2012 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER warning

A WARNING (Continued)
• If the brake servo does not function or the vehicle is being towed, the brake pedal will have to be depressed more forcefully as the braking distance will be Increased due to the lack of assistance for the brake system.
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• Never let the brakes "rub" by applying light pressure to the brake when it is not necessary to brake. Continual pressure on the brake pedal will overheat the brakes. This can considerably reduce the brake effect, increase the braking distance and, In certain circumstances, cause the brake system to fail completely.
Brake support systems
r-f'n First read and observe the Introductory l..-Wl information and safety warnings&. on page 269.
The brake support systems ESC, ABS, BAS, TCS and EDL only function when the engine is running. They make a considerable contribution to active driving safety.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
The ESC helps to reduce the risk of skidding and to improve driving stability by braking individual wheels in certain driving situations. The ESC de-tects critical driving situations such as oversteer, understeer and wheelspin. The system helps to stabilise the vehicle through targeted application of the brakes or by reducing engine torque.
ESC has its limitations. lt is important to realise that ESC cannot overcome the laws of physics. ESC will not be able to assist in every situation faced by a driver. For example, ESC will not be able to assist every time that there is a sudden change in the road surface quality. If a section of dry road is suddenly covered with water, mud or snow, ESC will not be able to assist in the same manner as on a dry road. If the vehicle aquaplanes (drives on a layer of water rather than on the road surface), ESC will not be able to assist in steering the vehicle as the contact to the road surface has been interrupted and it is therefore no longer pos-sible to steer or brake the vehicle. When driving at speed through bends, particularly on stretches of road with many bends, the ESC will not always be able to process complicated driving situations as
2741 While dnvang
• Before driving down a long, steep gradient, reduce speed and change to a lower gear or move the selector lever to a lower position. This will make use of the engine braking effect and relieve the load on the brakes. The brakes could otherwise overheat and possibly fall. The brakes should only be used to slow or stop the vehicle.
m If the front brake pads are tested, the rear L!..J brake pads should be tested at the same time. Regularly check the thickness of the brake pads through the openings in the rims or from the underside of the vehicle. If necessary, remove the wheels to carry out a comprehensive check. Volks-wagen Commercial Vehicles recommends using a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealership for this purpose. effectively as at lower speeds. When towing a trail-er, ESC is unable to assist the driver in regaining control over the vehicle.
Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions. ESC cannot defy the laws of motion, improve the availa-ble power output, or keep the vehicle on the road if insufficient care and attention on the part of the driver causes the vehicle to leave the road. In-stead, the ESC improves the chances of keeping the vehicle under control and, in extreme on-road driving situations, exploits the driver's steering in-put to keep the vehicle travelling in the desired di-rection. If the vehicle is driving at a speed that leads it to leave the road before the ESC can pro-vide any kind of support, the ESC will be unable to provide any assistance.
The ASS, BAS, TCS and EDL systems are integra-ted into the ESC. The ESC is always on. If the trac-tion achieved in certain situations is not sufficient, TCS can be switched off by pressing the ASR (TCS) button =>Fig. 224. Always ensure that ASR (TCS) is switched back on again once traction is sufficient.
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System
In the event of an accident, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System can help the driver to re-duce the risk of skidding, and the danger of secon-dary collisions, through automatic braking.

The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System only functions in frontal, side and rear collisions if the airbag control unit registers the corresponding trig-gering threshold during the accident, and the acci-dent occurs at a speed greater than 10 km/h (6 m ph).
The ESC brakes the vehicle automatically, provi-ded that the hydraulic braking system, the ESC and the electrical system are undamaged in the accident and remain functional.
The following actions override automatic braking in the event of an accident:
• When the driver depresses the accelerator. No automatic braking occurs.
• When the brake pressure transmitted through the depressed brake pedal is greater than the brake pressure provided by the system. The vehi-cle is braked manually.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
The ABS prevents the wheels from locking when the brakes are applied up until the point where the vehicle is nearly stationary and assists the driver in steering the vehicle and keeping it under control. This means that the vehicle is less likely to spin, even when the brakes are depressed fully:
• Depress and hold the brake pedal with force. Do not take your foot off the brake pedal or reduce the force on the brake pedal.
• Do not pump the brake pedal or reduce the pressure on the brake pedal.
• Steer the vehicle while the brake pedal is fully depressed.
• The ABS will switch off when the brake pedal is released or if the pressure on the brake pedal is reduced.
If the ABS is taking corrective action, there is a pulsing movement in the brake pedal and some noise. However, ABS will not necessarily guaran-tee shorter braking distances in a// conditions. The braking distance could even be longer when brak-ing on gravel or on fresh snow covering an icy or slippery surface.
Brake Assist system (BAS)
The Brake Assist system can help to reduce the braking distance. The Brake Assist system reinfor-ces brake pressure when the driver depresses the brake pedal quickly in an emergency situation. As a result, full braking power is made accessible very quickly, braking power is reinforced and the brak-ing distance reduced. This means that the ABS is activated more quickly and more effectively.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal. The Brake Assist system will switch off the brake servo automatically when the brake pedal is re-leased or if the pressure on the brake pedal is re-duced.
Traction control system (TCS)
The TCS reduces the engine output if wheels pin occurs and adapts the output to suit road surface conditions. TCS helps the car to start moving, ac-celerate and climb gradients in unfavourable road conditions.
The TCS can be switched on and off manually 276.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The EDL is available for normal driving on straight roads. EDL brakes the wheel that has lost traction and distributes the driving force to the other drive wheels. To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating, the EDL cuts out automat-ically if subjected to excessive loads. The EDL will switch on again automatically when the brake has cooled down.
A WARNING
Driving fast on icy, slippery or wet roads can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle and could cause serious injury to the driver and passengers.
• Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic con-ditions. Do not Jet the extra safety afforded by the brake support systems ABS, BAS, EDL, TCS and ESC tempt you into taking any risks when driving.
• The Intelligent technology of the brake support systems cannot overcome the Jaws of physics or system-related vehicle limita-tions. Slippery and wet roads will remain dan-gerous, even when the ESC and other sys-tems are active.
• Driving too fast on wet roads can cause the wheels to Jose contact with the road sur-face and aquaplane. The vehicle cannot be braked, steered or controlled once it has lost contact with the road surface.
• Brake support systems cannot prevent an accident if, for example, you are driving too close to the vehicle in front or are driving too fast for the individual situation. .,.
Starting the engine, changing gear and parking 275

A WARNING (Continued)
• Although the brake support systems are very effective and can help to control the ve-hicle in difficult driving situations, please al-ways remember that the driving stability of the vehicle depends on the tyre grip.
• When accelerating on a slippery surface, for example on ice and snow, press the accel-erator carefully. The wheels can spin even when brake support systems are active, and this can lead to a loss of control of the vehl-cl e.
A WARNING
ESC will be considerably less effective if oth· er components and systems that affect driv-ing dynamics are not serviced correctly or are not functioning properly. This also ap-plies, but not exclusively, to the brakes, tyres and other systems that have already been named.
Switching the TCS on and off
BSO·OC40
Fig. 224 in the centre console: button for switch-ing the TCS on and off manually.
.-m First read and observe the introductory l-J=J.I information and safety warnings & on page 269.
276 Wh1lo driving
A WARNING (Continued)
• Please always note that modifications and changes to the vehicle can affect the function of the ABS, BAS, EDL, TCS and ESC.
• Alterations to the suspension system or the use of non-approved wheel and tyre com-binations can affect the function of ABS, BAS, TCS, EDL and ESC and reduce their ef· fectiveness.
• Suitable tyres are also crucial if ESC is to function optlmaliy =>page 367.
m The ESC and TCS can only function properly L.:U if ail 4 wheels are fitted with the same tyres. Any differences in the roiling radius of the tyres can cause the system to reduce engine power unex-pectedly.
m If there is a fault in the ABS, the ESC, TCS lU and EDL will also stop working.
m Operating noises may be heard during the L.:U self-regulation processes of the systems ex-plained above. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) only func-tions when the engine is running. lt consists of ABS, EDL and TCS.
When the engine is running, the TCS can be switched off by pressing the@ 224 button. The TCS should only be switched off in certain sit-uations when the traction achieved is not sufficient. For example:
• When driving in deep snow or on loose surfa-ces.
• When rocking the vehicle backwards and for-wards to free it from mud.
Then press the@ 224 button to switch the TCS back on.

Brake fluid
B7E.02AO
Fig. 225 In the engine compartment: cap on the brake fluid container.
r-111 First read and observe the Introductory l-Jr:,U Information and safety warnings&. on page 269.
Brake fluid will gradually absorb water from the surrounding air. The brake system will be damaged if there is too much water in the brake fluid. The boiling point of the brake fluid is also considerably reduced by the water content. Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock in the brake sys-tem if the water content is too high. Vapour locks reduce levels of braking power, considerably in-crease braking distance and can even cause the brake system to fail completely. Your own safety and that of other road users depends on having a brake system that functions properly at all times
Brake fluid specification
Volkswagen has developed a brake fluid that has been optimised for the brake system in the vehicle. To ensure optimal operation of the brake system, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends the use of brake fluid compliant with VW stand-ard 501 14.
Before using a particular brake fluid, check that the specifications printed on the container correspond to the vehicle requirements.
Brake fluid that is compliant with VW stand-ard 501 14 is available from Volkswagen Commer-cial Vehicles dealerships.
If this brake fluid is not available and it is necessa-ry to use another high-quality brake fluid instead, brake fluid that is compliant with DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 or US standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 can be used.
Not all brake fluids that are compliant with DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 or US standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 have the same chemical com-position. Some of these brake fluids may contain chemicals that can damage or destroy brake sys-tem components over time.
To ensure sustained optimal operation of the brake system, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles there-fore recommends the use of brake fluid that is compliant with VW standard 501 14.
Brake fluid that is compliant with VW stand-ard 501 14 fulfils the requirements of DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 or US standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4.
Brake fluid level
The brake fluid level must always be between the MIN and MAX marking of the brake fluid container or above the MIN marking &.
The brake fluid level cannot be checked accurately in all models as engine components may partially conceal the brake fluid container. If the brake fluid level cannot be read exactly, please go to a quali-fied workshop.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehi-cle is being used as the brake pads wear and the brakes are automatically adjusted.
Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid must be changed as indicated in the service schedule Service schedule. The brake fluid should be changed by a qualified workshop. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles rec-ommends using a Volkswagen Commercial Vehi-cles dealership for this purpose. Only brake fluid that confonns with the required specification should be used.
A WARNING
Brake failure or reduced braking effect can be caused by the brake fluid level being too low or by brake fluid that Is too old or unsuitable.
• The brake system and brake fluid level must be checked regularly.
• The brake fluid should be changed regu-larly, according to the service schedule Service schedule.
• Heavy use of the brakes may cause a va-pour lock If the brake fluid Is left In the sys-tem for too long. Vapour locks reduce levels
Starting the engine, changing gear and parking I 277

A WARNING (Continued)
of braking power, considerably increase brak-ing distance and can cause the brake system to fail completely.
• Please ensure that the correct brake fluid is used. Only use brake fluid that Is explicitly compliant with VW standard 501 14.
• Any other brake fluid or a low-quality one can affect the functioning of the brakes and reduce their effectiveness.
• If a brake fluid compliant with VW stand-ard 501 14 Is not available, use a high-quality brake fluid compliant with DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 or the US standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4, but only in exceptional circumstances.
• The refilled brake fluid must be new .
A wARNING
Brake fluid is toxic.
• In order to reduce the risk of poisoning, never use bottles or other containers to store brake fluid. These containers could encour-age other people to drink out of them, even if they are labelled otherwise.
• Brake fluid must always be stored in its original sealed container and kept out of the reach of children.
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Brake fluid that has leaked or been split can damage the vehicle palntwork, plastic parts and tyres. Brake fluid that has leaked or been split should be cleaned off the vehicle paint-work and other components Immediately.
& Brake nuid can pollute the environment. Any W spilt service nuids must be cleaned up and disposed of properly. Driving with respect for the environment
o:::n Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
An economic driving style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Saving fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Fuel consumption, environmental impact and wear on the engine, brakes and tyres depend largely on three factors:
• Personal driving style.
• Conditions of use (weather, road surface).
• Technical conditions.
An economic driving style
i""1"'n First read and observe the introductory L-J,:.U information and safety warnings & on page 278. .,.
278 I While drivmg
A few simple measures can help save fuel by up to 25%, depending on how you drive.
A WARNING
Adapt your speed and distance from the vehi-cles ahead to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions.

Saving fuel
1/100 km
-10°C
+20 oc
L----------------tkm 5 15 25 30
en-o11S
Fig. 226 Fuel consumption in litres per 100 km at two different outside temperatures.
r-1"'11 First read and observe the Introductory Information and safety warnings&. on page 278.
By adopting an economical driving style and antici-pating the traffic situation ahead, you can easily re-duce fuel consumption by 10-15%.
Cars use most fuel when accelerating. If you think ahead when driving, you will need to brake less and thus accelerate less. Wherever possible, let the car roll slowly to a stop, for instance when you can see that the next traffic lights are red.
Avoid short journeys
Directly after a cold start, the engine has a very high fuel consumption. The engine reaches its working temperature after a few kilometres, when fuel consumption will return to a normal level.
The engine and catalytic converter need to reach their proper working temperature in order to mini-mise fuel consumption and emissions. The out-side temperature is a key factor.
The different rates of fuel consumption for the same distance at both +20"C (+68"F) and at -10"C (+14"F) are shown in Fig. 226.
Therefore, avoid making too many short journeys and car share whenever possible.
Under the same conditions, the vehicle will use more fuel in winter than in summer.
280 I While dnvmg
Not only is it illegal in some countries to "warm up" the cold engine by running it while the vehicle is stationary, it is also technically unnecessary and a waste of fuel.
Adjust the tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure reduces rolling resist-ance and therefore also fuel consumption.
Ensure that any new tyres purchased have opti-mum rolling resistance.
Use low viscosity engine oils
Fully synthetic low viscosity engine oils reduce fuel consumption. Low viscosity engine oils decrease frictional resistance in the engine and spread bet-ter and more quickly, especially for cold starts. They are especially effective In vehicles that make alotofshortjourneys.
Always ensure that the engine oil level is correct and that you keep to the service intervals (oil change intervals).
When buying engine oil, always make sure it com-plies with engine oil norms and has been approved by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Avoid unnecessary loads
Lighter vehicles are more economical and have lower environmental impact. An extra 100 kg, for example, can increase fuel consumption by up to 0.311100 km.
Remove all unnecessary objects and loads from the vehicle.
Remove any unnecessary special equipment and accessories
The more aerodynamic a vehicle, the lower its fuel consumption. Special equipment and accessories, such as roof carriers or bicycle carriers, make the vehicle less aerodynamic.
You should therefore remove any special equip-ment and luggage carriers that are not in use, es-pecially if you are going to be driving at high speeds.

Steering
CJ:n Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Additional information and warnings:
• Starting and stopping the engine 257
• Battery 362
• Tow-starting and towing 446
Information on steering
r--f"n First read and observe the introductory L-la.LI infonmation and safety warnings & on page 281.
Locking the steering wheel
• When the vehicle key has been removed, turn the steering wheel slightly until you hear the lock-ing pin engage.
The steering should be locked every time you leave the vehicle to make il more difficult for the vehicle to be stolen.
Unlocking the steering wheel
• Turn the steering wheel slightly to lake the load off the steering lock mechanism. Hold the steering wheel in this position and tu m the vehicle key clockwise out of position 217 @.
A WARNING
If the power steering is not working, the steering wheel is difficult to turn, which makes it difficult to steer the vehicle.
• The power steering only functions when the engine Is running.
• Never allow the vehicle to roll if the engine is switched off.
• Never remove the vehicle key from the ig-nition lock when the vehicle is in motion. The steering lock may be activated and you will no longer be able to steer the vehicle. Power steering
With power steering, the steering assistance is au-tomatically matched to vehicle speed, the steering wheel torque and the steering wheel angle. The power steering will only function when the engine is running.
You will need considerably more strength than nor-mal to steer the vehicle if lhe power steering is re-duced or has failed completely. Starting the engine, changing gear and parking I 281

Driver assist systems
Pull-away assist systems
cr:n Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Warning and indicator lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Start/stop system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . 283
Hill Hold Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Hill Descent Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Rear axle differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Additional information and warnings:
• Volkswagen information system =>page 24
• Braking, stopping and parking =>page 269
• Battery =>page 362
• Wheels and tyres =>page 367
• Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts =>page 394
• Jump starting =>page 443
Warning and indicator lamps
A WARNING
The intelligent technology of the pull-away assist systems cannot overcome the laws of physics or system-related vehicle limitations. Never let the extra convenience afforded by pull-away assist systems tempt you into tak-ing any risks when driving-this can cause accidents.
• Unintentional vehicle movements can cause serious Injury.
• The pull-away assist systems cannot re-place the driver's full concentration.
• Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic con-ditions.
• Pull-away assist systems cannot hold the vehicle in all hill start situations or brake it sufficiently on all slopes going downhill (e.g. if the ground is slippery or icy). m First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings & on page 282.
Lit up Possible cause
Rear axle differential lock switched on . ...
Hill Descent Assist switched on.
(A) The start/stop system is available, automat-ic engine stop is active.
ex;
The start/stop system is not available. OR: the start/stop system has switched off the engine automatically.
Flashes Possible cause
The rear axle differential lock cannot be .... switched on .
Hill Descent Assist is regulating.
Several warning and indicator lamps will light up briefly as a functional check when the ignition is switched on. They will go out after a few seconds. .,..
282 I While drivmg
Solution
=>page 286
=>page 285
=>page 283
Check whether all technical requirements have been fulfilled. If necessary, make sure that all technical requirements are fulfilled =>page 283.
Solution
=>page 286
=>page 285