2015 VOLKSWAGEN E GOLF warning

WARNING
High voltage systems in the electric motor compartment can cause electrical shocks or even electrocution, severe burns, other serious injuries, and even death!
x Never short-circuit the electrical system. Be especially careful when using jumper cables. The vehicle's battery could explode!
x To reduce the risk of electrical shock and personal injury while the electric motor is acti-vated:
– Never touch ignition cables. Never touch other components of the high voltage elec-tronic ignition system.
– Never touch the wiring of the HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights.
x Read and heed the important information and warnings on cleaning the electric motor
compartment ⇒  Cleaning the electric motor compartment.
WARNING
Moving parts in the electric motor compartment can cause serious personal injury on con-tact.
x Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan. Contact with the blades can cause serious personal injury. Always remember that the radiator fan is temperature-controlled and can come on suddenly even when the electric motor has been switched off for a while and the key has been removed from the ignition.
x If you have to perform a check or repair when the electric motor is activated, there are more risks from the rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., and from the high-voltage ignition system. Always use extreme care.
– Always make sure that jewelry, loose clothing and long hair do not get caught in rotat-ing electric motor parts. Before starting any work remove your jewelry, take off your neck-tie, tie back and cover your hair, and do not wear clothing that can hang down and get caught in moving electric motor parts.
– Always use extreme caution if the accelerator pedal has to be depressed to perform a check. The vehicle will start to move even if the parking brake is on.
x Never leave any objects in the electric motor compartment, for example cleaning rags and tools. Objects left behind can cause malfunctions, electric motor damage, and even fires.
WARNING
Additional materials in the electric motor compartment such as blankets can interfere with the operation of the electric motor and can cause fires, which can lead to serious injuries.
x Never cover the electric motor with blankets or other materials.
WARNING
Operating fluids and some materials in the electric motor compartment can catch fire easily, causing burns and other serious personal injuries!
x Never smoke near the electric motor compartment.
x Never work next to open flames or sparks.
x Never pour or spill operating fluids or other flammable liquids on the electric motor. These fluids can ignite on hot electric motor parts and cause injuries.
x Always have a functional, approved fire extinguisher nearby.

Checklist
Before any work in the electric motor compartment, carry out the following steps in the order in which
they are listed ⇒ :
d Park the vehicle in a safe place on a firm, level surface.
d Hold the brake pedal down until the electric motor is switched off.
d Apply the parking brake to help prevent the vehicle from moving ⇒  Braking and parking.
d Shift the transmission into Park (P) (automatic) or Neutral (manual only) ⇒  Shifting.
d Stop the electric motor and remove the key from the ignition switch ⇒  Starting and stopping the electric drive.
d Let the electric motor cool down sufficiently.
d Keep children and others away from the vehicle.
d Make sure the vehicle cannot move unexpectedly.
WARNING
Disregarding the safety-related checklist may result in serious injuries.
x Always review and follow the checklist. Follow accepted safety practices and use common sense.
Opening or closing the electric motor compartment

Fig. 152 In the footwell on the driver side: Inside hood release lever.

Under normal driving conditions, the needle should be in the middle of the gauge. The temperature may go higher when the electric motor is working hard, especially in hot weather.
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.
The following table explains what to do if the electric motor coolant temperature warning light ~ does not go out a few seconds after the electric motor is started or starts flashing while driving.

Flashes8 Possible cause Proper response
~
Electric motor coolant
temperature too high.

Do not mix G 13 with G 12 plus or G 11. Mixing these coolant additives together significantly reduces
corrosion protection ⇒  and can lead to electric motor damage that is not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty.
WARNING
Too little antifreeze protection in the electric motor cooling system can cause electric motor failure and severe injuries.
x Always make sure there is enough of the correct coolant additive to provide proper anti-freeze protection at the coldest temperatures that can be expected where the vehicle will be used.
x At extremely cold temperatures, the coolant could freeze, causing the vehicle to break down. The heater would also not work, and vehicle occupants could be without protection at subfreezing temperatures.
NOTICE
Never mix original Volkswagen electric motor coolant additives with other additives not ap-proved by Volkswagen. Mixing Volkswagen coolant additives with coolant additives made by other manufacturers can seriously damage the electric motor and the electric motor cooling system.
x If the fluid in the electric motor coolant reservoir is any color but pink, then G 13 was mixed with a different electric motor coolant. If this is the case, the electric motor coolant must be replaced immediately. Otherwise serious malfunctions or electric motor damage can occur!
Electric motor coolant and electric motor coolant additives can pollute the environment. Collect leaking operating fluids and dispose of them properly in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Checking electric motor coolant level and topping off

Fig. 154 Coolant expansion tank in the electric motor compartment.

WARNING
Hot steam and hot electric motor coolant can cause serious burns.
x Never open the hood if you see steam or coolant escaping from the electric motor com-partment. Always wait until you no longer see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the electric motor.
x Always let the electric motor cool down completely before carefully opening the hood. Hot components will burn skin on contact.
x When the electric motor has cooled down and you are ready to open the hood:
– Firmly apply the parking brake and shift the transmission into Park (P) (automatic) or Neutral (manual only).
– Take the vehicle key out of the ignition.
– On vehicles with Keyless Access, make sure that the remote control vehicle key is out of range of the vehicle and that the vehicle cannot be started by depressing the starter
button ⇒  Starter button.
– Always keep children and others away from the electric motor compartment and never leave them unsupervised.
x The electric motor coolant system is under pressure when the electric motor is hot. Never unscrew the coolant expansion tank cap when the electric motor is hot. Hot coolant can spray out and cause severe burns and other serious injuries.
– Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counterclockwise direction while applying light downward pressure on the top of the cap.
– Always protect your face, hands, and arms from hot escaping coolant or steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
x Never spill fluids on the electric motor when refilling. Spilling fluids onto hot parts of the electric motor can cause a fire. Under some conditions, the ethylene glycol in electric motor coolant can catch fire.
NOTICE
x Use distilled water only when adding coolant! All other types of water contain chemical compounds that can cause extensive corrosion damage to the electric motor. This can even lead to electric motor failure. If you have added non-distilled water, take the vehicle immediate-ly to an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the coolant system drained, flushed, and refilled completely with the proper coolant.
x Refill electric motor coolant only up to the top edge of the marked fill range ⇒ fig. 154. Ex-cess electric motor coolant may be forced out of the electric motor cooling system when it gets hot and cause damage.
x In the case of significant electric motor coolant loss, refill electric motor coolant only when the electric motor is completely cooled down. Significant electric motor coolant loss is a sign of leaks in the cooling system. Have the electric motor cooling system checked immediately by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Otherwise the electric motor may be damaged!
x Do not refill electric motor coolant if there is no coolant in the expansion tank. Air could enter the cooling system. Do not drive the vehicle! Get expert assistance. Failure to do so can result in electric motor damage.
x When changing or topping off operating fluids, make sure that you pour the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Serious malfunctions and electric motor damage can result if you pour operating fluids into the wrong reservoir.

WARNING
Working on the batteries or the electrical system in your vehicle can cause serious acid burns, fires, explosions, or electrical shocks. Always read and heed the following WARNINGS and safety precautions before working on the batteries or the electrical system.
x Before working on the electrical system, always switch off the ignition and all electrical consumers and disconnect the negative (-) cable from the standard 12 Volt battery.
x When you change a light bulb, always switch off the light first.
x Always keep children away from battery acid and vehicle batteries in general.
x Always wear eye protection. Never let battery acid or lead particles come into contact with your eyes, skin, or clothing.
x Sulfuric battery acid is very corrosive. It can burn unprotected skin and cause blindness. Always wear protective gloves and eye protection. To reduce your risk of injury, never tilt the batteries, as this could spill acid through the vents and burn you.
x If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with cold water for several minutes and then get immediate medical attention. If you swallow any battery acid, get medical attention immediately.
x When disconnecting the batteries from the vehicle electrical system, always disconnect the negative cable (-) first and then the positive cable (+).
x Always switch off all electrical consumers before reconnecting 12 Volt batteries. Recon-nect the plus cable (+) first and then the negative cable (-). Never reverse the polarity of the connections. This could cause a fire.
x A highly explosive mixture of gases is given off when the battery is being charged.
x Do not smoke and avoid fires, sparks, and open flames when working. Never create sparks or electrostatic charges when handling cables and electrical equipment. Never short circuit the battery terminals. High-energy sparks can cause serious personal injury.
x Never use or attempt to charge a damaged or frozen battery, or a battery that was frozen but has thawed. Charging a frozen or thawed battery could cause explosions and chemical burns! Replace damaged or frozen vehicle batteries immediately. A dead battery can freeze at temperatures around +32 °F (0 °C).
x If the battery has a vent line or tube, make sure that it is properly connected to the battery.
WARNING
California Proposition 65 Warning
x Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead components, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash your hands after handling.
NOTICE
x Do not expose the vehicle battery to direct sunlight for an extended period of time as ultra-violet rays may damage the battery housing.
x If the vehicle is left standing in the cold for a long time, protect the vehicle battery from freezing. A battery will be permanently damaged by freezing.
Emergency starting and starting the electric motor with a very weak vehicle battery or after the vehicle battery has been replaced may change or delete system settings (including time, date, per-sonal convenience settings, and programming). Check the settings and correct as necessary once the vehicle battery has built up a sufficient charge.

Warning light

WARNING
Failure to use the proper battery with proper mounting and connections may cause short circuits, fires, and serious personal injuries.
x Always use only maintenance-free or cycle-free, leak-proof batteries with the same speci-fications and dimensions as the original equipment battery. Specifications are listed on the battery housing.
WARNING
When the vehicle battery is charged, it produces highly explosive hydrogen gas.
x Charge vehicle batteries only in well-ventilated areas.
x Never charge a frozen or thawed battery. A dead battery can freeze at temperatures around +32 °F (0 °C).
x You must replace the vehicle battery if it was frozen.
x Incorrectly connected cables can cause a short-circuit. First connect the positive cable (+) and then the negative cable (-).
NOTICE
x Never disconnect the vehicle battery or connect 2 vehicle batteries to each other when the ignition is switched on or the electric motor is activated. Doing this may damage the electrical system or electronic components.
x Never use a vehicle battery that does not meet the specifications for the vehicle battery for your vehicle. Using the wrong battery can damage the electrical system or electronic compo-nents and cause electrical malfunctions.
x Never connect power generating equipment, such as a solar panel or battery charger, to the 12 Volt socket in order to charge the vehicle battery. This can damage the vehicle's electrical system.
Dispose of the vehicle battery according to regulations. Vehicle batteries contain poisonous substances such as sulfuric acid and lead.
Battery acid can pollute the environment. Catch leaking operating fluids and dispose of them properly.