2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI roof rack

Rear view

Fig. 3 Vehicle rear overview.
Key to fig. 3:
(1) Roof antenna
(2) High-mounted brake light
(3) Rear window
– Rear window defroster
(4) Rear windshield wiper
(5) Taillights
(6) Rear hatch
(7) Threaded hole for the rear towing eye (behind cover)
(8) Rear license plate bracke
(9) License plate lights
(10) Volkswagen Emblem for opening the rear hatch

Driving tips
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Stowing luggage
Driving with an open rear hatch
Driving a loaded vehicle
Weights and axle weights
Always stow heavy objects in the luggage compartment and make sure that the rear seat backrests
are securely latched. Always use the tie-downs in the luggage compartment and secure the objects
with suitable straps. Never overload the vehicle. Remember that the vehicle load, as well as how it is
distributed, can affect vehicle handling and braking ⇒ .
More information:
x Rear hatch
x Folding the passenger seat backrest forward
x Lights
x Luggage compartment
x Roof rack
x Trailer towing
x Tires and wheels
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly stowed items can fly through the vehicle, causing serious personal
injury during hard braking or sharp steering or in an accident. Loose items can also be struck
and thrown through the passenger compartment by the front airbags if they inflate. To help
reduce the risk of serious personal injury:
x Always stow all objects securely in the vehicle.
x Always keep storage compartments closed while driving.
x Do not stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in open bins in the vehicle or on top of the
instrument panel.
x Remove hard, heavy, and sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle interior and
stow securely. Always put heavy items in the luggage compartment.
x Always secure objects in the passenger compartment properly with suitable straps so that
they cannot move into the deployment area of a side or front airbag during braking, in a
sudden maneuver, or in a collision.
x Always make sure that there is nothing on the front passenger seat when the backrest is
folded forward. When the backrest is folded forward, even light objects could be pushed into
the seat cushion and cause the weight-sensing mat in the seat to register enough weight to
turn the airbag on
x Always make sure that the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 9 light is on and stays on whenever
the backrest of the front passenger seat is folded forward
x Passengers must never ride in an incorrect seating position because objects are being
transported in the vehicle.
x Never let anybody sit in a seat that is blocked by objects being carried in the vehicle.

Driving with an open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury. If you have to drive with an open
rear hatch, make sure that all objects and the hatch itself are properly secured and take appropriate
measures to keep toxic exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with an unlatched or open rear hatch can lead to serious personal injury.
x Never transport objects larger than those that fit completely in the luggage compartment,
because the rear hatch cannot be fully closed properly.
x After closing the rear hatch, always pull up on it to make sure that it is properly closed
and cannot open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.
x Always stow all objects securely in the luggage compartment. Loose objects can fall out
of the luggage compartment and injure others on the road behind you.
x Drive carefully; anticipate what other drivers will do.
x Avoid abrupt or sudden acceleration, steering, or braking, because the unlatched rear
hatch can move suddenly.
x Always mark objects sticking out from the luggage compartment clearly for others to see.
Obey all applicable legal requirements.
x Never use the rear hatch to “clamp” or “hold” objects that stick out of the luggage
compartment.
x Always remove any luggage rack or other rack mounted on rear hatch (along with any
luggage on the rack) before driving with an open rear hatch.
WARNING
Driving with an open rear hatch can cause poisonous carbon monoxide in the engine exhaust
to get into the passenger compartment.
x Carbon monoxide causes drowsiness, inattentiveness, poisoning, and loss of
consciousness. It can lead to accidents and severe personal injuries.
x Always keep the rear hatch closed while driving to help keep poisonous exhaust fumes
from being drawn into the vehicle.
x Never transport objects that are too large to fit completely into the luggage area, because
then the rear hatch cannot be fully closed.
x If you absolutely must drive with an open rear hatch, do the following to reduce the risk of
carbon monoxide poisoning:
– Close all windows and the power sunroof.
– Switch off the climate control system's air recirculation feature.
– Open all air vents in the instrument panel.
– Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.
NOTICE
The open rear hatch changes the vehicle length and height.
Driving a loaded vehicle

x Securely stow all luggage
x Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.
x Avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
x If applicable, observe information about driving with a trailer
x If applicable, observe information about driving with a roof rack
WARNING
Heavy loads can change the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances.
Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can shift suddenly, causing loss of
control and serious injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that they change the vehicle's center
of gravity and also the way it handles.
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Use your vehicle's luggage compartment tie-downs with suitable straps.
x Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps.
x Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the
safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the
vehicle to skid and handle differently.
x Always adapt speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the
vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
x Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Weights and axle weights

Roof rack
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Attaching the roof rack base carrier and roof rack
Securing a load on the roof rack
The roof of your vehicle has been designed to optimize aerodynamics and does not have traditional
rain gutters that are used to attach many kinds of roof racks.
Since the rain gutters are molded into the roof to provide efficient aerodynamics, only Volkswagen-
approved base carrier mounts and roof racks can be used.
When should the roof rack be removed?
x When it is no longer needed.
x Before driving through an automatic car wash.
x When the vehicle would otherwise be too high for minimum clearance to enter, for example, a
garage.
More information:
x Lights
x Transporting
x Saving fuel and helping the environment
x Tires and wheels
x Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications
WARNING
Transporting heavy or bulky loads on the roof rack will change the way the vehicle handles
by shifting the vehicle's center of gravity and increasing the wind drag.
x Always secure the load properly with suitable and undamaged straps so that the load will
not shift.
x Cargo that is large, heavy, bulky, long or flat will have a negative effect on the vehicle's
aerodynamics, center of gravity and overall handling.
x Always avoid sudden maneuvers and hard braking.
x Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the
vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
NOTICE
x Always remove the roof rack before driving through an automatic car wash.
x Your vehicle is higher when the roof rack is installed, especially when it is loaded. Compare
the vehicle height with existing clearance heights, such as underpasses and garage doors.
x Always make sure that the roof rack system and anything being carried on it does not
interfere with the roof antenna, the power sunroof or the rear hatch.
x Make sure that the rear hatch does not touch items on the roof rack when opened.
If a roof rack is installed, fuel consumption increases due to increased air resistance.

Securing a load on the roof rack

Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that have a
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less.
Ply
A layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.
Ply separation
A parting of rubber compound between adjacent plies.
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fabric, and steel or other materials, that, when
mounted on an automotive wheel, provides the traction and contains the gas or fluid that sustains the
load.
Production options weight
The combined weight of installed regular production options weighing over 5 lbs (2.3 kg) more then the
standard items they replace, and not previously considered as curb weight or accessory weight. These
include, for example, heavy-duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy-duty battery, and special trim.
Radial ply tires
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to
the centerline of the tread.
Recommended inflation pressure
The tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for a tire of a specified size that has not
been driven for more than a couple of miles (kilometers) at low speeds in the 3 hour period before the
tire pressure is measured or adjusted.
Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pressures than the corresponding
standard tire.
Rim
The outer edge of a wheel upon which the tire beads are seated.
Rim diameter
The nominal diameter of the wheel's tire bead seating surface. If you change your wheel size, to
wheels of a different diameter, you will have to purchase new tires to match the new wheels.
Rim size
Designation means rim diameter and width.
Rim type designation
The industry or manufacturer's designation for a rim by style or code.
Rim width
The nominal distance between wheel rim flanges.
Section width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due
to labeling decoration, or protective bands.
Sidewall
The portion of a tire between the bead and the tread.

Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Break-in period
Parts and accessories
Operating fluids and equipment
Repairs and technical modifications
Repairs and other things that can affect Advanced Airbag performance
Repairs and other things that can affect Airbag performance
CB radio equipment
Notice about data recorded by vehicle control modules
Using a mobile phone in a motor vehicle when it is not connected to the vehicle telephone
antenna - some important things to know
Lift points for the vehicle
More information:
x Safety belts
x Airbag system
x Roof rack
x Trailer towing
x 12 Volt sockets
x Braking, stopping and parking
x Starting assistance systems
x Cruise control system (CCS)
x Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
x Preparations for working in the engine compartment
x Engine oil
x Engine coolant
x Vehicle battery
x Exterior care and cleaning
x Interior care and cleaning
x Consumer information
x ⇒ Booklet Radio
x ⇒ Booklet Navigation system
x ⇒ Booklet Mobile Phone Package