2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT light

Ashtray and cigarette lighter
Applicable only in Mexico, the AGCC, and South Korea

Applicable only in Mexico, the AGCC, and South Korea
Cigarette lighter

Fig. 130 In the front center console: Cigarette lighter in storage compartment.

WARNING
Parking improperly can cause serious personal injury.
x Never remove the key from the ignition switch while the vehicle is moving or rolling to a
stop. The steering wheel will lock and you will not be able to steer or control the vehicle.
x Never park the vehicle where the hot exhaust system or catalytic converter could ignite
flammable materials, such as brush, leaves, dry grass, spilled fuel, etc.
x Always apply the parking brake when parking your vehicle.
x Improper use of the parking brake can seriously injure you and your passengers.
x Never use the parking brake to slow down the vehicle when it is moving, except in an
emergency. The stopping distance is much longer because only the rear wheels are braked.
Always use the foot brake to stop the vehicle.
x Never activate the throttle manually from the engine compartment when the engine is
running and the automatic transmission is in gear. The vehicle will start to move as soon as
the engine speed increases even if the parking brake is on.
x Never leave children or anyone who cannot help themselves behind in the vehicle. They
could release the parking brake and move the gear selector lever or gear shift, which could
cause the vehicle to start moving. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.
x Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle. The engine can be started and
vehicle systems such as the power windows can be operated, leading to serious personal
injury.
x Never leave children, disabled persons, or anyone who cannot help themselves in the
vehicle. The doors can be locked with the remote control vehicle key, trapping passengers in
the vehicle in an emergency. For example, depending on the time of year, people trapped in
the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.
x 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, particularly
in summer. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness and
death, particularly to small children.
NOTICE
x Always be careful when you park in areas with parking barriers or high curbs. These vary in
height and could damage your bumper and related parts if the front of your vehicle hits a
barrier or curb that is too high while you are getting into or out of a parking spot. To help
prevent damage, stop before the tires of your vehicle touch a parking barrier or curb.
x Always be careful when you enter a driveway or drive up or down steep ramps or over
curbs or other obstacles. Parts of the vehicle close to the ground may be damaged (such as
bumper covers, spoilers, and parts of the engine, suspension, and exhaust systems).
Warning and indicator lights

Lights
up Possible cause or meaning ⇒  Proper response
0!2+
H

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.
WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal injury.
x If the brake warning light "2!+% or H does not go out, or comes on when driving, either the
brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there is a fault in the brake system. Stop the
vehicle as soon as you can do so safely and get expert assistance.
x If the brake warning light "2!+% or H comes on at the same time as the ABS warning
light !"3 or J, the ABS may not be working properly. This could cause the rear wheels to lock
up relatively quickly during braking. Rear wheel brake lock-up can cause loss of vehicle
control.
x If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, drive slowly and very carefully to the nearest
authorized Volkswagen dealer, authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or other qualified
workshop and have the brake system inspected. Avoid sudden hard braking and steering.
x If the ABS indicator light !"3 or J does not go out, or if it comes on while driving, the ABS
system is not working properly. The vehicle can then be stopped only with the standard
brakes (without ABS). You will not have the protection ABS provides. Contact your
authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility as soon as
possible.
x If the symbol "2!+% 7%!2or I lights up in the instrument cluster display, whether alone or
together with a text message, immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the brake pads checked and, if necessary,
replaced.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Parking brake

Fig. 145 Between the front seats: Parking brake.

Setting the parking brake
x Pull the parking brake lever up firmly.
x When the ignition is on, the indicator light G or 0!2+ appears in the instrument cluster display to
show that the parking brake is engaged.
Releasing the parking brake
x Pull the lever up slightly and press the release button ⇒ fig. 145 (arrow).
x While holding the release button down, move the lever all the way down.
WARNING
Improper use of the parking brake can cause accidents and severe injuries.
x Never use the parking brake to slow down the vehicle when it is moving, except in an
emergency. Braking distance is much longer, since only the rear wheels are braked. Always
use the foot brake.
x Never drive with the parking brake partially engaged. This can cause the brake to overheat
and negatively affect the brake system. It will also cause the rear brake pads to wear
prematurely.
x Never activate the throttle manually from the engine compartment when the engine is
running and the automatic transmission is in gear. The vehicle will start to move even if the
parking brake is engaged.
NOTICE
Even though the transmission is in Park (P), the vehicle may move a couple of inches (a few
centimeters) forwards or backwards if you take your foot off the brake pedal after stopping the
vehicle without first firmly setting the parking brake.
A warning signal sounds if you drive faster than about 4 mph (6 km/h) with the parking brake
engaged.
Parking

Brake disc corrosion (rust) and dirt build-up on the brake pads are more likely to occur if the vehicle
is not driven much or is driven only for short distances with little braking. If the brakes have not been
used and there is some rust on the discs, clean the brake discs and pads once in a while by carefully
braking a couple of times while driving at relatively high speed to help clean the brake discs and pads.
Make sure nobody is behind you and that you do not endanger yourself or others ⇒ .
Brake system malfunction
If you brake and find that vehicle doesn't brake nearly as well as it used to (sudden increase in
stopping distance), a brake circuit may have failed. The brake warning light H or "2!+% will come on
and a message may appear in the instrument cluster display. If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive,
immediately take it to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service
Facility for repair. Drive slowly and very carefully, allow for the longer stopping distance, and be ready
to push longer and harder on the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down.
Brake booster
The brake booster works only when the engine is running. It increases the force on the brakes above
and beyond the pressure put on the brake pedal by the driver.
If the brake booster is not working, or if the vehicle has to be towed, you will have to push the brake
pedal harder to make up for the lack of booster assistance and the resulting longer stopping distance
⇒ .
WARNING
New brake pads do not provide maximum braking performance.
x New brake pads do not have the best stopping power for the first 200 miles (320 km) and
must be “broken in.” You can compensate for the slightly reduced braking force by putting
more pressure on the brake pedal.
x Drive with extra care while the new brake pads are being broken in. This reduces the risk
of collisions and serious personal injuries due to a loss of control over the vehicle.
x Never follow other vehicles too closely or put yourself into other situations that might
require sudden, hard braking, especially when the brake pads have not been broken in.
WARNING
Overheated brakes will reduce the vehicle's stopping power and increase stopping distances
considerably.
x When driving downhill, the brakes have to work especially hard and heat up quickly.
x Before driving downhill, especially on hills that are long or steep, always reduce speed
and shift into lower gear (manual or automatic transmission). This will let the vehicle use
engine braking and reduce the load on the brakes. Otherwise, the brake system could
overheat and possibly fail. Only use the brakes when you need them to slow the vehicle down
more or to stop.
x A damaged front spoiler or a non-standard spoiler can reduce airflow to the brakes and
make them overheat.

not always be able to help you master situations where there is a sudden change in the coefficient of
friction of the road surface. When there is a section of dry road that is suddenly covered with water,
slush or snow, ESC cannot perform the same way it would on a dry surface. If the vehicle
“hydroplanes” (rides on a cushion of water instead of the road surface), ESC will not be able to help
you steer the vehicle because contact with the pavement has been interrupted and the vehicle cannot
be braked or steered. During fast cornering, particularly on winding roads, ESC cannot always deal as
effectively with difficult driving situations as it can at lower speeds. When towing a trailer, ESC is not
able to help you regain control as it would if you were not towing a trailer.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic, and weather conditions. ESC
cannot override the vehicle's physical limits, increase the available traction, or keep a vehicle on the
road if road departure is a result of driver inattention. Instead, ESC improves the possibility of keeping
the vehicle under control and on the road during extreme maneuvers by using the driver's steering
inputs to help keep the vehicle going in the intended direction. If you are traveling at a speed that
causes you to run off the road before ESC can provide any assistance, you may not experience the
benefits of ESC.
ESC includes and/or works together with the ABS, BAS, ASR, EDL, and XDL systems (see below).
ESC is switched on all the time and cannot be switched off.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
ABS helps to keep the wheels from locking up and helps to maintain the driver's ability to steer and
control the vehicle. This means the vehicle is less likely to skid, even during hard braking:
x Push the brake pedal down hard and hold it there. Don't take your foot off the pedal or reduce the
force on the pedal!
x Do not “pump” the brake pedal or let up on it!
x Steer the vehicle while pushing down hard on the brake pedal.
x ABS stops working if you release or let up on the brake.
When ABS is doing its job, you will notice a slight vibration through the brake pedal and hear a
noise. ABS cannot shorten the stopping distance under all conditions. The stopping distance may
even be longer, for instance, when driving on gravel or on newly fallen snow covering an icy or
slippery surface.
Brake Assist (BAS)
The Brake Assist System can help to reduce stopping distances. If you press the brake pedal very
quickly, BAS detects an emergency situation. It then very quickly builds up full brake system pressure,
maximizing braking power and reducing the stopping distance. This way, ABS can be activated more
quickly and efficiently.
Do not reduce pressure on the brake pedal! BAS switches off automatically as soon as you release or
let up on the brake.
Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
ASR reduces engine power directed to spinning wheels and adjusts power to the road conditions.
Even under poor road conditions, ASR can make it easier to get moving, accelerate, and climb hills.
ESC and ASR can help when driving on loose surfaces (such as gravel) and in deep snow. If you get
stuck in deep snow, you may be able to get going again by “rocking” the vehicle back and forth. ESC
and ASR recognize this special driving situation and automatically increase the speed of the front
wheels. Keep pressing the accelerator and let ESC increase the speed of the front wheels to help you
keep moving or get moving again.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL and XDL)
EDL is applied during regular straight-line acceleration. EDL gently brakes a drive wheel that has lost
traction (spinning) and redirects the drive force to other drive wheels. In extreme cases, EDL
automatically switches off to keep the brake from overheating. As soon as the brake has cooled down,
EDL automatically switches on again.