2015 VOLKSWAGEN E GOLF Condition

Please perform these steps only in the order listed.
Step Vehicles without Keyless Ac-
cess
Vehicles with Keyless Access
7. Release the parking brake when you are ready to start driving

Noises before driving
A clicking noise may be heard when activating the electric motor.
Recognizing that the vehicle is ready to drive
The electric motor does not make any perceptible noise either when starting or when switched on. It is therefore not possible to tell that the vehicle is ready to drive based on vehicle noise. Instead, the following features indicate that the vehicle is ready to drive:
x The needle in the power display ⇒ fig. 9 (1) is positioned at .
x The illumination of the needles in the instrument cluster is switched on regardless of whether the vehicle's exterior lighting is switched on.
x The text message READY appears in the instrument cluster display ⇒ fig. 9 (3).
x An acoustic signal will sound.
Automatic deactivation of the electric motor
The electric motor is automatically deactivated if the vehicle is left with the electric motor still switched on after driving. In vehicles with Keyless Access, the ignition switches off automatically with a delay of about 30 seconds, to protect the vehicle against unauthorized usage.
Reactivating the electric motor
When the electric motor has been automatically switched off once the driver has left the vehicle, it can be switched back on again within 30 seconds.
The driver door must be closed, the brake pedal depressed and one of the following conditions ful-filled:
x Move the selector lever to position D/B/N or P and lock the safety belt.
x OR: move the selector lever to position D/B/N or P and manually release the electronic parking brake.
When the driver door is closed and no pedals are depressed, the electric motor is reactivated by applying the safety belt if one of the following additional conditions is also fulfilled:
x The selector lever is in position P or N and the electronic parking brake is switched on.
x OR: the selector lever is in position D or B, the vehicle is not crawling and the electronic parking brake is switched on.
WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the electric motor activated, especially when it is in gear. The vehicle could move suddenly or some other unexpected event could occur, result-ing in property damage, fire, or personal injury.

WARNING
Medium, high and very high recuperation can lead to loss of traction and skidding, particular-ly on slippery roads. This can cause you to lose control of the vehicle, which can lead to accidents, collisions and serious injuries.
x When charging at high elevations (such as at the top of a pass) never charge the vehicle fully, in order to facilitate a braking effect by means of recuperation when descending.
x Only use medium, high or very high recuperation if visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit, and other road users are not put at risk due to the vehicle's acceleration and your driving style.
WARNING
The higher the charge level of the high-voltage battery, the lower the electric motor braking effect, to the point where no electric motor braking effect may be generated at all. This puts more strain on the vehicle brake.
x Reduce your speed before driving down a long, steep gradient.
x When driving down a long, steep gradient, slow the vehicle using the vehicle brake.
Notes on selecting a driving mode

x The ignition is switched on.
x The vehicle is not drive-ready.
x The driver door is open.
Vehicles with Keyless Access
The crawling function is deactivated if the vehicle has been driven faster than 6 mph (10 km/h) and then comes to a stop. The electric drive is deactivated when the driver safety belt is unlocked and the driver door is opened. If no pedal is pressed, the ignition switches off automatically after about 30 seconds. To avoid unintentional discharge of the 12-volt vehicle battery the ignition is deactivated if the following conditions remain unchanged for about 2 minutes:
x The vehicle is standing still.
x No pedal is pressed.
x The driver safety belt is unlocked.
x The charge level of the 12-volt vehicle battery is low.
Once the ignition has been switched off automatically, the exterior lights remain lit when the light switch is set to AUTO and the charge level is sufficient.
WARNING
A vehicle that is left unattended when ready to drive can cause accidents and serious inju-ries.
x Never leave the vehicle unattended when it is ready to drive.
x Always switch the ignition off and move the selector lever for driving mode to position P, before leaving the vehicle.
x When parking or leaving the vehicle, always ensure that selector lever for driving mode is in position P and that the electric parking brake is switched on.
x When leaving the vehicle always ensure that all doors, windows, the tailgate and bonnet are completely closed and locked.
Electronic parking brake

Fig. 129 In the lower section of the center console: Electronic parking brake button.

mance by applying more pressure to the brake pedal. But, during the break-in period, the stopping distance for hard braking and emergency braking will be longer until the brakes are fully broken in. Avoid hard braking and situations that might require hard braking (such as following other vehicles too closely) – especially during the break-in period.
Brake pad wear depends mostly on operating conditions and the way the vehicle is driven. If you do a lot of city and short-distance driving and/or have a sporty driving style, you should have the brake pads checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility more often than the regular service intervals.
Wet brakes (for example, after driving through water or washing the vehicle or after heavy rainfall) will not brake as well. Stopping distances will be longer when brake discs are wet or, in winter, even icy. Wet or icy brakes must be dried as soon as possible by carefully applying the brakes a couple of times while traveling at a relatively high speed. Make sure nobody is behind you and that you do not endan-
ger yourself or others ⇒ .
Brakes coated with road salt also react slower and need longer stopping distances. If there is salt on the roads and you are not braking regularly, brake carefully and gently from time to time to remove any
salt coating from the brake discs and pads ⇒ .
Brake disc corrosion (rust) and dirt buildup on the brake pads are more likely to occur if the vehicle is not driven much or is driven only for short distances with little braking. If the brakes have not been used and there is some rust on the discs, clean the brake discs and pads once in a while by carefully braking a couple of times while driving at relatively high speed to help clean the brake discs and pads.
Make sure nobody is behind you and that you do not endanger yourself or others ⇒ .
Brake system malfunction
If you brake and find that the vehicle doesn't brake nearly as well as it used to (sudden increase in stopping distance), a brake circuit may have failed. The brake warning light H or "2!+% will light up and a message may appear in the instrument cluster display. If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, immediately take it to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for repair. Drive slowly and very carefully, allow for the longer stopping distance, and be ready to push longer and harder on the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down.
Electro-mechanical brake booster
The electro-mechanical brake booster works only when the electric motor is activated. It increases the force on the brakes above and beyond the pressure put on the brake pedal by the driver.
If the electro-mechanical brake booster is not working, you will have to push the brake pedal harder to
make up for the lack of booster assistance and the resulting longer stopping distance ⇒ .
WARNING
New brake pads do not provide maximum braking performance.
x New brake pads do not have the best stopping power for the first 185 miles (300 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 use the recuperation mode. This will let the vehicle use electric motor braking and re-duce 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 bumper 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 dis-tances.
x Carefully apply the brakes to test them.
x Always dry brakes and clean off ice and salt coatings with a few cautious brake applica-tions when visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
WARNING
Driving when the electro-mechanical brake booster is not working increases stopping dis-tances and can cause accidents and serious personal injuries.
x Never let the vehicle coast when the electric motor is switched off.
x If the electro-mechanical brake booster is not working, 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 use the recuperation mode. This will let the vehicle use electric motor 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.
When the front brakes are serviced, you should have the rear brake pads inspected at the same time. The wear of all brake pads should be visually checked regularly. The best way to check for brake pad wear is to have your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility visually inspect the pads through the openings in the wheel rims or from underneath the vehicle. If necessary, the wheels can be taken off for a more thorough inspection.
Braking assistance systems

The ESC, ABS, BAS, ASR, and EDL braking assistance systems work only when the electric motor is activated. These systems can significantly improve active driving safety.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ESC helps to improve road holding and vehicle dynamics to help reduce the probability of skidding and loss of vehicle control. It works only when the electric motor is activated. ESC detects certain difficult driving situations, including when the vehicle is beginning to spin (yaw) out of control. ESC then helps you to get the vehicle back under control by selectively braking the wheels and/or reducing electric motor power and by providing steering assistance to help hold the vehicle on the driver's intended course.
ESC has limitations. It is important to remember that ESC cannot overcome the laws of physics. It will not always be able to help out under all conditions you may come up against. For example, ESC may not always be able to help you master situations where there is a sudden change in the coefficient of friction of the road surface. When there is a section of dry road that is suddenly covered with water, slush or snow, ESC cannot perform the same way it would on a dry surface. If the vehicle “hydro-planes” (rides on a cushion of water instead of the road surface), ESC will not be able to help you steer the vehicle because contact with the pavement has been interrupted and the vehicle cannot be braked or steered. During fast cornering, particularly on winding roads, ESC cannot always deal as effectively with difficult driving situations as it can at lower speeds. When towing a trailer, ESC is not able to help you regain control as it would if you were not towing a trailer.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic, and weather conditions. ESC cannot override the vehicle's physical limits, increase the available traction, or keep a vehicle on the road if road departure is a result of driver inattention. Instead, ESC improves the possibility of keeping the vehicle under control and on the road during extreme maneuvers by using the driver's steering inputs to help keep the vehicle going in the intended direction. If you are traveling at a speed that causes you to run off the road before ESC can provide any assistance, you may not experience the benefits of ESC.
ESC includes and/or works together with the ABS, BAS, ASR, EDL, and XDL systems (see below). ESC is switched on all the time. In certain situations when you need less traction or additional traction cannot be achieved, you can switch off ASR in the Infotainment system by pressing the #!2 button
followed by the

x ABS stops working if you release or let up on the brake.
When ABS is doing its job, you will notice a slight vibration through the brake pedal and hear a noise. ABS cannot shorten the stopping distance under all conditions. The stopping distance may even be longer, for instance, when driving on gravel or on newly fallen snow covering an icy or slip-pery surface.
Brake Assist (BAS)
The Brake Assist System can help to reduce stopping distances. If you press the brake pedal very quickly, BAS detects an emergency situation. It then very quickly builds up full brake system pressure, maximizing braking power and reducing the stopping distance. This way, ABS can be activated more quickly and efficiently.
Do not reduce pressure on the brake pedal! BAS switches off automatically as soon as you release or let up on the brake.
Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
ASR reduces electric motor power directed to spinning wheels and adjusts power to the road condi-tions. Even under poor road conditions, ASR can make it easier to get moving, accelerate, and climb hills.
ASR can be switched on or off manually ⇒  Switching Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) on and off.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL and XDL)
EDL is applied during regular straight-line acceleration. EDL gently brakes a drive wheel that has lost traction (spinning) and redirects the drive force to other drive wheels. In extreme cases, EDL automat-ically switches off to keep the brake from overheating. As soon as the brake has cooled down, EDL automatically switches on again.
XDL is an extension of the Electronic Differential Lock system. XDL does not react to drive wheel slippage when driving straight ahead. Instead, XDL detects slippage of the inside front wheel during fast cornering. XDL applies enough brake pressure to this wheel in order to stop the slippage. This improves traction, which helps the vehicle stay on track.
WARNING
Driving fast on icy, slippery, or wet roads can lead to a loss of control and result in serious personal injury for you and your passengers.
x Always adjust your speed and driving style to road, traffic, weather, and visibility condi-tions. Never let the additional safety that ESC, ABS, BAS, ASR, and EDL can provide tempt you into taking extra risks.
x Braking assistance systems cannot overcome the laws of physics and always prevent loss of vehicle control. Slippery and wet roads are still dangerous even with ESC and the other systems!
x Driving too fast on wet roads can cause the wheels to lose contact with the road and “hy-droplane.” A vehicle that has lost road contact cannot be braked, steered, or controlled.
x These systems cannot reduce the risk of accident, for example if you drive too fast for conditions or if you do not keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you.
x Although these systems are very effective and can help you control the vehicle in many difficult situations, always remember that your vehicle handling control is limited by tire trac-tion.
x When accelerating on a slippery surface, for example on ice and snow, depress the accel-erator carefully. Even with these systems, the wheels may start to spin, leading to a loss of vehicle control.

The vehicle’s high-voltage battery is included in the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The terms and
conditions of this warranty can be found in the Warranty & Maintenance booklet ⇒ Chapter Warranty
and Maintenance.
All batteries age with use and over time. There are things you should know about the care of the high voltage battery that will help it keep giving you good service and reliability over time. Please read and keep the following information in mind while you enjoy the performance and economy of your vehicle.
x Be sure to charge the high voltage battery before leaving the vehicle parked and unused for a longer period of time. Ideally the high-voltage battery should have a charge level between 40 % and 60 % when parked for a long time.
x If the battery charge level is below 3%, never park the vehicle for more than 21 days without charg-ing the high-voltage battery. The