2013 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG brake light

Lights
up Possible cause or meaning ⇒  Proper response
"2!+% Brake fluid level too low.

.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.
.WARNING
Wet brakes or brakes coated with ice or road salt react slower and need longer stopping
distances.
x CARefully apply the brakes to test them.
x Always dry brakes and clean off ice and salt coatings with a few cautious brake
applications when visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
.WARNING
Driving when the brake booster is not working increases stopping distances and can cause
accidents and serious personal injuries.
x Never let the vehicle coast when the engine is switched off.
x If the brake booster is not working (such as when the vehicle is being towed), a lot more
pedal force is needed to slow down and stop.
.NOTICE
x Never “ride” the brakes by keeping your foot on the brake pedal when you do not want to
brake. Constant pressure on the brake pedal can make the brakes overheat. Riding the brakes
will substantially reduce braking performance, increase stopping distance, and can cause
complete brake system failure.
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.

Lights up Possible cause Proper response
h È BRAKE Hill Hold malfunction.
Take the vehicle to an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility and have the
system checked.
k Hill Descent Assist switched on. .


Flashes Possible cause Proper response
k Hill Descent assist is regulating the
speed. .

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.
.NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Hill Hold
.

Switching Park Distance Control on and off manually
x Push the  or ∗ .button once when the ignition is switched on to switch Park Distance Control
on.
x Push the  or ∗ .button again when the ignition is switched on to switch Park Distance Control
off.
The indicator light in the button comes on and stays on as long as the feature is active. The indicator
light in the button comes on and stays on as long as the feature is active.
Switching Park Distance Control on and off automatically
x Automatic activation: Shift into reverse.
x OR: Drive forward slowly (less than about 6 - 9 mph /10 - 15 km/h) and approach to within about
38 inches (95 cm) of an obstacle.
x OR: If the vehicle rolls backwards.
x Automatic deactivation: Drive faster than about 6-9 mph (10 - 15 km/h).
A chime sounds to tell you that the system is on. If the chime does not sound, PDC is not working.
Have the system inspected by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service
Facility.
Special considerations when using Park Distance Control
x In some cases, the Park Distance Control system interprets water and ice on the sensors as an
obstacle. To prevent automatic PDC activation in these cases, you can turn Park Distance Control off
permanently in the Infotainment System .
x If the distance remains the same, the warning tone volume decreases after a few seconds. If a
continuous tone sounds, its volume remains the same.
x If the vehicle moves away from the obstacle, the beeping sound stops automatically. The beep
turns on once more automatically if the vehicle approaches the obstacle again.
x There is no beeping when the transmission is in Park (P) or the electronic parking brake is
engaged.
x The volume of the audible signals can be adjusted by an authorized Volkswagen dealership or an
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
.WARNING
Never rely completely on the PDC for information about people and objects that might be in
the way of the vehicle and could be struck by the vehicle causing serious personal injury.
x The PDC sensors have blind spots where they cannot detect people or objects.
x Always watch for people, especially small children and animals, because the sensors may
not always be able to detect them.
.If you hear a long beep lasting about 3 seconds when you first turn PDC on or the indicator light
in the button starts blinking, this means there is a malfunction in the Park Distance Control system.
Switch off the Park Distance Control system with the button and have it immediately checked by an
authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

x Shape of the bank.
x Objects in the water.
x Maximum fording depth of the vehicle.
Before driving through water
Stop, get out of the vehicle, and assess the situation ⇒ :
x Measure water depth from one side to the other. Check the firmness of the bed and banks; check
for drop-offs and obstacles in the water ⇒ .
x Make sure it is possible to enter and exit the water safely.
x Check the angle of the embankment and the firmness of the ground on each bank.
x Switch to off-road mode.
Driving through standing and slow-moving water
The vehicle can drive through standing water if the ground under the water is firm enough ⇒ .
Never exceed maximum fording depth.
x Drive slowly into a river in the direction of the flow. Never exceed the departure/approach angle
and lateral angle (vehicle slope).
x Always drive at a constant speed to the other side.
This will help prevent engine damage from the water. It also allows an air pocket to form in front of the
engine that can supply it with the necessary air.
Entering the water quickly or driving too fast through the water will create a bow wave. A bow wave
can force its way into the engine air intake duct and seriously damage the engine.
Driving through fast-moving water
Driving through fast-moving water is very dangerous ⇒ .
The vehicle can be swept away by the current. Even vehicles with high ground clearance can get
stuck if the ground is washed out from under the tires. Fast-moving water will build up against the side
of your vehicle. This will make the water deeper. Always think about this before entering the water.
Water volume, speed, and depth can be very unpredictable and dangerous.
If you are uncertain how fast the water is flowing, look for a shallower place where you can cross in
safety. If you cannot find a safe place to cross, turn back.
Headlight washer system instructions
Do not use the headlight washer system when driving through water. Things in the water can enter
into the openings when the washer nozzles are extended. This can prevent the washer nozzles from
retracting to their normal position. If this should happen, CARefully remove the objects.
After driving through water
x After crossing through deep water, stop the engine and check the oil dipstick. If there are beads of
water on the oil dipstick or the oil level has increased, do not start the engine. Change the engine oil
immediately. Depending on the amount of water in the oil, running or starting the engine can result in
engine failure or serious engine damage.
x Always dry the brakes by braking a couple of times.

.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.
.WARNING
The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially dangerous area and can cause
serious personal injury.
x Always use extreme caution when doing any work in the engine compartment. Always
follow commonly accepted safety practices and use common sense. Never risk personal
injury.
x Never perform any work in the engine compartment unless you know exactly how to
CARry out the job and have the correct technical information and the correct tools.
x If you are uncertain about what to do, have the work performed by an authorized
Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified
workshop. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work.
x We strongly recommend that you always have HID - High Intensity Discharge (Xenon)
lamps and HO7 bulbs replaced by a qualified technician. Serious personal injury may result
from improperly performed work.
x Never open or close the engine hood if steam or coolant is escaping. Hot steam or coolant
can cause serious burns. Always wait until you no longer see or hear steam or coolant
escaping from the engine.
x Always let the engine cool down completely before CARefully opening the hood.
x Hot parts of the engine and the exhaust system will burn skin on contact.
x When the engine has cooled down and you are ready to open the hood:
– Firmly apply the electronic parking brake and shift the transmission into Park (P).
– Take the vehicle key out of the ignition.
– On vehicles with Keyless Access, make sure that the remote control vehicle key is out
of range of the vehicle and that the vehicle cannot be started by depressing the starter
button.
– Always keep children and others away from the engine compartment and never leave
them unsupervised.
x The engine coolant system is under pressure when the engine is hot. Never unscrew the
coolant expansion tank cap when the engine is hot. Hot coolant can spray out and cause
severe burns and other serious injuries.
– Turn the cap slowly and very CARefully in a counterclockwise direction while applying
light downward pressure on the top of the cap.
– Always protect your face, hands, and arms from hot escaping coolant or steam by
covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
x Never spill fluids on the engine or exhaust system when refilling. Spilling fluids onto hot
parts of the engine or exhaust system can cause a fire.

.WARNING
High voltage systems in the engine compartment can cause electrical shocks or even
electrocution, severe burns, other serious injuries, and even death!
x Never short-circuit the electrical system. Be especially CAReful when using jumper
cables. The vehicle's battery could explode!
x To reduce the risk of electrical shock and personal injury while the engine is running or
being started:
– Never touch ignition cables. Never touch other components of the high-voltage
electronic ignition system.
– Never touch the wiring of the HID - High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights.
.WARNING
Moving parts in the engine compartment can cause serious personal injury on contact.
x Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan. Contact with the blades can
cause serious personal injury. Always remember that the radiator fan is temperature-
controlled and can come on suddenly even when the engine has been switched off for a while
and the key has been removed from the ignition.
x If you have to perform a check or repair when the engine is running, there are more risks
from the rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., and from the
high-voltage ignition system. Always use extreme CARe.
– Always make sure that jewelry, loose clothing and long hair do not get caught in
rotating engine parts. Before starting any work remove your jewelry, take off your necktie,
tie back and cover your hair, and do not wear clothing that can hang down and get caught
in moving engine parts.
– Always use extreme caution if the accelerator pedal has to be depressed to perform a
check. The vehicle will start to move even if the parking brake is on.
x Never leave any objects in the engine compartment, for example cleaning rags and tools.
Objects left behind can cause malfunctions, engine damage, and even fires.
.WARNING
Operating fluids and some materials in the engine compartment can catch fire easily, causing
burns and other serious personal injuries!
x Do not smoke.
x Never work next to open flames or sparks.
x Never pour or spill operating fluids or other flammable liquids on the engine. These fluids
can ignite on hot engine parts and cause injuries.
x If work on the fuel system or the electrical system is necessary:
– Always disconnect the 12 Volt vehicle battery. Make sure the vehicle is unlocked when
you disconnect the battery, or the alarm will go off. Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system.
– Never work near heaters, water heaters, or other open flames.
x Always have a functional, approved fire extinguisher nearby.