2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE steering

On hills
Before stopping the engine, turn the steering wheel so that, if the vehicle starts to roll, its front wheels will roll into the curb:
x Facing downhill, turn the front wheels so that they point toward the curb.
x Facing uphill, turn the front wheels so that they point away from the curb.
WARNING
The vehicle exhaust system and the catalytic converter or diesel particulate filter get very hot. They can cause fires and serious personal injury.
x Never park where the hot exhaust system could ignite flammable materials, such as brush, leaves, dry grass, spilled fuel, etc.
NOTICE
x Always be careful when you park in areas with parking barriers or high curbs. These vary in height and could damage your bumper and related parts if the front of your vehicle hits a barrier or curb that is too high while you are getting into or out of a parking spot. To help prevent damage, stop before the tires of your vehicle touch a parking barrier or curb.
x Always be careful when you enter a driveway or drive up or down steep ramps or over curbs or other obstacles. Parts of the vehicle close to the ground may be damaged (such as bumper covers, spoilers, and parts of the engine, suspension, and exhaust systems).
x Always close the convertible top before leaving the vehicle and when it may rain or snow. If the convertible top is open, rain or snow can damage the vehicle interior and can cause extensive damage to the electrical system.
About the brakes

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.
Display
Different cruise control versions are available. The stored speed is shown in the instrument cluster display on some equipment versions.
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.
Cruise control operation

Fig. 128 On the left side of the steering column: Cruise control buttons and switches.

WARNING
Driving with a fuel tank that is almost empty can lead to stalling in traffic, a collision, and serious personal injuries.
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.
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.
x Always refuel when the tank is 1/4 full to reduce the risk of running out of fuel and stalling in traffic.
NOTICE
x Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
x Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty. The irregular fuel supply can cause the engine to misfire. This allows unburned fuel to get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic converter or the diesel particulate filter.
The small arrow next to the gas pump symbol in the fuel gauge shows the side of the vehicle with the fuel filler flap.
Refueling

Fig. 136 Fuel cap placed on the open fuel filler flap.

WARNING
Improper care and servicing, and improper modification and repair work, can increase the risk of personal injury and death by preventing an airbag from deploying when needed or deploying an airbag unexpectedly:
x Never repair, adjust, or change any parts of the airbag system.
x All work on the airbag system, steering wheel, instrument panel, front seats or electrical system (including the installation of audio equipment, mobile telephones and CB radios, etc.) should be performed by authorized Volkswagen dealers or authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities. They have the necessary manuals, training, and special equipment.
x The airbag system can be activated only once. After an airbag has inflated, it must be replaced.
x Use only original equipment airbags approved by Volkswagen. Have them installed by a trained technician who has the necessary tools and diagnostic equipment to properly replace any airbag in your vehicle and assure system effectiveness in a crash.
x Never permit salvaged or recycled airbags to be installed in your vehicle.
Undeployed airbag modules and safety belt pretensioners are classified as Perchlorate Material. Special handling may apply – see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate. Obey all applicable legal requirements regarding handling and disposal of the vehicle or parts of its restraint system, including airbag modules and safety belts with pretensioners. Authorized Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities are familiar with the requirements, and we recommend that you have them perform this service for you.
Notice about data recorded by vehicle control modules

human body. Limits and guidelines have been established by governmental authorities and international committees in an effort to keep the electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones at levels that will not cause health problems. However, there is no scientifically based proof that wireless phones are absolutely safe.
Therefore, some experts recommend a precautionary approach regarding the use of mobile phones by taking measures that lower the personal exposure to electromagnetic fields. When using a mobile telephone inside a motor vehicle without a proper connection to an integrated vehicle telephone antenna, the personal exposure to electromagnetic fields will be higher than when using the mobile telephone while properly connected to an integrated or other outside vehicle telephone antenna.
Your vehicle may be equipped with an optional hands-free system that will permit many of the features of compatible Bluetooth® enabled mobile telephones to be used for greater convenience and is consistent with the laws of an increasing number of states and localities that prohibit the use of mobile telephones without some kind of hands-free device.
The hands-free system in your vehicle can be used with certain mobile phones that are connected by wire and hardware connector or via compatible Bluetooth® enabled phones with a cradle that is designed to fit your mobile telephone. The special cradle offers several advantages: The phone cradle must be safely secured to the base plate. Your phone is firmly attached to the instrument panel and is within reach at all times. Placing the phone in its cradle permits it to be charged, but more importantly connects the mobile phone to the vehicle's outside antenna. A mobile telephone that is properly connected to the integrated or other outside vehicle telephone antenna will lower the personal exposure to electromagnetic fields. You should also experience a better quality of service. Although a mobile telephone can be used inside your vehicle without a cradle, the phone will not be securely attached to the vehicle, will not be charged through the cradle wiring, and more importantly will not be connected to the vehicle's integrated telephone antenna. The mobile phone will also not be recharged. You might also experience more dropped calls and an overall impaired quality of the connection.
Therefore we strongly recommend that you use your mobile telephone in your vehicle only when it is properly attached to an appropriate cradle mounted on a base plate on the instrument panel.
Because of the large number and variety of mobile telephones on the market and the frequency with which new models are introduced, Volkswagen does not offer cradles for mobile telephones. Please check with the manufacturer of the mobile telephone that you plan to use.
Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth® SIG, Inc.
WARNING
A mobile phone on the seat, instrument panel or in other places can be thrown around the inside of the vehicle during a sudden braking maneuver, a crash or other accident and injure vehicle occupants.
x Never place or attach accessories or other objects (such as cup holders, telephone brackets, note pads, navigation systems, large, heavy or bulky objects) on the doors, on the windshield, over or near the area marked “AIRBAG” on the steering wheel, instrument panel, backrests or between these areas and the occupant. Such objects could cause serious injury in a collision, especially if an airbag inflates.

Special considerations when unlocking:
x If the vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft alarm system, the system remains activated for the unlocked vehicle. But the alarm is not triggered at first, Power locking and closing system.
x Open the driver door. The alarm will sound.
x Switch on the ignition. For vehicles with Keyless Access, deactivate the alarm by holding the remote control vehicle key to the right of the steering column trim and pressing the starter button, Starter button, if necessary. The electronic immobilizer recognizes a valid remote control vehicle key when the ignition is switched on and deactivates the anti-theft alarm system.
The driver door can be unlocked separately from the inside the vehicle by pulling the door handle to open the door, Unlocking or locking the vehicle from the inside.
The anti-theft alarm system, when installed, is not activated when the vehicle is locked manually with the key bit, Power locking and closing system.
Manually locking the passenger door

Fig. 151 On the edge of the passenger door: A unlocked, B locked.

WARNING
Towing a vehicle changes the way it handles and brakes. To help reduce the risk of an accident and serious personal injury, note the following:
x The driver of the vehicle that is being towed:
– Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is stopped, you will need to press harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Always be alert so as not to rear-end the towing vehicle.
– Will have to use considerably more force to turn the steering wheel because the power steering is not working.
x The driver of the vehicle that is doing the towing:
– Must accelerate gradually and gently and avoid jerking movements.
– Must not brake hard or steer sharply.
– Must brake earlier and more gently than in normal driving.
NOTICE
x Be careful not to damage the paint when installing and removing the towing eye and the cover for the threaded hole behind the bumper.
x Unburned fuel can get into the catalytic converter during towing and damage it.
Towing on a commercial tow truck

x If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
x If the vehicle battery is dead (because the electronic steering column lock engages and cannot be released).
x If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).
WARNING
It is not safe for children or other persons to ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
x Never let children or anyone else remain in the vehicle while it is being towed.
NOTICE
The drive axle rotates while the vehicle is being towed with its rear wheels off the ground. This can damage the automatic transmission.
x Never tow automatic transmission vehicle with the rear wheels off the ground.
x Tow manual transmission vehicles with the rear wheels off the ground only if it is certain that no transmission fluid can leak out.
Tips on towing