2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE warning

Proper seating position

Fig. 36 The driver should never sit closer than 10 inches (25 cm) of the steering wheel.

Fig. 37 Proper safety belt positioning and head restraint adjustment.
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
The following describes the proper seating positions for the driver and front seat passenger.
If you have a physical impairment or condition that prevents you from sitting properly on the driver seat
with the safety belt properly fastened and reaching the pedals, special modifications to your vehicle
may be necessary. Only the proper seating position ensures optimum protection by the safety belt and
airbag.
Contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility or call the
Volkswagen Customer CARE Center at 1-800-822-8987 for information about possible modifications
to your vehicle.
For your own safety and to reduce injuries in the event of sudden braking maneuvers or accidents,
Volkswagen recommends the following seating positions:
Applies to all vehicle occupants:
x Adjust head restraints so that the upper edge of the head restraint is at least at eye level or higher.
Position the back of your head as close as possible to the head restraint ⇒ fig. 36 and ⇒ fig. 37.
x Push the head restraint completely down for short people, even if the top of the head is then below
the upper edge of the head restraint.
x Tall people should pull the head restraint all the way up.

Adjusting the head restraint for short people
Push the head restraint down as far as it will go, even if this means the person's head is still below the
top edge of the head restraint. A small gap may remain between the head restraint and the backrest
when the head restraint is all the way down.
Adjusting the head restraint for tall people
Pull the head restraint up as far as it will go.
WARNING
Driving without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head restraints increases the risk
of serious injuries in a collision.
x Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly adjusted to help minimize the
risk of neck injury in crash.
x Every person in the vehicle must have a properly adjusted head restraint to minimize the
risk of neck injury in a crash. Each head restraint must be adjusted according to the occu-
pants' size so that the upper edge is even with the top of the person's head, but no lower than
eye level. Always sit so that the back of your head is as close as possible to the head re-
straint.
x Never adjust head restraint while driving.
Removing and reinstalling the head restraints

Fig. 40 Removing the front head restraints.

Fig. 41 Removing the rear head restraints.
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
All seats are equipped with head restraints.
Removing the front head restraints
x Sit in the back seat behind the head restraint you want to remove.
x Pull the head restraint all the way up ⇒  in Adjusting the front and rear head restraints. Recline
the backrest with the head restraint so that there is enough overhead clearance to remove it.
x Slide a flat object, such as a plastic credit card, underneath the right side of the cap on the right-
hand seat guide rod ⇒ fig. 40 (1) to unlock the head restraint.
x Push the flat object (plastic card) in against the guide rod to depress a release button located
under the cap (not visible).
x Use one hand to hold the release button in with the flat object. With your other hand, lift the same
guide rod slightly to expose a notch in the rod at the bottom (can be seen and felt with fingers). The
right-hand guide rod is now released.
x To release the left-hand guide rod, press button (2) in (towards guide rod) and hold.
x Pull the head restraint out completely while holding button (2).
Installing the front head restraints
x Position head restraint properly over the head restraint guides of the respective seat backrest and
insert the head restraint into the guides.
x Push the head restraint down while pressing button (2).
x Move the seat backrest into an upright position using the adjusting wheel.
x Adjust the head restraint according to the occupant's size
Removing the rear head restraint
x Unlock the backrest of the rear seat bench and fold it forward
x Pull the head restraint all the way up ⇒ .
x If necessary, press the flat blade of the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit into the slit of the trim
cap ⇒ fig. 41 (1) in the direction of the arrow and hold it in this position.
x At the same time press button (2) while a second person pulls out the head restraint completely.
x Fold the backrest of the rear seat bench back so that it locks securely.
Reinstalling the rear head restraint
x Unlock the backrest of the rear seat bench and fold it forward .

x Position head restraint properly over the head restraint guides of the respective seat backrest and
insert the head restraint into the guides.
x Push the head restraint down while pressing button (2).
x Fold the backrest of the rear seat bench back so that it locks securely.
x Adjust the head restraint according to the occupant's size
WARNING
Driving without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head restraints increases the risk
of serious injuries in a collision.
x Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly adjusted to help minimize the
risk of neck injury in crash.
x Always reinstall head restraints as soon as possible so that vehicle occupants are proper-
ly protected.
NOTICE
When removing or reinstalling the head restraint, take care that the head restraint does not
strike the headliner or other parts of the vehicle. The headliner or other parts of the vehicle
could otherwise be damaged.
Adjusting the steering wheel position

Fig. 42 Manual adjustment for the steering wheel position.

WARNING
Improper use of the steering column adjustment feature can result in serious personal injury
and even death.
x Always pull the lever (1) firmly upward after adjusting the steering column so that the
steering wheel does not change position suddenly while the vehicle is moving.
x Never adjust the steering column while the vehicle is moving. If you find that you need to
adjust the steering wheel while driving, stop the vehicle in a safe place and make the proper
adjustment.
x Never adjust the steering wheel so that it points toward your face. Always make sure that
the steering wheel points toward your chest. Otherwise, the airbag system cannot protect
you properly in the event of a crash.
x Always hold the steering wheel on the outside of the steering wheel rim with your hands
at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions to help reduce the risk of serious personal injury if the
driver's airbag inflates.
x Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with your hands anywhere
inside the steering wheel or on the steering wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the wrong
way increases the risk of severe injury to the arms, hands, and head if the driver airbag de-
ploys.
Center armrest

Fig. 43 Front center armrest.

WARNING
The center armrest can restrict the driver's arm movement and cause crashes and serious
personal injury.
x Always keep storage compartments in the center armrest closed while driving.
x Never let a passenger, especially a child, ride on the center armrest. Improper seating
position can increase the risk of serious personal injury in a crash.
x Never put hot drinks or other liquids in the cup holder. Hot liquids can spill when the vehi-
cle is moving as well as during braking or other sudden maneuvers.

Function Action for seat heating ⇒fig.44
Switch on: Press the Aor ebutton. Seat heating is switched on
to maximum.
Adjust the heating
level:
Press the Aor e button repeatedly until the desired
heating level is set.
Switch off: Press the A or e button repeatedly until all indicator
lights in the button are off.

Special seat heating features
On the driver and the passenger side, the seat heating may resume at the setting that was set when
the ignition was switched off. However, this feature only works if the key is not taken out of the ignition
switch, or, for vehicles with Keyless Access, the driver door is not opened or the vehicle is not locked.
People suffering from a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain as from medica-
tion, paralysis, or chronic illness (e.g. diabetes) should NEVER use the seat heating feature ⇒ !
The use of seat heating by persons with these conditions could result in burns to the back, buttocks,
and legs that may take a long time to heal and may never heal completely. If you have any of these
conditions, you should take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly on long trips. Consult
your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.
WARNING
Certain medical conditions, such as paralysis and diabetes, and certain medications can
increase the risk of serious burns when the seat heating feature is switched on.
x Vehicle occupants who have a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain
can receive serious burns to the back, buttocks, and legs that take a long time to heal or may
never heal completely.
x Never use the seat heating feature if you or your passengers are at risk of being burned
because of a medical condition. Take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly
on long trips. Consult your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.
x Never let exposed skin remain in contact with the seat upholstery when the seat heating is
being used.
WARNING
A wet seat can cause the seat heating to malfunction and increase the risk of serious burns.
x Always make sure the seats are dry before using the seat heating.
x Never sit on the seat with wet clothes.
x Never put damp or wet things including clothes on the seat.
x Never spill liquids on the seats.
NOTICE
x To help prevent damage to electrical and other parts in the seat, do not kneel on the front
seats or apply concentrated pressure to a small area of the seat or backrest.
x Liquids, sharp objects and things that do not let the heat in the seat escape into the air,
including, for example, a child restraint, a blanket, or seat covers on the seat can damage seat
heating.

WARNING
Not wearing a safety belt or wearing an improperly positioned safety belt increases the risk of
severe personal injury or death. Safety belts offer optimum protection only when they are
used properly.
x Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of
serious injury and death in a collision or other accident. 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 The driver must always make sure that every person in the vehicle is properly seated on a
seat of his or her own, properly fastens the safety belts belonging to that seat before the
vehicle starts to move, and keeps the belts properly fastened while riding in the vehicle. This
applies even when just driving around town. Therefore, always wear your safety belts and
make sure that everybody in your vehicle is properly restrained.
x Always secure children in the vehicle with a restraint system appropriate for their age,
weight and height
x Always fasten safety belts correctly before driving off and make sure that all passengers
are properly restrained.
x Never attach the safety belt to the buckle of another seat. Attaching the safety belt to the
wrong buckle will reduce safety belt effectiveness and can cause serious personal injury.
x Never let any objects or liquids get into the safety belt latch and prevent it from working
properly.
x Never remove a safety belt while the vehicle is moving. Doing so will increase your risk of
being injured or killed.
x Never strap more than one person, including small children, into any single safety belt.
x Never let children or babies ride sitting on your lap, and never place a safety belt over a
child sitting on your lap.
x Never wear belts over rigid or breakable objects in or on your clothing, such as eyeglass-
es, pens, keys, etc., as these may cause injury.
x Several layers of heavy clothing (such as a coat worn over top of a sports jacket) may
interfere with proper positioning of the safety belt and reduce the overall effectiveness of the
system.
x Never use comfort clips or devices that create slack in the shoulder belt. However, special
clips may be required for the correct use of some child restraint systems.
x Safety belts offer optimum protection only when the seat backrest is upright and belts are
correctly positioned on the body.