2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Acc warning

Replace worn or damaged wiper blades immediately. Replacement blades may be purchased from any authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Lifting and tilting windshield wiper arms
Move the wiper arms to the service position before lifting them away from the windshield ⇒  Wind-shield wiper and washer.
It is not possible to lift the wiper arms away from the windshield when they are not in the service position.
When lifting or replacing a wiper blade on a window, grip it only by its mounting and not by the blade itself.
Cleaning the wiper blades
x Lift the wiper arm(s) away from the windshield.
x Using a soft cloth, carefully remove dust and dirt from the wiper blades.
x If the blades are very dirty, carefully clean them with a sponge or cloth ⇒ .
x Carefully fold the wiper arm back down onto the windshield.
Changing wiper blades
x Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield.
x Press and hold the release button ⇒ fig. 190 (1).
x While lifting the wiper blade in the direction of the wiper arm, pull off the wiper blade in the direction of the arrow. This may require moderate force.
x Install a new wiper blade of same length and type onto the wiper arm by pushing in the opposite direction of the arrow until it latches.
x Carefully fold the wiper arm back down onto the windshield.
WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents and severe injuries.
x Always change wiper blades if they are damaged or worn, and if they cannot clean the windows sufficiently.
NOTICE
x Damaged or dirty wiper blades can scratch the windshield.
x Solvents, abrasive sponges and sharp-edged objects will damage the graphite coating on the wiper blades.
x Do not clean the windows with gasoline, nail polish remover, paint thinner or similar fluids.
x To help prevent damage to the engine hood and the windshield wiper arms, lift the wiper arms away from the windshield only when they are in the service position.
Waxing and polishing vehicle paint

WARNING
Improper care and cleaning of vehicle components can compromise the vehicle's safety fea-tures and cause serious personal injury.
x Always clean and maintain vehicle components according to manufacturer's instructions.
x Only use approved or recommended cleaners.
NOTICE
x Vehicle care products containing solvents can cause irreparable damage to plastics and other vehicle materials.
x Stains, dirt and other deposits that contain aggressive substances or solvents can corrode vehicle materials and cause permanent damage, even after brief contact with the surface.
x Remove stains, dirt, and other deposits as quickly as possible and do not allow them to dry.
x To help prevent damage, have stubborn stains removed by a professional who has the necessary expertise and experience.
Suitable care products are available from authorized Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities.
Caring for upholstery

WARNING
Damage to safety belts reduces their overall effectiveness and increases the risk of serious personal injury and death whenever the vehicle is being used.
x Check the condition of all safety belts regularly. If you notice that the safety belt webbing, hardware, retractor, buckle, or any other part of the safety belts is damaged, immediately have an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility replace the safety belt with the correct replacement belt for your vehicle model and model year.
x Never use chemical cleaning agents, solvents, or any substance that may damage or weaken the safety belt webbing or any other parts of the safety belt. Never let the belts come into contact with corrosive fluids or sharp objects. Otherwise, the safety belt webbing will be significantly weakened.
x After cleaning, always give the safety belts time to dry completely before letting them retract. The moisture can damage the retractor and keep it from working properly.
x Never let foreign objects or liquids get into the safety belt latch. This could prevent the belt buckles and safety belts from working properly.
x Damaged safety belts must be replaced; they cannot be repaired.
x Never try to repair a damaged safety belt yourself. Never remove or modify the safety belts in any way.
x Safety belts that were subject to stress in an accident and stretched must be replaced with a correct, new safety belt, preferably by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Replacement after a crash may be necessary even if a safety belt shows no visible dam-age. Anchorages that have been loaded must also be inspected.

WARNING
Inappropriate spare parts and accessories as well as unprofessionally performed work, modi-fications and repairs can cause vehicle damage, accidents and serious personal injuries.
x Volkswagen strongly recommends to only use accessories approved by Volkswagen and Genuine Volkswagen Parts®. These parts and accessories have been evaluated by Volkswagen for their suitability, reliability and safety.
x Have repairs and vehicle modifications performed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Authorized Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities have the required tools, diagnostic equipment, repair infor-mation, and trained personnel to properly replace any airbag in your vehicle and assure sys-tem effectiveness in a crash.
x Only install parts on the vehicle that are consistent with factory-installed parts with re-spect to design and characteristics.
x Never store, mount or attach objects, such as cup holders or phone cradles on or next to the airbag module covers or within the airbags deployment zones.
x Only use wheel rim / tire combinations approved by Volkswagen for the respective vehicle type.
Break-in period

Volkswagen recommends that you consult an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility before purchasing accessories, spare parts or other equipment. Always do so if you want to install additional accessories or replace parts. Your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility can provide information about legal requirements and factory-recommended accessories, spare parts, and other equipment.
WARNING
Improper vehicle modifications and repairs affect the performance of the airbag system and cause malfunctions and severe personal injuries.
x Never store, mount or attach objects, such as cup holders or phone cradles, on or next to the airbag module covers or within the airbag deployment zones.
x Objects on or near the surface where airbags are located can come loose and cause seri-ous personal injury if the airbag deploys.
Operating fluids and equipment

Therefore we strongly recommend that you use your cellular 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 cellular telephones on the market and the frequency with which new models are introduced, Volkswagen does not offer cradles for cellular telephones. Please check with the manufacturer of the cellular 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 brack-ets, note pads, navigation systems, large, heavy or bulky objects) on the doors, on the wind-shield, 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.
WARNING
Using a mobile phone or CB radio inside the vehicle without a properly installed and separate outside antenna can be dangerous to your health and that of your passengers because the electromagnetic radiation energy that mobile phones and CB radios emit may be above es-tablished limits. This also applies if the outside antenna is not installed properly.
x Always keep the mobile phone antenna at least 8 in (20 cm) away from pacemakers. Heart specialists advise that mobile phones can adversely affect the way pacemakers work.
x Never carry a mobile phone that is switched on in the breast pocket directly over a pace-maker.
x If you suspect there may be interference with a pacemaker or other medical device, switch the mobile phone off immediately.

Checklist
For your own safety and that of your passengers, carry out the following steps in the order listed ⇒ :
1. Park the vehicle at a safe distance from traffic and on a suitable surface ⇒ .
2. Switch on emergency flashers by pressing the  switch ⇒ fig. 193.
3. Apply the parking brake to help prevent the vehicle from moving ⇒  Braking and parking.
4. Shift the transmission into Park (P) (automatic) or Neutral (manual only) ⇒  Shifting.
5. Stop the engine and remove the key from the ignition switch ⇒  Starting and stopping the engine.
6. Have all passengers exit and go to a safe location away from moving traffic, such as behind a guard rail.
7. Take all vehicle keys with you when leaving your vehicle.
8. Set up a warning triangle or other warning device in order to alert other motorists and cyclists.
9. Let the engine cool down and get expert assistance if necessary.
If the emergency flashers are on, use the turn signal lever to indicate a direction or lane change, for example when the vehicle is being towed. This temporarily interrupts the emergency flashers.
Switch on the emergency flashers when:
x Traffic suddenly slows down or stops in front of you to warn those approaching from behind.
x In any emergency situation.
x If the vehicle breaks down.
x When being towed.
Always obey traffic laws that govern the use of emergency flashers where you are driving.
If the emergency flashers are not working, a different method – as permitted by law – must be used to alert other motorists and cyclists to the breakdown.
WARNING
Disregarding the safety-related checklist may lead to accidents and serious personal injuries.
x Always review and follow the checklist. Follow accepted safety practices and use common sense.
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 parts of the hot exhaust system or catalytic converter could ignite flammable materials, such as dry grass, brush, leaves, spilled fuel, etc.
NOTICE
To help prevent damage to the vehicle if you should have to push it a short distance by hand, never push against spoilers, lights, body panels, windows, or similar parts. Concentrating force on these parts of the vehicle can cause expensive damage that may not always be obvi-ous right away.

x Slip the cover up and over the selector lever ⇒ .
Emergency release for the selector lever
x Push the release lever ⇒ fig. 204 in the direction of the arrow and hold it in this position.
x Press the release button in the selector lever handle and shift the selector lever to Neutral (N).
x Carefully press the selector gate cover back in place, making sure that the electrical wiring stays in the correct position and is not pinched or damaged
WARNING
Never shift the transmission out of Park (P) without first firmly applying the parking brake. Otherwise, the vehicle can start to roll unexpectedly, especially on hills or inclines, and cause an accident and serious injuries.
NOTICE
Even with the selector lever is in N (Neutral), the automatic transmission will be damaged if the vehicle is towed (or you let it coast) for an extended period or at high speed with the engine shut off.