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Driving135
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•The engine coolant temperature is insufficient.•The alternator is faulty, for example the V-belt has ruptured.•If any of the conditions described in the previous section are not fulfilled.WARNING
Never allow the vehicle to move with the engine off for any reason. You
could lose control of your vehicle. This could cause an accident and serious
injury.•The brake servo does not work with the engine off. You need more force
to stop the vehicle.•Power steering does not work when the engine is not running. That is
why it is much more difficult to turn the steering wheel.•Disconnect the Start-Stop system when driving through water (fording
streams, etc.).Note
•For vehicles with the Start-Stop function and a manual gearbox, when the
engine is started, the clutch must be pressed.•When the conditions for the Start-Stop function are not fulfilled, the
instrument panel displays the Start-Stop indicator dimmed.•The vehicle can be restarted by rotating the steering wheel three times,
that is, more than 270°.
Switching the Start-Stop function on and offEvery time the ignition is switched on, the Start-Stop function is
automatically switched on.
Manually deactivating the Start-Stop function
– Press button ⇒fig. 97 located on the centre console. When
the Start-Stop function is switched off, the indicator lamp comes
on.
– If the Start-Stop function is operating then the engine starts immediately.
Switching the Start-Stop function on manually
– Press button ⇒fig. 97 located on the centre console. The
indicator lamp will turn off.
Fig. 97 The Start-Stop
function button.
AAAA
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Driving
136Driver messagesFig. 98 Display on the instrument panel during Start-Stop function operation.When the engine is turned off by the Start-Stop function, this is displayed on
the instrument panel.
If the Start-Stop system is not switched on, the
› lamp will appear on the
instrument panel.
Note
There are different versions of the dash panel; the display of indications on
the screen may differ.
Manual gearboxDriving with a manual gearboxEngaging the reverse gear
– The vehicle should be stationary with the engine idling. Press the clutch down thoroughly.
– Place the gear lever into neutral and push the lever downwards.
– Slide the gear lever to the left, and then into the reverse position shown on the gear lever.Certain versions of the model may include a 6-speed manual gearbox, and its
diagram is shown on the gear lever.
The reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary. When
the engine is running and before engaging this gear, wait about 6 seconds
with the clutch pressed down thoroughly in order to protect the gearbox.
Fig. 99 Centre Console:
gear shift pattern of a 5-
speed manual gearbox
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Driving137
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
The reverse lights light up when the reverse gear is selected and the ignition
is on.
WARNING
•When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a
gear is engaged and the clutch released.•Never select the reverse gear when the vehicle is in motion. Risk of acci-
dent.Note
•Do not rest your hand on the gear lever while driving. The pressure of your
hand could cause premature wear on the selector forks in the gearbox.•When changing gear, you should always depress the clutch fully to avoid
unnecessary wear and damage.•Do not hold the vehicle on the clutch on hills. This causes premature wear
and damage to the clutch.
Automatic gearbox*Gearbox programmes
The automatic gearbox has got two gearbox programmes.Selecting the normal programme
– Put the selector lever into position D.
Selecting the sport programme
– Put the selector lever into position S.If you select the normal programme, D, you will drive in the economy mode,
i.e. the programme is designed to reduce fuel consumption. The gearbox
ch a n ge s u p i n t o a h i g h e r ge a r a s s o o n as p o ss i bl e a n d d o w n i n t o a l o w e r ge a r
as late as possible.
Fig. 100 Automatic
gearbox
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Driving
138If you select the sport programme, S, you will drive in a sporty mode, i.e. a
programme in which shifts into high gears are postponed in order to use the
full power of the engine.Selector lever lock functions
The selector lever lock in position P or N prevents gears from
being engaged inadvertently, which would cause the vehicle
to move.
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch the ignition on.
– Hold the brake pedal pressed down and at the same time, hold the selector lever lock on the left of the selector lever also
pressed down.The warning lamp
K on the instrument panel lights up when the brake pedal
should be applied. This is essential when the selector lever is taken from the
P or N positions.
The selector lever lock only works if the vehicle is stationary or driving at
speeds up to 5 km/h. At higher speeds the selector lever lock is automatically
unlocked in the N position.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if it is moved quickly through position
N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This makes it possible, for instance, to
“rock” the vehicle backwards and forwards if it is stuck in snow or mud. The
selector lever lock engages automatically if the brake pedal is not depressed
and the lever is in position N for more than about 1second.
Fig. 101 Automatic
gearbox
Fig. 102 Automatic
gearbox: Instrument
panel display
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Driving139
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Driving a car with an automatic gearbox
The gearbox changes gear ratios automatically as the vehicle
moves.Starting
– Start the engine with the selector lever in position P or N.
Driving
– Hold the brake pedal pressed down.
– By holding the lock button (button on the left in the selector lever), select R, or D.
– Release the lever and wait a little for the gearbox to engage the gear (a slight movement can be felt).
– Release the brake and press the accelerator ⇒. Stopping briefly
– If stopping for a short time, keep the vehicle stationary by
pressing the foot brake hard to prevent the car moving back-
wards on a slope or “creeping” forwards, e.g. at traffic lights. The
selector lever does not need to be put into the positions P or N.
– Do not press the accelerator.
Parking the vehicle
– Press and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a standstill ⇒.
– Apply the handbrake.
– By pressing the lock button down, move the selector lever to P
and release the lock button.
Driving up and down hills
– Press the selector lever from position “D” to the right into the tiptronic selector gate.
– Lightly press the selector lever back to change down.
Holding the car on a hill
– The brake must be always pressed down to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards ⇒. Do not try to prevent the vehicle
from rolling backwards by increa sing the engine speed while a
range of gears is selected.
Starting the vehicle up hills
– Apply the handbrake.
Fig. 103 Automatic
gearbox
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Driving
140
– With a selected gear, accelerate slowly and at the same time, release the handbrake.The steeper the slope, the lower the needed gear. This increases the braking
effect of the engine. For example, when driving down a very steep slope in
third gear. If the engine brake effect is not enough, the vehicle will speed up.
The automatic gearbox automatically changes up to prevent the engine over-
revving. Use the foot brake to reduce speed and change into third gear again
using Tiptronic* ⇒.
Your vehicle has an automatic interlock which prevents the selector lever
from being put into a position for driving forwards or in reverse from positions
P or N if the brake pedal is not depressed.
Warning lamp “Pressing brake pedal”
K
When the warning lamp next to the selector lever lights up, press the brake
pedal. This is necessary when the automatic gearbox selector lever is moved
out of positions P or N. At the same time, a text message or the instructions
to perform necessary operations may appear on the instrument panel.
WARNING
•As a driver, you should never leave your vehicle if the engine is running
and a gear is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while the engine is
running, you must apply the parking brake and put the selector lever in
position P.•If the engine is running and D or R are engaged, you will need to hold
vehicle stopped by depressing the brake pedal. The car would keep on
creeping forward as the power transmission is not fully interrupted even
when the engine is idling.•Never accelerate when moving the selector gear or you may cause an
accident.•Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving. Risk of accident!
•Before driving down a long, steep slope, it is advisable to reduce speed
and change into a lower gear.•If you stop the vehicle up hill, always hold the foot brake strongly
depressed down to stop it from rolling back.•Never allow the brake to rub and do not use the brake pedal too often
or for long periods. Constant braking will cause the brakes to overheat and
will considerably reduce the brake effect. This increases the braking
distance and could cause the brake system to fail.•Never allow the car to roll down a mountain or a slope with the lever in
the N or D position, regardless of the engine is running or not.Caution
•If you stop the vehicle up hills, do not attempt to stop it from rolling back
by depressing the accelerator when a gear has been selected. Otherwise, the
automatic gearbox may overheat causing damage. Pull the handbrake up or
fully depress the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from rolling away.•If you allow the car to roll when the engine is not running, or with the
selector lever in position N, a lack of lubrication in the automatic gearbox will
damage it.WARNING (continued)
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Driving141
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Changing gear in tiptronic mode*
The tiptronic system allows the driver to select gears manu-
ally
General information about driving in tiptronic mode
Changing gear in tiptronic mode
– Press the selector lever from position D to the right into the
tiptronic selector gate.
– Lightly press the selector forward + to change up into high gears.
– Lightly press the selector lever backwards - to change down into
low gears.
Changing gear with the steering wheel paddle levers*
– Press the right paddle lever towards the steering wheel to
change up ⇒ fig. 105.
– Press the left paddle lever towards the steering wheel to change down ⇒ fig. 105.Using the paddle levers on the steering wheel, you can access manual driving
mode regardless of the pre-selected driving mode.
General information about driving in tiptronic mode
When accelerating, the automatic gearbox / DSG automatic gearbox goes
into a higher gear a little before the engine reaches its maximum permitted
revolutions.
If a lower gear is selected, the automatic gearbox / DSG automatic gearbox
will only change down when the engine cannot go over its maximum
permitted revolutions.
If tiptronic is selected whilst the vehicle is in motion and the automatic
gearbox / DSG automatic gearbox is in third gear and selector lever position
D, tiptronic mode will then also be in third gear.
Fig. 104 Changing gear
with tiptronicFig. 105 Steering wheel
with paddle levers for
automatic gearbox
A+A–
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Driving
142Changing gears in the normal or sport programme using the steering wheel
paddle levers
If the paddle levers ⇒ page 141, fig. 105 are used in the normal or sport
programme, the system switches temporarily to tiptronic mode. To exit
“tiptronic” mode again, press the right paddle lever towards the steering
wheel for approximately one second. You will also leave tiptronic mode if the
paddle levers are not moved for a certain time.
Note
•The gear paddle levers on the steering wheel can be operated with the
selector lever in any position and with the vehicle in motion.Selector lever positions
The selector lever positions and gears are shown on the
instrument panel screen.
Selector lever positions
The selected gear is displayed on the side of the selector lever and on the
instrument panel screen. The currently selected gear for the automatic
gearbox will also be shown on the display.
Tiptronic gear indicator
If the automatic gearbox is shifted manually, the selected gears are shown on
the screen.
P - parking lock
When the selector lever is in this position, the drive wheels are locked
mechanically.
Position P on the lever must only be selected if the vehicle is stationary.
To move selector lever from position P, the locking button on the selector
lever handle must be pressed and the brake pedal depressed at the same
time while the ignition is switched on.
To put the selector lever in position P, simply press the lock button down and,
if necessary, depress the brake pedal down.
R - Reverse gear
The reverse gear is engaged in this position.
Reverse gear must be engaged only when the vehicle is stationary and the
engine is idling.
To move the selector lever to position R, press the lock button down and, at
the same time, press the brake pedal down, with the ignition switched on.
With the selector lever in position R and the ignition switched on the
following occurs:•Reverse lights light up.•The air conditioner automatically changes the air recirculation mode.•The wiper starts if the windscreen washer is on.•The parking distance warning system switches on.*
+Fig. 106 Automatic
gearbox: Instrument
panel display
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