The best workshop manual for repairing the Volkswagen T3

I recently bought what I consider to be the best workshop manual for repairing the Volkswagen T3. It’s a very comprehensive manual, which I’m using a lot, and I’d recommend it if you’re planning to carry out any work on your van.

Volkswagen Vanagon (T3) Repair Manual: 1980, 1981, 1983, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991. Including Diesel, Syncro and Camper
Author: Volkswagen of America
Published by: Bentley Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-0-8376-1665-0

The fact is, when you start looking for manuals for the T3 Syncro, you realise there’s very little information available. There’s plenty on the standard Volkswagen T3, but when it comes to the Syncro variant, information is scarce.

It’s true that a T3 and a T3 Syncro share many features and so most of the information is useful, but the problem arises when we look at the specific parts that characterise the Syncro models. For example, now that I’m working on the front differential, I can’t find much information about it. However, the manual sets out in detail how to adjust it, the parameters you need to bear in mind, torque settings, the type and quantities of fluids required for each model, specifications…

It therefore provides you with very valuable and essential information that you need to know if you’re going to restore your van or carry out any mechanical work on it. No matter how minor the job, the countless illustrations will show you exactly how that part you removed was positioned – the one you’re now unsure whether it went in one way or the other.

Is it worth buying this workshop manual to repair the Volkswagen T3?

This workshop manual is expensive – over 100 euros – but it’s not a book with scant information. Bear in mind that it has 1,456 pages and features 2,295 illustrations and diagrams. So if it’s not in this manual, you’re unlikely to find it anywhere else. So, it’s a significant outlay, but I don’t think I’ll be spending any more money on this. Even if you only use this manual a little, you’ll more than recoup the cost. For me, the information on the torque settings for each part alone makes it worth buying.