2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ignition

Lights
up Possible cause Proper response
 One or more driving lights not working or
cornering light malfunction.
Replace burned out bulb or
if all light bulbs are OK, see an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service facility.
Fog lights switched on (indicator light on
the headlight switch).



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 approach-
ing 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.


Low beams off. Parking lights and DRL
stay on. The length of time they stay on
depends on the vehicle battery charge.
Low beams switched on.
Fog lights switched off. The DRL may
stay on for some time. Headlights and fog lights switched on.

Fog lights:
The indicator light shows that the front fog lights are switched on.
x To switch on the fog lights : first turn the light switch to position  or , and then pull the light
switch out to the first detent.
x To switch off the fog lights, push the switch back in from the first detent. To then turn off the head-
lights, turn the switch to position /.
Acoustic warning when lights are not switched off
In the following situations, a warning chime will sound if you take the key out of the ignition and open
the driver door. This is to remind you that lights are still on.
x Light switch in position  if the vehicle has no orientation lighting.
x Light switch in position .
WARNING
Daytime running lights and parking lights are not bright enough to let you see ahead or be
seen by others when it is dark.
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.
x Never use the daytime running lights to see where you are going. They are not bright
enough and will not let you see far enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is
dark. Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark.
x The taillights do not come on with the daytime running lights. Unless the taillights are on,
a vehicle cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
x Even if automatic headlight control (!54/) is switched on, the low-beam headlights may still
not come on by themselves in fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam head-
lights manually.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the taillights, and turn signals can tempo-
rarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.
Applicable only in the United States
Lights and vision features

The daytime running lights are switched on whenever the ignition is switched on and the light switch is
in position / or !54/. The indicator light  or $2, in the instrument cluster indicates that the feature is
active.
If the light switch is in position !54/, a low-light sensor switches the instrument and switch lighting on
and off automatically.
Daytime running lights (DRL) parking feature
Some models are equipped with a daytime running lights (DRL) parking feature that switches the
daytime running lights off when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is switched on.

Function Action
Switching the DRL off: – Switch the ignition on.
– Turn the light switch to the O position.
– Set the parking brake.
Switching the DRL on: – Release the parking brake.

Static cornering lights
Your vehicle may have fog lights under the front bumper that are also static cornering lights. On some
models the static cornering lights may also be integrated in the headlights. At speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h), the light on one side of the vehicle will come on automatically when you turn a
corner. If you turn to the right, the right fog light comes on; turn left and the left fog light comes on. The
light dims and goes out when the steering wheel is straightened out again.
When you move the selector lever to Reverse (R), the static cornering lights on both sides of the
vehicle may come on so that you can see the area around the vehicle better when backing up.
The static cornering lights work only when the headlights are on. If you are using automatic headlight
control (headlight switch in the !54/ position ⇒ fig. 96), they work only when the headlights have been
automatically switched on. The static cornering lights do not come on when the headlight switch is in
the O position or when the fog lights themselves have been switched on.
Automatic headlight control (!54/)
Automatic headlight control is a convenience feature only and cannot always recognize all lighting and
driving situations.
If the light switch is in the !54/ position, both vehicle lighting and instrument and switch lighting are
automatically switched on and off in the following situations ⇒ :

Automatic activation: Automatic deactivation:
If the low-light sensor registers darkness, for
example when driving through a tunnel.
If sufficient brightness is registered.

“Leaving home” Action
Switch off: – Automatically after preset delay period is over.
– Lock the vehicle.
– Turn the light switch to the / position.
– Switch the ignition on.

The delay period can be adjusted and the function can be switched on and off in the Lights &
Vision menu ⇒ page 17.
If the “Coming home” feature is switched on and the driver door is opened, no warning chime will
sound to alert you that the lights are still on.
Instrument panel lighting

Fig. 98 To the left of the steering wheel: Control for instrument panel lighting.

Lights
up Possible cause Proper response
Y Not enough windshield washer fluid. Refill windshield washer reservoir at the next
opportunity.

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.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Windshield wiper lever

Fig. 101 Operating the front windshield wiper.

NOTICE
To help prevent damage to the wiper blades and the wiper motor when it is cold outside, al-
ways make sure that blades are not frozen to the windshield before operating the wipers. Using
the service position can be helpful in cold weather so the wipers do not freeze to the wind-
shield.
x If the ignition is switched off while the wipers are running, the wipers will continue at the
same wiping speed when the ignition is switched on again. Frost, ice, snow, leaves, and other
objects on the windshield can damage the wipers and the wiper motor.
x Remove snow and ice from the wipers before you begin driving.
x If the wiper blades freeze to the windshield, loosen them carefully. Volkswagen recom-
mends using a deicing spray.
NOTICE
Never switch on the windshield wipers when the windshield is dry because the windshield can
be scratched.
The windshield wipers work only if the ignition is switched on and the engine hood is closed. The
windshield wipers turn off automatically when the engine hood is opened.
The intermittent wiping for the front windshield depends on the driving speed. The higher the
speed, the faster the wipers move.
If the wiper blades freeze to the windshield, loosen them carefully. Volkswagen recommends
using a deicing spray.
Windshield wiper functions

The auto-dimming feature can be switched on and off with the switch on the inside mirror (2). When
auto-dimming is activated, the indicator light (1) is on.
If the ignition is switched on, the sensor (3) automatically darkens the inside mirror depending on the
amount of light shining into the vehicle from the rear.
The auto-dimming feature is deactivated when you shift the transmission into reverse or switch on the
interior lights or the reading light.
Do not attach external navigation devices to the windshield or in the vicinity of the auto-dimming inside
mirror ⇒ .
WARNING
The illuminated display on an external navigation device can cause the auto-dimming inside
mirror to malfunction, which can result in crashes and serious injuries.
x Malfunctions in the auto-dimming function can result in the inside mirror being unable to
evaluate the exact distance of vehicles in the rear or other objects.
If the light striking the sensor is filtered or blocked (such as by a sunshade), the auto-dimming
inside mirror will not work properly or may not work at all.
Applicable only in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the AGCC
Outside mirrors

Fig. 108 In the driver door: Adjusting knob for outside mirrors.

Turn the rotary knob to the desired position:
2 Adjust the right outside mirror by pressing the knob to left/right
and up/down.
 Neutral position. Outside mirror folded out, no heating or
adjustment possible.

Synchronous mirror adjustment
x In the Settings - Convenience menu, select Mirror adjust - Both mirrors for syn-
chronous outside mirror adjustment.
x Turn the adjusting knob to the L position.
x Adjust the left outside mirror. The right (passenger) outside mirror will automatically adjust at the
same time.
x If needed, correct the position of the right mirror by turning the adjusting knob to the R position.
Auto-dimming outside mirror on the driver side
The auto-dimming outside mirror is controlled together with the auto-dimming inside mirror.
Memory for front passenger side mirror (when backing up)
x Choose the remote control vehicle key that will be used with the settings about to be made.
x Unlock the vehicle with that remote control vehicle key.
x Set the parking brake.
x Switch on the ignition.
x Activate the function Mirror down in the Settings - Convenience menu.
x Shift the transmission into reverse.
x Adjust the passenger outside mirror for a clear view of the curb, for example.
x The adjusted mirror position is automatically stored and assigned to the vehicle key used to unlock
the vehicle. The preselected position will be recalled when the key assigned to that mirror adjustment
position is used again.
Recalling passenger side mirror settings
x Turn the adjusting knob for the side mirrors to the R position.
x Shift the transmission into reverse gear with the ignition switched on.
x The mirror moves back to the regular position when the vehicle moves forwards faster than about
10 mph (15 km/h) or the adjusting knob is turned to the O or L position.
WARNING
Improper use of the folding outside mirrors can cause personal injury.
x Always make sure that nobody is in the way when folding the mirrors in or out.
x Make sure that you do not get your finger caught between the mirror and the mirror base
when moving the mirrors.