
Contents3
ContentsManual structure
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Content
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safety First
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safe driving
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Proper sitting position for occupants . . . . . . . . . 
Pedal area  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Stowing luggage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seat belts
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Belt tension devices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Airbag system
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Front airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Side airbags* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Curtain airbags  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Deactivating airbags*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Child safety
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brief introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Securing child seats  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Operating instructions
 . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cockpit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Overview  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Instruments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Digital display in the instrument panel  . . . . . . . 
Instrument panel menus* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Warning lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Steering wheel controls*
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
General information  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Audio system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Radio navigation system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Unlocking and locking
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Keys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Radio frequency remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Anti-theft alarm system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windows  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Sliding/tilting roof* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lights and visibility
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Interior lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Windscreen wipers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Seats and stowage
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
The importance of correct seat adjustment . . . . 
Head restraints  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Rear seat bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Stowage compartments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Ashtrays*, cigarette lighter* and electrical 
sockets* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
First-aid kit, warning triangle, fire extinguisher  
Luggage compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
 . . 
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Climatic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
2C-Climatronic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
General notes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Starting and stopping the engine  . . . . . . . . . . . 
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Automatic gearbox* / DSG automatic gearbox*  
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Acoustic parking aid system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Cruise control system (CCS)*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Practical tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Intelligent technology
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Brakes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Anti-lock brake system and traction control M-ABS 
(ABS and TCS)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Electronic stabilisation programme (ESP)*  . . . . 
Driving and the environment
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Running-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Exhaust gasses purification system . . . . . . . . . . 
Economical and ecological driving  . . . . . . . . . . 
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
5
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Unlocking and locking91
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Unlocking and lockingCentral lockingBasic functions
The central locking system enables you to lock and unlock all 
doors with just pushing on the keybutton.Description
Central locking can be activated by  using any of the following options:•
the key, by inserting it into the driver's door cylinder and rotating it manu-
ally,
•
the central locking button  in the passenger compartment as an electronic 
control  ⇒page 94,
•
the radio frequency remote control , using the buttons on the key 
⇒ page 98.
Various functions are available to improve the vehicle safety:
– Locking system “Safe”
– Selective unlocking system*
– Automatic speed-dependent locking and unlocking system*
– Self-locking system to prevent involuntary unlocking
– Emergency unlocking system
Unlocking the vehicle*
– Press button    ⇒page 98, fig. 63  on remote control to unlock all the 
doors and tailgate. Locking the vehicle*
– Press button   
⇒page 98, fig. 63  on the remote control to lock all 
doors and the tailgate or turn the key in the door to lock all doors and the 
tailgate.
WARNING
•
Never leave children or disabled persons in the vehicle. In case of emer-
gency, they may not be able to leave the vehicle and not manage on their 
own.
•
Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle. A locked vehicle 
can be subjected to extremely high and low temperatures, depending on 
the time of year, thus causing serious injuries/illness. It could even have 
fatal consequences. Close and lock both the tailgate and all the other doors 
when you are not using the vehicle.
•
Always take you car keys with you when you leave the vehicle. Misuse 
of the keys, for example, by children, may result in serious damage and 
accident.
−The engine may accidentally be started and be out of control.
− If the ignition is switched on, the electric equipment could be acti-
vated with risk of injury, for example, in the electric windows.
− The doors can be locked using the remote control key. This could 
make assistance difficult in an emergency situation.
− Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle.
•
Never remove the key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. The 
steering lock could suddenly engage, and you would not be able to steer 
the vehicle.
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Unlocking and locking
92
Note•
While the driver's door is open, the vehicle can not be locked with the 
remote control. This avoids the user from forgetting his key inside the vehicle.
•
If the driver's door is unlocked with the key shaft, only the driver's door is 
unlocked, the rest of the doors remain  locked. When the ignition is switched 
on, the door "safe" deadlock is deactivated (although the doors remain 
locked) and the central locking button is activated. See  ⇒page 100.
•
If the central locking or anti-theft  alarm are faulty, the driver's door 
warning lamp remains lit for approx.  30 seconds after locking the vehicle.
•
For anti-theft security, only the driver's door is fitted with a lock cylinder.
Safety system “Safe*”
The "safe" deadlock makes it more difficult to break into the 
vehicle because the door release lever and the central locking 
button are not active (depending upon country).Activating deadlock
– Press once the locking button   on the remote control  or
–Turn the key once  i n  t h e  d r i v e r ' s  d o o r  l o ck  t o  l o ck .  A  wa r n i n g  la m p  
in the driver door flashes to indicate the "safe" deadlock is 
working. The warning lamp flashes for approx. two seconds at 
short intervals and then more slowly. Deactivating deadlock when the vehicle is locked
–Press 
twice the locking button   on the remote control within 
two seconds. The vehicle is locked without activating the dead-
lock. The driver's door warning lamp flashes for approx. two 
seconds and then goes out. After approx. 30 seconds it starts 
flashing again.
The doors can be unlocked and opened from the inside if the "safe" deadlock 
has not been activated. You will have to pull the door release lever once. 
When the "safe" deadlock is off, the antitheft alarm*  ⇒page 100 remains 
active. The vehicle interior monitoring system* and the anti-tow system are 
deactivated*.
WARNING
Nobody should remain in the vehicle  if the anti-tow system deadlock mech-
anism has been activated. It is not possible to open the doors from the 
inside. Locked doors could make it mo re difficult to assist vehicle occu-
pants in the event of an accident. People could become trapped inside in an 
emergency.Selective unlocking system* 
This system allows to unlock either just the driver's door or all 
the vehicle.Using the remote control, press the unlock button on the remote   once. The 
“Safe” system for all the vehicle is deactivated, only the driver's door is 
unlocked and both the alarm and the light indicator are also turned off.
AlteaXL_EN.book  Seite 92  M ontag, 2. Februar 2009  12:26 12 

Unlocking and locking97
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
KeysSet of keys
The set of keys includes a remote control, a key without a 
remote control and a plastic key tab with the number of the 
key.The set of keys belonging to your vehicle consists of the following items:•
one remote control key ⇒fig. 62   with folding key bit,
•
a key without remote control  ,
•
one plastic key tab   with the key number.
Plastic key tab
Duplicate keys are only issued with the key number on the key tab  ⇒fig. 62  
. Therefore:
•
Always keep the key tab in a safe place.
•
Never leave the key tab in the vehicle.
If you sell the vehicle, please give the plastic key tab to the new owner.
Duplicate keys
If you need a replacement key, take y our key tab to an Authorised Service 
Centre.
WARNING
•
An incorrect use of the keys can cause serious injuries.
•
Never leave children or disabled persons in the vehicle. In case of emer-
gency, they may not be able to leave the vehicle and not manage on their 
own.
•
An uncontrolled use of the key could start the engine or activate any 
electric equipment(e.g. electric wind ows), causing risk of accident. The 
doors can be locked using the remote control key. This could make the aid 
difficult in an emergency situation.
•
Never forget the keys inside the vehicle. An unauthorised use of your 
vehicle could result in injury, damage or theft. Always take the key with you 
when you leave the vehicle.
•
Never remove the key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. 
Otherwise, the steering could suddenly block and it would be impossible 
to steer the vehicle.Caution
There are electronic components in the remote control key. Avoid wetting and 
hitting the keys
Fig. 62  Set of keys
AA
AB
AC
AB
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Unlocking and locking
98Radio frequency remote controlLocking and unlocking the vehicle
The remote control key is used to lock and unlock the vehicle 
from a distance.
Using the button  ⇒fig. 63  (arrow) on the control, the key shaft is released.
Unlocking the vehicle    ⇒fig. 63 .
Locking the vehicle    ⇒fig. 63
Unlocking the tailgate. Press the button    ⇒fig. 63   until all indicators 
on the vehicle briefly flash. When the unlocking button     is pressed, 
you have 2 minutes to open the door. Once this time has passed, it will lock 
once more.
Also, the battery indicator on the key  ⇒fig. 63 , will flash.
The remote control transmitter and the batteries are integrated in the key. The 
receiver is inside the vehicle. The maximum scope of the remote control 
depends on various conditions. This scope is reduced when the batteries 
start to lose power.
Selective unlocking*
When the button    ⇒fig. 63   , is pressed once, the driver's door is 
unlocked, all others remain locked.
Press the button    ⇒fig. 63   twice to unlock all doors.
Fig. 63  Assignment of 
buttons on the remote 
control key
Fig. 64  Range of the 
remote control:
A1
A2
A3
A3
A1
A1
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Unlocking and locking99
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
WARNING
•
An improper use of the key can cause serious injuries.
•
Never leave children or disabled persons in the vehicle. In case of emer-
gency, they may not be able to leave the vehicle and not manage on their 
own.
•
Never forget the keys inside the vehicle. Otherwise, this could result in 
serious injuries, accidents or even the theft of your vehicle. Always take the 
key with you when you leave the vehicle.
•
An uncontrolled use of the key could start the engine or activate any 
electric equipment(e.g. electric win dows), causing risk of accident. The 
vehicle can be locked when using the remote control key. This could 
complicate the aid in cas of emergency.Note
•
The radio-frequency remote control can be programmed by means of 
pressing the unlocking button once; as a result, only the driver door will 
unlock. When the button is pressed once more, all doors and the tailgate will 
be unlocked.
•
The remote control functions only when you are in range  ⇒page 98, 
fig. 64 (red area).
•
If the vehicle is unlocked using the     button, it will lock again auto-
matically if any of the doors or the tailgate are not opened within 30 seconds 
after unlocking it. This function prevents the vehicle from remaining unlocked 
if the unlock button is pressed by mistake.
•
If the vehicle cannot be opened and closed using the remote control, the 
remote control key will have  to be re-synchronised ⇒page 99.
Changing the batteryIf the battery indicator does not flash when the buttons are pushed, the 
battery must be replaced.
Caution
The use of inappropriate batteries ma y damage the radio frequency remote 
control. For this reason, always replac e the dead battery with another of the 
same size and power.
For the sake of the environment
The flat batteries must  be thrown away in accordance with regulations 
governing the protection of the environment.Synchronising the remote control key
If it is not possible to unlock or lock the door with the remote 
control, it should be re-synchronised.– Press the    ⇒page 98, fig. 63  button on the remote control.
– Then close the vehicle using the key bit  within one minute.It is possible that the vehicle could no longer be opened and closed with the 
remote control if the button   is repeatedly pressed outside the radio 
frequency remote control effective scope.  The remote control key will have to 
be resynchronised.
Spare remote control keys are available  in your Authorised Service Centres, 
where they must be matched to the locking system.
Up to eight remote control keys can be used.
A1
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Unlocking and locking
104WindowsOpening or closing the windows electrically
The front and rear electric windows can be operated by using 
the controls on the driver's door.Opening and closing the windows
– Press the button   to open a window.
– Pull button   to close a window  ⇒.Always close the windows fully if you park the vehicle or leave it unattended 
⇒.
You can use the electric windows for approx. 10 minutes after switching off 
the ignition if neither the driver door  nor the front passenger door has been 
opened and the key has not been  removed from the ignition. Buttons on the driver's door
Button for window in front left door
Button for window in front right door
Buttons for rear windows* Safety switch for deactivating the electric window buttons in the rear 
doors
Button for window in rear left door
Button for window in rear right door
Safety switch 
*
Safety switch   on the driver's door  can be used to disable the electric 
window buttons in the rear doors.
Safety switch not pressed: buttons on rear doors are activated.
Safety switch pressed: buttons on rear doors are deactivated.
WARNING
•
Incorrect use of the electric  windows can result in injury.
•
Never close the tailgate without observing and ensuring it is clear, to do 
otherwise could cause serious injury to you and third parties. Make sure 
that no one is in the path of a window.
•
Always take the vehicle key with you when you leave the vehicle.
•
Never leave children or disabled persons in the vehicle, particularly if 
they have access to the keys. An unco ntrolled use of the key could start the 
engine or activate any electric equi pment (e.g. electric windows), causing 
risk of accident. The doors can be lock ed using the remote control key. This 
could make the aid difficult in an emergency situation.
•
The electric windows will work unti l the key has been removed from the 
ignition and one of the front doors has been opened.
•
If necessary, use the safety switch to disable the rear electric windows. 
Make sure that they have been disabled.
Fig. 68  Detail of driver 
door: controls for the front 
and rear windows
A1A2A3A4A5
A3
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Unlocking and locking107
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Closing the sliding/tilting sunroof
– Turn the rotary button to position    ⇒fig. 69  ⇒ .
Opening/tilting the sliding/tilting sunroof
– Turn the rotary button to position  . The sunroof opens to the  convenience position where wind noise is reduced.
– To open the roof further, turn the switch to position   and hold  the switch in this position until the roof opens to the desired 
position.
Tilting the sliding/tilting sunroof
– Turn the rotary button to position  .Always close the sliding/tilting roof fully if you park the vehicle or leave it 
unattended  ⇒.
The sliding/tilting sunroof can be operat ed for up to about ten minutes after 
the ignition has been switched off, pr ovided the driver door and the front 
passenger door are not opened.
Sunroof blind
The sunroof blind is opened together with  the sliding/tilting roof. If required, 
it can be closed by hand when the sunroof is closed.
WARNING
•
Incorrect use of the sliding/tilting sunroof can result in injury.
•
Never close the sliding/tilting sunr oof without observing and ensuring 
it is clear, to do otherwise could cause serious injury to you and others. 
Make sure that no one is in the  path of the sliding/tilting sunroof.
•
Always take the vehicle key with you when you leave the vehicle.
•
Never leave children or disabled persons in the vehicle, particularly if 
they have access to the keys. Unsupervised use of a key could mean that 
the engine is started or that electrical equipment is used (e.g. electric 
sliding/tilting sunroof). Risk of accide nt! The doors can be locked using the 
remote control key. This could make the aid difficult in an emergency situ-
ation.
•
The sliding/tilting sunroof continues  to function until one of the front 
doors is opened and the key removed from the ignition.
Convenience closing*Using the door lock
– Hold the key in the door lock of the driver's door in the locking  position until the sliding/tilting sunroof is closed.
– Release the key to interrupt this function.
Using the remote control
– Push the lock button on the remo te control for about 3 seconds. 
The sliding/tilting sunroof is closed.
– Release the unlock button to interrupt the function.
– When the sliding/tilting sunroof has closed completely, the indi- cators flash once.
AAAB
AC
AD
WARNING (continued)
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