2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF ESP

d Properly fasten your safety belt before driving the vehicle and wear your safety belt properly at all
times while driving. Make sure that all passengers do the same
d Only transport as many passengers as there are seats and safety belts available.
d Never drive if your driving ability has been impaired, for example by medication, alcohol or illegal
drugs.
d Never let passengers or phone calls distract you while driving, and never take your attention off the
road while using vehicle software or adjusting vehicle equipment or accessories.
d Always adapt your speed and driving style to visibility, weather, road, and traffic conditions.
d Always obey traffic laws and speed limits.
d On long trips make frequent rest stops – at least once every 2 hours.
d Secure animals in the vehicle with a system that corresponds to weight and size.
WARNING
Always observe traffic rules and posted speed limits and use common sense. Your good
judgment can mean the difference between arriving safely at your destination and being
seriously injured in a crash or other kind of accident.
Regular service and maintenance of your vehicle is important both for operational and driving
safety and to help prolong your vehicle's service life. Always follow the scheduled maintenance
intervals in the ⇒ Booklet Warranty and Maintenance, especially for changing the brake fluid. Hard
use, frequent stop-and-go driving, driving in very dusty areas, trailer towing, and other factors may
make it necessary to have the vehicle serviced more frequently. Ask an authorized Volkswagen dealer
or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for more information.
Driving in other countries

d Are special or heavy-duty tires necessary for the kind of driving expected?
NOTICE
Volkswagen is not responsible for mechanical damage that may result from substandard fuel
or service or the unavailability of Genuine Volkswagen parts.
Driving through water on roads

Convenience features
To use the convenience closing feature to close all power windows, hold your finger on the lock sensor
surface on the outside of the door handle for a few seconds until the windows close.
Remove your finger from the lock sensor surface ⇒ fig. 27 (B) to stop the function. If you touch the
unlock sensor surface (A) on the inside of the door handle immediately after releasing the lock sensor
surface (B) (arrow), all of the windows will open (safety function).
Pinch protection is active during convenience closing of the windows.
The settings in the Settings – Convenience menu determine which doors open when the door
handle unlocking surface is grasped.
NOTICE
The door handle sensor surfaces can be activated by a strong stream of water or steam if a
valid vehicle key is within range of the vehicle.
x All windows may open if you turn the spray of water or steam away from and then back onto
the door handle sensor surface in quick succession. If at least one power window is opened
and the sensor is continuously activated, convenience closing is started.
The door may not open if the outside and inside door handles are used at the same time.
If the vehicle battery or the battery in the remote control vehicle key is weak or dead, it might not
be possible to unlock and lock the vehicle using Keyless Access. The vehicle can still be manually
locked or unlocked with the key bit
The driver message Key not in range appears in the instrument cluster display if there is no
remote control vehicle key inside the vehicle or if the system does not recognize the remote control
vehicle key. The key may not be recognized, for example, if it is covered by something that interferes
with the signal (such as a briefcase), or if the remote control vehicle key battery is weak. Electronic
devices such as cell phones can also interfere with the signal.
Dirt on the door handles that contains a lot of salt (especially in winter) can affect the way the
door handle sensors work. Cleaning the door handles can help with this problem
If the automatic transmission is not in Park (P) position, the electronic steering column lock will
not lock and the vehicle will not lock via sensors in the front door handles or the remote control vehicle
key.
Anti-theft alarm system

When is the alarm triggered?
The anti-theft alarm system sounds for about 30 seconds and the turn signals flash for up to 5 minutes
if the following occurs with respect to the locked vehicle:
x Opening a door that has been mechanically unlocked.
x Forcibly opening a door.
x Forcibly opening the engine hood.
x Forcibly opening the rear hatch.
x Switching on the ignition with an invalid key.
x Disconnecting the vehicle battery.
Deactivating the alarm
Unlock the vehicle with the unlock button on the remote control vehicle key or switch on the ignition
with a valid vehicle key.
For vehicles with Keyless Access, the alarm can be deactivated by grasping one of the front door
handles when a valid vehicle key is in range or by holding the remote control vehicle key to the right of
the steering column trim and pressing the starter button
After the alarm has stopped and the vehicle is opened again in the same or a different area that
is protected by the alarm, the alarm is triggered again. For example, the alarm will sound again if the
rear hatch is opened after one of the doors has been opened.
The anti-theft alarm system is not activated when the vehicle is locked with the power lock
switch 1 on the inside of the driver or front passenger doors.
If the driver door is mechanically unlocked using the vehicle key bit, only the driver door is
unlocked, but not the entire vehicle. Switching on the ignition deactivates the anti-theft alarm system
and activates the central locking button. To unlock the doors, use the central locking button or remote
control vehicle key.
If the vehicle battery is dead or weak, the anti-theft alarm system will not work properly.

Closing the rear hatch
More information:
x Exterior views
x Power locking system
x Transporting
x Emergency closing and opening
WARNING
Accidents and severe personal injuries can result if you unlock, open, or close the rear hatch
when someone is in the way.
x Only open or close the rear hatch if no one is in the way.
x Never close the rear hatch by pushing on the rear window with your hand. The rear
window could break and cause injuries.
x After closing the rear hatch, always make sure that it is properly closed and locked so that
it cannot open suddenly when the vehicle is moving. The closed rear hatch must be flush
with the surrounding auto body parts.
x Always keep the rear hatch closed while driving to help keep poisonous exhaust gas from
being drawn into the vehicle.
x Never open the rear hatch when a luggage rack is installed and loaded. If, for example,
there are bicycles on a carrier on the rear hatch, it is possible that the rear hatch will be
difficult to open. An open rear hatch may fall on its own because of the additional weight. If
necessary, prop open the rear hatch. Remove the weight from the luggage rack first.
x Close and lock the rear hatch and all doors when the vehicle is not in use. First, make sure
that no one is left inside the vehicle.
x Never leave your vehicle unattended or let children play around your vehicle, especially
when the rear hatch is open. A child could crawl into the vehicle and pull the rear hatch shut,
becoming trapped and unable to get out. A closed vehicle can become very hot or very cold,
depending on the season. Particularly in the summer, 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. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can
cause unconsciousness and death, particularly to small children.
x Never leave children or anyone who cannot help themselves behind in the vehicle. They
may lock the vehicle with the vehicle key or the power locking button and lock themselves in.
NOTICE
Before opening or closing the rear hatch, make sure there is enough room to do so, as for
example when the vehicle has a trailer or is in a garage.
Warning light

Lights up Possible cause Proper response
OR
icon
appears in
the display

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.
If the rear hatch is not closed properly, the red ² warning light comes on in the instrument cluster or
the vehicle icon appears in the instrument cluster display showing an open rear hatch.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment and options, the red warning light or icon may still be
displayed even after the ignition is switched off as long as the key has not been taken out of the
ignition. The icon in the instrument cluster display goes out about 15 seconds after the vehicle has
been locked.
WARNING
If the rear hatch is not closed properly, it may open suddenly when the vehicle is moving and
cause severe injuries.
x Stop immediately and close the rear hatch.
x Always make sure the rear hatch is securely latched after you close it.
Opening the rear hatch

Fig. 30 In the remote control vehicle key: button to unlock and open the rear hatch.

x Vehicles with Keyless Access: hold your finger on the lock sensor surface on the outside of the
door handle for a few seconds until the windows and power sunroof close
Convenience closing first closes the windows and then the power sunroof.
WARNING
Improper use of power windows can result in serious personal injury.
x Never let anyone get in the way of a power window when closing it.
x When locking the vehicle from the outside, make sure that no one, especially children,
remains in the vehicle. The windows will not open in case of an emergency.
x Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle. You can still use the power
windows for several minutes after the ignition is switched off as long as the driver or front
passenger door has not been opened.
x Always use the safety switch when children are in the back seat to disable the rear power
windows and keep them from being opened and closed.
If the power windows malfunction, the one-touch feature, as well as pinch protection may not
work properly. See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility right
away.
Convenience closing of the power windows from the outside requires removing the cover cap of
the lock cylinder on the driver door. The cover cap must be reinstalled after the vehicle is locked

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.