Electronic immobilizerRead and observe
and on page 106 first.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deac-
tivated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock.
The electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when the ignition key is
withdrawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used.
The MAXI DOT display shows the following: Immobilizer active.
Ignition lock
Fig. 107
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
Read and observe and on page 106 first.
Petrol engines » Fig. 107
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Diesel engines » Fig. 107
Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the
steering can be locked.
Heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
Starting engine
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel
until the steering locking pin engages audibly.
123123If the steering is locked and the key cannot be turned or can only be turned
with difficulty to position 2 » Fig. 107 , move the steering wheel back and
forth and the steering lock will unlock.
Note
We recommend locking the steering wheel whenever leaving the vehicle. This
acts as a deterrent against the attempted theft of your car.
Engine
Read and observe
and on page 106 first.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The glow
plug warning light lights up after the ignition has been switched on. Start
the engine once the warning light has gone out.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Move the gearshift lever into neutral or move the selector lever into position
P or N.
›
Switch on the ignition
2
» Fig. 107 on page 107 .
›
Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key to position
3
to the stop and release immediately the engine
has started – do not depress the accelerator.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position
1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 106 first.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key to position
1
» Fig. 107 on
page 107 .
107Starting-off and Driving
Brakes
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
108
Handbrake
109WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
The clutch pedal must be depressed when braking on a vehicle with man-
ual transmission, when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs. Otherwise,
the function of the brake booster may be impaired – risk of accident!
■
If a front spoiler, full wheel trim, etc. is mounted retrospectively, it must
be ensured that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced.
The front brakes may overheat, which can have a negative impact on the
functioning of the braking system – there is a risk of an accident.
■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave persons who might, for example,
release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear unattended in the ve-
hicle. The vehicle could then start to move – risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 113.■Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not
necessary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer
braking distance and excessive wear.
Information on braking
Read and observe
and on page 108 first.
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system con-
siders the situation to be dangerous for the following traffic, the brake light
flashes automatically.
After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the vehicle was stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af- ter accelerating or driving off again.
Before travelling a long distance down a steep gradient, reduce speed and
shift into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will
be used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be
completed intermittently, not continuously.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv- ing style.
The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in towns
and over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted.
Under these severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must also be
checked by a specialist garage between services.
Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake
pads may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter.
The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times.
Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that
the brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropri-
ately as you will not know the exact extent of the damage.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system.
The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically » page 40,
Brake sys-
tem .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.108Driving
HandbrakeFig. 108
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 108 first.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Releasing
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the locking
button » Fig. 108 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light lights up when the handbrake is applied, pro-
vided the ignition is on.
WARNINGPlease note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system – there is a
risk of an accident.
CAUTION
After the vehicle has come to a standstill, always tighten the handbrake first
and then switch to first gear (vehicles with manual gearbox) or move the se-
lector lever to the P position (vehicles with automatic transmission).Manual gear changing and pedals
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
109
Pedals
109
Manual gear changing
Fig. 109
Shift pattern of the 5-speed
manual gearbox
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear on the clutch.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 32.
Only engage reverse gear when the vehicle is stationary. Depress the clutch
pedal and hold it fully depressed. Wait a moment before reverse gear is engag-
ed to avoid any shift noises.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the
ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
CAUTION
If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gearshift
lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift mech-
anism to wear excessively.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances!
109Starting-off and Driving
R - Reverse gear
Reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is at idling speed.
Depress the brake pedal and simultaneously press the shiftlock in the selector
lever grip before shifting to R from P or N.N
- Neutral
Power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.
D
- Mode for forwards travel (normal programme)
In mode D, the forward gears are automatically changed according to the en-
gine load, accelerator pedal actuation and driving speed.
S
- Mode for forwards travel (sports programme)
In mode S, the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at higher
engine speeds than in mode D.
The shiftlock on the selector lever grip must be pressed when moving the se-
lector lever out of D mode into S mode.
Releasing selector lever from P or N modes (selector lever lock)
The selector lever is locked in the P and N modes to prevent the forwards trav-
el mode from being selected accidentally and setting the vehicle in motion.
The warning light lights up in the instrument cluster
» page 46.
The selector lever is released by depressing the brake pedal while simultane- ously pressing the locking button in the selection lever grip.
The selector lever is not locked when shifted quickly through N (e.g. from R to
D ). This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck, e.g. in a bank of
snow. The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in position N for more
than approximately 2 seconds without the brake pedal being depressed.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P to mode D or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents modes R or N from being selec-
ted accidentally.Manual shifting (Tiptronic)Fig. 111
Selector / MAXI DOT display: gear engaged
Read and observe
and on page 110 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears on the selector lever. This mode can be selected both while halted and while driving.
The gear currently selected is indicated in the display
1
» Fig. 111 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 32.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from position D towards the right, or left in a right-
hand drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears
›
Press the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 111 .
Shifting down gears
›
Press the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 111 .
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear
just before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
If a lower gear is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no risk of the engine overrevving.
Note
It may be beneficial, for example, when travelling downhill, to use manual
shifting of gears. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and
hence brake wear » page 108, Information on braking .111Starting-off and Driving
Starting-off and drivingRead and observe
and on page 110 first.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press and hold the shiftlock button on the selector lever grip.
›
Move the selector lever into the desired position » page 110 and then release
the lock button.
›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stop
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Keep holding the brake pedal until driving is resumed.
The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping for a
short time, such as at a cross roads.
Parking
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Press and hold the shiftlock button on the selector lever grip.
›
Move the selector lever into the position P and then release the locking but-
ton.
Kickdown
The kickdown function allows you to achieve maximum acceleration by your vehicle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the kickdown function is activa-
ted in any forward driving mode.
The gearbox shifts down one or more gears depending on the vehicle speed
and engine speed, and the vehicle accelerates.
The gearbox does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has
reached its maximum revolutions for this gear range.
WARNINGRapid acceleration, particularly on slippery roads, can lead to loss of control
of the vehicle – there is a risk of an accident.Malfunction
Read and observe
and on page 110 first.
Emergency programme
The transmission switches to the emergency programme if there is a fault in
the automatic gearbox system.
Indications of an activated emergency programme include the following:
› Only certain gears are selected.
› Reverse gear
R cannot be used.
› Shifting gears in Tiptronic mode is not possible.
Gearbox overheating
The gearbox may, for example, become too hot due to frequent repeated
starting or stop-and-go traffic. Overheating is indicated by the warning
light » page 38 ,
Clutches of the automatic DSG gearbox are too hot
.
Note
Visit a specialist workshop if the gearbox has switched to the emergency pro-
gramme.
Selector lever-emergency unlocking
Fig. 112
Selector lever-emergency un-
locking
Read and observe and on page 110 first.
If the selector lever lock is defective or its power supply is interrupted (e.g. dis-
charged vehicle battery, faulty fuse), the selector lever can no longer be moved
out of position P in the normal manner, and the vehicle can no longer be driv-
en.
The selector lever emergency unlocking procedure is as follows.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
112Driving
Assist systems
Brake assist systems
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
119
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
120
Traction Control System (ASR)
120
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
120WARNING■ A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to
shut down. The brake assist systems would then fail to function – risk of
accident!■
Adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions. The increased safety provided by the brake assist
systems must not tempt you to take safety risks – risk of accident!
■
In the event of an ABS fault, visit a specialist garage immediately. Adjust
your style of driving according to the damage to the ABS, as you will not
know the exact extent of the damage or the extent to which this is limiting the braking efficiency.
CAUTION
■ All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres approved by the manufac-
turer to ensure the brake assist systems operate correctly.■
Changes to the vehicle (e.g. to the engine, brakes, chassis) can influence the
functionality of the brake assist systems » page 132, Services, modifications
and technical alterations .
■
If a fault occurs in the ABS system, the ESC, TCS and EDL will also fail to
work. An ABS fault is indicated with the warning light
» page 42 .
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Read and observe
and on page 119 first.
The ESC system helps to maintain control of the vehicle in situations where it
is being operated at its dynamic limits, such as a sudden change in the direc-
tion of travel. Depending on the road surface conditions, the risk of skidding is
reduced, thereby improving the vehicle's driving stability .
The ESC system is automatically activated each time the ignition is switched
on.
The direction which the driver wishes to take is determined based on the
steering angle and the speed of the vehicle and is constantly compared with
the actual behaviour of the vehicle. In the event of deviations occurring, such
as the car beginning to skid, the ESC system will automatically brake the ap-
propriate wheel.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light
flashes in the instru-
ment cluster.
The following systems are integrated into the electronic stabilisation control
(ESC) :
› Antilock brake system (ABS),
› Traction control (TCS),
› Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
› Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
› Hill Hold Control (HHC).
The ESC system cannot be deactivated. The
» Fig. 117 on page 120 button
can only be used to deactivate the TCS. The warning light comes on in the
instrument cluster when the TCS is deactivated.
In the event of an ESC fault, the ESC warning light illuminates in the instru-
ment cluster
» page 42 .
Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
HBA increases the braking effect and helps to shorten the braking distance.
The HBA is activated by very quick operation of the brake pedal. In order to
achieve the shortest possible braking distance, the brake pedal must be ap-
plied firmly until the vehicle has come to a standstill.
The HBA function is automatically switched off when the brake pedal is re-
leased.
The ABS is activated faster and more effectively with the intervention of the
HBA.
Hill Hold Control (HHC)
When driving on slopes, HHC allows you to move your foot from the brake ped-
al to the accelerator pedal without having to use the handbrake.
The system holds the brake pressure produced by the activation of the brake
pedal for approx. 2 seconds after the brake pedal is released. 119Assist systems
The brake pressure drops gradually the more you operate the accelerator ped-
al. If the vehicle does not start off within 2 seconds, it starts to roll back.
HHC is active on slopes of >5 % when the driver door is closed. HHC is always only active on slopes when in forward or reverse start off. When driving down-
hill, it is inactive.
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
Read and observe
and on page 119 first.
ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking. Thus helping the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle.
The intervention of the ABS is noticeable from the pulsating movements of
the brake pedal which is accompanied by noises.
When the ABS system is active, do not brake periodically or reduce the pres- sure on the brake pedal.
Traction Control System (ASR)
Fig. 117
TCS button
Read and observe and on page 119 first.
If the wheels are slipping, the ASR system adapts the engine speed to the con-
ditions of the road surface. The TCS makes it much easier to start off, acceler-
ate and climb steep hills even if the conditions of the road surface are unfav-
ourable.
The TCS function is automatically activated each time the ignition is switched
on.
During an intervention of the system, the TCS warning light flashes in the
instrument cluster.
The TCS should normally always be enabled. Only in certain exceptional cir-
cumstances can it be sensible to switch the system off, for instance:
› when driving with snow chains;
› when driving in deep snow or on a very loose surface;
› when it is necessary to “rock a vehicle free” when it has got stuck.
Ensure the TCS is activated again afterwards.
You can switch TCS off and on again as needed by pressing the
but-
ton » Fig. 117 . The
warning light comes on in the instrument cluster when the
TCS is deactivated.
The TCS warning light
» page 45 lights up in the instrument cluster when
there is a fault on the TCS.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
Read and observe
and on page 119 first.
If one of the wheels starts to spin, the EDL system brakes the spinning wheel
and transfers the driving force to the other wheels. This ensures the stability
of the vehicle and a quick journey.
EDL switches off automatically to avoid excessive heat generation on the
brake of the wheel being braked. The vehicle can continue to be driven and
has the same characteristics as a vehicle not fitted with EDL. The EDL switches
on again automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down.
Parking aid
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Function
121
Activation/deactivation
121
120Driving
Switching off temporarily123Switching off completely123
The Cruise Control System (CCS) maintains a set speed, more than 25 km/h,
without you having to actuate the accelerator pedal.
This is only possible within the range which is permitted by the power output and braking power of the engine.
The
warning light in the instrument cluster lights up when the cruise con-
trol system is switched on.
WARNING■ For safety reasons, the cruise control system must not be used in dense
traffic or on unfavourable road surfaces (such as icy roads, slippery roads,
loose gravel) – there is a risk of an accident.■
The saved speed may only be resumed if it is not too high for the current
traffic conditions.
■
Always deactivate the cruise control system after use to prevent the sys-
tem being switched on unintentionally.
CAUTION
■ The cruise control system is not able to maintain a constant speed when
driving in areas with steeper gradients. The weight of the vehicle increases the
speed at which it travels. Therefore, shift to a lower gear in good time or slow
the vehicle down by applying the foot brake.■
It is not possible to switch on the cruise control system on vehicles fitted
with a manual gearbox if the first gear or reverse gear is engaged.
■
On vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox, it is not possible to switch on
the cruise control system if the selector lever is in position P, N or R.
■
The Cruise Control System may automatically switch off when some brake
assist systems (e.g. ESC) intervene, when the speed exceeds maximum permis-
sible engine speed, or a similar event takes place.
Storing a speedFig. 119
Operating lever: Operating the
cruise control system
Read and observe and on page 122 first.
Storing a speed
›
Press switch
A
» Fig. 119 to the ON position.
›
After the desired speed has been reached, press the rocker button
B
into
the SET position.
After you have released the rocker button
B
out of the position SET, the
speed you have just stored is maintained at a constant speed without having
to depress the accelerator.
Changing a stored speed
Read and observe
and on page 122 first.
Increasing the speed with the accelerator
›
Depress the accelerator to increase the speed.
›
Release the accelerator to reduce the speed back down to the preset speed.
However, if the saved speed is exceeded by more than 10 km/h for a period of more than 5 minutes by depressing the accelerator, the stored speed is de-
leted from the memory. You have to re-store the desired speed.
Increasing the speed with the rocker button
B›
Press rocker button
B
» Fig. 119 on page 122 to the RES position.
›
The speed will increase continuously, if the rocker button is pressed and held
in the RES position. Release the rocker button once the desired speed is
reached. The set speed is then stored in the memory.
Decreasing the speed
›
The stored speed can be reduced by pressing rocker button
B
» Fig. 119 on
page 122 to the SET position.
122Driving