2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT warning light

A warning chime also sounds.
The safety belt warning light ª comes on for 6 seconds when the ignition is switched on. A warning
chime also sounds for up to 6 seconds if the driver's safety belt is not buckled. The chime stops soon-
er if the driver buckles his or her safety belt. The warning light and the chime go out when both driver
and front passenger have bucked their safety belts.
If the driver and front seat passenger do not both fasten their safety belts within about 24 seconds
after the chime stops and the vehicle is moving at a speed of more than about 15 mph (25 km/h), the
chime will again sound for about 6 seconds, then go off for about 24 seconds, then sound again for
about another 6 seconds. The same thing happens if one of the safety belts is fastened and then
unfastened while the vehicle is moving. The safety belt warning light ª also flashes. The warning
chime continues to sound at 24 second intervals for up to 2 minutes. No chime sounds at speeds of
less than about 5 mph (8 km/h).
If the ignition is switched on, the safety belt warning light ª stays on until the driver and front passen-
ger have both buckled their safety belts.
WARNING
Not wearing a safety belt or wearing an improperly positioned safety belt increases the risk of
severe personal injury or death. Safety belts offer optimum protection only when used cor-
rectly.
Frontal collisions and laws of physics

Fig. 68 A vehicle with passengers not wearing safety belts approaches a wall.

Fig. 69 A vehicle with passengers not wearing safety belts hits a wall.

NOTICE
If the safety belt extender is left attached to the safety belt buckle, the safety belt warning
system will sense that the safety belt for that seat is being used. The warning light will not
come on and the warning chime will not sound even though the seat is occupied and the safety
belt is not being used.
Safety belt retractor, pretensioner, load limiter

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.

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 (AUTO) 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
headlights 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 Mexico, the AGCC, and South Korea
Switching lights on and off

Fig. 97 Headlight switch next to the steering wheel: A vehicles with front fog lights. B vehicles without front
fog lights.


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

WARNING
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.
x Never use daytime running lights (DRL) to see where you are going. DRL are not bright
enough to light up the roadway and be seen by other motorists. You will not be able to 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 when the daytime running lights are switched on. A vehicle
without taillights on cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
x If automatic headlight control (!54/) is switched on, the low-beam headlights still may not
be switched on in fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam headlights yourself.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, rear lights, 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 Canada
Lights and vision features

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

WARNING
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.
x Never use daytime running lights (DRL) to see where you are going. DRL are not bright
enough to light up the roadway and be seen by other motorists. You will not be able to 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 when the daytime running lights are switched on. A vehicle
without taillights on cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
x If automatic headlight control (!54/) is switched on, the low-beam headlights still may not
be switched on in fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam headlights yourself.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, rear lights, 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 Mexico, the AGCC, and South Korea
Lights and vision features

If the light switch is in the AUT O 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.
Vehicles without daytime running lights (DRL): if
you drive faster than 140 km/h (85 mph) for a few
seconds.
Vehicles without daytime running lights (DRL: if
you drive slower than 65 km/h (40 mph) for a few
minutes.

WARNING
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.
x Never use daytime running lights (DRL) to see where you are going. DRL are not bright
enough to light up the roadway and be seen by other motorists. You will not be able to 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 when the daytime running lights are switched on. A vehicle
without taillights on cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
x If automatic headlight control (!54/) is switched on, the low-beam headlights still may not
be switched on in fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam headlights yourself.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, rear lights, and turn signals can tempo-
rarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.
“Coming home” and “Leaving home” feature (orientation lighting)