VW Transporter: is there really nothing to break in it? Almost!

Volkswagen Transporter (T4). Photo Wikipedia

As you know, cars of the famous German brand Volkswagen have always been in great demand, both among private car owners and various commercial firms and companies. And the Volkswagen T4 minibus is no exception. This small-tonnage, but at the same time very comfortable car was distinguished by truly German quality and elegant exterior.

Diesels: the simpler the better

The 1.9-liter four-cylinder diesel engine runs more than half a million kilometers without problems. However, the tandem of “poor quality oil and a sloppy owner” will ruin any perpetual motion machine. Poor lubrication will cause camshaft beds to scuff, and cheap tractor diesel fuel will cause pump injectors to die. A new injector costs about 40 thousand rubles.

The most reliable and unpretentious engine for the Transporter is a 1.9-liter diesel engine.

Basic characteristics

Body dimensions, mm. (LxWxH). 4707 (SWB, short/standard wheelbase) or 5107 (LWB, long/long wheelbase) x 1840 x 1940 or 2430 (High Roof).
Number of doors. Three singles.
Total number of seats, including landing seats. From 6 to 9, all boarding, the model is not intended for transporting standing passengers.
Type of seats. Soft, with headrests and seat belts, front ones with armrests.

Diesels 2.0 TDI: a lot of childhood diseases

In 2009, the T5 changed its engine range, receiving two-liter engines with one and two turbines. But the steep dual supercharging turned out to be unreliable. However, not only the dampers and turbines became the weak link of the powerful 2-liter version. Almost new cars consumed as much as 2–3 liters of oil per 1000 km! With such a serious appetite, the piston rings stuck quickly and firmly, and the engines required a rebuild.

The Transporter was equipped with four versions of the 2.0 TDI diesel engine with power ranging from 84 to 180 hp.

In 2013, Volkswagen changed the design of the pistons. The problem has subsided, but has not completely disappeared. And only after a generation change they found out: the exhaust gas cooler is to blame for the oil burn. It corrodes from the inside, and aluminum chips, getting into the cylinder, become an abrasive that grinds down the parts of the cylinder-piston group.

Volkswagen Transporter T4 variants

It was the fact that a huge number of modifications were created on the common basis of this family that became the reason for the enormous popularity of the model. Without going into details of each of them, we will highlight the main varieties: passenger, cargo, cargo-passenger.

Each of them was produced with a short (standard SWB) or long LWB wheelbase; with different roof options - standard, Aufstell and high roof. The cheapest modification of the Volkswagen Transporter is an all-metal van without windows.

There are so many options for equipping and finishing the Transporter T4 that there are complete opposites: economy class Transporters can be so “poor” that even a Gazelle will seem more luxurious. And there are such special configurations, the degree of comfort in which is simply off the charts. Here, everyone has their own needs: one needs a luxury interior, and most buyers need a spacious cargo area. At the same time, in all versions of the T4 Transporter, the seats in the cabin can be removed if desired.

Modifications within the extensive family include the following options:

Panel Vans - no windows behind the C-pillar, with a single row of seats.
EuroVan – with two side windows.
Combi-Van – with additional windows between the B and C pillars and two rows of seats.
Caravelle – minibuses with 5, 7, 8, 9 seats.
Single Cab Pickup – pickups with a standard cab, based on the standard SWB chassis.
Double Cab Pickup – pickups with a double cab, based on an extended LWB chassis.
Syncro 4×4 – all-wheel drive option.

In addition to cargo, passenger and cargo-passenger versions, recreational vehicles were produced on the basis of the Volkswagen Transporter T4 in three versions, as well as a full-fledged motor home, mobile office, etc.

During 1990-1995 several changes were made to the model that did not in any way affect the appearance of the car; The range of gasoline and diesel engines for the T4 was expanded.

In 1996, the only deep reconstruction of this model was carried out. Changes included rear disc brakes, a one-piece rear bumper, and new 2.5-liter TDI diesel engines.

The exterior restyling provided the Transporter T4 with a different cladding for the front of the vehicle. You can also distinguish between pre- and post-restyling cars by the air intake gills on the right wing - there were none before 1996.

The Caravelle VR6 was launched with a longer bonnet, a new variant of the new engine layout.

In most cases, the Transporter T4 purchased by Russians on the secondary market was assembled at a plant in Hannover, Germany, where all modifications of the T4 were produced, except for flatbed trucks and universal chassis. Because a plant in the Polish city of Poznan specialized in T4 “tadpoles”. But, in addition to flatbed trucks and chassis, inexpensive versions of Volkswagen Transporter T4 vans were also assembled there.

In the summer of 2003, the Volkswagen concern completed production of the Transporter T4 and switched to mass production of the new generation T5 light-duty vehicles.

Slot machines: go up to 300 thousand!

Before the “restyling” it was a cool 6-speed Aisin, which was specially strengthened for tough commercial use. The Asian “six-speed” serves 300-400 thousand km without problems. Just don’t forget to change the oil in it every 40–60 thousand km.

After the update, a robotic DSG appeared, the unreliability of which the owners of Volkswagen passenger cars know firsthand. However, the wave of failures and breakdowns bypassed commercial Volkswagens: they got the strong DQ500 (DSG 7) unit. True, before the big revision in 2011, the preselective had the habit of “kicking” and “pushing,” but then the box was radically improved. The service life of this transmission is up to 300,000 km with regular maintenance.

Transporter T5 was the first model to have the DSG DQ500 robotic gearbox installed. And this is the most reliable unit of all DSGs.

Possibilities for cargo transportation

Depending on the vehicle version, the standard volume of capacity of an all-metal Volkswagen Transporter T4 van can be 5.4 - 6.3 - 7.8 cubic meters. Standard load capacity, according to the passport: 800 - 1000 - 1200 kg. The flatbed tadpole truck Transporter T4 takes 1410 kg according to its passport.

In this case, the total weight of the vehicle is up to 2.5-2.8 tons. Access to the cargo compartment is very easy. Firstly, thanks to the large doors - sliding side and hinged rear doors with a wide opening angle. Secondly, thanks to the very low loading/unloading height: it is only 51.5 cm. At the same time, the standard ground clearance of the Volkswagen Transporter T4 is 180 mm.

Suspension: hard but reliable

The T5 uses a classic design - McPherson struts at the front and trailing arms at the rear. The walker turned out to be practical, durable and almost without weak points. The only complaints that were raised were the rear silent blocks of the front control arms and the support bearings of the shock absorber struts. But these are trifles, especially since after 2009 they began to install stronger bearings.

The suspension is very durable on all Transporters, regardless of the type of drive and power unit.

The definite plus of the suspension is survivability, and the minus is that it is rigid. A simple upgrade will help to improve the behavior a little: we introduce silent blocks from the armored version, tires from the crossover and we get the same thing, only softer and more pleasant.

Design Features

The body of Volkswagen Transporter T4 vans and minibuses is load-bearing. Flatbed “tadpole” trucks and universal chassis for installing special bodies are built on a spar frame.

There are two wheelbase options for the Transporter T4 - 2920 and 3320 mm, and two main roof height options - 1940 or 2430 mm. But! The short-wheelbase Transporter T4 with a high roof was not produced.

The front suspension of the car is torsion bar, based on wishbones, MacPherson type. And the rear suspension is spring, on trailing arms, with shortened coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers.

The steering mechanism of the Transporter T4 is rack and pinion. Power steering was immediately included in the basic configuration of any variant of this car. Just like ABS - anti-lock braking system. The driving experience is almost like a car.

The dynamics of the car, of course, are by no means car-like, and on the whole are quite low. However, the independent suspension on all wheels makes you feel: the T4 handles noticeably better than many other commercial vehicles like it.

The standard tire size for Volkswagen Transporter T4 cars is 215/60 R16 H, and the size of their rims is R16. The normal place for a spare wheel is under the floor of the body, on the street. It’s dirty, of course, but the interior space of the van’s cargo compartment is not “eaten up.”

What will you take?

So, “Dorestyle” is good with both engines and gearboxes. But it’s a bit old: the newest cars are more than ten years old!

And when choosing a restyled Transporter, it is important not to chase power. You can and should live without 180 horses, a DSG gearbox and a 4x4 drive.

When planning to go off-road, it is always better to put chains on your wheels in advance. If the need for chains is not obvious, make sure that bracelets are available. Anti-skids and anti-skid bracelets will not be superfluous. If you are planning a long trip, we recommend that you take a closer look at snow chains.
“Behind the Wheel” can now be read in Yandex.Zen.

VW Transporter: is there really nothing to break in it? Almost!

Volkswagen Transporter T4 transmission

The gearbox of the Volkswagen Transporter T4 is a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. The vast majority of Volkswagen Transporter T4 presented in Russia are equipped with a manual transmission, while automatic transmission is exotic.

All-wheel drive transmission The T4 4x4 conveyor structurally consists of an angular gearbox in the section of the right front axle shaft, a driveshaft and a rear gearbox with CV joint drives. The viscous coupling is activated when the front wheels slip and supplies torque to the rear wheels.