 (front and rear).

Engine

Ruler power plants The Volkswagen Caravelle is quite wide and includes petrol and diesel units. The former are faster and operate quieter, the latter are considered noisier, but in terms of stability, unpretentiousness and efficiency they are noticeably superior to gasoline options. At the same time, the characteristics of the engines are practically the same. All of them correspond to the Euro-4 environmental class.

The power plants have the same volume - 2 liters. Power varies from 102 to 204 hp. Accordingly, the difference in torque and acceleration is also felt.

The most top-end engines are installed in the Highline version, where 204-horsepower gasoline units and 180-horsepower BiTDI diesel units are offered.

At the same time, diesel versions of the Volkswagen Caravel are more popular. They have a Common Rail system, which reduces fuel losses and harmful emissions. The flagship BiTDI is available with turbochargers, making the unit super-efficient.

Device

The Volkswagen Caravelle has a very specific body shape, for which the model is nicknamed the “loaf”. The car is offered in several wheelbase options, which allow you to maximize its capabilities. The car body can withstand serious loads. It is made of galvanized steel with a paint coating. This technology provides excellent protection against corrosion.

The salon will delight you with comfort. Visually it is divided into two parts. The first is intended for the driver and passenger, the second for luggage and passengers. In terms of comfort, the Caravella is inferior to the Multivan, but does not lose to its classmates. The side panel in the car was almost completely transferred from the VW Touareg. It is distinguished by a convenient arrangement of levers and buttons, and the main element is on-board computer with screen. The driver can customize the orthopedic seat to suit himself. It should be noted that there are many niches that allow you to store documents and various items.

The possibilities of transforming the internal space make it easier to solve professional and private problems. By folding the backrests of the third row, you can transform the interior into a small office with a table. The maximum capacity of the minibus is 11 people. Convenient mirrors, excellent visibility and parking sensors make the driver forget that he is driving a large vehicle. Everything in the Volkswagen Caravelle is designed to maximize ride comfort.

In the basic version, the model is equipped with front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive is offered as an option. Depending on the configuration, the front suspension of the Volkswagen Caravel is independent McPherson or independent multi-link. Rear suspension for all versions - independent multi-link. Thanks to this scheme, the driver and passengers practically do not feel any bumps on the road.

High-reliability disc brakes are installed on all wheels (ventilated at the front). Already in the basic configuration, the model is equipped with power steering.

There are 3 types of transmission for the minibus:

• automatic with two clutches (7 ranges);
• manual 5-speed;
• manual 6-speed.

Disadvantages of the model:

• outdated interior design;
• quite stiff suspension;
• a lot of noise from the engine, from which even good sound insulation cannot help;
• high fuel consumption when climate control is turned on.

Given company car used for personal purposes for two weeks in May 2013. At that time, the mileage was about 250,000 km. The car has seen a lot of things - the company used it for business trips, and traveled all over Western Russia.

Very large salon. Very comfortable front row of seats. Wife, having covered 450 km. as a passenger, I was fascinated by the ergonomics in one go.

The middle and back rows are not intended for long-term sitting - there are no adjustments, not even for backrest tilt. All the possibilities of transforming the interior lie in the ability to completely remove them in 10 seconds, and the interior turns into a space for transporting bulky things, building materials and other things.

Strengths:

• Combination of 2.5 TDI engine and 6-speed manual transmission;
• Huge salon
• Easy to feel dimensions of the car
• Huge side mirrors
• Well, the driver’s position is very comfortable (even if it’s a bus seat)
• Small overhangs

Weaknesses:

• Non-transformable middle and rear row of seats

Review of Volkswagen Caravelle 2.4 D (Volkswagen Caravelle) 1994

According to personal history of car ownership, the cars were not detained for more than a year. Why? This is how it turned out. Something turned up, exchanged, sold, paid extra. In 2003, I bought a Volkswagen Caravel; at that time it was a bit expensive, but a used car turned up in Russia with minor cosmetic defects, based on the recommendations of my car mechanic ( Russian part the car lived its history under his hands). 1994 onwards, 2.4 diesel, 5 st. checkpoint, wet asphalt metallic, 9 seats, short, low, mileage 140 t.km. (as it later turned out to be twisted. Former German taxi driver through pre-sale in the Baltics). What can I say?

Despite the past, I was lucky with the car. From the experience of transporting from Germany, I came across different configurations (engine + gearbox), but never with such a chassis. With a displacement of 2.4, the car is very playful and confidently accelerates on the highway to 180 km/h (at 77 hp!), and the feeling that you are driving on rails may be due to 215 tires or successful tuning of a fully independent suspension, which is not common by minibuses. True, at this speed, oil consumption increased to 0.8 liters per 1000 km (at standard mode it took a liter and a half for 7000 km. from replacement to replacement). Handling and cross-country ability without any comments. High ground clearance in combination with power steering and independent suspension, it allows you to not be afraid of city curbs with rails and forest roads with puddles and stones. The dynamics are not sports car, but the speed of acceleration and braking does not cause problems in the urban cycle, although when driving on the highway at the time of overtaking, the “dope” is of course not enough.

Comfort in German is ascetic without frills (there is not enough air conditioning and electric mirrors). About mirrors. Wow! No one has such giant “burdocks”, and if you add a small sphere to the standard mirror, then you don’t even need to turn your head, the view is magnificent! Again, you sit high, looking far away. The sound insulation is great (on the Caravelle! On the T4 everything is much simpler and noisier), but in general everything is thought out and competent both in terms of ease of placement and in terms of transforming the interior. The car is small in external dimensions, but spacious in the interior (I took five adults with three children, a dog, two kayaks and junk to Ladoga for a three-week trip - everyone fit in the cabin without any problems, it wasn’t cramped). Consumption in the city is within 10 liters per hundred during dynamic driving, on the highway about 7-8 l/100 km. About winter startup and the smell of diesel fuel. The first year there was a critical temperature - 23 degrees.

Strengths:

• Safety
• Car handling
• Affordable repairs (if a competent craftsman is found, the companies, of course, will bend the price)
• People's brand - spare parts on every corner, new and used. at prices comparable to the domestic auto industry
• Low DIESEL fuel consumption
• Diesel either works or doesn't work. There are no other options

Weaknesses:

• Diesel either works or doesn't work.

Review of Volkswagen Caravelle (Volkswagen Caravelle) 2002

Before driving the T4, I drove domestic cars(kopeck, seven, four, wife’s nine). In 2000, at work I was offered to change from a four-wheeler Zhiguli to a T4 Transporter TDI. The dimensions of the cars are different and it was a little scary, but once you drive this car you understand that it is easier and more convenient to drive than a car: firstly, visibility - you sit a little higher, visibility is better and, accordingly, you assess the situation on the road much faster, and the mirrors are so that the road behind is 99% visible and there are no problems with maneuvering in reverse(even my wife confirmed it after traveling for a while). Management then could only be compared with the father. auto and here the difference is significant (I won’t talk about the shortcomings of the domestic automobile industry), the TDI engine gives an advantage when starting and overtaking, and is also very economical - average consumption about 8l/100km, you can turn the steering wheel without straining at all. In general, you don’t drive, but you enjoy it. In short, two years later I bought it from the company for personal use. Then my wife and I went south. During the whole trip we stopped only once - to go to relieve ourselves and refuel (the 80-liter tank was enough for 1100 km!) My wife folded down the middle seats and made sandwiches and coffee on the resulting table, and slept on the back sofa. During the 19 hours of travel (about 1600 km), fatigue was practically not felt, the only thing missing was air conditioning. Since then I've driven many cars (that's the job), but for me and my family I chose WV vans. During all the time of operation over long distances, it has never failed in terms of unexpected repairs. But it survived an apartment renovation, when all the seats were removed from the interior (the middle ones with latches, and the back one with 4 bolts) and at one time they loaded: a cast-iron bathtub, ceramic tiles for the bathroom with toilet and all the plumbing fixtures with “moidodyr”, without even sat on the restraints. For 220,000 km. total mileage It broke very little, and the damage was minor. I changed the tie rod ends, ball joints once, engine hydraulic compensators, pads and filters, and the clutch once. Then an acquaintance bought it from me, and I brought a completely fresh 2002 from Germany. T4-Caravelle with air conditioning and a luxury interior, and this modification is even more comfortable for long-distance trips.

A little about the most common modifications of T4:

TRANSPORTER is the simplest of the modifications; there are passenger, cargo-passenger and cargo versions, incl. all-metal. The rear interior trim is simple, usually made of hardboard sheets.

Strengths:

• Comfortable, spacious and comfortable interior.
• Safety due to size
• Reliable chassis for our roads
• Small expense.
• The TDI engine, not like a diesel engine, is dynamic and unpretentious to our fuel.
• Despite its dimensions it is very maneuverable.

Weaknesses:

• Diesel is noisier than gasoline
• Suspension is harsh

Review of Volkswagen Caravelle (Volkswagen Caravelle) 1999

Review of Volkswagen Caravelle (Volkswagen Caravelle) 1992

I bought this Caravel in Holland at a car dealership, and immediately after the purchase, my wife and I decided to take a mini cruise around Europe: from Holland through Belgium to France and Paris, and then through the southern part of Germany, through Poland and Ukraine, we returned to Moscow. At first it seemed like a gamble: to make such a trip on a used minibus without detailed diagnostics of the chassis and engine. But since we already had some experience, we decided to do it. After completing the purchase and the first stop for gas, it turned out that the seller was still not very good man— slipped a bad battery, which was enough to get to the gas station (I was driving with the low beams on). After replacing the battery, not a single comment about the car appeared during the entire trip. This car turned out to be ideally suited for such travel, which was later confirmed more than once during trips to the Czech Republic the following year and to the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea.

Detailed photo report.
The ACV engine was installed in the following cars: VW Transporter T4 (70), VW Transporter T4 (7D).

Injection and ignition systems
(Injector, ignition system)

Repair and operation of VW T4 Transporter / Caravelle since 1990. (rus.) Management. 88 Mb

Volkswagen T4 Caravelle / Transporter / Multivan from 09/1990, petrol/diesel. Repair and maintenance (rus.) The book contains the information necessary to repair all components and assemblies of the car: engine, fuel system, exhaust system, clutch, gearbox, steering, brake system, tires and tires, body, electrical equipment, accessories. Recommendations for car care are given. The manuals are intended for professionals and car enthusiasts and include more than 400 illustrations, fault tables, color electrical diagrams. Gasoline engines: 2.0 l / 62 kW (84 hp), from 9/90 2.5 l / 81 kW (110 hp), 12/90 - 7/96 2.5 l / 85 kW ( 115 hp), from 8/96 2.8 l / 103 kW (140 hp), from 1/96 - 5/00 2.8 l / 150 kW (204 hp), from 5/00 Diesel engines: 1.9 l / 45 kW (60 hp), 9/90 - 7/96 1.9 l / 50 kW (68 hp), from 10/92 2.4 l / 55 kW ( 75 hp), from 4/97 2.4 l / 57 kW (78 hp), 9/90 - 3/97 2.5 l / 65 kW (88 hp), from 4 /98 2.5 l / 75 kW (102 hp), from 8/95 2.5 l / 111 kW (150 hp), from 4/98. 350 pages. 72 MB.