2013 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG passenger

When driving forwards on loose surfaces, a special off-road ABS is automatically activated. In this
mode, the front wheels could lock briefly. This shortens the braking distance in off-road situations as
the wheels dig into loose surfaces. This occurs only when driving straight ahead. When the front
wheels are turned, the normal ABS is activated.
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.
ASR can be switched on or off manually .
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
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.
XDL is an extension of the Electronic Differential Lock system. XDL does not react to drive wheel
slippage when driving straight ahead. Instead, XDL detects slippage of the inside front wheel during
fast cornering. XDL applies enough brake pressure to this wheel in order to stop the slippage. This
improves traction, which helps the vehicle stay on track.
.WARNING
Driving fast on icy, slippery, or wet roads can lead to a loss of control and result in serious
personal injury for you and your passengers.
x Always adjust your speed and driving style to road, traffic, weather, and visibility
conditions. Never let the additional safety that ESC, ABS, BAS, ASR, and EDL can provide
tempt you into taking extra risks.
x Braking assistance systems cannot overcome the laws of physics and always prevent
loss of vehicle control. Slippery and wet roads are still dangerous even with ESC and the
other systems!
x Driving too fast on wet roads can cause the wheels to lose contact with the road and
“hydroplane.” A vehicle that has lost road contact cannot be braked, steered, or controlled.
x These systems cannot reduce the risk of accident, for example if you drive too fast for
conditions or if you do not keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you.
x Although these systems are very effective and can help you control the vehicle in many
difficult situations, always remember that your vehicle handling control is limited by tire
traction.
x When accelerating on a slippery surface, for example on ice and snow, depress the
accelerator CARefully. Even with these systems, the wheels may start to spin, leading to a
loss of vehicle control.

.WARNING
Poor visibility increases the risk of collisions and other accidents that cause serious
personal injuries.
x Always make sure all windows are clear of ice, snow and condensation for good visibility
to the front, sides, and rear.
x Maximum heating output and fast defrosting will only be possible after the engine has
reached operating temperature. Wait until you have good visibility before driving off.
x Always make sure you know how to properly use the heating and ventilation systems as
well as the rear window defroster that you will need for good visibility.
x Never use air recirculation for long periods of time. When the air conditioner is off and
recirculation mode is on, condensation can quickly form on the windows and greatly reduce
visibility.
x Always switch off recirculation mode when it is not needed.
.WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces driver alertness, which can cause accidents,
collisions and serious personal injury.
x Never switch off the fan for a long period of time and never use air recirculation a long
period of time because no fresh air will come into the passenger compartment.
.NOTICE
x If you think the air conditioner is not working properly or may be damaged, switch it off to
help prevent more damage. Have the air conditioner checked by an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Air conditioner repair requires specialized knowledge and special tools. Volkswagen
recommends that you see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility.
x Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on. Smoke drawn into the ventilation
system can leave residue on the evaporator and on the dust and pollen active CARbon filter,
resulting in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.
.If the air conditioner is switched off, the fresh outside air will not be dehumidified. To help keep
the windows from fogging over, Volkswagen recommends leaving the air conditioner (compressor)
switched on. Press the AC .button.
.When it is very hot and humid outside, water condensation can drip from the air conditioner
evaporator and form a puddle under the vehicle. This is normal and does not indicate a leak.
.Keep the air intake slots in front of the windshield free of ice, snow and leaves in order to
maintain proper functioning of the heating and ventilation systems.
.Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not possible until the engine has
reached operating temperature.
.Emergency starting and starting the engine with a very weak vehicle battery or after the vehicle
battery has been replaced may change or delete system settings (including time, date, personal

Button/Knob More information. Front Climatronic controls .
OF F Switch off: Press OFF .button or adjust manually to 0. This switches Climatronic off
entirely. /&& lights up in the front Climatronic display.

.WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces alertness, which can cause accidents, collisions
and serious personal injury.
x Never switch off the fan for a long time and never use air recirculation a long period of
time because no fresh air will enter the passenger compartment.
Operation via the Infotainment System

Fig. 273 Infotainment System: Front climate control settings.
.

Automatic window fog detection
Automatic window fog detection checks whether the windows are fogged up and if necessary
automatically adjusts the air flow to the windshield and side windows or switches on the windshield
heating. If the fan or the air conditioner AC is turned off, automatic window fog detection cannot work
properly.
Residual heat mode
The residual engine heat can be used for a limited time to heat the passenger compartment when the
ignition is switched off.
x Switch off the ignition.
x Push the REST .button. The feature will appear in the Climatronic display.
x Press the REST .button again to switch the feature off early.
The feature is switched off if it is draining the battery too much, and it does off automatically after 30
minutes. The fan speed is reduced to save energy.
Applying driver settings to all climate zones
The driver-side settings for temperature, fan speed, and air distribution can be applied to all of the
other climate zones.
x Push the SYNC .button. The indicator light in the button lights up and the changes are applied to
all climate zones.
x Push the SYNC .button again to cancel the feature.
The synchronization feature is deactivated if individual settings are entered for one of the other
climate zones using the Climatronic control unit. In this case, the indicator light in the SYNC .button
goes out.
Air conditioner does not work
The air conditioner may not switch on for one the following reasons:
x The engine is not running (or a hybrid vehicle is not ready to drive).
x The fan is turned off.
x The air conditioner fuse has blown.
x The ambient air temperature is colder than +38 °F (+3 °C).
x The air conditioner compressor has been temporarily switched off due to excessive engine coolant
temperature.
x There is another malfunction in the vehicle. Have the air conditioner checked by an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Special considerations
When it is very hot and humid outside, water condensation can drip from the air conditioner
evaporator and form a puddle under the vehicle. This is normal and does not indicate a leak.
The climate control system adjusts the passenger compartment temperature as fast as possible
considering the outside temperature.
Due to residual moisture in the air conditioner, the windshield may fog up after the engine is
started. Switch on the windshield defroster to help evaporate the condensation as quickly as possible.
The air coming out the vents and flow through the passenger compartment and out through the
vents below the rear window. Do not cover these slots with clothing or other objects.

Switching air recirculation on and off manually
Switching on: Press the .button repeatedly until the indicator light in the button comes on.
Switching off: Press the .button repeatedly until the indicator light in the button goes out.
Switching air recirculation on and off automatically
x Press the CLIMATE Infotainment button.
x Tap the Extras function key.
x Switch automatic air recirculation on or off by tapping the Automatic air recirculation function key.
If the check box in the function key is checked =,automatic air recirculation is switched on.
What automatic air recirculation does
In automatic air recirculation mode, fresh air will enter the passenger compartment. If the system
detects an increased concentration of pollutants in the outside air, it automatically switches to air
recirculation. As soon as the pollutant level is back in the normal range, air recirculation is switched
off.
Unpleasant odors cannot be detected by the system.
To keep the windows from fogging up, automatic air recirculation is not switched on automatically in
certain circumstances.
.WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces driver alertness, which can cause accidents,
collisions and serious personal injury.
x Never use air recirculation mode over an extended period of time, since no fresh air will
enter the passenger compartment.
x When the air conditioner is off and recirculation mode is on, condensation can quickly
form on the windows and greatly reduce visibility.
x Always switch off recirculation mode when it is not needed.
.NOTICE
Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on. Smoke drawn into the ventilation system
can leave residue on the evaporator and on the dust and pollen active CARbon filter, resulting
in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.
.When backing up and while the automatic wiper/washer is operating, air recirculation is briefly
activated to avoid unpleasant odors in the passenger compartment. This feature only works if
automatic air recirculation is enabled

.WARNING
Inadequate experience and knowledge of the demands of off-road driving can lead to critical
situations and cause serious personal injury.
x Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot
go on, or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.
x The intelligent technology of the vehicle cannot change the laws of physics. Despite the
ABS, adverse terrain can cause instability through blocked wheels – for example, if you
brake hard when driving on a loose gravel road. Difficult terrain may also prevent the ESC
from doing its job.
x Never operate the vehicle at the limit of its performance ability. Always leave a good
safety margin.
x To reduce the risk of loss of control and serious personal injury, never use the cruise
control when driving off-road.
x Even terrain that looks easy can be difficult and dangerous, putting you and your
passengers in a critical situation. It is often best to check an area out on foot first.
x Drive with special CARe and think ahead in off-road terrain. If you drive too fast, or fail to
maneuver the vehicle properly, you could cause personal injury and damage the vehicle.
x Never drive faster than is appropriate for the prevailing terrain and the road, traffic, and
weather conditions.
x Never drive too fast across embankments, ramps, or slopes. The vehicle could become
airborne. If that happens, you will not be able to steer and can lose control.
x If your vehicle becomes airborne, always keep the front wheels pointing straight ahead. If
the wheels are not pointing straight ahead when the vehicle lands, it could roll over.
x Never allow people to stand in front of or behind the vehicle if you have put items such as
stones or pieces of wood under the wheels to improve traction on slippery ground. Spinning
wheels can turn these items into dangerous flying objects causing serious personal injury.
x Even areas that look harmless can be dangerous. Potholes, ditches, trenches, drop-offs,
different kinds of obstacles, and soft or swampy ground often cannot be seen and can be
partially or fully covered by water, grass, branches, or other things. Driving over such terrain
can cause accidents and severe injuries. Before crossing an unknown area, CARefully
explore the route you plan to take on foot.
.WARNING
Never drive off-road if you are low on fuel. Too little fuel in the tank can cause an accident
and serious injuries. You can also run out of fuel in a remote area where getting help is
difficult or impossible.
x When the fuel tank is almost empty, fuel supply to the engine can be interrupted,
especially when driving over bumps, across slopes, and up and down hills. The interruption
in fuel flow could stall the engine during a maneuver in difficult terrain and make you lose
control of the vehicle.
x Steering and braking assistance as well as ESC and related systems will not work if the
engine “sputters” or stalls due to lack of fuel. This can cause loss of vehicle control,
especially in difficult terrain.
x Always refuel when the tank is 1/4 full to reduce the risk of running out of fuel.
.NOTICE
If the power sunroof or the windows are open when it rains or snows, the interior of the vehicle
will get wet and the vehicle may be damaged. Always keep the windows and the power sunroof
closed when driving off-road.

Before driving off-road the first time
Before you drive your vehicle off-road, we urge you to take an appropriate off-road driving course.
Taking a course is especially important if you have little or no experience driving off-road. Even more
experienced off-roaders can benefit from an off-road driving course.
A good course can show you how to handle the vehicle in a wide range of off-road situations and how
to more safely deal with difficult terrain Driving off-road demands a different attitude and very different
skills compared with highway driving. Your safety and that of your passengers will depend on your
knowledge, skill, and caution as a driver ⇒ .
.WARNING
Disregarding the safety-related checklist may lead to accidents and serious personal injuries.
x Always review and follow the checklist above. Follow commonly accepted safety
practices and use common sense.
x All occupants must sit properly and wear safety belts whenever the vehicle is moving.
General rules and good driving practices
.

.WARNING
Not wearing safety belts, or wearing them improperly will increase the risk of serious injuries
when driving off-road. Holding the steering wheel improperly will reduce your ability to
control the vehicle and can also increase the risk of injury when driving off-road.
x Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of
serious injury and death during sudden braking or driving maneuvers and in automobile
accidents. For this reason, always wear your safety belt properly and make sure all
passengers wear their safety belts properly as well whenever the vehicle is moving.
x Never wrap your thumbs around the steering wheel rim. When driving off-road, obstacles
in front of the wheels can make the steering wheel jerk suddenly in your hands and cause
personal injury. Rest your thumbs pointing up on the on the surface of the steering wheel at
the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.