2013 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG ESP

Stopping and starting on hills
If you stop on a hill with the vehicle in gear, you must depress the brake pedal or engage the
electronic parking brake to keep the vehicle from rolling. Do not release the brake pedal or the parking
brake until the vehicle has started to move forwards ⇒ .
Kick-down acceleration
The kick-down feature permits maximum acceleration when the selector lever is in the Drive (D), Sport
Drive (S) or Tiptronic mode.
If you push the accelerator all the way down, the vehicle will automatically downshift, depending on
vehicle speed and engine speed (rpm). This feature lets you take advantage of the full acceleration
capacity of the vehicle ⇒ .
With kick-down actuated, the transmission will stay in the current gear longer and not upshift until the
engine reaches maximum rpm.
.WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause skidding and loss of traction, especially on slippery roads,
resulting in a loss of vehicle control, collisions, and serious personal injury.
x Always adapt your driving to the traffic flow.
.NOTICE
x When stopping on hills with the transmission in a drive gear, do not use the accelerator to
help prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards. This can cause the automatic transmission to
overheat and be damaged.
x Never let the vehicle coast or roll down a hill in Neutral (N), especially when the engine is
not running. The transmission will not be lubricated and will be damaged.
Automatic transmission malfunction
.

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

Flashes Possible cause Proper response

.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
Vehicle battery was disconnected and
has been reconnected.
Drive a short distance at about 10 - 12 mph
(15 - 20 km/h).


Flashes Possible cause Proper response
D Electronic steering column lock
malfunction.

.DANGER
The vehicle's high-voltage electrical system and high-voltage battery are dangerous and can
cause burns, other serious personal injuries, electrocution, and death.
x Always assume that high-voltage battery and parts of the high-voltage system are fully
charged and energized.
x Never touch or let jewelry or other metal objects contact high-voltage cables or the high-
voltage battery and battery poles, especially if the cables, battery, and battery poles have
been damaged in any way.
x Never do any work yourself on the high-voltage electrical system, the orange-colored
high-voltage wiring, or on the high-voltage battery.
x Never open, service, repair, or disconnect any part of the hybrid electrical system.
x Never damage the orange-colored high-voltage cables. Never remove them and never
disconnect them from the high-voltage electrical system.
x Never open or remove the orange-colored cover on the high-voltage battery.
x Always have work on the hybrid electrical system and systems that could be indirectly
affected by it done by qualified, trained technicians who have the know-how, experience,
documentation, and tools to do the work safely.
x All work on the high-voltage electrical system and the high-voltage battery must be done
in compliance with Volkswagen standards and guidelines.
x Vehicle keys must be safely stored a safe distance from vehicle so that the ignition cannot
be switched on and energize the electrical system.
x Gases vented or released from the high-voltage battery vapors are potentially poisonous
and can burn.
x Physical damage to the vehicle or the high-voltage battery can result in immediate or
delayed release of poisonous gases that can also cause a fire.
x Always avoid contact with leaking fluids and gases escaping from the battery, particularly
one that has been damaged.
x Always tell emergency responders that the vehicle has a high-voltage battery.
.WARNING
Driver distraction causes accidents and serious personal injury. Using the instrument cluster
or accessing Infotainment System menus while driving can take your attention off the road
and cause accidents.
x To help reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, never change settings in the instrument
cluster display or use Infotainment System functions unless the vehicle is standing still.

.WARNING
When powered by the electric motor, the vehicle makes much less noise, both when idling
and driving, than when it is running on the internal combustion engine. It is much harder or
even impossible for the drivers of other vehicles and above all for cyclists, pedestrians, and
children to hear the vehicle when it is running on electrical power.
x Pedestrians and others can be struck and seriously injured because they cannot hear the
vehicle and tell that it is getting close to them, for instance when you are parking, backing
up, or driving in a low-speed zone where there is likely to be pedestrian traffic.
x Always watch out for pedestrians, especially small children, cyclists, and others who may
not hear the vehicle or realize that it is about to move or will cross their path of travel.
x Always be especially CAReful in residential areas, school zones, and other places where
the speed of motor vehicles is restricted and pedestrians may be at greater risk,
x Make sure the ignition and the hybrid drive system have both been turned off before
leaving the vehicle.
.WARNING
Never leave the vehicle when hybrid drive system indicator lights are still lit. The vehicle can
move if the accelerator is depressed even though the combustion engine has been stopped.
This can cause accidents and severe or lethal injuries.
x Make sure the transmission is in Park (P) before you get out of the vehicle.
.WARNING
Never support the vehicle with cinder blocks, bricks, or other objects to inspect it. The
vehicle could slip or move suddenly and cause an accident with serious personal injury.
.WARNING
Never let the hybrid battery get wet. Liquids and other fluids can cause short circuits,
electrical shock, burns, and explosions.
x Never CARry large amounts of liquids or other fluids in the luggage compartment.
x Always make sure that any containers with liquids and other fluids are properly secured
and tightly closed to prevent leakage during normal driving as well as hard cornering,
braking, and other vehicle maneuvers. Leaking liquids can get into the cover of the high-
voltage battery and the high-voltage cable connections. This can damage the electrical
system and the high-voltage battery.
.Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty. There may not always be enough charge in
the high-voltage battery to get to the next gas station.
Warning and indicator lights

Warning lights and text messages are shown in the instrument cluster display. Acoustic warnings may
also sound at the same time.

Lights up Warnings in the instrument
cluster display Proper response
∋ Fault in the hybrid system: stop
the vehicle at a safe location!
Stop the vehicle in a safe place as soon as it is safe
to do so.
∋
Fault Hybrid system: Workshop! See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
High-voltage battery is being
charged.
While this message appears, do not stop the engine.
2%!$9 READY.
Never leave the vehicle parked in the ready position.
Remove the remote control vehicle key out of the
ignition or for vehicle with Keyless Access press the
starter button When leaving the vehicle always take
the remote control vehicle key with you.
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