2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI brake

Starting and stopping the engine
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Indicator lights
Vehicle key positions in the ignition switch
Starter button
Starting the engine
Stopping the engine
Electronic immobilizer
Engine preheating system
Explanatory notes in this section regarding automatic transmissions also apply to the DSG®
Direct Shift Gearbox automatic transmission.
Immobilizer display
If an unauthorized vehicle key is used or the system malfunctions, Immobilizer active! may
appear on the instrument cluster display. The engine cannot be started.
Push-starting and tow-starting
For technical reasons, never try to push-start or tow-start the vehicle. Jump-start the vehicle instead
while following proper and safe procedures.
More information:
x Vehicle key set
x Shifting gears
x Braking, stopping and parking
x Steering
x Starting assistance systems
x Refueling
x Fuel
x Emergency closing and opening
x Jump-starting
x Towing
WARNING
Switching off the engine while the vehicle is moving can make the vehicle harder to stop and
result in loss of vehicle control, leading to collisions and severe personal injuries.
x Brake and steering assistance systems, the airbag system, safety belt pretensioners, and
other vehicle safety features only work when the engine is running.
x Switch off the engine only when the vehicle is not moving.

WARNING
Unintended vehicle movement can cause serious personal injury.
x Do not depress the brake or clutch pedals when switching on the ignition, as the engine
could otherwise start immediately.
WARNING
Improper use of vehicle keys can result in serious personal injury.
x Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle. Children or unauthorized
persons may use it to lock the vehicle, start the engine, and operate vehicle systems such as
the power windows, leading to serious personal injury.
x Never leave children, disabled persons, or anyone who cannot help themselves in the
vehicle. The doors can be locked using the remote control vehicle key. This could result in
people being trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. For example, depending on the time of
year, people trapped in the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.
x Heat build-up in the passenger and luggage compartment of a parked vehicle can result in
temperatures in the vehicle that are much higher than the outside temperatures, particularly
in summer. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness and
death, particularly to small children.
If the ignition is switched on or the engine is running and the driver door is opened, a chime
sounds. The chime is also a reminder to switch off the engine and turn off the ignition before leaving
and locking the vehicle from the outside.
Starting the engine

Please perform these steps only in the order listed.
Step Vehicles without Keyless AccessVehicles with Keyless Access
7. Removing the vehicle key from the ignition
switches off electrical equipment and
activates the steering column lock.
Opening the doors switches off electrical
equipment and activates the steering
column lock.

WARNING
Never stop the engine before the vehicle has come to a complete stop. You can lose control
of the vehicle, crash, and be seriously injured.
x The airbags and safety belt pretensioners will not work when the ignition is switched off.
x The brake booster does not work when the engine is not running. More brake pedal
pressure will be needed to stop the vehicle.
x The power steering system does not work when the engine is not running, and you will
need more force to steer the vehicle.
x When the key is removed from the ignition switch, the steering will lock and you will not
be able to steer the vehicle.
NOTICE
If the vehicle has been driven hard for a long time, the engine could overheat when it is
stopped. To reduce the risk of engine damage, let the engine idle in Neutral for about 2 minutes
before you switch off the ignition.
If the ignition is switched on or the engine is running and the driver door is opened, a chime
sounds. The chime is also a reminder to switch off the engine and turn off the ignition before leaving
and locking the vehicle from the outside.
On vehicles with automatic transmissions, the vehicle key can only be removed from the ignition
when the transmission is in Park (P).
After the engine has been switched off, the radiator fan in the engine compartment may keep
running for several minutes, or may start running after the vehicle has been parked for a while, even if
the ignition is switched off and the vehicle key has been removed. The radiator fan shuts off
automatically when the engine has cooled down enough.
Electronic immobilizer

Saving fuel and helping the environment
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Efficient driving style
Fuel-efficient driving
Fuel consumption, environmental impact, and wear and tear on engine, brakes and tires depend
mainly on the following 3 factors:
x Your personal driving style.
x External conditions (weather, road conditions).
x Technical requirements.
You can reduce fuel consumption by up to 25% by using a few simple techniques and adjusting your
driving style.
WARNING
Always adjust your speed and the distance you keep between you and the vehicles ahead of
you to the road, traffic, weather, and visibility conditions.
Efficient driving style

To help make it more difficult to steal your vehicle, you should always make sure the steering column
is locked before leaving the vehicle.
Electronic steering column lock
Vehicles with Keyless Access: The steering column is locked if the driver door is opened with the
ignition switched off. The vehicle must be standing still and the transmission must be in Park (P) on an
automatic transmission vehicle.
If the driver door is opened before the ignition is switched off, the electronic steering column lock is
activated only after the vehicle has been locked with the vehicle key or via the sensor in the door
handle.
Mechanical steering column lock
Vehicles without Keyless Access: The steering column is locked if the vehicle is stationary and the
vehicle key is removed from the ignition switch.

Engaging the steering column
lock
Disengaging the steering column
lock
Parking the vehicle Turn the steering wheel slightly to
take pressure off the steering
column lock.
Remove the vehicle key. Insert the vehicle key into the
ignition switch.
Turn the steering wheel slightly until
you hear the steering column lock
engage.
Hold the steering wheel in this
position and turn the ignition switch.

Power steering
Power steering automatically adjusts to driving speed, steering torque, and the steering angle of the
wheels. Power steering works only when the engine is running.
If power steering is reduced or lost completely, it will be much harder to steer and control the vehicle.
Counter-steering assistance
Counter-steering assistance is part of Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This feature makes it easier
for the driver to control the vehicle in difficult situations. For example, if you have to brake hard on a
surface that provides uneven traction, the vehicle could pull to the right or left. ESC detects this
situation and helps the driver counter-steer with additional steering power ⇒ .
WARNING
The counter-steering assistance in ESC can do no more than help the driver steer in difficult
situations. The driver must still control the vehicle. The vehicle does not steer by itself with
this feature!
NOTICE
If the ignition is off, the steering column lock will engage and the vehicle cannot be steered.
For this reason, you must leave the ignition on when going through an automatic car wash, for
example, so that the wheels will still steer.

Starting assistance systems
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Hill Hold
More information:
x Volkswagen Information System
x Braking, stopping and parking
x Vehicle battery
x Tires and wheels
x Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications
x Jump-starting
WARNING
The intelligent technology of the dynamic starting assistance features cannot overcome the
laws of physics. Never let the increased convenience provided by the dynamic starting
assistance features tempt you into taking risks.
x Unintended vehicle movement can cause serious personal injury.
x The dynamic starting assistance features are no substitute for careful and attentive
driving.
x Always adapt your speed and driving style to visibility, weather, road, and traffic
conditions.
x The dynamic starting assistance features cannot keep the vehicle from moving in all hill-
start situations (for example, if the ground is slippery or icy).
x Never activate the throttle manually from the engine compartment when the engine is
running and the automatic transmission is in gear. The vehicle will start to move as soon as
the engine speed increases, even if the parking brake is set.
WARNING
Driving with too little fuel in the fuel tank increases the risk of stalling, especially when
driving up and down hills.
x If your vehicle stalls suddenly, this can cause an accident and serious personal injuries.
x Driver assistance and braking assistance systems can malfunction when there is too little
fuel in the tank and cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
x Never drive until the fuel tank is almost empty.
Hill Hold

Reverse (manual transmission) or in Drive (D), Sport Drive (S), or Reverse (R) (automatic
transmission) and you must use the foot brake to hold the vehicle before starting to move.
Hill Hold keeps the brake applied for not quite 2 seconds with the same force you used to prevent the
vehicle from moving. This gives you time to take your foot off the brake, let the clutch out on a manual
transmission vehicle, and gently depress the accelerator to get the vehicle moving again. If you do not
depress the accelerator pedal and get the vehicle moving again within this time, the brakes will release
and the vehicle will roll downhill. Furthermore, if any requirement for engaging Hill Hold is no longer
met while the vehicle is stopped, Hill Hold disengages and the brakes are automatically released and
will no longer hold the vehicle.
Hill Hold is activated automatically when the following conditions are all met at the same
time.

Points 1 to 3 must all be met at the same time:
Step Manual transmission Automatic transmission
1. Hold the stopped vehicle on an incline with the foot or parking brake.
2. The engine must be running “smoothly.”
3.
A manual transmission vehicle must be in 1st
gear (1) if headed up a hill or in Reverse (R) if
backing up a hill; you must hold the clutch
down and the foot brake must be depressed
to keep the vehicle from moving.
An automatic transmission vehicle must be in
Reverse (R), Drive (D), or Sport Drive (S) and
the foot brake must be depressed to keep the
vehicle from moving.
4.
To drive off, take your foot off the brake pedal
as you let the clutch out and gently depress
the accelerator within 2 seconds.
To drive off, take your foot off the brake pedal
and gently depress the accelerator within
2 seconds.

Hill Hold is immediately deactivated:
x If any requirement listed in the table above is no longer met (see .207, Hill Hold is activated
automatically when the following conditions are all met at the same time.).
x If the engine is not running smoothly or the engine malfunctions.
x If the engine stalls or is switched off.
x Automatic transmission vehicles: If the transmission is in Neutral (N).
x Automatic transmission vehicles: If a tire does not have enough road contact (such as when the
vehicle is tipped or at an angle).
WARNING
The intelligent technology of Hill Hold cannot overcome the laws of physics. Never let the
increased convenience provided by Hill Hold tempt you into taking risks.
x The Hill Hold feature cannot hold the vehicle in all hill start situations (for example, if the
surface is icy or slippery).
x Hill Hold can only help keep the vehicle from moving for less than 2 seconds. After that,
the brakes will be released and the vehicle can roll down the hill.

Cruise Control System (CCS)
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Indicator lights
Indicator lights
Cruise control operation
The Cruise Control System (CCS) helps maintain an individually stored constant speed when driving
above about 15 mph (20 km/h).
The CCS slows down the vehicle only by reducing the flow of fuel to the engine, not by braking ⇒ .
More information:
x Shifting gears
x Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications
WARNING
Using the cruise control when it is not possible to drive safely at a constant speed can be
dangerous and can lead to an accident and serious personal injuries.
x Never use cruise control when driving in heavy or varying traffic or when you cannot keep
a safe distance between you and the vehicles ahead of you.
x Never use cruise control on steep, winding, or slippery roads (such gravel roads, wet
roads, or snowy or icy roads) or on roads with standing water.
x Never use cruise control when driving off-road or on unpaved roads.
x Always adjust your speed and the distance you keep between you and the vehicles ahead
of you to the road, traffic, weather, and visibility conditions.
x To help prevent unintended operation of cruise control, switch the system off when it is
not being used.
x It is dangerous to use the Resume feature when the previously set speed is too high for
the existing road, traffic, or weather conditions.
x When going downhill, the cruise control may not be able to maintain a constant speed.
The vehicle will speed up because of its own weight. Downshift and/or use the foot brake to
slow the vehicle.
Applicable only in the United States
Indicator lights

Fig. 137 In the instrument cluster display: Cruise control status indications.