2011 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Warnings

Outside temperature display
At outside temperatures below about +39 °F (+4 °C), a “snowflake symbol” (icy road warning) appears in the display. The symbol flashes at first, then stays on until the outside temperature rises above
+43 °F (+6 °C) ⇒ .
When the vehicle is not moving or when you are driving at very low speeds, the temperature displayed may be slightly higher than the actual outside temperature.
The measurement range is from -40 °F (-40 °C) to +122 °F (+50 °C).
Compass display (if applicable)
On vehicles equipped with compass display, the current compass direction is indicated in the instru-ment cluster display when the ignition and navigation system are switched on, Compass.
Selector lever positions
The selector lever position is shown both on the side of the selector lever and in the instrument cluster display. The respective gear may also be shown in the instrument cluster display in Drive D and Sport Drive S, as well as in Tiptronic® mode.
WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
x Park the vehicle at a safe distance from moving traffic and where no part of the hot cata-lytic converter and exhaust system can come into contact with flammable materials under the vehicle, such as dry grass, brush, spilled fuel, etc.
x A broken down vehicle presents a high accident risk for itself and others. Switch on emergency flashers and set up a warning triangle to warn oncoming traffic.
WARNING
Roads and bridges may be dangerously icy even if the outside air temperature is above freez-ing.
x If you use the outside temperature display to tell you about frost conditions, remember that roads can even ice over at temperatures above +39 °F (+4 °C). Always remember: even if the “snowflake symbol” (icy road warning) is not displayed, there could still be black ice on the road.
x Never rely exclusively on the outside temperature display.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
The instrument cluster displays and their arrangement may vary depending on the vehicle model and engine. For displays without warning and information messages, malfunctions are only signaled with indicator lights.
If there are multiple warning messages, the symbols are displayed for several seconds in order of importance. The symbols are displayed until the cause has been corrected.

Driving checklists and warnings

Lights up Possible cause Proper response
Y Not enough windshield washer fluid. Refill windshield washer reservoir at the next opportunity.
When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Windshield wiper lever

Fig. 103 Operating the front windshield wiper.

WARNING
Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can cause sudden tire failure, loss of control, collision, serious personal injury or even death.
x When the warning symbol appears in the instrument cluster, stop and inspect the tires.
x Incorrect tire pressure and/or underinflation can cause increased tire wear and can affect the handling of the vehicle and stopping ability.
x Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can also lead to sudden tire failure, including a blowout and sudden deflation, causing loss of vehicle control.
x The driver is responsible for the correct tire pressures for all tires on the vehicle. The recommended tire pressure values are listed on a sticker inside the driver door, Tire inflation pressure inside the fuel filler flap, Tire inflation pressure.
x The TPMS can only work correctly when all tires on the vehicle are filled to the correct pressure.
x Using incorrect tire pressure values can cause accidents or other damage. Always inflate the tires to the correct specified cold tire pressure values for the tires installed on the vehicle.
x Always maintain correct cold tire inflation pressure so that TPMS can do its job.
x Always inflate tires to the recommended and correct tire pressure before driving off.
x Driving with underinflated tires causes them to flex (bend) more, letting them get too hot, resulting in tread separation, sudden tire failure, and loss of control.
x Excessive speed and/overloading can cause heat build-up, sudden tire failure and loss of control.
x If the tire pressure is too low or too high, the tires will wear prematurely and the vehicle will not handle well.
x If the tire is not “flat” and you do not have to change a wheel immediately, drive carefully and at reduced speed to the nearest service station to check the tire pressure and add air as required.
x When replacing tires or wheel rims on vehicles equipped with TPMS always read and heed the information and all WARNINGS regarding, Tires and wheels.
x The Tire Pressure Monitoring System must be recalibrated using the SET button whenever you remove and remount or change any wheel or tire on the vehicle, even if the reinstalled or replacement wheels and tires are identical to those that were removed and even if the tire pressure does not change, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and recalibration with the SET button.
WARNING
Improper use of the SET button can cause the TPMS to give false warnings or to give no warning despite dangerously low tire pressure, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and recalibration with the SET button.
Underinflation increases fuel consumption and tire wear.
Do not rely solely on the Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Check your tires regularly to make sure they are properly inflated and have no signs of damage, such as punctures, cuts, cracks, and blisters. Remove any objects that become embedded in the tire tread but have not penetrated into the body of tire itself.

WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
If the ignition is switched on, an acoustic warning sounds when low tire pressure is detected. If a system malfunction is detected, no acoustic warning sounds.
Driving for a longer period of time on rough roads or with a dynamic and sporty style can make the TPMS system temporarily unavailable. The indicator light will come on, signaling a malfunction, but will go out again once the road condition or driving style changes.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and recalibration with the SET
button

Fig. 130 In the glove compartment: SET button for the Tire Pressure Monitoring System.

x If there are snow chains on the tires. Using snow chains can cause the system to give false warnings because snow chains increase tire circumference.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System Ç may not react at first or may not react at all when you are driving in a sporty manner, or on snow-covered or unpaved roads, when you are driving with snow chains, or in certain other situations. A change in the tread circumference of a tire is signaled by the Tire Pressure Monitoring System indicator in the instrument cluster (telltale).
The tire pressure recommended for the tires originally installed on the vehicle is on a sticker on the driver door jamb, Tires.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires is significantly underinflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly underinflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if underinflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for approximately 1 minute and then remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function properly.
Resetting and recalibrating the benchmark tire pressure
The SET button for the Tire Pressure Monitoring System is in the glove compartment ⇒ fig. 130. The SET button resets the benchmark tire pressure used by the TPMS to the current tire pressure in the tires based on the circumference of the tires. To reset the TPMS, switch on the ignition and then press and hold the SET button until you hear a confirmation chime. The chime usually sounds after a couple of seconds. The SET button must be pressed for at least 2 seconds but no more than 30 seconds each time the tire pressure in one or more tires has been adjusted or after one or more tires has been changed, exchanged, or repaired. The new tire pressures are stored in the system only after at least 20 minutes of normal driving.
If you use the SET button to reset the benchmark tire pressure when your tires do not have the correct tire pressure, this will prevent the TPMS from working properly. It may then give false warnings or may not give any warning even if the tire pressure is too low.
For this reason, it is vital to make certain that all 4 tires are inflated to the correct pressure when they are cold before pressing the SET button. Cold tire tires are tires that have not been driven more than a couple of miles (kilometers) at low speed within the last 3 hours.
Use the SET button to reset the benchmark TPMS pressure in the following situations:
x After installing tires on your vehicle that have recommended cold tire inflation pressures that are different from the tires that were taken off.

x After any tire on your vehicle is removed and then remounted, even if the same tire and wheel rim that were taken off are reinstalled (for instance, after repair).
x After any tire on your vehicle is changed and replaced by another tire, even if the replacement tire is the same type and is inflated to the same pressure as the tire it replaced.
x After adjusting the tire pressure of any tire on the vehicle to its correct cold tire inflation pressure, either by putting air in one or more tires or by letting air out. Do this even though air was only added (or let out) to bring the tire to the inflation pressure it should have had all along.
x After rotating the front and rear wheels, Tires and wheels.
x After mounting the compact spare wheel.
WARNING
Improper use of the SET button can cause the TPMS to give false warnings or to give no warning despite dangerously low tire pressure. Make certain the tire inflation pressure of all tires is correct before using the SET button.
WARNING
Incorrect tire pressure can cause sudden tire failure, loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
x Always check and correct air pressure in all 4 tires, particularly after changing, exchanging, or repairing tires.
x After that, always make sure that all 4 tires are inflated to the correct tire pressure for the tires installed on the vehicle. Then push the SET button for the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) so that it can properly monitor the pressure in the tires.
x Press and hold the SET button until the confirmation chime sounds. Hold the SET button for at least 2 seconds, but not more than 30 seconds.
x See the tire pressure label ⇒ fig. 121, ⇒ fig. 122 and the Owner's Literature for recommended cold tire inflation pressure and other important information.
x When replacing tires or wheel rims, always read and heed all of the information and WARNINGS, Tires and wheels.
x The Tire Pressure Monitoring System must be recalibrated using the SET button whenever you remove and remount or change any wheel or tire on the vehicle, even if the reinstalled or replacement wheels and tires are identical to those that were removed and even if the tire pressure does not change.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System stops working if there is an ESC/ABS malfunction, Braking and parking.
After a low tire pressure warning, the vehicle must stand and must not be driven for at least 1 minute before the SET button can be used to store a new benchmark tire pressure.

WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
x Whenever stalled or stopped for repair, move the vehicle a safe distance off the road, turn on the emergency flashers, stop the engine, and use other warning devices to warn approaching traffic.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Vehicle key positions in the ignition switch

Fig. 147 In the ignition switch: Vehicle key positions.