2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI ESP

Not wearing or improperly fastening safety belts increases the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Safety
belts can work only when they are properly positioned on the body. An improper seating position
significantly impairs the protection provided by safety belts. This can cause severe or even fatal
injuries. Improper seating positions also increase the risk of serious injury or death when an airbag
deploys and strikes an occupant who is not in the proper seating position. The driver is responsible for
all passengers and especially children riding in the vehicle.
The following are only some examples of seating positions that will increase the risk of serious injury
or death.
Therefore, whenever the vehicle is moving:
x Never stand up in the vehicle.
x Never stand on the seats.
x Never kneel on the seats.
x Never ride with the seat backrest reclined.
x Never lean up against the instrument panel.
x Never lie down on the rear seat.
x Never sit on the edge of the seat.
x Never sit sideways.
x Never lean out the window.
x Never put your feet out the window.
x Never put feet on the instrument panel.
x Never rest your feet on the seat cushion or back of the seat.
x Never ride in the footwell.
x Never sit on the front or rear center armrest.
x Never ride without your safety belt properly fastened.
x Never ride in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Contact with parts of the vehicle interior can cause serious personal injury in a crash.
x Always make sure that all vehicle occupants stay in a proper seating position and are
properly restrained whenever the vehicle is moving.
x Improper seating positions increase the risk of serious and fatal injury, especially when an
airbag deploys and strikes a passenger in an improper seating position.

Removing the front head restraints
x Sit in the back seat behind the head restraint you want to remove. 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. 41 (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.
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. 42 (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
properly protected.

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
vehicle is moving as well as during braking or other sudden maneuvers.

Seat functions
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Seat heating
More information:
x Adjusting the seating position
x Safety belts
x Airbag system
x Child safety and child restraints
x Outside mirrors
WARNING
Improper use of seat adjustment controls can cause severe personal injuries.
x Always sit properly at all times before starting to drive and while the vehicle is moving.
Make sure all passengers, especially children, are properly seated whenever the vehicle is
moving.
x Keep hands, fingers, feet and other body parts away from moving parts and adjustment
areas of the seats.
Seat heating

Fig. 46 In the center console: Seat heating buttons for the front seats.

the front seat is occupied and the safety belt is not being used will signal the airbag control unit during
a collision that the front passenger 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 and the front passenger airbag to deploy later in
collisions that would normally trigger the front airbag earlier in the collision to help protect an
unrestrained front seat occupant. The airbag will not be able to provide enough protection for an
occupant not wearing a safety belt.
x Only use the safety belt extender approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle.
WARNING
Improper use or positioning of a safety belt extender increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death.
x A driver or passenger who is not properly restrained can be seriously injured by striking
the interior of the passenger compartment or by the safety belt itself, which can be displaced
from stronger parts of the body into sensitive areas like the abdomen.
x Safety belt extenders offer optimum protection only when they are properly used.
x Only use the extender when the belt is not long enough to be worn low and snug and the
person is in the correct seating position. Remove and stow extender safely when not needed.
x Always make sure the safety belt tongue of the safety belt extender is securely inserted
into the buckle for the seating position that belongs to the seat where the safety belt extender
is being used. Attaching the safety belt to the wrong buckle will reduce safety belt
effectiveness and can cause serious personal injury.
x Never use the safety belt extender if you can properly attach the safety belt without it.
Using a safety belt extender when not needed can increase the risk of injury, especially in a
collision.
x Never use a safety belt extender if the distance (B) between the front edge of the safety
belt extender buckle (A) and the centerline of the person using the safety belt extender
⇒ fig. 60 (C) is less than 6 inches (15 cm).
x Never leave a safety belt extender attached to the vehicle safety belt buckle when the
extender is not needed and being used with the safety belt. Otherwise, the airbag control
module will receive an incorrect signal from the safety belt buckle and this will prevent the
airbag from working properly for a person who is not using the safety belt.
x Never use more than 1 extender with a safety belt. Using more than 1 extender can change
the way the safety belt passes over the body and can cause serious injury.
x Never use the safety belt extender to secure a child restraint.
x Never use a safety belt extender on your Volkswagen that you got from another
automobile manufacturer or from an automotive parts store.
x Never use the safety belt extender you got for your vehicle for any other vehicle,
regardless of make, model, or model year.
NOTICE
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 passenger 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.
– 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 A pretensioner that has deployed cannot be repaired. The entire safety belt must be
replaced.

yards, and recycling facilities. For this reason, the systems must be properly handled when they or the
vehicles they are installed in are scrapped.
Undeployed safety belt pretensioners and airbag modules can also pollute the environment. Never
abandon vehicles or vehicle parts. If your vehicle must be scrapped, please make sure that it is done
safely, responsibly, and in compliance with all applicable environmental regulations. Take it to a
licensed facility that has the knowledge and experience to properly dispose of the vehicle and its
safety belt system. Your authorized Volkswagen dealer and authorized Volkswagen Service Facility
are familiar with these regulations.
WARNING
Improper handling, care, servicing, and repair procedures can increase the risk of personal
injury and death by preventing a belt pretensioner from activating when needed or by
causing it to activate unexpectedly.
x The pretensioner can be activated only once. If a pretensioner has been activated, the
safety belt must be replaced.
x Safety belt systems including the pretensioners cannot be repaired. Special procedures
are required to remove, install, and dispose of this system.
x Never repair, adjust, or change pretensioners or any other part of the safety belt system
yourself. We strongly recommend that you have any work on the safety belt system
performed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
They have the necessary technical information, training, and special equipment .276.
WARNING
Undeployed safety belt pretensioners and airbag modules contain explosive materials that
can cause serious personal injuries if they are not properly handled when they or the
vehicles they are installed in are scrapped.
x Never abandon vehicles or vehicle parts.
x Always scrap vehicles and vehicle parts, especially those containing undeployed airbag
modules and undeployed safety belt pretensioners, at a licensed facility that has the
knowledge and experience to properly dispose of the vehicle and its safety belt and airbag
systems.
Undeployed airbag modules and safety belt pretensioners are classified as Perchlorate
Material. Special handling may apply – see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate. Obey
all applicable legal requirements regarding handling and disposal of the vehicle or parts of its restraint
system, including airbag modules and safety belts with pretensioners. Authorized Volkswagen dealers
and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities are familiar with the requirements, and we recommend
that you have them perform this service for you.

Lights
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Indicator lights
Turn signal lever and high beam switch
Switching lights on and off
Lights and vision features
Lights and vision features
Instrument panel lighting and headlight range adjustment
Interior and reading lights
Always obey local vehicle lighting laws.
The driver is always responsible for the correct headlight settings.
More information:
x Exterior views
x Volkswagen Information System
x Changing a light bulb
WARNING
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.
x Always switch on the low beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark and whenever the
weather is bad or visibility is poor.
WARNING
Headlights that are aimed too high and improper use of the headlight flasher or high beams
can blind and distract other drivers. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.
x Always make sure that headlights are properly adjusted.
x Never use the headlight flasher or high beams when they can blind or distract other
drivers.
Indicator lights

Lights
up Possible cause Proper response

Fog lights switched on (indicator light on
the headlight switch or the instrument
cluster).
.



Left or right turn signal.
The indicator light blinks twice as fast if a
turn signal is not working on the vehicle or
the trailer.
Check the turn signals on the vehicle and
the trailer.
 Daytime running lights (DRL) on. .
$2,
 High beams switched on or headlight
flashers in use. .

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.
x Whenever stalled or stopped for repair, move the vehicle a safe distance off the road, stop
the engine, turn on the emergency flashers, and use other warning devices to warn
approaching traffic.
x Never park the vehicle in areas where the hot catalytic converter and exhaust system can
come into contact with dry grass, brush, spilled fuel, oil, or other material that can catch fire.
x A broken down vehicle presents a high accident risk for itself and others. Switch on
emergency flashers and set up a warning triangle to warn oncoming traffic.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights provide bright, uniform lighting to help you see and be
seen. The light comes from an electric arc between two electrodes in the gas-filled bulb. Over time, the
electrodes can wear down and the gap between them will get wider. The HID lamp’s control unit then
increases the voltage to keep the arc’s brightness constant. However, the commonly called “Xenon”
bulbs will also ultimately burn out. Before they burn out, HID lamps can flicker. A message will then
appear in the MFI. This is your reminder to see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service facility to check the headlights.