2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Lights

High beams can only be switched on when low beams are on.
Switching lights on and off

Fig. 101 Headlight switch next to the steering wheel: A vehicles with front fog lights. B vehicles without front fog lights.

x Light switch in position  if the vehicle has no orientation lighting ⇒ page 122, Coming home / Leaving home features (orientation lighting).
WARNING
Daytime running lights and parking lights are not bright enough to let you see ahead or be seen by others when it is dark.
x Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark and whenever the weather is bad or visibility is poor.
x Never use the daytime running lights to see where you are going. They are not bright enough and will not let you see far enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is dark. Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark.
x The taillights do not come on with the daytime running lights. Unless the taillights are on, a vehicle cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
x Even if automatic headlights (!54/) are switched on, the low-beam headlights may still not come on by themselves in fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam headlights manually.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the taillights, and turn signals can tempo-rarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.
Lights and vision features

Static cornering lights
Your vehicle may have fog lights under the front bumper that are also static cornering lights. On some models the static cornering lights may also be integrated in the headlights. At speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h), the light on one side of the vehicle will come on automatically when you turn a corner. If you turn to the right, the right fog light lights up; turn left and the left fog light lights up. The light dims and goes out when the steering wheel is straightened out again.
When you move the selector lever to Reverse (R), the static cornering lights on both sides of the vehicle may come on so that you can see the area around the vehicle better when backing up.
The static cornering lights work only when the headlights are on. If you are using automatic headlights
(headlight switch in the !54/ position ⇒ fig. 101), they work only when the headlights have been auto-matically switched on. The static cornering lights do not come on when the headlight switch is in the /
position or when the fog lights themselves have been switched on ⇒  Switching lights on and off.
Automatic headlights (!54/)
Automatic headlights are a convenience feature only and cannot always recognize all lighting and driving situations.
If the light switch is in the !54/ position, both vehicle lighting and instrument and switch lighting are
automatically switched on and off in the following situations ⇒ :

Automatic activation: Automatic deactivation:
If the low-light sensor registers darkness, for example when driving through a tunnel. If sufficient brightness is registered.

WARNING
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you cannot be seen by other motorists.
x Never use daytime running lights (DRL) to see where you are going. DRL are not bright enough to light up the roadway and be seen by other motorists. You will not be able to see far enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is dark. Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark.
x The taillights do not come on when the daytime running lights are switched on. A vehicle without taillights on cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
x If automatic headlights (!54/) are switched on, the low-beam headlights still may not be switched on in fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam headlights yourself.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, rear lights, and turn signals can tempo-rarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.
Coming home / Leaving home features (orientation lighting)

Coming home Action
Switch on: – Switch off the ignition. The Coming home lighting is switched on when the driver door is open, the headlight switch is set to !54/, and the low-light sensor detects darkness. The delay period starts once the last vehicle door or the luggage compartment lid is closed.
Switch off: – Automatically after delay period is over. – Turn light switch to / position. – Switch the ignition on.


Leaving home Action
Switch on: – Unlock the vehicle if the light switch is in the !54/ position and the low-light sensor registers darkness.
Switch off: – Automatically after preset delay period is over. – Lock the vehicle. – Turn the light switch to the / position. – Switch the ignition on.

The delay period can be adjusted and the function can be switched on and off in the Lights &
Vision menu ⇒  Volkswagen Information System.
If the Coming home feature is switched on and the driver door is opened, no warning chime will sound to alert you that the lights are still on.
Instrument panel lighting

Fig. 103 To the left of the steering wheel: Control for instrument panel lighting.

Instrument panel lighting
When the lights are on, the brightness of the instrument panel lighting is adjusted by pressing the
button ⇒ fig. 5:
(

Lights up Possible cause Proper response
Y Not enough windshield washer fluid. Refill windshield washer reservoir at the next opportunity

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.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Windshield wiper lever

Fig. 106 Operating the front windshield wiper.

The auto-dimming feature can be switched on and off with the switch on the inside mirror (2). When auto-dimming is activated, the indicator light (1) is on.
If the ignition is switched on, the sensor (3) automatically darkens the inside mirror depending on the amount of light shining into the vehicle from the rear.
The auto-dimming feature is deactivated when you shift the transmission into reverse or switch on the interior lights or the reading light.
Do not attach external navigation devices to the windshield or in the vicinity of the auto-dimming inside
mirror ⇒ .
WARNING
The illuminated display on an external navigation device can cause the auto-dimming inside mirror to malfunction, which can result in crashes and serious injuries.
x Malfunctions in the auto-dimming function can result in the inside mirror being unable to evaluate the exact distance of vehicles in the rear or other objects.
If the light striking the sensor is filtered or blocked (such as by a sunshade), the auto-dimming inside mirror will not work properly or may not work at all.
Outside mirrors

Fig. 113 In the driver door: Adjusting knob for outside mirrors.

WARNING
x An improperly installed or incorrect trailer hitch can cause a trailer to separate from the tow vehicle and cause serious personal injuries.
x If you don't have to tow a trailer any more, remove the entire trailer hitch. Always seal all bolt holes to prevent water and deadly exhaust fumes from getting into the vehicle.
NOTICE
x If the trailer lights are not connected properly, the vehicle's electronics may be damaged.
x If the trailer uses too much electricity, the vehicle's electronics may be damaged.
x Never connect the electrical system for the trailer directly to the electrical connections for the rear lights or to any other unsuitable power sources. Use only a suitable connector to provide power to the trailer.
If you tow a trailer frequently, Volkswagen recommends having the vehicle serviced between the regular maintenance and inspection intervals because of the extra load it has to pull.
Hitching up and connecting a trailer