2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT maintenance

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 seri-
ously 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

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 gravi-
ty.
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 ex-
ceptional 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.
Some models need a trailer hitch to tow or tow-start other vehicles. You may want to always
carry the ball mount in the vehicle after it has been removed. Be sure to stow it securely.

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

On some vehicles, engine components block the view of the brake fluid reservoir and make it
impossible to see the brake fluid level. If you cannot clearly see the brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir, please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
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.

It is important to know where the fire extinguisher is stored, how to remove and how to use it before
you need it to put out a fire.
Please be sure to read the operating instructions and heed the other important information on the fire
extinguisher label before you have to use it in a later emergency.
Using the fire extinguisher
x Release the retaining tab on the fire extinguisher bracket upward, in the direction of the arrow
⇒ fig. 192.
x Remove the fire extinguisher from the bracket.
x Lift the lever on the fire extinguisher in the direction of the arrow (A) to break the seal on the
extinguisher canister.
x While holding the fire extinguisher upright, direct the nozzle at the source of the fire.
x Press the release in the direction of the arrow (B) to release the extinguishing agent.
x Extinguish the fire from the bottom up.
x Stop extinguishing the fire only when the flames are quenched.
x If possible, have another fire extinguisher or other extinguishing agent available in case the fire
reignites!
Installing the fire extinguisher
x Guide the fire extinguisher into the attachment straps.
x Place the fire extinguisher on the bracket.
x When locking the attachment strap, always make sure that the locking bars engage securely.
Fire extinguisher maintenance
Check the following on the fire extinguisher regularly:
x Expiration date: do not exceed the expiration date on the fire extinguisher.
x Pressure gauge: the needle ⇒ fig. 193 must be in the green area (ready for use).
x General inspection: make sure the components are secure and check for rust, dents or other
damage.
x Intact tamper-resistant seal: shows that the fire extinguisher has not been used.
WARNING
A loose fire extinguisher in the passenger can be thrown around the passenger compartment
and cause serious personal injury during hard braking, an emergency maneuver or during a
crash
x Always make sure that the fire extinguisher is properly and firmly secured in bracket
provided.

WARNING
Improper use of the fire extinguisher can cause serious personal injury.
x Never point or discharge the fire extinguisher at a person unless it is necessary.
x Always keep the fire extinguisher out of the reach of children.
x Never expose the fire extinguisher to direct sunlight.
x Always make sure that the fire extinguisher is clean and ready to use, but never use
aggressive cleaners, clean the fire extinguisher only with a moist cloth.
x Always stay at least 3 ft (1 m) away from a fire when using the fire extinguisher.
x The contents of the fire extinguisher are under pressure, always handle it with care and
never subject it to impact or abuse.
x Never try to open or repair the fire extinguisher, always leave work on the fire extinguisher
to a trained specialist.
x If the fire extinguisher is damaged, corroded or cannot be used because it is too old, have
a trained specialist depressurize and dispose of the fire extinguisher properly.
WARNING
The fire extinguisher can only be used once and must then be replaced with a fire
extinguisher of the same kind and size.
x The expiration date of the fire extinguisher is specified by law. The expiration date is
marked on the fire extinguisher housing.
x Replace the fire extinguisher immediately after use or upon reaching its expiration date.
x For safety reasons, the fire extinguisher must only be serviced or replaced by a trained
specialist. Please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service
Facility with appropriate certification.
Read and follow the information contained in the labels on the fire extinguisher housing regarding
usage, maintenance and inspection intervals for the fire extinguisher.
Have the fire extinguisher checked regularly to help make sure that it will work when needed
(every 2 years is recommended).
Do not use fire extinguishers in the vehicle that have been partially used or that have expired.
Heed all applicable legal requirements.