
Contents
4Trailer towing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Instructions to follow  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Ball coupling of towing bracket*  . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving tips  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Fitting a towing bracket* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle
 . . . . . . . 
General notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Vehicle exterior maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Vehicle interior maintenance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Accessories, parts replacement and 
modifications
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Accessories and parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Technical modifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Roof aerial*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Mobile telephones and radiotelephones  . . . . . 
Checking and refilling levels
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Petrol  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Working in the engine compartment . . . . . . . . . 
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Washer fluid and windscreen wiper blades . . . . 
Brake fluid  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Battery  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Wheels and tyres
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
If and when
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Tools, tyre repair kit and spare wheel  . . . . . . . . 
Wheel change  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Tyre repair kit (Tyre-Mobility-System)* . . . . . . . . 
Fuses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Bulb change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Towing and tow-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
General notes on the technical data
 . . . . . . . 
Outstanding information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Data on fuel consumption  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Towing a trailer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Techn ical  Data
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Checking fluid levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Petrol engine 1.4 63 kW (85 bhp)  . . . . . . . . . . . 
Petrol engine 1.4 92 kW (125 bhp)  . . . . . . . . . . 
Petrol engine 1.6 75 kW (102 bhp)  . . . . . . . . . . 
Petrol engine 1.8 litre 118 kW (160 hp). Manual
Petrol engine 1.8 litre 118 kW (160 hp). 
Automatic  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Diesel engine 1.9 TDI 77 kW (105 bhp).  . . . . . . 
Diesel engine 2.0l 103 kW (140 bhp). . . . . . . . . 
Diesel engine 2.0l 125 kW (170 bhp)  . . . . . . . . 
Dimensions and capacities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Index
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
195
195
196
196
197
199
199
200
206
208
208
208
209
209
210
210
211
212
213
216
220
222
226
227
230
230
238
238
240
247
249
253
262
265 269
269
269
271
272
273
273
274
275
276
278
279
280
282
283
285
287
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Intelligent technology189
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Caution
•
Never let the brakes “drag” by leaving your foot on the pedal when you do 
not really intend to brake. This overhe ats the brakes, resulting in longer stop-
ping distances and greater wear.
•
Before driving down a long, steep gradient, it is advisable to reduce speed 
and change to a lower gear (or move the selector lever to a lower gear position 
if your car has automatic transmission). This makes use of engine braking 
and prolongs the service life of the brakes. If you still have to use the brakes, 
it is better to brake firmly at intervals than to apply the brakes continuously.Note
•
If the brake servo is not functioning due to a malfunction, or if the vehicle 
has to be towed, you will have to press the brake pedal considerably harder 
to make up for the lack of servo assistance.
•
If you wish to equip the car with accessories such as a front spoiler or 
wheel covers, it is important that the flow of air to the front wheels is not 
obstructed, otherwise the brakes can overheat.
Power steering (servotronic*)
The power steering assists the driver when turning the 
steering wheel (with the engine running).The power steering assists the driver by reducing the force needed to turn the 
steering wheel. In cars equipped with servotronic* power steering the degree 
of power assistance is regulated  electronically according to road speed.
The power  steering will keep on working even if the  servotronic* device fails. 
The degree of power assistance will, however, no longer adapt to different 
speeds. If the electronic regulating system is not working properly, this is 
most noticeable when turning the steering wheel at low speeds (for instance  when parking) – more effort will be requ
ired than usual. The fault should be 
corrected by a qualified work shop as soon as possible.
The power steering does not work if the engine is off. In this case the steering 
wheel is very hard to turn.
If the steering is held at its  turning limit when the car is stationary, this will 
place an excessive load on the power steering system. Turning the steering 
wheel to its limit places a load on the sy stem, which causes noise. It will also 
reduce the idling speed of the engine.
Caution
When the engine is running, do not tu rn the steering wheel to its limit for 
more than 15 seconds. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the power 
steering.
Note
•
If the power steering should fail at any time or the engine is switched off 
(for instance when being towed), the car can still be steered. However, more 
effort will be required to turn the steering wheel.
•
If the system is leaking or malfunctioning, please take the car to a quali-
fied workshop as soon as possible.
•
The power steering requires a special hydraulic fluid. The container is 
located in the engine compartment (front  left). The correct fluid level in the 
reservoir is important for the power steering to function properly. The 
hydraulic fluid level is checked at the Inspection Service.
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Driving and the environment
190Driving and the environmentRunning-inRunning in a new engine
The engine needs to be run-in over the first 1,500 km.Up to 1,000 kilometres
– Do not drive faster than two thirds of top speed.
– Do not accelerate hard.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer.
From 1000 to 1500 km
–Speeds can be gradually  increased to the maximum road speed 
or maximum permissible engine speed (rpm).During its first few hours of running, the internal friction in the engine is 
greater than later on, when all the moving parts have bedded in.
For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, its life  will be increased and its oil consumption, 
reduced.
Braking effect and braking distance
The braking effect and braking distance are influenced by 
driving situations and road conditions.The efficiency of the brakes depends directly on the  brake pad wear. The rate 
of wear of the brake pads depends to a great extent on the conditions under 
which the vehicle is operated and the way the vehicle is driven. If you often 
drive in town traffic, drive short distances or have a sporty driving style, we 
recommend that you have the thickness of your brake pads checked by an 
Authorised Service Centre more frequen tly than recommended in the Service 
Schedule.
If you drive with  wet brakes, for example, after crossing water areas, in heavy 
rainfall or even after washing the car, the effect of the brakes is lessened as 
the brake discs are wet or even frozen (in winter): The brakes should be 
“dried” by pressing the pedal to restore full braking effect.
WARNING
Longer braking distances and faults in the brake system increase the risk 
of accidents.•
New brake pads must be run in and  do not have the correct friction 
during the first 400 km. However, the reduced braking capacity may be 
compensated by pressing on the brake pedal a little harder. This also 
applies when new brake pads are fitted.
•
If brakes are wet or frozen, or if  you are driving on roads which have 
been gritted with salt, braking po wer may set in later than normal.
•
On steep stopes, if brakes are excessively used, they will overheat. 
Before driving down a long steep stopes, it is advisable to reduce speed 
and change down into a lower gear (or move the selector lever to a lower 
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 190  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Driving and the environment191
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
gear if your vehicle has automatic tr
ansmission). This makes use of engine 
braking and relieves the brakes.
•
Never let the brakes “rub” by applying light pressure. Continuous 
braking will cause the brakes to overheat and the braking distance will 
increase. Apply and then release the brakes alternately.
•
Never let the vehicle run with the engine switched off. The braking 
distance is increased considerably as the brake servo does not function.
•
Very heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the brake fluid 
is left in the system for too long. This impairs the braking effect.
•
Non-standard or damaged front spoilers  could restrict the airflow to the 
brakes and cause them to overheat. Observe the relevant instructions 
before purchasing accessories  ⇒page 208, “Technical modifications”.
•
If a brake circuit fails, the braking distance will be increased consider-
ably. Contact a qualified workshop immediately and avoid unnecessary 
journeys.
Exhaust gasses purification systemCatalytic converter*To conserve the useful life of the catalytic converter
– Always use unleaded petrol.
– Do not let the fuel get too low in the tank.
– For engine oil changes, do not top the reservoir up  ⇒page 218, 
“Topping up engine oil  ”. – Never tow the vehicle to start it, use jump leads if necessary 
⇒page 262.
If you notice misfiring, uneven running or loss of power when the vehicle is 
moving, reduce speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected at the 
nearest qualified workshop. In general, the exhaust warning lamp will light 
up when any of the described symptoms occur  ⇒page 73. If this happens, 
unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust system and escape into the environment. 
The catalytic converter can also be damaged by overheating.
WARNING
The catalytic converter reaches very high temperatures! Fire hazard!•
Never park where the catalytic converter could come into contact with 
dry grass or inflammable materials under the vehicle.
•
Do not apply additional underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the 
exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust 
system. These materials could catch fire when the vehicle is being driven.Caution
Never fully drain the fuel tank because the irregularity of the fuel supply may 
cause ignition problems. This allows unburnt fuel to enter the exhaust 
system, which could cause overheating and damage the catalytic converter.
For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is working perfectly, there may be a 
smell of sulphur from the exhaust unde r some conditions. This depends on 
the sulphur content of the fuel used. Quite often the problem can be solved 
by changing to another fuel brand.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels
212Petrol additives
Petrol additives improve the quality of the petrol.The quality of the petrol influences  running behaviour, performance and 
service life of the engine. For this reason, you should use good quality petrol 
containing additives. These additives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the 
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from building up in the engine.
If good quality petrol with additives is  not available or engine problems occur, 
the required additives must be added during refuelling.DieselDiesel*Diesel fuel must correspond to DIN EN 590 (EN = “European standard”). It 
must have a cetane number (CN) of at  least 51. The cetane number indicates 
the ignition quality of the diesel fuel.
Notes on filling with fuel  ⇒page 210.Biodiesel*The biodiesel fuel must comply with the DIN EN 14.214 (FAME) Standard.•
Biodiesel is a methylester  obtained from rapeseed oil.
•
DIN is the German abbreviation for “Deutsches  Institut für  Normung e.V.”, 
the German standards institute.
•
EN means E uropean Norm.
•
FAME is the English abbreviation for “ Fatty  Acid  Methyl  Ester”. Your Authorised Service Centre can also be consulted to know if the vehicle 
has been prepared for biodiesel use.
Things to note about RME fuel (biodiesel)
•
The performance of a vehicle using biodiesel maybe somewhat reduced.
•
Fuel consumption of a vehicle usin
g biodiesel may be slightly higher.
•
RME fuel is resistant to the cold down to approx. -10°C.
•
At temperatures below -10°C, we recommend using winter diesel fuel.
•
Your vehicle is designed to be refuelled with up to a maximum of 7% 
blended biodiesel in accordance with standard DIN 51628.Caution
•
RME fuel can damage the fuel system in vehicles which are not suitably 
adjusted.
•
If you decide to use biodiesel in your vehicle, please use only RME fuel 
which is DIN E 14,214 compliant.
•
If you use biodiesel that does not me et the required standard, the fuel 
filter could become clogged.Note
•
In case of low exterior temperatures and a fuel biodiesel percentage of 
higher than 50%, an increase in gas emission may occur during operation of 
the independent heating.
•
The fuel filter may become clogged when fuel is changed to biodiesel. For 
this reason, we recommend you that, when having run 300 or 400 km after a 
fuel change, the fuel filter change must also be done. Also note the instruc-
tions in the Inspection and Maintenance plan.
•
If the vehicle is to remain parked for more than about two weeks, we 
recommend filling the fuel tank with  biodiesel and driving about 50 km in 
order to avoid damage to the injection system.
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Checking and refilling levels217
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Oil propertiesViscosity
The viscosity class of the oil is selected according to the diagram.
When the ambient temperature falls outside the limits of the scale for a short 
period, an oil change is not required.
Mono-grade oil
Single grade oils are generally not suitable for all year round use, due to 
ranges of viscosity
21). These oils are only useful in a climate that is constantly very cold or very 
warm.
Engine oil additives
No type of additive should be mixed with the engine oil. The deterioration 
caused by these additives is not covered by the warranty.
Note
Before a long trip, we recommend findin
g an engine oil that conforms to the 
corresponding VW specifications and keeping it in the vehicle. This way, the 
correct engine oil will always be available for a top-up if needed.Checking the engine oil level
The engine oil dipstick indicates the level of the oil.
Engine type
Specification
Petrol
VW 501 01/ VW 502 00/ VW 504 00
Diesel 
VW 505 01/ VW 507 00/ VW 506 01
Diesel Engines with Particulate filter 
(DPF)
a)
a)Only use recommended oils, otherwise you may damage the engine.
VW 507 00
Fig. 158  Types of oil 
according to temperature
21)Viscosity: oil density
Fig. 159  Engine oil 
dipstick.
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Checking and refilling levels219
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
– To avoid over-filling with engine oil, you should top-up using 
small quantities, wait a while and check the oil level before 
adding any more oil.
– As soon as the oil level is in area  , carefully close the cap.The position of the oil filler opening is shown in the corresponding engine 
compartment diagram  ⇒page 273.
Engine oil specification  ⇒page 216.
WARNING
Oil is highly inflammable! Ensure that no oil comes into contact with hot 
engine components when topping up.
Caution
If the oil level is above the area   do not start the engine. This could result 
in damage to the engine and catalytic converter. Contact a qualified work-
shop.
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above ar ea  . Otherwise oil can be drawn in 
through the crankcase breather and escape into the atmosphere via the 
exhaust system.
Changing engine oil
The engine oil must be changed at the intervals given in the 
service schedule.We recommend that you have the engine oil changed by an Authorised 
Service Centre.
The oil change intervals are shown in the Maintenance Programme ⇒.
WARNING
Only change the oil yourself if you have the specialist knowledge required!•
Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings 
⇒ page 213, “Safety instructions on wo rking in the engine compartment”.
•
Wait for the engine to cool down. Hot oil may cause burn injuries.
•
Wear eye protection to avoid injuries caused by splashes of oil.
•
When removing the oil drain plug with  your fingers, keep your arm hori-
zontal to help prevent oil from running down your arm.
•
Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into contact with engine oil.
•
Engine oil is poisonous! Used oil must be stored in a safe place out of 
the reach of children until it is disposed of.Caution
No additives should be used with engine  oil. This could result in engine 
damage. Any damage caused by the use of such additives would not be 
covered by the factory warranty.
For the sake of the environment
•
Because of the disposal problems, the necessary special tools and 
specialist knowledge required, we recommend that you have the engine oil 
and filter changed by an Authorised Service Centre.
AB
AA
AA
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Checking and refilling levels
224
To change the blades it is necessary to change the rest position of 
the wipers to the service position.
Service position (For changing wiper blades)
– Ensure that the wiper blades are not frozen.
– Turn ignition on and off and then (before approx. 8 seconds have elapsed), move the windscreen wiper lever to the intermittent 
wipe position. The windscreen wi pers will move to the service 
position.
Changing the windscreen wiper blades
– Lift the wiper arm away from the windscreen.
– Push the side buttons, free the blade and pull in the direction of  the arrow  ⇒fig. 164.
Fitting the wiper blade
– Insert a blade of identical length and design into the wiper arm.
– Slide the blade until it clicks into position.
– Push the wiper arms back against the windscreen.The windscreen wiper arms return to their original position when the ignition 
is turned on and the windscreen wiper  lever is operated, or when driving 
faster than 6 km/h.
If the  windscreen wipers smear , they should be replaced if they are damaged, 
or cleaned if they are soiled.
If this does not produce the desired results, the setting angle of the wind-
screen wiper arms might be incorrect.  They should be checked by a qualified 
workshop and corrected if necessary.
WARNING
Do not drive unless you have good visibility through all windows!•
Clean the windscreen wiper blades and all windows regularly.
•
The wiper blades should be changed once or twice a year.Caution
•
Damaged or dirty windscreen wipers could scratch the windscreen.
•
Never use fuel, nail varnish remover,  paint thinner or similar products to 
clean the windows. This could damage the windscreen wiper blades.
•
Never move the windscreen wiper or windscreen wiper arm manually. This 
could cause damage.
•
Do not pull the windscreen wipers forward unless they are in the service 
position. Otherwise the bonnet could be damaged.Note
•
The wiper arms can be moved to the service position only when the 
bonnet is properly closed.
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