2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF Rear

The interm ittent wiping for the front wind­
the front wipers are on, the rear wiper is switched on automatically whenever the car
is put into reve rse.
Windsh ield wiper functions
the wiper them carefully. Volkswagen recom-
mends using a deicing spray.
on
is not moving: The wiper speed changes temporarily to the next speed.
During automatic wipe/wash:
interior.
During intermittent wiping: Speed-dependent
interval control: The higher th e speed, the
faster the wipers move.
Heated washer nozzles
The heating thaws frozen washer nozzles, but not
the fluid
to the washer is
automatically regulated depending on the outside
air temperature.
Headlight washer system
The headlight washer system
or high beams are on when the windshield
wiper
is towards the steer­
i ng However, the headlights must be
washed by hand periodically (for insta nce, during
refueling) in order to get rid of hard- to-remove dirt insect splatter).
To
there is something on the windsh ield, the wiper try to wipe it away . it continues to
Lights and vision 131

you use the right outside mirror to judge distance s from vehicles behind you when
changing lanes, you could estimate incorrect­
ly and cause a crash and serious injuries.
Whenever possible, use the inside mirror to more accurately judge distance and size of vehicles or other objects seen in the convex
mirror.
Always make sure you have a clear view to the rear of the vehicle.
136 Before driving Always
fold
in the outside mirrors when taking the vehicle through an automatic car wash.
To reduce fuel consumption , use outside mir­ror heating only when needed.
When first switched on, outside mirror heat­ing works with maximum heat for about 2 mi­
nutes .
outside mirrors can be adjusted by hand by
pressing on the edges of the mirror surface .

Transporting
Driving tips
this sectio n
Always stow heavy objects in the luggage partment and make sure tha t the rear seat ests are securely latched. Always use the downs in the luggage compartment and secu re th e
ob jects with suita ble straps. Neve r ove rload the
hic le . R emember that the vehicle load, as
More information:
Rear hatch 49
Folding down the passenger seat backrest
Lights page 122
Luggage compartment 141
Roof rack 146
Trailer towing 149
Tires and wheels 258
Unsec ured or incorrectly stowed items can fly through the vehicle, causing serious
senger compartment by the front airbags if they To help reduce the risk of se riou s
per sonal injury:
strument panel.
nothing on
the front passenger seat when the backrest is folded forward. When the backrest is folded
forward, even
85.
scat that is
blocked by objects being carried
H eavy loads will cle handle s and increase stopping distances.
Heavy lo ads that are not properly stowed or secured can cause loss of control and ous injury.
the luggage compartment as possible.
-
Always tie down h eavy items securely with su itabl e strap s using the tie-downs in the luggage compartment.
Tran sporting

Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight ing or the Gross
Always adapt your speed and driving to
the heavier load and the weight distribution in the vehicle . Take road, weather , traffic, and visibility conditions into account as
Please first read and note the tory information and heed the on page 137.
Always stow luggage securely in the
Distribute the load in the vehicle, on the roo f,
and in the trailer as evenly as possible .
Put heavy objec ts as far forward as possib le in
the luggage compartmen t and securely latc h t he
rear seat backrest in the upright position .
luggage in the luggage compartmen t to
the tie-downs with su itable straps
Adjust the headlig ht range 122 .
Check the pressure in 4 tires when the tires
are
P ay especially close att enti on to your vehicle 's Tire Pressu re M on itoring
Driving with an open rear hatch
tory information and heed the on page 137.
D rivi ng with
an ope n rear hatch can lead to se riou s
personal injury. if you have to drive with an ope n
rear hatc h, make sure t hat objec ts and the
hatch it sel f are properly secured and take
Before d riving
den braking and driving maneuvers .
Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle. <1
The defroster heating wires or antenna in the rear window can be damag ed by objects that rub against them.
Please review the in forma tion on loadi ng a tr ai le r 149 and a roof rack 146. <1
Driving with a n unlatched or open rear hatch
ca n lead to serious personal injury.
After clo sing the rear hatch, always

stow in the compartment. Loose objects can compartment and injure others on the road behind you.
ers
compartment for others to see. requirements.
Never use the rear hatch to or objects that stick out of the compartment.
rack or othe r
rack mounted on rear hatch
Driving with an open rear hatch can cause poisonous carbon monoxide in the engine exhaust to get into the passenger ment.
Driving a
first read and note the tory information and heed the on page 137.
For good
observe the
stow 138 .
Driv e gently.
Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
Brake if you were not
driving a
observe information abo ut driving with a 149.
1 46 .
attentiveness, poisoning, and of sciousness. can vere
driving to keep poisonous exhaust fumes from being drawn into the
to fit into the area,
you must drive with an open rear hatch, do the to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning:
-
the fresh air fan to the highest
speed.
The
open rear hatch changes the and height.
Heavy can change the way your and increase stopping distances. Heavy stowed or secured can shift suddenly, causing of and se riou s injury.
to keep it from shifting.
remember when transporting heavy objects that they change the vehicle's center of gravity and the way it
-as
heavy objects as far forward in the
tie down heavy items
Tran sporting 139

the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
Weight Rating on the
safety sticker on the door j amb. Exceeding
ad apt speed and driving to the heavier and the weight distribution in the Tak e road , weather , traffic, and
Weights and axle weights
first read and note the
on page 137 .
T he
gross weight of any depends on
the eng ine. basic equipme nt, an y fac tory-installed equipment for the given and any
ac cessories tha t have been The Gross Weigh t Rat ing (GVWR) an d t he G ross front
a nd Rea r
are p rinted on th e S afety on the driver door ja mb.
The Gross the
weight of the a t ank of the
e ngine and
Weight R atings specify th e
may not be increased by using
a roo f rac k withou t commens urate ly red ucing th e
weig ht fr o m D ete rmi ning the Gross
Passe ngers.
Roo f
Factory-insta lled or re trofitted accesso ries.
H itch weight and tongue weight for
and avoid den braking and driving maneuver s.
brake than you Weight Rating
(GVWR) and the Gross fr ont and rear
which are printed
on the Certification on the driver door jamb .
damage, accidents,
and seriou s
Never the exceed the Gross Weight Rating. never the weights exceed the Gross Weight Rating .
remember that the and braking be affected by extra Adjust your s p ee d
distribute the as in the The
in the (passengers and
When transporting a heavy in the ga ge compartment, c arry the as to the rear so that the and braking are af-
f ec ted as

Introduction
this section
partment and make sure that the rear seat
ble straps. Never overload the veh ic le . Remember
t hat th e vehicle load, as as how it is ed , can affect vehicle
More information:
Airbag system
Lights
Transporting 137
Trailer towing 149
Tires and whee ls
An open or unlocked luggage compartment poses special risks for
atures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness or death, particularly to children.
hicle.
can
senger compartment by the front airbags if they inflate. To help reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
objects securely in the
sion.
jects from clothing and bags
Transporting heavy objects causes the
cle capacity weight figures apply when the
load is distributed evenly
Transporting 141

vided.
The ventilation slo ts between the rear dow and the luggage compartme nt cover
must not be blocked so that stale air can escape
from the veh ic le . Folding the backrest of the rear seat forward and back into place
F ig . 83 Rear seat: release button red
Please first read and note the tory information and heed the on page 141.
The rea r seat backrest is di vide d into 2 sectio ns.
E ach sectio n of
the rear seat backrest can be to increase luggage space.
Folding the rear seat backrest forward
58.
the release button 83 forward
w hile folding the rear backrest forward.
142 Before driving
the rear seat backrest back until it es secu re ly
ed into place in order for the safety belts on the
rear seats to provide optimal protection.
Improper folding and improper latching of the rear seat backrest can cause serious