AbbreviationsAbbreviationDefinitionrpmEngine revolutions per minuteABSAnti-lock brake systemAFMulti-purpose vehiclesAPNAccess Point Name - the name of an access point for the WiFinetworkTCSTraction controlCO 2 in g/kmdischarged quantity of carbon dioxide in grams per driven kilo-
meterDPFDiesel particle filterDSGAutomatic double clutch gearboxDSRActive driver-steering recommendationEDLElectronic differential lockECEEconomic Commission for EuropeEPCEPC fault lightESCElectronic Stability ControlEUEuropean UnionGSMGroupe Spécial Mobile - a digital network of mobile devices for the transmission of voice and dataHFPHands-free profile - connection of a mobile device by means of
its Bluetooth ®
profilekWKilowatt, measuring unit for the engine outputMGManual gearboxMFDMultifunction displayN1Panel van intended exclusively or mainly for the transporta-
tion of goodsNmNewton meter, measuring unit for the engine torquePINPersonal Identification Number - personal identification num- ber for the connection of electronic devices using Bluetooth ®
or WiFirSAPRemote SIM Access Profile - remote transmission of SIM dataAbbreviationDefinitionSSPsimple security pairing - connection of two devices using Blue-
tooth ®
profileTDI CRDiesel engine with turbocharging and common rail injection
systemTSATrailer stabilisationTSIPetrol engine with turbocharging and direct injectionUMTSUniversal Mobile Telecommunication System - the next evolu- tion of the GSM network (3G)WLANWireless Local Area Network - wireless connection of elec-
tronic devices for data transfer (WiFi)
7Abbreviations
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-tear
and automatic adjustment of the brake pads.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the fluid lev-
el drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the “MIN” marking.
If the brake fluid level is too low, this is indicated by the indicator light » page 15 , Brake system lighting up in the instrument cluster.
Changing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 206.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. Over time it therefore absorbs moisture from the
environment.
Excessive water in the brake fluid may be the cause of corrosion in the brake sys-
tem.
The water content lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid.
The brake fluid must comply with the following standards or specifications: › VW 50114;
› FMVSS 116 DOT4.
Vehicle battery
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Opening the cover
208
Checking the battery electrolyte level
209
Charging
209
Replacing
210
Disconnecting and reconnecting
210
Automatic load deactivation
210Warning symbols on the vehicle batterySymbolImportanceAlways wear eye protection.Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye protec- tion.Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the ve-
hicle battery.When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture is produced.Keep children away from the vehicle battery.WARNINGThere is risk of injuries, poisoning, chemical burns, explosions or fire when
working on the battery and on the electrical system. The general applicable
safety rules and the following warnings must be observed without exception.■
Keep children away from the vehicle battery.
■
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the bat-
tery vent openings. Protect your eyes by wearing safety goggles or a face
shield – risk of blindness!
■
Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling the
vehicle battery.
■
The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be handled with
the greatest of care.
■
Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air passages and lead to conjunctivitis
and inflammation of the air passages in the lungs.
■
Battery acid corrodes dental enamel and, if it comes into contact with the
skin, causes deep wounds that take a long time to heal. Repeated contact
with diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, slin cracks).
■
If any battery acid comes into contact with your eyes, rinse the affected eye
immediately with clean water for several minutes and consult a doctor imme-
diately!
■
Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as
possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water. If you swallow
battery acid, consult a doctor immediately!
207Inspecting and replenishing
WARNING■It is prohibited to work with naked flames or lights.■It is prohibited to smoke or carry out any activities that produce sparks.■
Never use a damaged vehicle battery – risk of explosion!
■
Never charge a frozen or thawed vehicle battery – risk of explosion and
chemical burns!
■
Replace a frozen vehicle battery.
■
Never jump-start vehicle batteries with insufficient acid levels – risk of ex-
plosion and chemical burns.
WARNING■ When you charge a battery, hydrogen is released, and a highly explosive gas
mixture is also produced. An explosion can be caused through sparkling over during unclamping or loosening of the cable plug while the ignition is on.■
Creating a bridge between the poles on the battery (e.g. with a metal object
or cable) creates a short circuit - risk of melting the lead bars, and risk of ex-
plosion, battery fire and acid splashes.
■
Avoid creating sparks when working with cables and electrical devices.
Strong sparking represents a risk of injury.
■
Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch off the engine,
the ignition and all electrical components and disconnect the negative termi-
nal (-) on the battery.
CAUTION
Improper handling of the battery can lead to damage. We recommend having all
work on the vehicle battery carried out by a specialist garage.
CAUTION
■ The vehicle battery must only be disconnected if the ignition is switched off,
otherwise the vehicle's electrical system (electronic components) can be dam-
aged. When disconnecting the battery from the electrical system, first of all dis-
connect the negative terminal (-) of the battery, followed by the positive terminal
(+).■
When connecting the battery to the electrical system, first of all connect the
positive terminal (+) of the battery, followed by the negative terminal (-). Under no
circumstances must the battery cables be connected incorrectly – risk of a cable fire.
■ Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk of
damage to the paintwork.■
Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the vehicle battery
housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
■
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will
discharge. This is because certain electrical components consume electricity (e. g.
control units) also in idle state. Prevent the battery from discharging by discon- necting the battery's negative terminal (-) or continuously charging the battery
with a very low charging current.
■
If the vehicle is frequently used for making short trips, the vehicle battery will
not have time to charge up sufficiently and may discharge.
For the sake of the environment
A vehicle battery that has been removed is a special type of hazardous waste.
These must be disposed of in accordance with national legal regulations.
Note
You should replace batteries older than 5 years.
Opening the cover
Fig. 163
Engine compartment: Polyester cover of the vehicle battery/plastic
cover of the vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 207.
The battery is located in the engine compartment in a polyester cover or in a plas-
tic cover » Fig. 163 .
208General Maintenance
›Open the battery cover in the direction of the arrow 1 or press the interlock on
the side of the battery cover in the direction of the arrow 2 » Fig. 163 , fold the
cover up and remove.
The battery cover is installed in reverse order.
The edge of the polyester battery cover is inserted between the battery and theside wall of the battery cover when working on the battery.
Checking the battery electrolyte level
Fig. 164
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 207.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator » Fig. 164 , the
electrolyte level can be determined by looking at the change in colour.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefullyknock on the indicator before carrying out the check.
› Black colour - electrolyte level is correct.
› Colourless or light yellow colour - electrolyte level too low, the battery must be
replaced.
Vehicles with a START-STOP system are fitted with a battery control unit for checking the energy level for recurring engine start.
We recommend that you have the acid level checked regularly by a specialist ga-
rage, especially in the following cases.
› High external temperatures.
› Longer day trips.
› After each charge.
Winter time
The vehicle battery only has a proportion of the starting power in lower tempera- tures. A discharged vehicle battery may already freeze at temperatures just be-
low 0 °C .
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked and, if necessary, re-
charged by a specialist garage before the start of the winter.
CAUTION
For technical reasons, on vehicles with the description “AGM”, the electrolyte lev- el cannot be checked.
Note
The battery acid level is also checked regularly by a specialist garage as part of
the inspection service.
Charging
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 207.
A properly charged vehicle battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.
›
Switch off the ignition and all of the electrical components.
›
Only when performing a “quick-charge”, disconnect both battery cables (first
“negative”, then “positive”).
›
Attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red = “posi- tive”, black = “negative”).
›
Plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch on thedevice.
›
After charging has been successful: Switch off the charger and remove the
mains cable from the power socket.
›
Only then disconnect the charger's terminal clamps.
›
Reconnect the cables to the battery (first “positive”, then “negative”).
It is not necessary to disconnect the cables of the battery if you recharge the ve-
hicle battery using low amperages (for example from a mini-charger). Refer to the
instructions of the charger manufacturer .
A charging current of 0.1 multiple of the total vehicle battery capacity (or lower) must be used until full charging is achieved.
209Inspecting and replenishing
It is necessary to disconnect both cables before charging the battery with high
amperages, known as “ rapid charging”.
The vent plugs of the vehicle battery should not be opened for charging.WARNING“Quick-charging” the vehicle battery is dangerous and requires a special
charger and specialist knowledge.
CAUTION
On vehicles with the START/STOP system, the pole terminal of the charger must
not be connected directly to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery, but only
to the engine earth » page 228, Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP
system .
Note
We therefore recommend that vehicle batteries be rapid charged by a specialist
garage.
Replacing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 207.
The new vehicle battery must have the same capacity, voltage, current and the
same size as the original Battery. Suitable vehicle battery types can be purchased
from a specialist garage.
We recommend having the battery replaced by a specialist garage, where the
new vehicle battery will be installed properly and the original battery will be dis-
posed of in accordance with national regulations.
Disconnecting and reconnecting
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 207.
On disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery, the following functions
are initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free.
OperationOperating measureElectrical power window (operational faults)» page 44Panoramic sliding roof (operational faults)» page 234Enter the radio/navigation system code num-
ber» User manual of the radio
or » user manual of the naviga-
tion systemSetting the clock» page 13Data in the multifunction display are deleted.» page 25
Note
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a specialist garage in order to en-
sure full functionality of all electrical systems.
Automatic load deactivation
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 207.
The vehicle voltage control unit automatically prevents the battery from discharg-
ing when the battery is put under high levels of strain. This manifests itself by the
following.
› The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to
the electrical system.
› Where necessary, large convenience consumers such as seat heaters and rear
window heaters have their power limited or are shut off completely in the event
of an emergency.
CAUTION
■ Despite such intervention by the vehicle electric system management, the vehi-
cle battery may be drained. For example, when the ignition is switched on a long
time with the engine turned off or the side or parking lights are turned on during longer parking.■
Consumers that are supplied via a 12-V power socket can cause the vehicle bat-
tery to discharge when the ignition is switched off.
210General Maintenance
Brake booster125
Brake fluid206
Changing207
Checking206
information messages15
Brakes Brake assist systems
136
Brake booster125
Brake fluid206
Handbrake125
Running in130
Braking Information on braking
124
Breakdown kit225
Break recommendation See Fatigue detection
151
bulb failurel warning light
19
bulbs warning light
19
Bulbs Changing
238
In the rear light242
Button in the driver's door Electric power windows
41
C
Car computer See multifunction display
25
Car park ticket holder71
Carrier90
Cavity protection192
CD changer115
Central locking32
Central locking button36
changing bulb for low beam and high beam
240
ChangingBrake fluid207
Bulbs238
Bulbs in the rear light242
Engine oil204
Wheels221
Changing a wheel Follow-up tasks
222
Preparation222
Removing and refitting a wheel222
Charging a vehicle battery209
Check Fit ball head properly
155
Checking Battery electrolyte level
209
Brake fluid206
Coolant205
Engine oil203
Oil level203
Windscreen washer fluid201
Children and safety177
Child safety Side airbag
179
Child safety lock37
Child safety seat Use of child safety seats
179
Child seat Classification
179
ISOFIX180
on the front passenger seat178
TOP TETHER181
Use of ISOFIX child seats180
Chrome parts refer to Taking care of your vehicle
190
Cigarette lighter74
Cleaning182
Alcantara194
Artificial leather194
cloths194
Covers of electrically heated seats194
Headlight lenses191
Natural leather193
Plastic parts190
Wheels192
Climatronic Operarting elements
95
Recirculation93
Clothes hook79
Cockpit 12-volt power outlet
75
Ashtray74
Cigarette lighter74
General view9
Lighting53
Practical equipment70
Storage compartments70
Comfort control window
43
COMING HOME51
Compartment for glasses77
Compartments70
Computer See multifunction display
25
Convenience operation sliding / tilting roof
46
convenience turn signal49
coolant warning light
16
warning reports16
Coolant204
Checking205
Replenishing206
Temperature gauge11
CORNER See Fog lights with CORNER function
51
Correct seated position161
Driver162
Front passenger162
Rear seats162
Correct seating position Instructions
162
252Index
Temporary spare wheel216
the rear seats fold down seat backrest and fold seat fully for- ward
68
Tiptronic127
Tools220
TOP TETHER181
Towing228
Towing a trailer152
Towing device Description
152
Drawbar load152
Use and care156
Towing eye front
229
Rear229
Towing protection40
Traction Control System (TCS)137
Trailer152, 156
13-pin power socket157
driving with a trailer157
loading156
Safety eye157
Trailer stabilisation158
Transport Luggage compartment
81
Roof rack system90
Transporting children safely177
TSA158
Turn signal49
Turn signal system Warning light
21
Two-way radio systems100
Type plate244
Tyre inflation pressure Warning light
21
Tyre load-bearing capacity see Wheels
214
Tyre pressure monitor Setting
215
Tyre repairCheck pressure226
Preparations225
Sealing and inflating the tyre226
Tyres212
Inflation pressure213
New214
See Wheels214
Sizes213
Tyre wear indicator213
U
Underbody protection
192
Unleaded petrol135
Unlocking Individual settings
36
KESSY35
Key33
Remote control34
Vehicle key33
Unlocking and locking32
Useful equipment 12-volt power outlet
75
Ashtray74
Car park ticket holder71
Cigarette lighter74
Clothes hook79
Cupholders73
Removable ski bag81
Storage compartment under the front armrest76
Using the information system23
Using the selector lever127
Using the variable loading floor with a spare wheel
90
V
Variable loading floor
88
Removing and fitting carrier rails89
Variable loading floor with spare wheel Removable storage box87
Vehicle battery Automatic load deactivation
210
charging209
Checking the battery electrolyte level209
Cover208
Operation in winter209
Replacing210
Safety instructions207
Vehicle care182
Alcantara194
Artificial leather194
Cloths194
Vehicle Condition See Auto Check Control
13
Vehicle data sticker244
Vehicle dimensions245
Vehicle key Locking
33
Unlocking33
Vehicle tool kit220
vest holder for reflective vest
219
Visibility55
Visors see Sun visors
55
W
Warning at excessive speeds
28
Warning lights14
warning messages Diesel particulate filter
20
Warning symbols see Warning lights
14
Warning triangle219
Warranty5
259Index