2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA maintenance

For information on maintenance intervals, please see the ⇒Booklet Warranty and Maintenance.
For vehicles with time- or distance driven-dependent service, only fixed service intervals are dis-
played.
Service reminder
If service is due in the near future, a service reminder is displayed when the ignition is switched on.
On vehicles without text messages, a wrench symbol > and a miles (kilometers) indicator are
shown in the instrument cluster display. The distance shown in miles (kilometers) is the maximum
distance the vehicle can be driven without having a service completed. The display changes after a
few seconds. A clock symbol is displayed and the number of days until the required service is shown.
Service event
When service is due, a warning chime sounds when the ignition is switched on, and a flashing
wrench symbol > is displayed for several seconds.
Viewing service message
The current service message can be accessed when the ignition is switched on, the engine is
switched off, and the vehicle is stopped:
x Push the

d P r o p e r l y a d j u s t f r o n t s e a t s , a l l h e a d r e s t r a i n t s a n d m i r r o r s t o t h e c o r r e c t h e i g h t
d W e a r s h o e s t h a t g i v e y o u r f e e t a g o o d g r i p , a n d t h a t g i v e y o u a f e e l f o r t h e p e d a l s .
d M a k e s u r e t h a t t h e f l o o r m a t o n t h e d r i v e r s i d e i s p r o p e r l y f a s t e n e d a n d c a n n o t i n t e rfere with the
pedals.
d A s s u m e a p r o p e r s e a t i n g p o s i t i o n b e f o r e t h e v e h i c l e s t a r t s t o m o v e a n d k e e p t h i s p o s i t i o n w h i l e
driving. Make sure that all passengers do the same
d P r o p e r l y f a s t e n y o u r s a f e t y b e l t b e f o r e d r i v i n g t h e v e h i c l e a n d w e a r y o u r safety belt properly at all
times while driving. Make sure that all passengers do the same
d O n l y t r a n s p o r t a s m a n y p a s s e n g e r s a s t h e r e a r e s e a t s a n d s a f e t y b e l t s a v a i l a b l e .
d N e v e r d r i v e i f y o u r d r i v i n g a b i l i t y h a s b e e n i m p a i r e d , f o r e x a m p l e b y m e d i c a t i o n , a l c o h o l o r i l l e g a l
drugs.
d N e v e r l e t p a s s e n g e r s o r p h o n e c a l l s d i s t r a c t y o u w h i l e d r i v i n g , a n d n e v e r t a k e y o u r a t t e n t ion off the
road while using vehicle software or adjusting vehicle equipment or accessories.
d A l w a y s a d a p t y o u r s p e e d a n d d r i v i n g s t y l e t o v isibility, weather, road, and traffic conditions.
d A l w a y s o b e y t r a f f i c l a w s a n d s p e e d l i m i t s .
d O n l o n g t r i p s m a k e f r e q u e n t r e s t s t o p s – a t l e a s t o n c e e v e r y 2 h o u r s .
d S e c u r e a n i m a l s i n t h e v e h i c l e w i t h a s y s t e m t h a t c o r r e s p o n d s t o w e i g h t a n d s i z e .

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 inter-
vals 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

Checklist
Some countries have special safety standards and emissions requirements that your vehicle may not
meet. Before taking your vehicle to another country, Volkswagen therefore recommends that you ask
your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility about the following
issues with regard to the country to which you would like to travel:
d S h o u l d t h e v e h i c l e b e t e c h n i c a l l y p r e p a r e d f o r t h e t r i p a b r o a d , s u c h a s m a s k i n g o r a d j u s t i n g h ead-
lights?
d A r e m a i n t e n a n c e , r e p a i r f a c i l i t i e s , n e c e s s a r y t o o l s a n d t e s t i n g e q u i p m e n t a s w e l l a s s p a re parts
readily available for your vehicle?
d A r e t h e r e a u t h o r i z e d V o l k s w a g e n d e a l e r s a n d a u t h o r i z e d V o l k s w a g e n S e r vice Facilities in the
countries where you will be driving?
d F o r g a s o l i n e e n g i n e s : I s u n l e a d e d f u e l w i t h t h e r i g h t o c t a n e r a t i n g r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e ?
d F o r d i e s e l e n g i n e s : I s u l t r a l o w - s u l f u r d i e s e l f u e l r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e ?
d A r e e n g i n e o i l (⇒ page 278) and other operating fluids that meet Volkswagen quality and perfor-
mance requirements available where you will be driving? For more information, please see
⇒Booklet Warranty and Maintenance.
d D o e s t h e f a c t o r y - i n s t a l l ed navigation system work in the countries where you will be driving, and is
navigation data available?
d A r e s p e c i a l o r h e a v y - d u t y t i r e s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e k i n d o f d r i v i n g e x p e c t e d ?

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

WARNING
Improper use of the trailer hitch can cause accidents and injuries. An improperly installed,
incorrect, or damaged trailer hitch can cause the trailer to separate from the towing vehicle
and cause serious personal injuries.
x Only use an undamaged, properly mounted trailer hitch.
x Never repair or modify the trailer hitch.
x To reduce the risk of injury in rear-end collisions, and the risk to pedestrians and cyclists
when the vehicle is parked, always remove the ball mount when you are not towing a trailer.
x Never install a “weight distributing” or “load equalizing” trailer hitch on your vehicle. The
vehicle was not designed for these kinds of trailer hitches. The trailer hitch attachment can
fail, causing the trailer to tear loose from the vehicle.

WARNING
Improper trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
x Driving with a trailer and carrying heavy or large things can change the way the vehicle
handles, increase the distance it needs to stop safely, and cause accidents.
x Always secure the load properly with suitable and undamaged straps so that the load will
not shift.
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.
x Reduce your speed even more than you otherwise would when going downhill and under
unfavorable load, weather, or wind conditions.
x Trailers with a high center of gravity tip more easily than trailers with a low center of
gravity.
x Always avoid sudden maneuvers and hard braking.
x Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
x Reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows the slightest sign of swaying.
x Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
x Always obey speed limits. In some areas, the speed limits for vehicles towing trailers are
lower than for vehicles without trailers. Never drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h; under
exceptional circumstances 60 mph - 100 km/h) when towing a trailer. This applies even if the
local speed limit is higher.
If you are driving a new vehicle or a vehicle with a new or rebuilt engine, do not tow a trailer
during the break-in period, about 600 miles (1000 km) .
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need maintenance more often because of the extra load it
has to move.
When you are not towing, remove the trailer hitch ball. This helps keep the trailer hitch from
causing damage to your vehicle and to others if your vehicle is hit from behind.

Electrical load Maximum power
Brake lights total 108 watts
Turn signals per side 54 watts
Side marker lights total 100 watts
Taillights total 54 watts

WARNING
x An improperly installed or incorrect trailer hitch can cause a trailer to separate from the
tow vehicle and cause serious personal injuries.
x If you don't have to tow a trailer any more, remove the entire trailer hitch. Always seal all
bolt holes to prevent water and deadly exhaust fumes from getting into the vehicle.

NOTICE
x If the trailer lights are not connected properly, the vehicle's electronics may be damaged.
x If the trailer uses too much electricity, the vehicle's electronics may be damaged.
x Never connect the electrical system for the trailer directly to the electrical connections for
the rear lights or to any other unsuitable power sources. Use only a suitable connector to
provide power to the trailer.
If you tow a trailer frequently, Volkswagen recommends having the vehicle serviced between the
regular maintenance and inspection intervals because of the extra load it has to pull.
Hitching up and connecting a trailer

The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used as the brake pads wear and the
brakes are automatically adjusted.
Changing brake fluid
Brake fluid must be changed according to the service schedule in your ⇒Booklet Warranty and
Maintenance. Have the brake fluid checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility. Refill only with new brake fluid that meets the standards listed above.
WARNING
Brake failure and reduced brake performance can be caused by not having enough brake
fluid in the reservoir or by old or incorrect brake fluid.
x Check the brake system and brake fluid level regularly.
x Always change the brake fluid according to the service schedule in your
⇒Booklet Warranty and Maintenance.
x Hard braking with old brake fluid may cause vapor lock. Vapor lock reduces braking
performance, increases stopping distances and can even cause total brake failure.
x Always make sure that only the correct brake fluid is used. Only use brake fluid that
expressly conforms to VW Standard 501 14 or, if it is not available, only use a high-quality
brake fluid that conforms to U.S. Standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 requirements.
x Using another brake fluid, or one that is not of high quality, can impair the function of the
brake system and reduce its effectiveness. If the container does not say that the brake fluid
complies with VW Standard 501 14, or U.S. Standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4, do not use it.
x The brake fluid must be new.

WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous.
x To reduce the risk of poisoning, never use food, beverage or other non-original containers
to store brake fluid. Someone might be misled by the original label on the container, or by the
shape of the container, and drink the brake fluid. This could occur even if you relabel the
container as “brake fluid.”
x Only store brake fluid in the closed, original container and keep it out of the reach of
children.

NOTICE
Brake fluid will damage vehicle paint, plastic parts, and tires. Wipe any brake fluid off vehicle
paint and other vehicle parts immediately.
Brake fluid can pollute the environment. Brake fluid that has leaked out must be collected and
disposed of properly, following all applicable environmental regulations.

WARNING
Unintended vehicle movement during maintenance work can cause serious personal injuries.
x Never work under the vehicle unless you have safely secured the vehicle from moving. If
you must work under the vehicle with the wheels on the ground, always make sure that the
vehicle is on level ground, that all 4 wheels are chocked to keep them from moving, and that
the key is not in the ignition.
x If you must work under a vehicle raised on a floor jack, always make sure that the vehicle
is safely supported on safety stands intended for that purpose that are strong enough to
support the weight of the vehicle. The jack supplied with the vehicle is not strong enough for
this purpose and can collapse causing serious personal injury.