2012 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG Collision

If no other vehicle is detected by the Side Assist system in the critical area of your vehicle, the indica-
tor lights in the outside mirrors will not light up ⇒ .
The closer the detected vehicle is to your vehicle, the more indicator lights light up in the outside mirrors. If the approaching vehicle is very close, 4 indicator lights light up.
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.
How Side Assist works

Fig. 280 In the outside mirrors: Side Assist indicator lights

Fig. 281 Rear view of the vehicle: Areas of the Side Assist radar sensors.

Function Proper response
Automatically activate
the OPS small-screen
display:
By approaching to within about 38 inches
(95 cm) of an obstacle at a speed of less than
about 5 - 10 mph (10 - 15 km/h).
Manually deactivate the
OPS small-screen dis-
play:
Tap the O function key ⇒ fig. 299.
Switch to full-screen
view:
Vehicle rolls backwards slowly.
OR: Press the lit-up button  or ∗.
OR: Tap the OPS function key ⇒ fig. 299.
Automatically switch on
the display:
By putting the vehicle in Reverse.
OR: Vehicle rolls backwards.
Manually switch on the
display:
Press the  or ∗ button.
Manually deactivate the
display:
Press the  or ∗ button again.
Automatically deacti-
vate the display:
Drive forward faster than about 5 - 10 mph (10 -
15 km/h).

Scanned areas
In front of the vehicle, the area in which obstacles are detected extends about 48 inches (120 cm) straight ahead and up to 24 inches (60 cm) to either side. Behind the vehicle, the area scanned area extends about 5 ft. 4 inches (160 cm) to the rear and about 2 ft. (60 cm) to either side (C) and
⇒ fig. 300 (C).
When the system is activated automatically, the acoustic signal sounds only if an object is detected in the area about 20 inches (50 cm) to the front or rear of the vehicle.
Screen display
The display shows the scanned area in several segments. The closer the vehicle gets to the obstacle,
the closer the segment advances to the displayed vehicle ⇒ fig. 299 (B) and ⇒ fig. 300 (B).
When the next-to-last segment is displayed, you have reached the collision zone. Stop the vehicle!

WARNING
Poor visibility increases the risk of collisions and other accidents that cause serious person-al injuries.
x Always make sure all windows are clear of ice, snow and condensation for good visibility to the front, sides, and rear.
x Maximum heating output and fast defrosting will only be possible after the engine has reached operating temperature. Wait until you have good visibility before driving off.
x Always make sure you know how to properly use the heating and ventilation systems as well as the rear window defroster that you will need for good visibility.
x Never use air recirculation for long periods of time. When the air conditioner is off and recirculation mode is on, condensation can quickly form on the windows and greatly reduce visibility.
x Always switch off recirculation mode when it is not needed.
WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces driver alertness, which can cause accidents, colli-sions and serious personal injury.
x Never switch off the fan for a long period of time and never use air recirculation a long period of time because no fresh air will come into the passenger compartment.
NOTICE
x If you think the air conditioner is not working properly or may be damaged, switch it off to help prevent more damage. Have the air conditioner checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Air conditioner repair requires specialized knowledge and special tools. Volkswagen rec-ommends that you see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on. Smoke drawn into the ventilation sys-tem can leave residue on the evaporator and on the dust and pollen active carbon filter, result-ing in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.
If the air conditioner is switched off, the fresh outside air will not be dehumidified. To help keep the windows from fogging over, Volkswagen recommends leaving the air conditioner (compressor) switched on. Press the !

Lights
up
Possible cause or meaning
⇒  Proper response
together
with
ing or not filled standard
AdBlue.
authorized Volkswagen dealer
or an authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility.
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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.
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.
AdBlue information

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.
Engine coolant specifications

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.
Charging, replacing, disconnecting and connecting the 12 Volt vehicle
battery

If the battery was disconnected for a long time, the next scheduled service may not be correctly calcu-lated and displayed. The maximum permissible service and maintenance intervals are shown in the
⇒ Booklet Warranty and Maintenance.
Vehicles with Keyless Access
If the ignition will not start after reconnecting the vehicle battery, lock the vehicle from the outside and unlock it again. Then try to start the ignition again. If the ignition cannot be switched on, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified work-shop for assistance.
Automatic electrical load deactivation
If the vehicle battery drain is high, the intelligent on-board electrical system management automatically takes steps to help prevent battery drain.
x The idle speed is increased so that the alternator provides more power.
x The power to devices that consume a lot of electricity is cut back or switched off completely.
x When the engine is started, the power supply to the 12 Volt sockets and the cigarette lighter is temporarily interrupted.
The on-board electrical system management cannot always keep the battery from being drained. For example, the battery will drain if the engine is not running, but the ignition is switched on or the parking lights are left on for a long time when parked.
Battery disconnection in an accident with airbag deployment
In vehicles with a battery in the luggage compartment, the electrical connection to the battery is dis-connected automatically in a collision with airbag deployment. This helps to prevent a short-circuit.
What drains the vehicle battery?
x Long periods when the engine is not running, especially when the ignition is on.
x Using electrical systems or devices when the engine is switched off.
x Leaving the vehicle unlocked for several days when not in use.
x The selector lever is left for a long period of time in any position other than (P) when the ignition is
switched off ⇒  Automatic transmission: Selector lever.
WARNING
Failure to use the proper battery with proper mounting and connections may cause short circuits, fires, and serious personal injuries.
x Always use only maintenance-free or cycle-free, leak-proof batteries with the same speci-fications and dimensions as the original equipment battery. Specifications are listed on the battery housing.
WARNING
When the vehicle battery is charged, it produces highly explosive hydrogen gas.
x Charge vehicle batteries only in well-ventilated areas.
x Never charge a frozen or thawed battery. A dead battery can freeze at temperatures around +32 °F (0 °C). Always replace a battery that has frozen.
x You must replace the vehicle battery if it was frozen.
x Incorrectly connected cables can cause a short-circuit. First connect the positive cable (+) and then the negative cable (-).

unit. Some suspension changes can, for example, increase the force levels measured by the airbag sensors and send to the electronic control unit and make the airbag system deploy in crashes in which it would not deploy if the changes had not been made. Other kinds of changes may reduce the force levels measured by the sensors and prevent the airbag from deploying when it should.
Never install leather upholstery on a vehicle that originally had cloth upholstery. Never install cloth upholstery on a vehicle that originally had leather upholstery. The weight-sensing mat for the Ad-vanced Airbag system will not work properly if different upholstery is installed on the passenger seat than the upholstery originally installed on the vehicle when it was originally manufactured.
WARNING
Changing the vehicle's suspension including use of unapproved tire-rim combinations can change airbag performance and increase the risk of serious personal injury in a crash.
x Never install suspension components that do not have the same performance characteris-tics as the components originally installed on your vehicle.
x Never use tire-rim combinations that have not been approved by Volkswagen.
WARNING
Leaving the optional safety belt extender attached to the safety belt buckle on the front pas-senger seat when the safety belt is not being used will prevent the Advanced Airbag System from working properly and can increase the risk of serious personal injury in a collision.
x Leaving the extender attached to the safety belt buckle when the front seat is occupied and the safety belt is not being used will signal to the airbag control unit that the front pas-senger seat is occupied and that the safety belt is being used. The electronic control unit for the airbag system will then receive incorrect information that will
– cause the safety belt pretensioner to deploy unnecessarily in collisions and
– cause the front passenger airbag to deploy later in collisions in which the front airbag would otherwise be triggered earlier to help protect an unrestrained front seat passenger.
x Always remove the safety belt extender when it is not needed and stow it safely.
x Never use the safety belt extender to secure a child restraint.
WARNING
Items stored between the safety belt buckle and the center console can cause safety belt buckle to send the wrong information to the airbag control unit and prevent the Advanced Airbag System from working properly.
x Always make sure that nothing can interfere with the safety belt buckles and that they are not obstructed.