Get Vehicle care Guide for Volkswagen California Van Fourth Generation (2024-2025)

1. Carry out road test.

Servicing work

In addition to the inspection work, further servicing work may need to be performed on your vehicled, epending on

the operating conditions and vehicle equipment, e.g. engine, gearbox or service fluids,. This work is dependent either

on time and mileage or only time or mileage.

The service fluids or components listed below may be changed, for example.

—Final drive and differential: change oil.

—Additives.

—Air Care enhanced air filter with activated carbon.

—Enhanced air filter with activated carbon.

—Brake fluid.

—Diesel fuel filter: change or drain.

—Natural gas fuel tank and natural gas pipes.

—Natural gas system filter.

—Gearbox oil and, if required, gearbox oil filter.

—Gearbox mounting.

—Battery of the seatbelt status indicator for the rear seats.

—Air filter.

—Engine oil and, if required, engine oil filter.

—Particulate filter.

—Toothed belt and tensioning roller.

—Spark plugs.

It is also possible to have servicing work carried out in between the scheduled service events.

The scope of service is subject to change for technical reasons, e.g. continuous further development of components.

Your suitably qualified workshop always has the latest information about any changes.

Notes on vehicle care

Regular and expert care helps to preserve your vehicle→

.

The longer that soiling is left on the surface of vehicle components and upholstery fabrics, the more difficult it can

become to clean and treat them. Extended exposure may mean that it is no longer possible to remove soiling.

Consult a correspondingly qualified workshop if you have any questions about care products or if components are not

listed. Appropriate accessories are available from a correspondingly qualified workshop. Follow the instructions for

use on the packaging.

WARNING

Incorrect care and cleaning of vehicle parts can impair the safety features of the vehicle and cause serious injury.

● Clean and care for vehicle parts only in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

● Always use approved or recommended cleaning products.

● Do not use cleaning agents that contain solvents. Solvents can cause irreparable damage to the airbag modules.

● Protect your hands and arms against parts with sharp edges, e.g. when cleaning the insides of the wheel

housings.

WARNING

Dirty, misted and iced-up windows reduce visibility. This can also impair the vehicles’ safety equipment. This leads

to a risk of accidents and serious injuries.

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● Drive only when you have a clear view through all windows.

● Do not treat the windscreen with water-repellent window coating agents. In unfavourable conditions, they can

cause increased dazzle.

WARNING

Care products may be toxic and hazardous. Unsuitable care products and incorrect use of care products can cause

accidents, serious injuries, burns or poisoning.

● Store care products only in the closed original container.

● Read the packaging leaflet.

● Keep all care products out of reach of children.

● Use care products only outside or in well-ventilated rooms so that you do not breathe in any toxic vapours.

● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other volatile fluids for vehicle care. These

substances are toxic and highly flammable.

NOTICE

Soiling with aggressive and solvent-based ingredients can cause irreparable damage to the vehicle equipment, even

if left for only a short time, e.g. on seat padding or trim parts.

● Do not let contamination or dirt dry.

● Have stubborn stains removed by a correspondingly qualified workshop.

Washing the vehicle

Washing the vehicle regularly prevents effects of soiling that can damage the paint work.

Please observe the following information to wash your vehicle correctly and properly.

WARNING

The braking efficiency may be delayed and the braking distance may be longer after the vehicle has been washed.

The brake discs and brake pads may be damp, or iced up in winter. There is a risk of accidents.

● “Dry and de-ice the brakes” by performing careful braking manoeuvres.

NOTICE

Serious vehicle damage can be caused if the vehicle is not washed correctly.

● Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

● Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.

● Never aim a water jet directly at locks, doors or the boot lid in cold weather. The locks and seals may freeze up.

Automatic car washes

—Do not select a washing programme with hot wax for vehicles with decorative and protective films.

—Car washes without brushes are to be preferred.

—Regularly have the bottom of the vehicle thoroughly cleaned to remove residue.

—Please observe any information provided by the car wash operator, especially where add-on parts are concerned.

✓ All windows must be closed and the exterior mirrors must be folded away.

✓ Vehicles with steering column lock: If the vehicle is mechanically pulled through the car wash(wash tunnel), the

steering column must not unlock (→ Steering).

✓ The wipers and the rain and light sensor (→ Rain and light sensor) are switched off.

NOTICE

Car washes that scan the contours mechanically may damage the vehicle.

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High-pressure cleaner

—Never use rotary nozzles. Observe the manufacturer’s instructions.

—Use water only up to a maximum temperature of +60°C(+140°F).

—Move the jet of water uniformly so that the nozzle is at least 50 cm(20 inches) away from the vehicle components.

—Do not point the water jet at the same location for too long.

—Aim the water jet indirectly at sensitive vehicle components if possible, e.g. rubber seals, side windows, gloss

strips, tyres, sensors, camera lenses, decorative and protective film.

—Never clean windows that are iced up or covered in snow with a high-pressure cleaner.

Washing by hand

Isolated soiling on the paint can be removed with cleaning clay.

1. Clean the vehicle with plenty of water to remove dust and coarse soiling.

2. Clean with a soft sponge, a wash mitt or a brush applying only light pressure. Start with the roof and work from

the top to the bottom. Use a cleaning shampoo for very stubborn dirt only.

3. Clean wheels and side members with a clean sponge.

4. Rinse off with plenty of water.

5. Allow the vehicle to dry in the air. Remove water residue with a chamois leather.

NOTICE

The drains in the plenum chamber could become blocked with leaves or dirt. Water that does not drain off could get

into the vehicle interior. Water that has entered the plenum chamber via a manual process (e.g. from a high-

pressure cleaner) can cause considerable damage to the vehicle.

● Remove leaves and other loose objects with a vacuum cleaner or by hand.

● Have the area under the perforated cover cleaned by a qualified workshop.

NOTICE

Unpainted plastic parts, headlamp lenses and tail light clusters can be damaged if the vehicle is not washed

correctly.

● Do not use hard or abrasive brushes.

Wash the vehicle only in specially designated washing bays. This prevents waste water that is possibly

contaminated with oil from entering the sewerage system.

Cleaning and caring for the vehicle exterior

The following overview contains recommendations for cleaning and care of individual vehicle components.

NOTICE

Incorrect cleaning and care can damage the vehicle.

● Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

● Do not use excessively hard, abrasive cleaning tools.

Windows, glass surfaces

—Remove wax residue, e.g. from care products, using a suitable glass cleaner or with a suitable cleaning cloth.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends a Volkswagen Genuine cleaning cloth for this purpose.

—Remove snow with a brush.

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— Remove ice with a plastic scraper. Move the scraper in one direction only.

—Remove any ice with a suitable de-icing agent.

—Clean the wiper blades or change if necessary (→ Wiper blades).

Sensors and camera lenses

Observe the installation locations of the components on the vehicle .

Clean the area in front of the sensors or camera with a soft cloth and solvent-free cleaning agent.

Clean sensitive surfaces on the rain and light sensor and the camera window on the windscreen with a suitable glass

cleaner.

—Remove snow with a brush.

—Never use warm or hot water.

—Remove any ice with a suitable de-icing agent.

Cleaning the reversing camera

—Switch on the handbrake.

—Switch on the ignition.

—Select reverse gear.

The camera image of the reversing camera is displayed.

—Tap the Camera settings function button in the Infotainment system.

—Tap the Cleaning function button.

Reversing camera cleaning is switched on.

Paint

Always treat surfaces carefully in order to prevent damage to the paint coat.

—Use a clean, soft cloth and a mild soap solution(made with a maximum of two tablespoons of neutral soap to one

litre of water) or cleaning clay to remove any light dirt immediately, e.g. deposits, insect residue, or cosmetics.

—Clean up spilled service fluids immediately.

—Moisten flash rust deposits with a soap solution. Then remove any deposits with cleaning clay.

—Have corrosion removed by a suitably qualified workshop.

—In the event of paint damage, go to a suitably qualified workshop and have the paint damage repaired.

Waxing protects the paintwork. At the latest when water no longer clearly forms small drops and runs off the

paintwork when the vehicle is clean, the vehicle should be protected again using a preservative wax.

—Even if a preservative wax is applied regularly in the car wash, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends

protecting the paint with a coat of suitable hard wax at least twice a year.

—Polishing is only necessary if the paint has lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be brought back by applying wax.

Decorative films, protective films

—Remove soiling as forpaint. Use a suitable plastic cleaner for decorative films.

—Treat the vehicle with liquid hard wax every three months after washing and removing dust. Only use clean, soft

microfibre cloths to apply it. Do not use hot wax, even in car washes.

—Remove stubborn impurities carefully using white spirits, and then rinse using warm water.

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The durability and colour of decorative and protective films are affected by environmental factors such as sunshine,

moisture, air pollution, stone chips, etc. Decorative films can show signs of wear and ageing after approximately one

to three years and protective films after approximately two to three years. In very hot climates, decorative films may

start to fade within one year and protective films within two years.

Components made of chrome, aluminium or stainless steel

—Clean the surface with a suitable chrome and aluminium care product.

—Chrome trim can be protected with a suitable hard wax.

Headlights, tail light clusters

—Remove soiling using a soft sponge soaked with a mild soap solution consisting of a maximum of two tablespoons

of neutral soap diluted in one litre of water. Do not use any cleaning agents that contain alcohol or solvents.

—Remove stubborn dirt with a suitable chrome and aluminium care product.

Wheels

—Remove dirt and gritting salt deposits with plenty of water.

—Treat dirty alloy wheels with a suitable wheel rim cleaner. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends treating

the wheel rims with a suitable hard wax every three months.

—Repair any damage to the protective paint coating immediately with a touch-up pen. If necessary, go to a suitably

qualified workshop.

—Remove brake dust with a suitable wheel rim cleaner.

Door lock cylinders

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends thawing door lock cylinders with a suitable door lock de-icer. Do not

use door lock de-icers containing grease solvents.

Area under the bonnet, plenum chamber

—Remove leaves and other loose objects with a vacuum cleaner or by hand→

.

— Always have cleaning of the area under the engine compartment performed by a correspondingly qualified

workshop →

WARNING

.

The area under the engine compartment of the vehicle is a hazardous area. All work carries the risk of injury,

scalding, accidents and fire.

● Before carrying out any work in the area of the engine compartment, always observe the required procedures and

safety precautions (→ In the engine compartment).

● Have the work carried out by a correspondingly qualified workshop.

NOTICE

The drains in the plenum chamber could become blocked with leaves or dirt. Water that has not drained away can

enter the vehicle interior and cause significant damage.

● Do not clean the plenum chamber with a high-pressure cleaner.

● Have the area under the perforated cover of the plenum chamber cleaned regularly by a suitably qualified

workshop.

Cleaning and caring for the interior

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The following overview contains recommendations for cleaning and care of individual vehicle components.

NOTICE

Incorrect cleaning and care can damage the vehicle.

● Do not use a steam cleaner, brushes or hard sponges etc. for cleaning under any circumstances.

● Have stubborn stains removed by a correspondingly qualified workshop.

Windows

1. Clean windows with a glass cleaner.

2. Wipe the windows dry with a clean chamois leather or a lint-free cloth.

Textiles, microfibre cloth and leatherette

—Remove dirt particles which adhere to the surface regularly with a vacuum cleaner so that the material is not

permanently damaged by abrasion.

—Remove dirt with a suitable interior cleaner or with Volkswagen Genuine interior cleaner.

—For fat-based soiling such as oil, use a suitable interior cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine interior cleaner. Dab off

dissolved grease and colour particles with an absorbent cloth. Then treat with water if necessary.

—In the case of soiling caused by ballpoint pens or nail vanish, for example, use a suitable interior cleaner or

Volkswagen Genuine interior cleaner. If necessary, treat subsequently with a mild soap solution consisting of a

maximum of two tablespoons of neutral soap diluted in one litre of water.

—Never use leather care agents, solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, stain removers or similar.

—Never use high-pressure cleaners, steam cleaners and coolant spray.

Natural leather

—Remove fresh dirt with a cotton cloth moistened with a mild soap solution made from a maximum of two

tablespoons of neutral soap to one litre of water. Do not allow fluids to seep into the seams.

—In the case of soiling caused by ballpoint pens or nail vanish, for example, use a suitable leather cleaner or

Volkswagen Genuine leather cleaner.

—Treat dried-in stains with a suitable leather cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine leather cleaner.

—For fat-based soiling, e.g. oil: remove fresh stains with an absorbent cloth.

—Apply a leather treatment agent to seats regularly, and after each clean. If the vehicle is parked outdoors for long

periods, you should cover the leather to protect it from direct sunlight.

Never treat leather with solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, stain removers or similar.

Plastic parts

—Clean with a soft, moist cloth.

—If stubborn soiling cannot be removed with mild soap solution consisting of a maximum of two tablespoons of

neutral soap diluted in one litre of water, use a solvent-free plastic cleaning agent or Volkswagen Genuine plastic

cleaner if necessary.

Trim parts, trim strips made of chrome, aluminium or stainless steel

—Clean with a clean, soft cloth and a mild soap solution made with a maximum of two tablespoons of neutral soap

to one litre of water in a dust-free environment.

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—Treat anodised surfaces with a suitable chrome and aluminium care product or with the Volkswagen Genuine

chrome and aluminium care product.

Controls

1. Remove coarse dirt and other dirt that is difficult to reach using a soft brush.

2. Use a clean, soft cloth with some mild soap solution consisting of a maximum of two tablespoons of neutral

soap diluted in one litre of water. Do not allow liquids to enter the controls →

.

NOTICE

The vehicle controls can be damaged by contact with liquids.

Displays and screens

Do not clean the displays and the screen of the Infotainment system with a dry cloth.

1. Switch off the Infotainment system temporarily before cleaning.

2. Use a suitable cleaning cloth or Volkswagen Genuine cleaning cloth with a little water, a suitable glass cleaner

or LCD cleaner.

Seat rails

—Use a narrow nozzle on a vacuum cleaner to remove sand, dirt etc. from the seat rails.

—Clean the surface regularly →

.

NOTICE

If seats are moved when the seat rails are soiled, the seat rails and the seat feet could be damaged.

Rubber seals

—Clean with a soft and lint-free cloth as well as plenty of water.

— Regularly treat with a suitable rubber care product or the Volkswagen Genuine rubber care product.

Seat belts

1. Carefully pull the seat belt right out and leave it out.

2. Remove coarse dirt with a soft brush.

3. If necessary, clean the seat belt with a mild soap solution consisting of a maximum of two tablespoons of

neutral soap diluted in one litre of water.

4. Leave the belt fabric to dry completely and then allow it to roll up.

WARNING

Failure to clean the parts properly can cause damage to the seat belts, the fastenings and the belt retractor.

● Never try to modify or remove the seat belts for cleaning.

● Never clean the seat belts and their components with chemical agents.

● Do not use any caustic liquids, solvents or sharp objects.

● Protect the belt buckles against the ingress of liquids and foreign bodies.

● Let the cleaned seat belt to dry completely before allowing it to retract.

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Opaque shades

—For the best cleaning results, use dry cleaning.

— Please refer to the information on the labels sewn into the opaque shades before cleaning in a washing machine.

Wooden trims

clean with a soft cloth moistened with a mild soap solution made from a maximum of two tablespoons of neutral

soap to one litre of water.

Cleaning seat covers

If clothing that is not sufficiently colour-fast, e.g. denim, leaves stains on the seat cushions, this does not mean that

the upholstery is defective. The seat padding may contain components for the airbag system and electrical

connections. Seat padding that is damaged, incorrectly cleaned or treated, or that becomes wet, may cause damage

to the vehicle electrical system or trigger a fault in the airbag system →

.

Depending on the equipment, seat cushions with seat heating feature electrical components and connectors that

may be damaged in the event of incorrect cleaning or treatment. This can also result in damage to other parts of the

vehicle electrics.

—Clean the surfaces of the seats with a slightly moistened cloth→

.

—Ask a correspondingly qualified workshop about special cleaning agents for treating coarse dirt.

—Never use high-pressure cleaners, steam cleaners and coolant spray.

—Never soak seat covers.

—Never switch on the seat heating to dry the seats.

—Do not use washing paste or fine detergent solutions.

—If in doubt, go to a correspondingly qualified workshop.

WARNING

Incorrect cleaning and treatment or saturation of the vehicle interior can damage the vehicle electrical system or

trigger a fault in the airbag system which could result in severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident.

● Avoid excessive use of water, e.g. water hose, high-pressure cleaner or steam cleaner.

● Vehicle parts must be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.

NOTICE

The signs of wear and soiling visible due to normal use are naturally more easily visible in the case of light-coloured

materials in the vehicle interior. These signs of use cannot be prevented and also represent unavoidable ageing due

to normal use. Please observe the corresponding care instructions.

Cool box

—Clean the cool box with a household detergent before using it for the first time and whenever it needs cleaning.

—When not in use for a long time, place a folded, dry towel between the lid and the refrigerator box to prevent

mould and mildew stains.

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Vehicle care for Your Volkswagen California Van Fourth Generation (2024-2025)

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