
Instruments and warning lights
32WARNING
Pay attention to the following instruct ions before checking the brake fluid 
level and opening the bonnet  page 162, “Working in the engine compart-
ment”.
If the brake system warning light 
 does not go out a few seconds after 
switching on the ignition or comes on when driving, stop immediately and 
check the brake fluid in the reservoir  page 167, “Brake fluid”. If the fluid level 
has dropped below the MIN marking, do no t drive any further - risk of accident! 
Obtain professional assistance.
Cruise control system* 
The warning light 
 lights up, when operating the speed regulating system.
Airbag system 
Monitoring the airbag system
The warning light 
 comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched on.
There is a fault in the system if the warning  light does not go out or comes on or flashes 
while driving  . This also applies if the warning  light does not come on after the 
ignition is switched on.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Airbag fault!
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically when one airbag 
has been switched off.
Front, side and head airbags or belt tensioner which have been switched off 
using the vehicle system tester:
The warning light 
 lights up for 3 seconds after switching on the ignition and then 
flashes for 12 seconds afterwards in 2 second intervals.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Airbag/belt tensioner deactivated! If the passenger front airbag has been
 switched off using the switch (for 
switching off airbags)* in th e end face of the dash panel on the front passenger 
side:
The warning light 
 comes on for 4 seconds after the ignition has been switched 
on.
switching off the airbag is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the lighting 
up of the yellow indicator light in display 
  
     page 125.
WARNING
Have the airbag system checked immediat ely by a specialist garage if a fault 
exists. Otherwise, there is a  risk of the airbag not being activated in the event of 
an accident.
Note
Further information about switching off airbags  page 124, “Deactivating airbags”.Diesel particle filter* 
 (diesel engine)
If the warning light 
 comes on, this means that soot has accumulated in the diesel 
particle filter because of the frequent short distances.
In order to clean the diesel particle filter, the vehicle should be driven at an even speed 
of at least 60 km/h at engine speeds of 1  800 - 2 500 rpm for at least 15 minutes or until 
the warning light goes out with the 4th or  5th gear engaged (automatic gearbox: posi-
tion S) when the traffic situation permits it . This increases the exhaust temperature and 
the soot deposited in the diesel particle filter is burnt.
Always pay attention to the valid speed limits  .
The warning light 
 goes out after the successful cleaning of the diesel particle filter.
If the filter is not properly  cleaned, the warning light 
 does not go out and the 
warning light 
 begins to flash. In the information display* appears  Diesel-particle 
Owner's manual . Afterwards the engine control unit shifts the engine into the emer-
gency mode, which only has a reduced power  output. After switching the ignition off 
and on again the warning light 
 comes on.
Have the vehicle inspected without  delay by your specialist garage.
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Unlocking and locking41
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
The safe securing system along with the anti-theft alarm system* are, however, deac-
tivated during these 30 seconds.
When the vehicle is unlocked or locked, the interior lights in the door contact are auto-
matically switched on or off.
Display of the locking
The turn signal lights flash once to confir
m that the vehicle has been correctly locked.
If the vehicle is locked by pressing the bu tton   and some doors or the boot lid are 
not closed, the turn signal lights flash only after closing.
WARNING
If the vehicle is locked from the outside and the safe securing system is acti-
vated, there must not be any person in the vehicle as it is then not possible to 
open either a door or a window from the inside. The locked doors make it more 
difficult for rescuers to get into the vehicle in an emergency - hazard!
Note
Operate the radio remote control only when  the doors and boot lid are closed and 
you have visual contact with the vehicle.
Once in the vehicle, you must not press the lock button 
 of the master key before 
inserting the key into the ignition lock in order to avoid the vehicle being inadvertently 
locked and the anti-theft alarm system* being switched on. Should this happen, press 
the unlock button 
 of the master key.
Synchronisation of the remote controlIf the vehicle cannot be unlocked by actuatin g the remote control system then it is 
possible that the code in the key and the co ntrol unit in the vehicle are no longer 
synchronised. This can occur when the buttons on the radio-operated key are actuated 
a number of times outside of the operative  range of the equipment or the battery on 
the remote control was replaced.
This means it is necessary to  synchronise the code as follows:
press any button on the remote control;
pressing of the button means that the door will unlock with the key within 1 
minute.
Anti-theft alarm system*DescriptionThe anti-theft alarm system increases the level of protection against people seeking to 
break into the vehicle. The system triggers  audible and visual warning signals if an 
attempt is made to break into the vehicle.
How is the alarm system activated?
The anti-theft alarm system is activated au tomatically when the unlocked vehicle is 
locked with the key inserted in the driver's door or with the remote control key. It is 
activated 30 seconds after locking the door.
How is the alarm system deactivated?
The anti-theft alarm system is deactivated if  the vehicle is unlocked by only using the 
radio remote control. The anti-theft alarm system is reactivated if the vehicle is not 
opened within 30 seconds after transmitting the radio signal.
Once you unlock the vehicle by inserting the ke y into the driver door you then have to 
insert the key into the ignition lock and sw itch the ignition on within 15 seconds after 
opening the door in order to deactivate the anti-theft alarm system. The  alarm will be 
triggered  if you do not switch on the ignition within 15 seconds.
When is the alarm triggered?
The following security areas of the locked vehicle are monitored:
bonnet;
boot lid;
doors;
ignition lock;
vehicle interior*  page 42;
Angle of the vehicle*  page 42;
Decoupling of the attached trailer;
A3
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Heating and air conditioning system85
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
Recommended setting for all periods of the year:
Set the desired temperature, we recommend 22°C (72°F).
Press the button   
fig. 90 .
Move the air outlet vents  3 and  4, so that the air flow is  directed slightly upwards 
 page 78, fig. 87 .
Switching over between degrees  Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit
Press and hold the buttons   and    fig. 90 at the same time. The information 
in the desired temperature measuring unit appears in the display.
WARNING
For your own safety and that of other road users, ensure that all the 
windows are free of ice, snow and mistin g. Please familiarize yourself about 
how to correctly operate th e heating and ventilation systems, how to demist 
and defrost the windows, as well as with the cooling mode.
You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of time, 
as “stale” air may result in fatigue in the driver and occupants, divert your 
attention and also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an accident 
increases. Switch recirculated air mode off as soon as the windows begin 
misting up.Note
If the cooling system has not been switched on for a lengthy period, odours may 
be produced at the evaporator because of  deposits. Switch the cooling system on at 
least once a month for approximately 5 minut es at the highest blower stage - also 
during the cold season of the year - in  order to remove such odours. Also open a 
window for a short time.
We recommend that you do not smoke in the vehicle when the recirculating air 
mode is operating since the smoke which is drawn at the evaporator from the interior 
of the vehicle forms deposits in the evapor ator of the air conditioning system. This 
produces a permanent odour when the air co nditioning system is operating which can 
only be eliminated through considerable  effort and expense (replacement of 
compressor).
The used air streams out through the air  removal openings in the luggage compart-
ment.
Using the cooling economically  page 84.
Operational problems page 84.
Overview of the control elementsFig. 90  Climatronic: Control elementsButtons / control dial
Setting the interior temperature
The displays Selected interior temperature, e.g. +22°C (72°F)
Degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit
Automatic air conditioning mode
De-mist or de-ice the windscreen
Air flow to the windscreen, head, upper body and feet
Recirculated air mode
Air conditioning sy stem switched on
Set blower speed
Buttons / control dial Setting the blower speed
Interior temperature sensor
Automatic mode
AUTO
AUTO
AC
A1A2A3A4A5A6A7A8A9A10A11A12
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Heating and air conditioning system
86De-mist or de-ice the windscreen
Air flow to the windows
Air flow to head
Air flow in the footwell
Recirculated air mode
Air conditioning system switched onNote
The interior temperature sensor   is locate d in the bottom part of the device. Do not 
glue or cover over the sensor, otherwise it could have an unfavourable effect on the 
Climatronic.Automatic mode
The automatic mode is used in order to maintain a constant tempera-
ture and to demist the windows in the interior of the car.Switching automatic mode on– Set a temperature between +18°C (64 °F) and +29°C (86 °F).
– Move the air outlet vents  3 and  4  page 78, fig. 87 , so that the air flow is directed 
slightly upwards.
– Press the button  ,  AUTO appears in the display.
The automatic mode is switched  off by pressing the button for the air distribution or 
increasing or decreasing  the blower speed. The temperature is nevertheless 
regulated.Defrosting windscreenDefrosting windscreen - switching on– Press the button    page 85, fig. 90 .Defrosting windscreen - switching off– Once again press the button   or the button  . The temperature control is controlled automatically. More air flows out of the air outlet 
vents 
1 and 2.
Setting temperature– You can set the desired interior temperature after switching on the ignition with the 
control dial  .
You can set the interior temperature betw een +18°C (64°F) and +29°C (86 °F). The 
interior temperature is regulated automatica lly within this range. If you select the 
temperature below +18°C (64°F), “LO” appears in the display. If you select the temper-
ature higher than +29°C (86°F), “HI” appears  in the display. In both limit positions the 
Climatronic operates at ma ximum cooling or heating capacity, respectively. The 
temperature is not controlled in this case.
Lengthy and uneven distribution  of the air flow out of the vents (in particular at the leg 
area) and large differences in temperature, for example when getting out of the vehicle, 
can result in chills in sensitive persons.Controlling blower
There are a total of seven blower stages available.The Climatronic system controls the blower st ages automatically in line with the inte-
rior temperature. You can also, however, adap t the blower stages manually to suit your 
particular needs.
– Turn the control dial    page 85, fig. 90 to the left (reduce blower speed) or right 
(increase blower speed).
If you switch off the blower, th e Climatronic is switched off.
WARNING
“Stale air” may result in fatigue in the driver and occupants, reduce atten-
tion levels and also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an accident 
increases.
Do not switch the Climatronic system off for longer than necessary.
Switch the Climatronic system on as soon as the windows mist up.
A13A14A15A16A17A18
A11
AUTO
AUTO
A1
A10
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Starting-off and Driving
90
switch on again after some time if the co olant temperature rises because of an accu-
mulation of heat in the engine or if the engine is warm and the engine compartment is 
additionally heated  by strong sunlight.
This is why particular care is required  when carrying out any work in the engine 
compartment  page 162, “Working in the engine compartment”.
Shifting (manual gearbox)Shift into reverse only when the vehicle is  stationary. Depress the clutch pedal and hold 
it fully depressed. Wait a moment before en gaging reverse gear in order to avoid any 
shift noises.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the ignition is 
on.
WARNING
Never engage the reverse gear when driving - risk of accident!
Note
One should not lay the hand on the shift lever while driving the vehicle. The pres-
sure of the hand will be transferred to the gearshift forks in the gearbox. This can, over 
a period of time, lead to early wear of the gearshift forks.
Depress the clutch pedal fully when changi ng gears, in order to avoid unnecessary 
wear and damage.
HandbrakeApplying the handbrake– Pull the handbrake lever up fully.Releasing the handbrake– Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and  at the same time press in the locking 
button  fig. 94 .
– Hold the button pressed and push the handbrake lever down fully  .
The handbrake warning light 
 lights up when the handbrak e is applied, provided the 
ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds and the following text appears in the display* if you have inad-
vertently driven off with the handbrake applied:
Release parking brake!
The handbrake warning is activated if you drive at a speed of more than 6 km/h for 
more than 3 seconds.
WARNING
Please note that the handbrake must  be fully released. A handbrake which 
is only partially released can result in  the rear brakes overheating which will 
have a negative effect on the operation of  the brake system - risk of accident! In 
addition this can result in premature wear of the rear brake pads.
Fig. 93  Shift pattern on models fitted 
with 5-speed manual gearbox
Fig. 94  Centre console: Handbrake
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Automatic gearbox95
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
– Press the Shiftlock button (button in ha
ndle of the selector lever), move the 
selector lever into the desired position, e.g. in  D, and then release the Shiftlock 
button.
– Release the brake pedal and depress the accelerator  .
Stop– The selector lever position  N does not have to be selected when stopping just for 
a short time, such as at a cross roads. It is absolutely sufficient to hold the stopped 
vehicle stationary by depressing the foot brake. The engine can, however, be 
allowed just to idle.Parking– Depress the brake pedal and hold it depressed.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Press and Shiftlock button in the selector lever, move the selector lever to  P and 
then release the Shiftlock button.
The engine can only be  started when the selector lever is in position  P or  N  page 88. 
At temperatures below -10 °C the engine can only be started in the selector lever posi-
tion  P.
It is sufficient to engage selector lever position  P when parking on a flat surface. When 
parking on a slope you should first apply  the handbrake firmly and then move the 
selector lever into position  P. This is to ensure that there is no excessive pressure acting 
on the lock mechanism and that it is easier to subsequently move the selector lever out 
of position P .
If the selector lever position  N is selected by accident while driving it is first necessary 
to release pressure on the accelerator pedal and wait for idling speed of the engine to 
be reached before engaging a drive position in the selector lever.
WARNING
Do not depress the accelerator when changing the position of the selector 
lever if the car is stationary and the  engine is running - risk of accident!
Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving - risk of an 
accident!
If you are stopping at a hill (downhill section), never try to hold the car 
stationary with the gear engaged by mean s of the “accelerator”, this means by 
letting the clutch slip. This can lead to ov erheating of the clutch. If there is a risk 
of overheating of the clutch due to overlo ad, the clutch is opened automatically 
and the vehicle rolls backward - risk of accident!
If  yo u m us t s to p a t a  sl ope ,  d e pre s s a nd  ho ld  t he  b ra ke  pe d a l , s o t ha t y ou c a n 
prevent the vehicle from rolling back.Caution
The double clutch on the automatic gear box DSG is equipped with an overload 
protection. If you make use of the uphill func tion on a vehicle which is stationary or 
driving slowly uphill, it will result in an  increase of thermal stress of the clutches.
In the event that they overheat, the warning light 
 and a warning text page 23 
appear in the information display*. In such a case bring the vehicle to a stop, switch off 
the engine and wait until the warning light and the warning go out - risk of gearbox 
damage! You can continue the trip as soon as the warning light and the warning go 
out.
Selector lever positionsFig. 97  Selector lever / information display: Se lector lever positionsThe selector lever position you have engaged is shown in the information display of 
the instrument cluster with the corresponding gear symbol highlighted  fig. 97  on 
WARNING (continued)
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Automatic gearbox
96
the right. In the positions  D and  S the gear you have already engaged will be addition-
ally displayed on the display.
 - Parklock
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this position.
The Parklock must only be engage d when the vehicle is stationary .
If you wish to move the selector lever into  or out of this position, you must press the 
Shiftlock button in the handle of the selector lever and at the same time depress the 
brake pedal.
 - Reverse gear
Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the engine 
idling   .
The brake pedal must be depressed and at  the same time the Shiftlock must be 
pressed, if you wish to obtain the selector lever positions  R, P  or  N.
When the ignition is switched on an d the selector lever is in position R, the reverse 
lights will come on.
 - Neutral
The transmission is in Neutral in this position.
The brake pedal must be depressed (if the le ver is in its position for longer than 2 
seconds) in order to move the selector lever out of the position  N into the position  D, 
with the ignition switched on, on a vehicle travelling at less than 5 km/hour or on a 
stationary vehicle.
 - Position for driving forward
When the selector lever is in this position , the forward gears are shifted up and down 
automatically in line with engine lo ad, vehicle speed and the dynamic shift 
programme.
You must depress the brake pedal if you wish to move into position  D from  N when the 
vehicle is travelling at less th an 5 km/hour or is stationary  .
In certain circumstances (e.g. when driving  in mountainous regions or when towing a 
trailer) it may be beneficial to select the manual shift programme  page 98 for a short 
time in order to adapt the gearbox rati os manually to the driving situations.  - Position for sporty style of driving
Shifting up later into a higher gear makes it  possible to fully exploit the power potential 
of the engine. The gearbox also then shifts down at higher engine speeds as in the posi-
tion  D.
The gearbox does not shift into the 6th gear in the position  S, because the maximum 
speed is reached with the 5th gear 
9).
The Shiftlock on the selector lever grip mu st be pressed when moving the selector 
lever out of the position  D into the position  S.
WARNING
Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving - risk of an 
accident!
When the engine is running and the vehi cle is stationary, it is necessary to 
hold the car with the brake pedal in all the positions of the selector lever (except 
P and N) since the power transmission is never completely interrupted, also not 
when the engine is idling - the vehicle creeps.
You must on no account unintentionally operate the throttle (e.g. by hand 
from the engine compartment) if a driv e position is engaged when the car is 
stationary. The vehicle would otherwise  immediately start off - also when the 
handbrake is firmly applied - risk of an accident!
You must move the selector lever into position P and firmly apply the hand-
brake first before you or any other person opens the bonnet and starts working 
on the engine when it is running - risk of accident! It is also essential to observe 
all warnings  page 162, “Working in the engine compartment”.
Selector lever lockAutomatic selector lever lock 
With the ignition on, the selector lever is locked when it is in the positions P  and N. You 
must first of all depress the brake pedal in or der to move the selector lever out of this 
position. The warning light 
   page 30 lights up in the instrument cluster as a 
reminder for the driver when the selector lever is in position  P or  N.
APARANAD
9)Not valid for vehicles with automatic gearbox DSG.AS
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Automatic gearbox
98
Tiptronic
The Tiptronic allows the driver to also shift gears manually.Fig. 98  Manual shifting: Selector  lever / large information displayThe selector lever position you have engaged is indicated in the information display of 
the instrument cluster together with the engaged gear  fig. 98  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. 98  .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 gearbox 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.
Selector lever-emergency unlockingIn case of interruption of the power supply (e.g. flat vehicle battery, defective fuse) or 
defect of the selector lever lock, the select or lever can no longer be shifted from the 
position  P in the normal way and the vehicle ca n no longer be moved. The selector 
lever must be unlocked in case of emergency.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Carefully pull up the front left and right cover.
– Pull up rear cover.
– Use the finger to press the  yellow plastic part downwards  fig. 99 .
A+
A-
Fig. 99  Selector lever-emergency 
unlocking
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