2008 VOLKSWAGEN CC brake light

Flashes Possible cause Proper response
D
Steering system stiff. Turn the steering wheel back
and forth.
Steering column not
locked/unlocked.
Switch the ignition off and
then switch it on again. Heed
any messages shown in the
instrument cluster display, if
applicable.
On vehicles with Keyless Ac-
cess ,press the starter button
briefly twice in a row without
depressing the brake or
clutch pedal.
Do not drive any farther if
the steering column remains
locked after you switch on the
ignition. Contact your author-
ized Volkswagen dealer or an
authorized Volkswagen Ser-
vice Facility for assistance.

When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights
come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds.
WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text mes-
sages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result
in a collision and serious personal injury.
Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in
vehicle damage.

Lights
up
Possible cause or
meaning ⇒  Proper response
Together with ABS indica-
tor light J or !"3: ABS fail-
ure.
See an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an au-
thorized Volkswagen Service
Facility.
The vehicle brakes will work
without ABS.
"2!+%
7%!2
Brake pads worn.
If you believe that it is safe to
do so, immediately take the
vehicle to an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or author-
ized Volkswagen Service Fa-
cility. Check, and if necessary
replace, all brake pads.
I

WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious per-
sonal injury.
If the brake warning light "2!+% or H does not go out, or
comes on when driving, either the brake fluid level in the reser-
voir is too low or there is a fault in the brake system. Stop the
vehicle as soon as you can do so safely and get expert assis-
tance ⇒  Brake fluid.
If the brake warning light "2!+% or H comes on at the same
time as the ABS warning light !"3 or J, the ABS may not be
working properly. This could cause the rear wheels to lock up
relatively quickly during braking. Rear wheel brake lock-up can
cause loss of vehicle control.
If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, drive slowly and
very carefully to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer, au-
thorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or other qualified work-
shop and have the brake system inspected. Avoid sudden hard
braking and steering.
If the ABS indicator light !"3 or J does not go out, or if it
comes on while driving, the ABS system is not working proper-
ly. The vehicle can then be stopped only with the standard
brakes (without ABS). You will not have the protection ABS
provides. Contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or an au-
thorized Volkswagen Service Facility as soon as possible.
If the symbol "2!+% 7%!2 or I lights up in the instrument clus-
ter display, whether alone or together with a text message, im-
mediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or author-
ized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the brake pads
checked and, if necessary, replaced.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in
vehicle damage.

following other vehicles too closely) – especially during the break-in
period.
Brake pad wear depends mostly on operating conditions and the
way the vehicle is driven. If you do a lot of city and short-distance
driving and/or have a sporty driving style, you should have the brake
pads checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility more often than the regular service inter-
vals.
Wet brakes (for example, after driving through water or washing the
vehicle or after heavy rainfall) will not brake as well. Stopping dis-
tances will be longer when brake discs are wet or, in winter, even icy.
Wet or icy brakes must be dried as soon as possible by carefully ap-
plying the brakes a couple of times while traveling at a relatively high
speed. Make sure nobody is behind you and that you do not endan-
ger yourself or others ⇒ .
Brakes coated with road salt also react slower and need longer
stopping distances. If there is salt on the roads and you are not brak-
ing regularly, brake carefully and gently from time to time to remove
any salt coating from the brake discs and pads ⇒ .
Brake disc corrosion (rust) and dirt buildup on the brake pads are
more likely to occur if the vehicle is not driven much or is driven only
for short distances with little braking. If the brakes have not been
used and there is some rust on the discs, clean the brake discs and
pads once in a while by carefully braking a couple of times while driv-
ing at relatively high speed to help clean the brake discs and pads.
Make sure nobody is behind you and that you do not endanger your-
self or others ⇒ .
Brake system malfunction
If you brake and find that the vehicle doesn't brake nearly as well as it
used to (sudden increase in stopping distance), a brake circuit may
have failed. The brake warning light H or "2!+% will come on and a
message may appear in the instrument cluster display. If you believe
the vehicle is safe to drive, immediately take it to the nearest author-
ized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for
repair. Drive slowly and very carefully, allow for the longer stopping
distance, and be ready to push longer and harder on the brake pedal
to slow the vehicle down.

Brake booster
The brake booster works only when the engine is running. It increas-
es the force on the brakes above and beyond the pressure put on the
brake pedal by the driver.
If the brake booster is not working, or if the vehicle has to be towed,
you will have to push the brake pedal harder to make up for the lack
of booster assistance and the resulting longer stopping distance ⇒ .
WARNING
New brake pads do not provide maximum braking performance.
New brake pads do not have the best stopping power for the
first 200 miles (320 km) and must be “broken in.” You can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by putting more
pressure on the brake pedal.
Drive with extra care while the new brake pads are being bro-
ken in. This reduces the risk of collisions and serious personal
injuries due to a loss of control over the vehicle.
Never follow other vehicles too closely or put yourself into
other situations that might require sudden, hard braking, espe-
cially when the brake pads have not been broken in.
WARNING
Overheated brakes will reduce the vehicle's stopping power
and increase stopping distances considerably.
When driving downhill, the brakes have to work especially
hard and heat up quickly.
Before driving downhill, especially on hills that are long or
steep, always reduce speed and shift into lower gear (manual or
automatic transmission). This will let the vehicle use engine
braking and reduce the load on the brakes. Otherwise, the
brake system could overheat and possibly fail. Only use the
brakes when you need them to slow the vehicle down more or
to stop.
A damaged front spoiler or a non-standard spoiler can re-
duce airflow to the brakes and make them overheat.

help keep the vehicle going in the intended direction. If you are travel-
ing at a speed that causes you to run off the road before ESC can
provide any assistance, you may not experience the benefits of ESC.
ESC includes and/or works together with the ABS, BAS, ASR, EDL,
and XDL systems (see below). ESC is switched on all the time. In
certain situations when you need less traction or additional traction
cannot be achieved, you can switch off ASR by pressing the m button
⇒ fig. 145. Be sure to switch ASR on again when you no longer need
less traction.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS helps to keep the wheels from locking up and helps to maintain
the driver's ability to steer and control the vehicle. This means the
vehicle is less likely to skid, even during hard braking:
Push the brake pedal down hard and hold it there. Don't take your
foot off the pedal or reduce the force on the pedal!
Do not “pump” the brake pedal or let up on it!
Steer the vehicle while pushing down hard on the brake pedal.
ABS stops working if you release or let up on the brake.
When ABS is doing its job, you will notice a slight vibration through
the brake pedal and hear a noise. ABS cannot shorten the stopping
distance under all conditions. The stopping distance may even be
longer, for instance, when driving on gravel or on newly fallen snow
covering an icy or slippery surface.
Brake Assist (BAS)
The Brake Assist System can help to reduce stopping distances. If
you press the brake pedal very quickly, BAS detects an emergency
situation. It then very quickly builds up full brake system pressure,
maximizing braking power and reducing the stopping distance. This
way, ABS can be activated more quickly and efficiently.
Do not reduce pressure on the brake pedal! BAS switches off auto-
matically as soon as you release or let up on the brake.
Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
ASR reduces engine power directed to spinning wheels and adjusts
power to the road conditions. Even under poor road conditions, ASR
can make it easier to get moving, accelerate, and climb hills.

Check the information on the container for the brake fluid you want to
use to make sure it meets the requirements for your vehicle.
Brake fluid that complies with VW Standard 501 14 can be pur-
chased from your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.
If this special brake fluid is not available you may – under these cir-
cumstances – use another high quality brake fluid that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 116 DOT 4 ⇒ 
.
Please note, however, that not all brake fluids that comply with U.S.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 have the
same chemical composition. Some of these brake fluids can contain
chemicals that could, over time, degrade or damage internal parts of
the vehicle’s brake system.
Volkswagen therefore recommends that you use brake fluid that ex-
pressly complies with VW Standard 501 14 for optimum brake sys-
tem performance over the long term.
Brake fluid level
The fluid level in the transparent brake fluid reservoir must always be
between the MIN and MAX marking ⇒ .
On some vehicles, engine components block the view of the brake
fluid reservoir and make it impossible to see the brake fluid level. If
you cannot clearly see the brake fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir,
please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used as
the brake pads wear and the brakes are automatically adjusted.
Changing brake fluid
Brake fluid must be changed according to the service schedule in
your ⇒ Booklet Warranty and Maintenance. Have the brake fluid
checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility. Refill only with new brake fluid that
meets the standards listed above.

WARNING
Using the cruise control when it is not possible to drive safely
at a constant speed can be dangerous and can lead to an acci-
dent and serious personal injuries.
Never use cruise control when driving in heavy or varying
traffic or when you cannot keep a safe distance between you
and the vehicles ahead of you.
Never use cruise control on steep, winding, or slippery roads
(such gravel roads, wet roads, or snowy or icy roads) or on
roads with standing water.
Never use cruise control when driving off-road or on unpaved
roads.
Always adjust your speed and the distance you keep between
you and the vehicles ahead of you to the road, traffic, weather,
and visibility conditions.
To help prevent unintended operation of cruise control,
switch the system off when it is not being used.
It is dangerous to use the Resume feature when the previous-
ly set speed is too high for the existing road, traffic, or weather
conditions.
When going downhill, the cruise control may not be able to
maintain a constant speed. The vehicle will speed up because
of its own weight. Downshift and/or use the foot brake to slow
the vehicle.
Indicator lights

Fig. 149 In the instrument cluster display: Cruise control status indi-
cations.