Volkswagen T4 California Exclusive owner’s manual
Interior equipment
| 1 | Centre console |
| 2 | Swivelling front seats |
| 3 | Dining tables / folding tables |
| 4 | Rear bench seat / folding bed |
| 5 | Kitchen unit with sink, gas hob, waste water tank and gas cylinder compartment |
| 6 | Fridge |
| 7 | Adjoining cupboard with bin bag holder |
| 8 | Hinged door with lock |
| 9 | Cupboard with valuables compartment |
| 10 | Hatch release button |
| 11 | Bathroom |
| 12 | Folding washbasin |
In addition to the equipment listed, the washroom area contains a fresh water tank and a 220/230V socket, which is also found in the living area under the folding table.
The roof bed platform is also located above the swivelling front seats.
From the outside you can access:
- Toilet waste cassette
- 220/230V socket
- Fresh water filler
- Drain opening for the fresh water tank
- Drain opening for the waste water tank
Keys
Your motorhome comes with the following keys:
A. This key fits all the locks except:
- Opening/closing the fresh water filler cap.
- The lockable storage compartment.
B. You can use this key to open and close the cover of the fresh water filler. The lock is housed behind a flap on the outside at the rear
C. This key is for the valuables compartment in the cupboard (9)
Opening the furniture
The drawers and doors have catches that stop them opening accidentally while driving. To open, pull the flap. Opening the furniture catches is easier if you press the drawer or door in at the same time as pressing the handle button.
Roof vent
Before opening the roof vent, lower the insect screen.
To open the vent, push both handles upwards evenly. The vent can be lowered to either side when in the open position.
The insect screen can be removed for cleaning. To do so, unhook the screen from the recessed handle, swing it downwards and take it out.
To refit it, insert the screen with its two retaining tabs into the recesses (arrows) in the frame, swing it upwards and secure it firmly.
Notes
- Open the roof vent when cooking to let cooking fumes escape.
- To avoid draughts and damage to the vent, keep it closed while driving.
Tilting windows
Opening the windows
Fully open the locking lever (A) on all the window catches. Then set the window to the position you want and turn the sleeve (B) on the stay.
Closing the window
Turn the sleeve (B) on the stay and lower the window.
Before closing the window, make sure that all the hooks (C) of the retainers are at the same time behind the edge of the corresponding stay (D).
Warning
For safety reasons, all opening windows must always be closed and locked while driving.
Roller blinds
All the opening windows in the pop-top roof are fitted with a blackout roller blind and an insect screen.
The illustration shows both roller blinds in the half-open position. Both roller blinds can be raised and lowered together or separately.
Insect screen roller blind
Pull the insect screen roller blind from the bottom upwards.
The roller blind can be adjusted infinitely and locked in any position.
Blackout blind
Pull the blackout blind from the top downwards.
The roller blind can be adjusted infinitely and locked in any position.
Curtains
All the interior windows can be blacked out with curtains.
The cab curtain is inside the vehicle.
It fastens from the inside with press studs and is held over the windscreen by folding down the two sun visors.
The illustration shows how the curtain parts are fixed to the interior trim using the press stud.
The stud base (A) is fixed firmly to the interior trim. The closed press stud (C) of the curtain is pressed onto this base.
If the press studs of two curtain sections have to be fixed to one base (A), first press the curtain section with the open press stud (B) onto the base. Then press the curtain section with the closed press stud (C) onto the open press stud.
Swivelling front seats
The front seats swivel, so they can also be used for the lounge area.
The release for the swivel mechanism is on the lower right of the seat base on both seats. To release it, pull the lever upwards.
The passenger seats turn anticlockwise, pushing the driver's seat fully back. If necessary, open the doors and tilt the seat backs slightly forward.
If the rear bench seat/folding bed is converted into a bed surface, first push the front seats, facing the direction of travel, forward past the front stop.
To do this, push the seat as far as the stop. Then press the lever (arrow) downwards and keep pushing the seat forward until it passes the stop. This position is only permitted for setting up the bed surface.
Warning
- Before turning the driver's seat, apply the handbrake or otherwise secure the vehicle against movement (engage a gear or chock the wheels).
- The swivelling seats must always face the direction of travel and be properly locked while driving.
- Neither front seat must ever be used if it has been moved forward past the front stop.
Dining table
The dining table is stored on the inside of the cupboard door. Turn the lever upwards and take the table out of its holder.
Setting up the dining table
- Place the tabletop at an angle of approx. 45° upwards in the retaining strip (arrow) on the side panel.
- Release the table leg (A) from the clamp on the underside of the tabletop and swing the table downwards.
- Place the end of the leg on the right-hand seat rail (B) and click it into place.
Taking down the dining table
Take it down in the reverse order.
Note that before releasing the table leg you must press the latch (arrow) on the inside of the leg.
Folding table
- Release the tabletop from its holder with a gentle pull and lift the table until it clicks into place.
- To fold it down, press the safety button (arrow) on the base of the table and lower the tabletop until it clicks into place.
Warning
The folding table must not be set up while driving, as there is a risk of injury in the event of an accident or hard braking.
The table must therefore be folded and locked during the journey.
Rear bench seat / folding bed
Rear seat belt
The right-hand automatic three-point seat belt of the bench/folding bed, seen in the direction of travel, has the following special feature:
In addition to the normal buckle section, you will find another buckle section on the right-hand side of the seat. After removing the belt, it can be released completely by pressing the button on the right-hand locking section (arrow), so that the bench can be moved forward more easily.
To prevent the button from being released accidentally while driving, the locking piece is fitted with a sliding cover that must always enclose the locking piece.
When the rear bench seat/folding bed is in the driving position, the seat belts must always rest on the seat cushion so that they can be fastened at any time – see the chapters "Seat belts" and "Child safety" in the Caravelle and Transporter owner's manual.
Caution
When using this seat belt, always make sure that both buckle tongues are properly engaged in the belt buckles – give it a pull test!
Bench positions
You can set the rear bench seat/folding bed in two positions:
Position 1 – position for travelling and eating
Position 2 – position for sleeping.
So that the rear bench seat/folding bed slides easily on the seat rails, the T-shaped sliding blocks of the bench should be treated from time to time with a non-greasy lubricant (for example, silicone spray).
When adjusting it, push the lever (A) at the front bottom of the bench to one side.
The bench seat/folding bed can be adjusted in two ways:
- by moving the bench with your body (as is usual with car seats)
- by moving it by hand while standing in front of the bench.
Put your hand into the left and right compartments so that you pull the slightly recessed metal rail and not just the visible plastic fitting.
Warning
While driving, the bench must always be placed on the seat rails and locked in one of the two positions, so that it does not become a safety hazard in the event of hard braking or an accident. The operation of the seat belts also depends on the bench being securely fixed.
Folding down the bench into a bed
- Remove the head restraints from the rear bench seat/folding bed.
- Remove both seat belts: slide the strap of the left-hand three-point seat belt between the backrest and the side trim. Release the straps of the right-hand three-point seat belt, as described above.
- Tuck the other parts of the belt between the seat cushion and the backrest.
- Push both front seats forward past the front stop.
- Push the bench to the "sleeping position"
- Press the release lever on the underside of the bench, in the central compartment, to the left and at the same time lift the front of the bench slightly.
- Put your hand into the recessed handles under the seat cushion, pull the seat cushion forward and push the backrest back at the same time.
Fold the downward-facing cushion up into the lying position and secure it firmly.
Then click the support bracket (1), hinged to the floor, firmly into the holder underneath the bench.
Note
Make sure that nothing in the storage compartment gets trapped.
Putting the bench back
- Release the support bar while holding the cushion, and swing both downwards.
- Fold the seat cushion up at the front until you hear the seat fitting engage. The seat cushion and backrest are now almost at a right angle.
- Fold the seat cushion back down, making sure the backrest is upright again.
- Click the seat cushion back into the catch.
- Place the seat belts on the upholstery so they can be fastened at any time. To do this, refit the right-hand seat belt.
- Push the two front seats back to the driving position.
- Fit the head restraints on the backrest of the rear bench seat/folding bed.
Storage space under the folding bench seat
The space under the bench seat can be used as storage.
The bench can be held in the open position with the support (arrow) on the left of the seat frame.
Make sure the bench rests properly in the notch of the support.
Caution
While driving, people may only travel on the rear bench seat/folding bed when the bench is in the travelling position, so that all passengers can fasten their seat belts properly.
In the event of an accident or hard braking, occupants on the bed surface can be thrown forward uncontrollably, with a consequent risk of injury.
For this reason, the bed surface must not be used while driving.
Removing the rear bench seat/folding bed
Note
Make sure that the straps, side panels, cupboards, etc. are not damaged or dirtied when removing and refitting the bench.
For this reason, the bench should be removed and refitted by two people.
Control panel
In the driver's cab, above the interior light, you will find the central console or control panel with the following indicators:
1- Fresh water level indicator. The display is shown using three bars. When the lowest bar goes out, there are still about 9 litres of water left.
2- Auxiliary battery operation display. The symbol appears when power comes exclusively from the additional battery, i.e. when it is not being recharged by the charger or alternator. If the voltage drops to 10.5 volts because of the connected consumers, the symbol flashes and the fridge switches off automatically.
3- Auxiliary battery voltage display. To view it, press key 12.
3- Display of the selected temperature of the parking heater. To view it, press key 13.
3- Display of the selected fridge temperature. To view it, press key 14.
3- Outside temperature display. To view it, press key 9.
3- Parking heater fault display. If there are faults in the operation of the heater, an error code appears on the display and symbol 5 flashes.
4- Mains voltage and charger display. The symbol appears when there is mains voltage and the charger is working. In the event of a power cut or a charger malfunction, the symbol disappears.
NOTICE: If the battery voltage indicator flashes when there is mains voltage and shows a value above 15 volts, there is a malfunction.
5- Auxiliary heater operation display. The symbol appears as soon as the heater is switched on. In the event of a fault, the symbol flashes and an error code appears on the display.
6- Waste water level indicator. When the tank is full, the symbol appears flashing. After pressing any key, the flashing changes to steady.
7- Auxiliary battery level display. The available capacity is shown in 10% steps. When running on battery, the display changes approximately 5 minutes after the appliance is switched on. Before this, only the first and last bars appear.
8- Fridge operation symbol. The symbol appears as soon as the fridge is switched on. In the event of a fault, the symbol flashes.
9- Outside temperature button. The reading is shown on display 3.
10- Fridge on/off. Pressing buttons 10 and 14 at the same time switches the fridge on or off. When switched on, symbol number 8 appears.
11- Fridge temperature up button. Each press raises the temperature by 1°C within the range of -20°C to +20°C. Key 14 must be held down. The temperature entered appears on the display in section number 3.
11- Parking heater temperature up button. Each press of this button raises the heating level by one step within the range of 10 to 30 degrees. Key 13 must be held down. The temperature entered appears on the display in section number 3.
12- Auxiliary battery voltage button. The reading stays on until button 9 is pressed.
13- Parking heater on/off. Pressing buttons 10 and 13 at the same time switches the auxiliary heater on or off. When it switches on, symbol number 5 appears. If you press key 13 on its own, the heating level that has been set will appear in section number 3 of the display.
NOTICE: The heater's air intake is on the side panel under the folding table. The hot air outlet is on the floor, behind the driver's seat. Do not block the heater's intake and outlet or it will switch off.
14- Button for setting the fridge temperature. While this button is held down, the set target fridge temperature will be displayed.
15- Fridge temperature down button. Works the same as button 11.
15- Parking heater temperature down button. Works the same as button 11.
Display lighting.
The display will light up for approximately 3 minutes when any button is pressed. The lighting is also linked to the vehicle's own lighting.
When the auxiliary heater is running, the display stays lit for as long as it is on.
Fuses
All electrical consumers are protected by fuses and circuit breakers. Before changing fuses or checking the circuit breaker, you must move the seat forward.
The residual current circuit breaker and the fuse box for the 12V consumers are located behind a lockable hatch on the left side wall, under the kitchen unit. To open the hatch, turn the locking knob.
A. Residual current circuit breaker for 220/230 volt consumers.
B. Fuse box for 12 volt consumers
| 1 – Central electronics | 5 A |
| 2 – Water pump | 7.5 A |
| 3 – Interior light | 7.5 A |
| 4 – Parking heater | 25 A |
| 5 – Free | – |
| 6 – Fridge | 15 A |
Fridge
The fridge lid can be used as a draining board. Do not place hot pots or pans on the lid as this will damage it.
Before using the fridge for the first time, you should clean the inside of the box with warm water with a little cleaning agent added.
So that you can easily take out or put in chilled food, the lid is held open by a projection on the wall. Before closing the lid, press the button.
The fridge works whether or not the engine is running. It is powered exclusively by the auxiliary battery. The fridge is switched on, switched off and controlled from the control panel.
General tips for the correct operation of the fridge
The fridge should be pre-cooled before you put food and drinks in it. In addition, the items to be stored should only be taken out of the household fridge shortly before the start of the journey, and out of the supermarket as soon as possible.
Under no circumstances should hot food or drinks be put in the fridge while it is switched on!
Food should be kept, wherever possible, in airtight containers to stop it drying out, spilling or smelling. These also help delay ice forming on the evaporator (ice build-up significantly reduces efficiency, causing higher energy consumption and poorer cooling performance). Excessive ice build-up is also encouraged by opening the fridge lid frequently.
The fridge should not be overfilled, so as not to impair the circulation of the cooling air.
The fridge is fitted with air filters for the intake and outlet in the vehicle floor. These filters should be checked at least once a year.
To prevent ice forming, the fridge should be defrosted periodically. To do this, switch the fridge off and open the lid. Defrosting must not be sped up by introducing a heat source. The condensation water must be removed before switching it on again.
The fridge is cleaned with water with a little vinegar added. To prevent mould and fungus forming if the fridge is not used for a long time, the lid should be kept slightly open by placing a cloth folded several times in between.
Practical guide: electrics, water and maintenance
Components and their condition can vary between vehicles. Before doing anything, identify the equipment fitted to your California Exclusive and, if you are unsure about a repair or an installation, consult a specialist workshop.
What runs on 12 V and what needs an external 230 V connection?
The fridge, the water pump, the interior lights and the control panel run off the 12 V auxiliary battery. The external 220/230 V connection powers the interior sockets and the charger for that battery. In this setup, the charger is under the fridge and starts charging when there is an external connection and the residual current breaker is switched on. Plugging the van into the mains from time to time helps to keep the auxiliary battery in good condition. Work on the 230 V circuit should be left to qualified personnel.
The residual current breaker and the 12 V fuses are behind the left-hand side hatch, under the kitchen unit. After each connection to the mains, check that the breaker works using its test button. If it trips again, don't force it: have the installation checked by a professional.
How do you fill and empty the water tanks?
The fresh water filler is behind an outer cover at the rear. Before filling, check that the drain outlet, the valve next to the toilet tank and the cleaning cap are closed. Use water from a reliable mains supply and avoid filling from rivers or springs. The fresh water tank is in the washroom area, behind the side trim, under the folding washbasin.
Grey water from the sink and washbasin goes to a tank under the kitchen unit. Its outlet is under the vehicle, on the left, near the rear wheel. Empty it at a designated facility and close the valve again when you finish. If the water has developed a bad smell, clean both tanks with a product suitable for water tanks and follow its dosage instructions. Avoid harsh household cleaners in the fresh water tank.
How do you prepare the California Exclusive for winter?
If the van is going to be left parked, or used only briefly with a risk of frost, completely drain the fresh water and grey water circuits, as well as the toilet tank. If you are staying in it over winter, keep the heater's intake and outlet clear, prevent the external cable from getting trapped in the ice and ventilate to reduce humidity. The water system can keep working in frosts of down to about −10 °C only if the living space stays heated continuously; this should not be taken as a guarantee for every vehicle or temperature.
What should you check if the parking heater won't start?
If it won't start, check the condition of the auxiliary battery, the fuses and, if fitted, the timer. If the control panel shows F13, switch the heater off, clear the air intake and outlet and switch it on again. For F52–F56, wait for the fan to finish before trying again, do not try more than twice and check the fuel. For other codes, or if the fault persists, note down the code and take it to a workshop.
Looking after the fridge and its filters
Check the fridge's air intake and outlet filters at least once a year. Defrost it periodically without applying external heat, and leave the lid slightly open when it is going to sit unused for a long time, to prevent mould.
For dimensions and capacities, see California Exclusive equipment and measurements. In the frequently asked questions you will find short answers on the most common faults.