Trailer towing201
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Where possible, operate the trailer with the maximum permitted
draw bar
weight on the ball joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the specified
limit.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressures on your car, and adjust for “full load” conditions
(refer to the sticker listing the tyre pressures on the door pillar). It may also be
necessary to adjust the tyre pressures on the trailer according to the recom-
mendations of the trailer manufacturer.
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the road behind the trailer with the
standard mirrors. If this is not the case you should have additional mirrors
fitted. The two exterior mirrors should be fitted on folding arms. Adjust the
mirrors to give sufficient rear vision.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, check the headlight beam settings with the trailer
hitched up. If necessary, alter the height of the headlight beams by means of
the headlight range control. See ⇒page 120.
Power supply
When you remove the ignition key, the power supply to the trailer is inter-
rupted.
Removable ball joint coupling
Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket are equipped with a removable
ball joint coupling. This is stored in the spare wheel well in the luggage
compartment together with the necessary fitting instructions.
Note
If you frequently tow, we recommend you also have vehicle ser viced between
services.
Notes on towing
Towing a trailer involves additional attention by the driver.Weight distribution
The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle is very
unfavourable. However, if this cannot be avoided, drive extra slowly to allow
for the unbalanced weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the car and trailer is reduced with increasing speed. Therefore,
it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permissible speed in an unfavour-
able road, weather or wind conditions. This especially applies when driving
downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying . Never try to stop the “snaking” by increasing speed.
Anticipate hazards and brake in good time. If towing a trailer with an inertia
brake , first brake gently and then more severely. This will prevent brake
tapping by the trailer wheels when they lock. Select a low gear in due course
before going down a steep downhill. This enables you to use the engine
braking to slow down the vehicle.
Swaying and pitching can be reduced by stabiliser aids. We recommend
having stabiliser aids installed when towing trailers with a high trailer load.
They can be purchased and installed at a Dealer.
Reheating
When climbing long hills in hot weather with the engine running fast in low
gear, you should keep an eye on the coolant temperature gauge ⇒page 60.
Reduce speed immediately if the needle moves to the right end of the scale.
If the temperature warning light
in the instrument cluster should start
flashing, stop the car and let the engine cool down by running it at idling
speed for a few minutes.
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Checking and refilling levels227
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or drips of coolant being released
from t he engine com par t ment . Fail ure to com ply could resul t in burns . Wait
until no steam or coolant can be seen before opening the bonnet.Work in the engine compartment
Extra caution is necessary when working on components in
the engine compartment.Always be aware of the danger of injury and scalding as well as the risk of
accident or even fire when working in the engine compartment (e.g. when
checking and refilling fluids). Therefore, always observe the warnings listed
below and follow all general safety precautions. The engine compartment of
any motor vehicle is a potentially hazardous area ⇒.
WARNING
•Switch the engine off.•Remove the ignition key.•Apply handbrake firmly.•If your vehicle is equipped with a manual gearbox, place the gearshift
lever in neutral. If you are driving an automatic vehicle, place the selector
lever in the position P.•Wait for the engine to cool down.•Children should not be allowed to approach the engine compartment•Never spill liquids involved in vehicle operations on the engine
compartment, as these may catch fire (e.g. anti-freeze containing liquid
coolant).
•Take care not to cause short circuits in the electrical system, especially
when working on the battery.•Never touch the radiator fan while the engine is hot, as the fan could
start up suddenly.•Never open the expansion tank when the engine is hot. The cooling
system is under pressure.•Protect face, hands and arms from any hot steam or hot liquid coolant
released by covering the cap with a large, thick rag when opening the
expansion tank.•If any tests have to be performed with the engine running, there is an
extra safety risk from the rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator
and radiator fan, etc., and from the high-voltage ignition system.•Observe the following additional warnings if work on the fuel system or
the electrical system is necessary:
−Always disconnect the battery.
− Do not smoke.
− Never work near open flames
− Always keep an approved fire extinguisher immediately available.Caution
When topping up fluids, make sure the correct fluid is put into the correct
filler opening. This can otherwise cause serious malfunctions or engine
damage.
For the sake of the environment
Inspect the ground underneath your vehicle regularly so that any leaks are
detected at an early stage. If you find spots of oil or other fluids, have your
vehicle inspected in the garage.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels231
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
– Carefully fill with the specified grade of oil ⇒page 229, adding
0.5 litres at a time.
– After two minutes, check the oil level once again ⇒page 230.
– Where necessary, add more engine oil.
– Replace the oil filler cap carefully and push the dipstick all the way in.
WARNING
•When refilling with oil, make sure no oil falls onto hot engine parts.
Failure to comply could result in fire.•Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into contact with engine oil.Caution
•The oil level must never be above area . This could damage the cata-
lytic converter or the engine. Contact a specialist garage to drain the engine
oil if necessary.•No additives should be used with engine oil. Any damage caused by the
use of such additives would not be covered by the factory warranty.For the sake of the environment
•Oil must not be disposed of into the drains or onto the ground.•Always observe legal requirements when disposing of empty oil
canisters.
Cooling systemLiquid coolant
The purpose of the liquid coolant is to carry heat away from
the engine. The correct amount of antifreeze is decisive in
preventing the cooling system from freezing in winter.The your vehicle's engine cooling system is filled for life at the factory, so no
coolant needs to be changed. The liquid coolant consists of a mixture of water
and anti-freeze G12++. This is a glycol-based antifreeze with anti-corrosion
additives.
Liquid coolant additive
The amount of antifreeze required depends on the temperatures to be
expected in the winter season. If the antifreeze concentration is too low the
coolant can freeze, resulting in failure of the cooling system and heater.
The cooling system is filled at the factory with the correct amount of anti-
freeze for the country concerned.
In most cases, the mixture consists of 60% water and 40% anti-freeze . This
mixture gives the required anti-freeze protection at temperatures down to -
25°C and particularly protects the metal parts of the cooling system against
corrosion. It also prevents scaling and significantly raises the boiling point of
the liquid coolant.
Countries with warm climate
The liquid coolant concentration must not be reduced by adding plain water,
even in the summer or in warm climates. The concentration of the anti-freeze
must always be at least 40%.
Countries with cold climate
If greater frost protection is required in very cold climates, the proportion of
the anti-freeze G12++ can be increased. A concentration of 60% offers anti-
Aa
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Checking and refilling levels
232freeze protection of temperatures down to approx. -40°C. However,the
concentration of anti-freeze must not exceed 60%, as the anti-freeze protec-
tion would then drop and the performance of the coolant system would suffer.
Vehicles for countries with cold climates (e.g. Sweden, Norway and Finland)
have factory-filled anti-freeze protection for temperatures down to -35°C. In
these countries, the concentration of anti-freeze should always be at least
50%.
Caution
•It is advisable to have the cooling system checked before the winter
season to make sure that the antifreeze concentration is adequate for the
conditions to be expected. This applies particularly if you intend to take the
car into a colder climate zone. If necessary, have the antifreeze concentration
increased to 50 - 60% as required.•Use only anti-freeze G12++ , an additive meeting the “TL-VW 774G” spec-
ification. Other anti-freezes may give considerably inferior corrosion protec-
tion. The damage caused by the use of these anti-freezes may lead to a loss
of liquid coolant, causing serious damage to the engine.•The anti-freeze G12++ can be mixed only with anti-freeze additives G11,
G12 and G12+.
Checking the liquid coolant level
The liquid coolant level can be checked at a glance.– Switch the ignition off.
– Check the coolant level on liquid coolant expansion tank ⇒fig. 181 . When the engine is cold, it should be between the
“min” and “max” marks. When the engine is hot, it may be
slightly above the “max” mark.Its location is shown in the corresponding general overview of the engine
compartment.
The liquid coolant level should be checked with the engine switched off.
The liquid coolant level is monitored by a warning lamp in the instrument
panel ⇒ page 78. However, we recommend that it should be checked occa-
sionally.
Fig. 181 Engine compart-
ment: Liquid coolant
deposit
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Checking and refilling levels233
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Liquid coolant losses
Any loss of liquid coolant normally indicates a
leak in the cooling system. In
this case the cooling system should be inspected by a specialist garage
without delay. It is not sufficient merely to top up the liquid coolant.
If there are no leaks in the system, a loss of liquid coolant can only occur if
the coolant boils and is forced out of the system as a result of overheating.
Caution
Radiator sealants must not be added to the liquid coolant. Such additives
could seriously impair the function of the cooling system.Topping up the liquid coolant
Be careful when topping up with liquid coolant.– Switch the engine off.
– Wait for the engine to cool down.
– Cover the cap on the expansion tank ⇒page 232, fig. 181 with a
cloth, and carefully unscrew the cap anti-clockwise ⇒.
– Add liquid coolant.
– Screw on the cap tightly.Make sure that the liquid coolant meets the required specifications
⇒page 231, “Liquid coolant”. Do not use a different type of anti-freeze if
anti-freeze G12++ is not available. In this case, use only water and bring the
anti-freeze concentration back up to the correct level as soon as possible.
Always top up with new liquid coolant. Do not fill above the “max” mark. Excess liquid coolant is forced out of the
system through the valve in the filler cap when the engine gets hot.
If a lot of liquid coolant has been lost, wait for the engine to
cool down before
putting in cold coolant. Failure to do so could result in serious engine
damage.
WARNING
•The cooling system is under pressure. Do not unscrew the cap on the
expansion tank when the engine is hot. Failure to comply could result in
burns.•The anti-freeze and liquid coolant can be a health hazard. Therefore,
the anti-freeze should be stored in the original container in a safe place out
of reach of children. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.For the sake of the environment
Drained off coolant should not be used again. Drain off the used coolant into
a suitable container and dispose of it in the proper manner (observe environ-
mental regulations).Radiator fan
The radiator fan can start running spontaneously.The auxiliary fan can continue to run for as long as 10 minutes after stopping
the engine – even after the ignition is switched off. It may also start running
suddenly ⇒ after some while if•stored heat raises the coolant temperature, or•the hot engine compartment is additionally heated up by the sun.
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Technical Data295
Safety First
Controls and equipment
Practical tips
Technical Data
Te c h n i c a l D a t aChecking fluid levelsFrom time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the
vehicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids,
otherwise serious damage to the engine may be caused.Fig. 246 Diagram for the location of the various elements
Vehicle battery
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Engine oil dipstick.
Coolant expansion tank
Windscreen washer fluid container
Hydraulic fluid reservoir for power steering
The checking and refilling of service fluids are carried out on the components
mentioned above. These operations are described in the ⇒page 227.
Overview
Further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the technical data are
contained as of ⇒page 291.Note
The layout of parts may vary depending on the engine.A1A2A3A4A5A6A7
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Index
306Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Brake assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Worn brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Braking distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Bulb change general notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264CCar keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
CD-ROM player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98Manual locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Sunroof: opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . 113
Central locking system Anti-theft security system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Locking and unlocking the vehicle from inside100
Opening and closing the windows . . . . . . 111
Security central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Switch on the driver's door . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Changing the main headlight bulb Main headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Changing the main headlight bulbs Dipped beam headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 Changing the rear lights
luggage compartment lights . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . 235
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Child safety seat ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Child seats on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Childproof lock Rear doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Climate control Air distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Air outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Air purity sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Air recirculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Air recirculation (automatic) . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Blower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
ECON Mode (economy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Economical use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Key settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Temperature selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Clock, setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Coat hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 In the door trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
In the front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Cool box in glove compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Cooling system Coolant temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Cruise control system Adjust stored speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Disabling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Disabling temporarily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Setting speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
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