2014 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG warning

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.

WARNING
Areas that look harmless can, in fact, be very 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.
x Before crossing an unknown area, carefully explore the route you plan to take on foot.
x Never choose a risky route or run a risk that will endanger you and your passengers. If you have any doubts as to whether the route is safe, turn around use a different route.
x Always adapt driving speed and style to load, terrain, visibility, and weather conditions.
Selecting the right gear

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.
x After driving through water, have the vehicle drive train and electrical system thoroughly inspected for damage by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
WARNING
Flowing water is very powerful and can sweep your vehicle away. This can lead create an extremely dangerous situation and cause an accident with serious personal injuries.
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 Never stop in the water.
x If water gets into the engine, your vehicle can break down. You will lose control of a broken down vehicle, and it can be swept away.
x Soft surfaces, mud, underwater obstacles, and holes can cause accidents and can cause the vehicle to break down in the water. This can lead pose extreme danger.
x Rapidly flowing water can develop strong forces that can pull the vehicle downstream. This can cause accidents and fatal injuries.
x Drive through water only where the banks and bottom are firm enough and the water is shallower at all points than the maximum permissible fording depth for your vehicle
⇒ table 488.
NOTICE
x Vehicle components such as the engine, drive train, suspension or electrical system may be severely damaged by driving through water.
x Avoid stopping in deep water. This can let water get inside the vehicle.
x On soft ground, the tires dig into the surface. This reduces fording depth. Make sure that the ground is sufficiently firm.
x Avoid creating a bow wave in front of the vehicle while driving through water. A bow wave could force its way into the engine air intake duct and seriously damage the engine.
x If you even briefly exceed the maximum fording depth when driving through water, severe engine damage will result. This engine damage will lead to a vehicle breakdown. This can disable the vehicle in the water.
x Never drive over salt flats or through salt or salty water. Salt causes vehicle corrosion. Rinse all parts of the vehicle that were exposed to salt or salt water right away with fresh water.
Driving over snow-covered terrain

Install snow chains on all 4 tires before driving over snow-covered terrain.
Snow-covered terrain may look harmless but the snow can hide many dangers. This is particularly true for stretches where you can't see the tracks left by other vehicles.
WARNING
Driving through snow-covered terrain is very dangerous.
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 Potholes, ruts, ditches, drop-offs, and other obstacles are often partially or completely hidden by the snow, especially when it is deep.
x Snow-covered dangers can lead to an accident, serious personal injury, or stranding under extreme weather conditions.
x Always adapt driving speed and style to load, terrain, visibility, and weather conditions.
Driving in steep terrain

x Gently apply the foot brake to help keep the vehicle under control.
x If it is possible and if it is not dangerous, drive straight down the fall line (maximum slope).
x Do not shift into Neutral (N).
WARNING
Never try to drive up or down slopes that are too steep for your vehicle. The vehicle could slide away, tip over, or roll over.
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 lateral angle must never be more than the maximum angle approved for the vehicle.
x Always drive along the fall line when driving up or down a slope.
x Never try to turn the vehicle around on a slope. The vehicle could tip over or roll down the slope.
x If the engine stalls or you can no longer drive up the slope for any reason, stop and apply the foot brake. If stalled, apply the foot brake and restart the engine. Then shift into Reverse (R) and carefully back your vehicle straight down the slope along the fall line. Keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x If the engine will not restart, apply constant pressure to the foot brake and carefully back straight down the slope the same way you drove up. Keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x If the engine is running, select Reverse and carefully back straight down the slope the same way you drove up. Use engine braking power and the foot brake to keep the vehicle speed slow and even.
x Never just roll down a slope with the transmission in Neutral (N). You could lose control of the vehicle.
Driving crosswise on a slope

Fig. 294 Steer downhill along the fall line.

WARNING
Never try to drive crosswise on a slope, especially one that is too steep for your vehicle. The vehicle could slide sideways and tumble down the slope. To reduce the risk of accidents and serious injuries:
x Never underestimate the difficulties and dangers of driving crosswise on a slope. 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 different route.
x When driving crosswise on a hill, the vehicle can lose its hold, slide sideways, tip or turn over and roll down the hill.
x Make certain that the wheels on the downhill side of the vehicle do not run over holes or depressions. Make certain that the wheels on the high side of the vehicle do not run over rocks, tree stumps, or protruding objects.
x Before driving crosswise on a hill, check whether it is possible to steer into the fall line along the selected route. If this is not possible, select a different route. If the vehicle
threatens to tip, immediately steer downhill into the fall line and gently accelerate ⇒ fig. 294.
x If the vehicle is stopped a hillside and is laterally tilted, avoid sudden and uncontrolled movement in the vehicle The vehicle can lose its hold, slide sideways, tip, or turn over and roll down the hill.
x If the vehicle is stopped at while pointed crosswise on a steep slope, make certain that no one exits the vehicle through a door on the downhill side. This can shift the vehicle center of gravity to the downhill side. The can tilt or roll over and roll down the hill. To help minimize
this risk, always exit the vehicle through the doors that are facing uphill ⇒ fig. 295.
x When getting out, make certain that doors opened on the uphill side are not closed carelessly and do not swing shut due to their own weight and injure anybody.
Avoiding deep ruts and depressions

WARNING
If the approach/departure angle or the lateral angle of the ditch are too steep for the vehicle, do not attempt to cross the ditch. The vehicle can fall over on its side, slide sideways, or turn over.
NOTICE
If you enter at right angles to the ditch, the front wheels will fall into the ditch. The underbody of the vehicle can get stuck and the vehicle can be damaged or disabled. Getting out of a ditch without assistance is rarely possible, even with all-wheel drive.
Driving in sand and mud

WARNING
Driving on tires that are not inflated to the correct cold tire inflation pressure can cause an accident with serious or fatal injuries.
x If the tires are not inflated to the correct pressure, they will wear out faster and the vehicle will not handle as well.
x Incorrect tire pressure can make tires overheat, resulting in tire damage including tire tread separation and sudden blowouts that can make you lose control of the vehicle.
If the vehicle is stuck