2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Owners Manual

Useful off-road driving equipment

WARNING
Not wearing safety belts, or wearing them improperly will increase the risk of serious injuries when driving off-road. Holding the steering wheel improperly will reduce your ability to control the vehicle and can also increase the risk of injury when driving off-road.
x Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of serious injury and death during sudden braking or driving maneuvers and in automobile accidents. For this reason, always wear your safety belt properly and make sure all passengers wear their safety belts properly as well whenever the vehicle is moving.
x Never wrap your thumbs around the steering wheel rim. When driving off-road, obstacles in front of the wheels can make the steering wheel jerk suddenly in your hands and cause personal injury. Rest your thumbs pointing up on the on the surface of the steering wheel at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.

Off-road driving situations

Selecting the right gear

Leaking engine oil and brake fluid can pollute the environment. Collect leaking operating fluids and dispose of them properly in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Driving through water

x After driving through water, have the vehicle drive train and electrical system thoroughly inspected for damage by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
WARNING
Flowing water is very powerful and can sweep your vehicle away. This can lead create an extremely dangerous situation and cause an accident with serious personal injuries.
x Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot go on or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.
x Never stop in the water.
x If water gets into the engine, your vehicle can break down. You will lose control of a broken down vehicle, and it can be swept away.
x Soft surfaces, mud, underwater obstacles, and holes can cause accidents and can cause the vehicle to break down in the water. This can lead pose extreme danger.
x Rapidly flowing water can develop strong forces that can pull the vehicle downstream. This can cause accidents and fatal injuries.
x Drive through water only where the banks and bottom are firm enough and the water is shallower at all points than the maximum permissible fording depth for your vehicle.
NOTICE
x Vehicle components such as the engine, drive train, suspension or electrical system may be severely damaged by driving through water.
x Avoid stopping in deep water. This can let water get inside the vehicle.
x On soft ground, the tires dig into the surface. This reduces fording depth. Make sure that the ground is sufficiently firm.
x Avoid creating a bow wave in front of the vehicle while driving through water. A bow wave could force its way into the engine air intake duct and seriously damage the engine.
x If you even briefly exceed the maximum fording depth when driving through water, severe engine damage will result. This engine damage will lead to a vehicle breakdown. This can disable the vehicle in the water.
x Never drive over salt flats or through salt or salty water. Salt causes vehicle corrosion. Rinse all parts of the vehicle that were exposed to salt or salt water right away with fresh water.
Driving over snow-covered terrain

WARNING
Driving through snow-covered terrain is very dangerous.
x Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot go on or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.
x Potholes, ruts, ditches, drop-offs, and other obstacles are often partially or completely hidden by the snow, especially when it is deep.
x Snow-covered dangers can lead to an accident, serious personal injury, or stranding under extreme weather conditions.
x Always adapt driving speed and style to load, terrain, visibility, and weather conditions.
Driving in steep terrain

WARNING
Never try to drive up or down slopes that are too steep for your vehicle. The vehicle could slide away, tip over, or roll over.
x Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot go on or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.
x The lateral angle must never be more than the maximum angle approved for the vehicle.
x Always drive along the fall line when driving up or down a slope.
x Never try to turn the vehicle around on a slope. The vehicle could tip over or roll down the slope.
x If the engine stalls or you can no longer drive up the slope for any reason, stop and apply the foot brake. If stalled, apply the foot brake and restart the engine. Then shift into Reverse (R) and carefully back your vehicle straight down the slope along the fall line. Keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x If the engine will not restart, apply constant pressure to the foot brake and carefully back straight down the slope the same way you drove up. Keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x If the engine is running, select Reverse (R) and carefully back straight down the slope the same way you drove up. Use engine braking power and the foot brake to keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x Never just roll down a slope with the clutch depressed or the transmission in Neutral (N). You could lose control of the vehicle.
Driving crosswise on a slope

Fig. 165 Steer downhill along the fall line.