
Automatic gearbox DSG*
124
the gearbox to switch over to this style of driving and shift down earlier with frequent changes in gears in comparison to the moderate style of driving. Selecting the most appropriate driving programme for the particular style of driving is a continuous process. Irrespective of this it is, however, possible to switch or shift down into a dynamic shift programme by depressi
ng the accelerator rapidly. The gearbox
shifts down into a lower gear matching th
e speed of the car and this allows you to
accelerate rapidly (e.g. when overtaking)
without having to depress the accelerator
pedal fully into the kickdown range. The
original programme will be reactivated to
match your particular styl
e of driving once the gearbox has shifted up again.
When driving in hilly regions, the gears
are selected to match uphill and downhill
sections. This avoids the gearbo
x frequently shifting up an
d down when negotiating an
uphill stretch. When driving downhill, it is possible to shift down into the Tiptronic position, in order to exploit the engine brake torque.Tiptronic The Tiptronic allows the driver
to also shift gears manually.
Fig. 124 Selector lever: manual shifting /
information display: Manual shifting of gears
The selector lever position you have engaged is indicated in the information display of the instrument cluster together with the engaged gear
⇒fig. 124
on the right.
Switching over to manual shifting– Push the selector lever to the right out of position
D. After switching over, the
current engaged gear is indicated in the display.
Shifting up gears– One-touch forward of the selector
lever (in the Tiptronic position)
⇒fig. 124
on
the left.
Shifting down gears– One-touch back of the selector
lever (in the Tiptronic position) .
It is possible to switch over to manual both
when the car is stationary and also when
driving. When you accelerate, the gearbox shifts up
automatically into the higher gear just
before the maximum
permissible engine speed is reached.
If you select a lower gear, the automatic gearbox does not shift down until there is no risk of the engine overrevving. If you operate the kickdown function, the gear
box shifts into a lower gear in line with
the vehicle speed and engine speed.Emergency programme An emergency programme exists in the event of a fault in the system.The gearbox operates in a corresponding emergency programme if there are func- tional faults in the gearbox electronics. This
is indicated by all of
the segments in the
display lighting up or going out. A functional fault can ha
ve the following effect:
•
The gearbox only shifts into certain gears.
•
The reverse gear
R cannot be used.
•
The manual shift programme (Tiptronic) is switched off in the emergency mode.
If the gearbox has switched over to
emergency mode, drive to the nearest
specialist garage in order to
have the fault rectified.
A+
A-
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Airbag system
146
Airbag systemDescription of the airbag systemGeneral information on the airbag systemThe front airbag system is complementary to
the three-point seat belts and offers addi-
tional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and passenger in the event of a frontal collision. In the case of a violent side cr
ash, the side* and head airbags* reduce the risk of inju-
ries to the occupants on the side of the collision
⇒
.
The airbag system is only functional af
ter the ignition has been switched on.
The operational readiness of the airbag syst
em is monitored electronically. The airbag
warning light comes on for a few seconds each time the ignition is switched on. The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) consists of:•
an electronic control unit,
•
the front airbags for the driver and front passenger,
•
driver's knee airbag*,
•
front side airbags*,
•
Rear side airbags*,
•
head airbags*,
•
an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster,
•
a front passenger airbag switch
⇒page 154,
•
an indicator light for a switched off front seat passenger airbag in the middle of the
dash panel
⇒page 154.
A fault in the airbag system exists if:•
the airbag indicator light does not light up when the ignition is switched on,
•
the warning light does not go out after about 4 seconds after the ignition is
switched on,•
the airbag indicator light goes out and come
s on again after the ignition is switched
on,
•
the airbag indicator light comes on or flickers when driving,
•
the airbag indicator light showing a swit
ched-off front passen
ger airbag in the
middle of the dash panel flashes.
WARNING
•
To enable the occupants of a vehicle
to be protected with the greatest
possible effect when the airbag is
deployed, the front seats must be
⇒ page 138, “Correct seated position” co
rrectly adjusted to match the body
size of the occupant.•
If you do not fasten the seat belts when driving, lean too far forward or
adopt an incorrect seated position, you are exposing yourself to increased risk of injury in the event of an accident.•
Have the airbag system checked immediat
ely by a specialist garage if a fault
exists. Otherwise, there is a
risk of the airbag not bein
g activated in the event of
an accident.•
No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag system.
•
It is prohibited to manipulate individual parts of the airbag system as this
might result in the airbag being deployed.•
The protective function of the airbag system is sufficient for only one acci-
dent. The airbag system must then be re
placed if the airbag has been deployed.
•
The airbag system needs no main
tenance during its working life.
•
If you sell your car, please hand over the complete vehicle documentation to
the new owener. Please note that the documents relating to the possibility of deactivating the front passenger airbag are also part of the vehicle documents!•
If the vehicle or individual parts of
the airbag system are scrapped, it is
essential to observe the relevant safety
precautions. Specialist garages are
familiar with these regulations.•
When disposing of vehicle or parts of the airbag system, it is important to
comply with the national legal requirements.
sgg.6.book Page 146 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Intelligent Technology
165
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Traction control system (TCS) The traction control system prevents
the driven wheels from spinning
when accelerating.General The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at
all possible, to start off, accelerate and
climb a steep hill when th
e conditions of the road
surface are unfavourable.
Operating principle The TCS switches on automatically when th
e engine is started and then conducts a
self-test. The system monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors. If the wheels are spinning, the force transmitted to the road surface is auto- matically adapted by reducing the engine speed. The system operates at all speeds. The TCS operates in combination with the ABS
⇒page 167, “Antilock brake system
(ABS)”. The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system. The TCS warning light lights up in the instru
ment cluster when there is a fault on the
TCS
⇒page 34.
During an intervention of the system, the TCS warning light
flashes quickly in the
instrument cluster
⇒page 34.
Switching off You can switch the TCS off and on again as yo
u wish. On vehicles fitted with ABS, you
can switch off the TCS by pressing the button
⇒fig. 155
, on vehicles fi
tted with ESP*,
you can switch off the TCS wi
th the aid of the button
⇒page 163, fig. 154
. The TCS
warning light
flashes slowly in the instrument cluster if the system is switched off
⇒ page 34. The TCS should normally always
be switched on. It may be good practice in certain
exceptional cases, such as when you wish to
have wheel slip, to switch off the system.
Examples:•
when driving with snow chains
•
when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface
•
when it is necessary to rock a vehicle when it has become stuck.
Then you should switch on the TCS again. TCS Off-road* After switching on the Off-road mode
⇒page 170, TCS Off-road is activated.
TCS Off-road provides a more effective a
cceleration of the vehicle on an unfirm
ground, as it allows higher traction be
tween the slipping wheels and the ground.
The system operates when starting off or at low speeds.
WARNING
You should always adjust your style of driving to the conditions of the road surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
Note
•
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-free
operation of the TCS. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead to an unde- sirable reduction in the engine output.•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the TCS
⇒page 221, “Accesso-
ries, changes and replacement of parts”.
Fig. 155 TCS switch
sgg.6.book Page 165 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Intelligent Technology
169
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
If there is a fault in the power steering, the warning light
or lights up in the instru-
ment cluster
⇒page 32.
WARNING
Contact your specialist
garage if the power steering is defective.
Tyre inflation pressu
re-control system*
The tyre inflation pressure-control system compares with the aid of the ABS sensors the speed and also the rolling circumference of the individual wheels. If the rolling circumference of a wheel is changed, the warning light
lights up in the instrument
cluster
⇒page 35 and an audible signal sounds.
The rolling circumference of the tyre
can change if:•
the tyre inflation pressure is too low,
•
the structure of the tyre is damaged,
•
the vehicle is loaded on one side,
•
the wheels of an axle are loaded heavily (e.g. when towing a trailer or when driving
uphill or downhill),•
snow chains are mounted,
•
the temporary spare wheel is mounted,
•
one wheel per axle was changed.
Basic setting of tyre inflation pressure-control system After changing the tyre inflation pressures or after changing one or several wheels, the position of a wheel on the vehicle (e.g. ex
changing the wheels between the axles) or
when the warning light lights up while drivin
g, a basic setting of the system must be
carried out as follows.•
Inflate all tyres to the specified inflation pressure
⇒page 215.
•
Switch on the ignition.
•
Press button
⇒fig. 156
for more than 2 seconds. While pressing the button,
the warning light
lights up. At the same time the memory of the system is erased
and the new calibration is started, which is confirmed with an audible signal and then the warning light
goes out.
•
If the warning light
does not go out after the basic
setting, there is a fault in the
system. Have the vehicle inspected by your nearest specialist garage. Warning light
lights up
If the tyre inflation pressure of at least one
wheel is insufficiently inflated in comparison
to the stored basic va
lue, the warning light
⇒
lights up.
Warning light
flashes
If the warning light flashes, there is a system fault. Have the vehicle inspected by your nearest specialist garage.
WARNING
•
When the warning light
lights up, immediately reduce the speed and
avoid sudden steering and brake manoeuvr
es. Please stop the vehicle without
delay at the nearest possible stop and in
spect the tyres and their inflation pres-
sures.•
The driver is responsible for the correc
t tyre inflation pressures. For this
reason, the tyre inflation pressu
res must be checked regularly.
•
Under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty style of driving, wintry or unpaved
roads) the warning light
can be delayed or does not light up at all.
•
The tyre inflation pressure-control system does not take away the respon-
sability from the driver for the
correct tyre inflation pressure.
Fig. 156 Button for setting the tyre infla- tion pressure control value
sgg.6.book Page 169 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Intelligent Technology
171
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
•
TCS Off-road
⇒page 165,
•
ABS Off-road
⇒page 167.
Switch on Off-road The Off-road mode is switched on by pressing the button
⇒page 170, fig. 158
. The
warning light in the button lights up. The wa
rning light lights up in the instrument
cluster if the system is switched on
⇒page 38.
Switch off Off-road The Off-road mode is switched off by repe
ated pressing of the button. The warning
light in the button goes out. When switching
off the ignition, the Off-road mode is also
switched off and can be switched on again, if necessary, after switching on the ignition. If the engine is switched off by accident an
d restarted within 30 seconds, the Off-road
mode remains switched on. All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve proper operation of the Off-road mode. Differing rolling circum
ferences of the tyres can lead to an unde-
sirable reduction in the engine output.
WARNING
•
Always adjust your speed to suit weat
her, road and traffic conditions. The
increased safety must not tempt you to take a greater safety risk than otherwise - risk of accident!•
The Off-road equipment can also not overcome the physical limits of your
vehicle.•
The effect of the Off-road equipm
ent depends as well on the tyres.
•
The Off-road equipment
is not designed for the use on common roads.
Start-Off Assist*The Start-Off Assist enhances the driving comfort and can be used when starting off, in particular on a slope. When the vehicle is stationary, the Start-Off Assist is activated after switching it on using the button for the Off-road mode
⇒page 170, fig. 158
.
Operating principle When depressing the accelerator pedal fully, the engine speed required for the start- up procedure of the stationary vehicle is restricted. The overspeed trip unit is automat-ically deactivated after terminating the start-up procedure. As part of the Assist System, the accelerator pedal is adapted in its characteristics for an easier start-off on slippery and loose soil.Downhill Drive Support*Operating principle The Downhill Drive Support maintains a cons
tant speed on a steep downhill section
when driving forwards and backwards by
automatically intervening in the brake
system of all wheels. It prevents the wheels locking because the ABS remains active. The warning light
in the information display of the instrument cluster indicates that
the Downhill Drive Support is available
⇒page 38.
The vehicle speed, which is maintained by the Assist System, is selected by the driver while driving on a downhill section as of the
moment the first intervention of the Assist
System is performed or else, while driving on a downhill section, the driver must control the vehicle speed until the Assist System intervenes for the first time. When the Assist System actively intervenes, this is indicated by the warning light flashing or by a pulsating movement of the brake pedal,
similar to the intervention of the ABS.
The Downhill Drive Support is available in the speed range of 2 km/h up to 30 km/h. If the gear is engaged and the clutch pedal is
not pressed, the lower limit of the idling
speed corresponds to the respective gear which is engaged. You can increase or reduce the speed, even when no gear is engaged, by operating the accelerator or brake pedal. Thus the function
is always interrupted and is reactivated
afterwards. The Downhill Drive Support is activated auto
matically if the following conditions are
met:•
the Off-road mode is switched on and the warning light
lights up in the instru-
ment cluster,•
the engine of the vehicle is running and either the 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear, the reverse
gear or no gear is engaged,•
the speed is less than 30 km/h,
sgg.6.book Page 171 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Driving and the Environment
175
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the vehicle have already been built into the vehicle at
the works. Special atte
ntion has been given
to minimising nega
tive effects on the environment. It
is necessary to take note of the
guidelines given in this chapter in order to
make best use of these characteristics and
to maintain their effectiveness. The optimal engine speed should be obtained
when accelerating, in order to avoid a
high fuel consumption and
resonance of the vehicle.
Looking ahead when driving A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs it accelerates.Avoid accelerating and braking unnecessarily.
If you drive with forsight you will not
need to brake so often and will also then
not have to accelerate so much. Let your
vehicle coast to a stop, for example, if this is possible, when you see that the next set of traffic lights is at red.Shifting gears and saving energy Shifting up early saves on fuel.Fig. 159 Fuel consumption in litres/100 km. and speed in km/h.Manual gearbox– Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear. – Shift up into the next higher gear at approx. 2 000 to 2 500 revs.
Automatic gearbox– Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly
. Do not depress it beyond the kickdown
position, however.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up
early
. You will consume
more fuel if you drive at unnecessaril
y high revolutions in any given gear.
The
⇒fig. 159
shows the ratio of fuel consumption
to the speed of your vehicle in the
relevant gear. Fuel consumption in 1st gear
is the highest. The consumption is the
lowest in the highest gear. You will achieve good fuel economy by shif
ting up early and shifting down late.
Shift recommendation
for changing gears*
An information for the engaged gear
⇒fig. 159
is shown in the display of the
instrument cluster. In order to minimise the fuel consumptio
n, a recommendation for shifting into
another gear is indicated in the display. If the control unit recognises
that it is appropriate to change the gear, an arrow is
shown in the display. The arrow points up or down, depending on whether it is recom- mended to shift into a higher or lower gear. At the same time, the recommended gear is indicated instead of the currently engaged gear .
Note
Also use the information supplied by the multi-functional indicator*
⇒page 20.
AA
AB
AA
sgg.6.book Page 175 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Towing a trailer
191
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Headlights Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights. Alter the setting as necessary with the ai
d of the headlight beam adjuster
⇒page 58.
Detachable ball head The ball rod is detachable on vehicles which
feature a factory-fitted
towing device. It is
stowed together with separate fitting instru
ctions in the spare wheel well in the luggage
compartment of the vehicle. Further information on the towing device
⇒page 192.
Note
•
We recommend that you also have your
vehicle inspected between service inter-
vals if you tow a trailer frequently.•
The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and decou-
pling the trailer.Driving Tips Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.– Do not, as far as possible, drive with
your vehicle unladen and the trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in particular to
downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time. – Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside temperature is high. Distribution of weight The distribution of the weight
is very poor if your vehicle
is unladen and the trailer is
laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this combina-tion. Driving speed Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies for countries in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when there are unfavourable road, weather or wind cond
itions, particularly near accident black
spots. You must always reduce your speed immediat
ely as soon as you detect even just the
slightest swaying
of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from
“swaying” by accelerating. Apply the brakes in good time! If
the trailer is fitted with a
trailer brake
, apply the
brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a downhill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake. Engine overheating Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engi
ne speed when the outside temperature is
very high
⇒page 17, “Coolant temperature gauge”.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or even the red area of the scale, reduce your speed immediately. Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light
in the instrument cluster begins flashing. Wait a few
minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
⇒page 207,
“Inspecting the coolant level”. Please refer to the following guidelines
⇒page 34, “Coolant temperature/ Coolant
quantity
”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear and increasing the engine speed is not possible
since the fan speed is independent of the
engine speed. One should also not drop a gear
for this reason when towing a trailer as
long as the engine can manage th
e slope without any drop in speed.
sgg.6.book Page 191 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Inspecting and replenishing
206
Oil level within range –You
must
top up the oil
⇒page 206. It is sufficient, once this is done, to keep the
oil level within range .
It is normal for the engine to consume oil.
The oil consumption may be as much as 0.5
l/1 000 km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which you operate your vehicle. The oil
consumption may be slightly hi
gher than this during the
first 5 000 kilometres. One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferably every time after the fuel tank is filled or after driving for long stretches. We recommend maintaining the oil level within the range -
but not above this
, if
the engine has been operating at high load
s, for example during a lengthy motorway
trip during the summer months, towing a tr
ailer or negotiating
a high mountain pass.
The warning light in the instrument cluster* will indicate
⇒page 33, “Engine oil pres-
sure
” whether the oil level is too low. In this case, check the oil level as soon as
possible. Top up with an appropriate quantity of oil.
Caution
•
The oil level must on no account extend
beyond the range . Danger of damaging
the catalytic converter.•
Do not continue your journey
if for some reason it is not possible under the
conditions prevailing to top up with oil.
Switch the engine off
and obtain professional
assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine damage.
Note
Engine oil specifications
⇒page 243, “Technical Data”.
Replenishing engine oil– Inspecting the engine oil level
⇒page 205.
– Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening. – Pour in a suitable grade of oil in portions of 0.5 litres
⇒page 246, “Engine oil spec-
ifications”.
– Inspect the oil level
⇒page 205.
– Carefully screw on the cap of the filler opening and push the dipstick in fully.
WARNING
•
Avoid dripping oil onto hot parts of the engine when topping up will oil - a
risk of fire!•
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 204, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must on no acco
unt extend beyond the range
⇒page 205. Oil will
otherwise be drawn in through the crankc
ase ventilation and may pass through the
exhaust system to atmosphere. The oil ma
y combust in the cata
lytic converter and
damage it.Changing engine oilThe engine oil must be changed at the intervals stated in the Service schedule or according to the service interval indicator
⇒page 18, “Service Interval Display”.
WARNING
•
Only carry out the engine oil change, if you have the required professional
knowledge!•
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 204, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.•
First of all, let the engine cool down, we
ar an eye protection and gloves - risk
of caustic burns due to hot oil.
Caution
You must not pour any
additives into the engine oil - risk of engine damage! Damage,
which results from such product, are excluded from the warranty.
ACAB
AAAA
AA
sgg.6.book Page 206 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM