2015 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER brakes

Warning and indicator lamps
[Q First read and observe the Introductory information and safety warnings & on page 269.
Lit up Possible cause=>&
Handbrake is applied.
Brake system fault.
Brake fluid level is too low.
Together with ABS indicator lamp El: ABS not functioning.
-...-Brake pads worn .
ESC switched off by the system.
ESC fault.
In conjunction with ABS indicator lamp CS>: ABS fault.
Vehicle battery has been reconnected.
TCS switched off manually.
In conjunction with ESC indicator lamp
((oil ABS fault.
In conjunction with warning lamp ID: ABS not functioning.
Brake pedal not depressed.
Flashes Possible cause
'• ESCITCS is taking corrective action.
Trailer stabilisation controlled.
Several warning and indicator lamps will light up briefly as a functional check when the ignition is switched on. They will go out after a few seconds.
A WARNING
Failure to observe illuminated warning lamps and text messages can lead to your vehicle breaking down in traffic, and can cause acci-dent and serious injury.
270 I While driving
Solution
f; Do not drive on I Seek expert assistance immediately =>page 273.
a:. Do not drive on I Check the brake fluid level =>page 277.
Go to a qualified workshop. The vehicle can be braked without ABS.
Go to a qualified workshop immediately. All brake pads should be checked and renewed as necessary.
Switch the ignition on and off. If necessary, drive a short distance.
Go to a qualified workshop.
Go to a qualified workshop. The vehicle can be braked without ABS.
Drive a short distance at a speed of 15 -20 km/ h (10 -12 mph). if the indicator lamp remains lit up, the vehicle should be checked by a qualified workshop =>page 362.
Switch on TCS =>page 276. Switch on TCS au-tomatically by switching the ignition off and on.
Go to a qualified workshop. The vehicle can be braked without ABS.
To select a position, press the brake pedal.
Solution
Remove foot from accelerator pedal. Adapt driv-ing style to suit road conditions.
Remove foot from accelerator pedal. If possible, do not turn the steering wheel =>page 139.
A WARNING (Continued)
• Never ignore any illuminated warning lamps or text messages.
• Stop the vehicle as soon as possible and when safe to do so.
A WARNING
Driving with poor brakes can result in acci-dents and serious injuries.

A WARNING (Continued)
• If the brake warning lamp ID does not go out, or if it lights up when driving, the brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there is a fault in the brake system. Stop the vehi-cle Immediately and seek expert assistance 277, Brake fluid.
• If the brake warning lamp@ lights up to-gether with the ABS indicator lamp S, the control function of the ABS may have failed. This can cause the rear wheels to lock quick-ly when you brake. Locked rear wheels can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle. If pos-sible, reduce your speed and drive carefully at low speed to the nearest qualified work-shop in order to have the brake system tes-ted. Avoid sudden braking and driving ma-noeuvres on the way.
• The ABS Is not functioning correctly if the ABS indicator lampS does not go out or comes on while the vehicle is in motion. The
Handbrake
Fig. 223 Handbrake between the front seats.
r--fl1 First read and observe the introductory L-J,::.IJ information and safety warnings & on page 269.
Applying the handbrake
• Lift the handbrake lever up fully.
• The handbrake is applied when the indicator lamp ID lights up in the instrument cluster =-page 270.
Releasing the handbrake
• Lift the handbrake lever up slightly and press the lock button ::.Fig. 223 (arrow).
• Guide the handbrake lever down whilst the lock button is pressed.
A WARNING (Continued)
vehicle can be stopped using the normal brakes only (without ABS). The protection provided by ABS is no longer available. Go to a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
• If the warning lamp 0 lights up either indi-vidually or together with a text message in the display of the instrument cluster, go to a qualified workshop immediately to have the brake pads checked or any worn brake pads replaced.
CD
Failure to observe illuminated indicator lamps and text messages can lead to your vehicle be-Ing damaged. A WARNING
Incorrect use of the handbrake can cause ac-cidents and serious Injuries.
• The handbrake should never be used to brake the vehicle, except in emergencies. The braking distance is considerably longer as only the rear wheels are braked. Always use the foot brake.
• Never drive the vehicle with the handbrake lightly applied. This can overheat the brakes and adversely affect the brake system. lt can also cause premature wear to the rear brake pads.
• Never activate the accelerator from the en-gine compartment if a position or gear has been selected and the engine is running. The vehicle can start to move even if the hand-brake Is applied.
CD
To avoid unintentional movement when parking the vehicle, first apply the handbrake and then remove your foot from the brake pedal.
r::l An acoustic warning is given if the car is driv-L.!:.J en faster than approximately 6 km/h (4 mph) with the handbrake applied. Starting the engine, changing gear and parking I 271

Parking
r--f"n First read and observe the Introductory L-J.:.lJ information and safety warnings & on page 269.
Please adhere to relevant legislation when stop-ping and parking your vehicle.
Stopping the vehicle
The steps should only be carried out in the speci-fied order.
• Stop the vehicle on a suitable surface &.
• Depress and hold the brake pedal until the en-gine has stopped.
• Apply the handbrake.
• With a DSG® dual clutch gearbox, move the se-lector lever to position P.
• Switch off the engine and take your foot off the brake pedal.
• Remove the vehicle key from the ignition lock.
• Turn the steering wheel slightly if necessary to engage the steering lock mechanism.
• With a manual gearbox, select the first gear for flat ground and uphill inclines, or the reverse gear for downhill inclines, and then release the clutch pedal 263.
• Please ensure that all occupants, in particular children, leave the vehicle.
• Take all vehicle keys with you when you leave the vehicle.
• Lock the vehicle.
Additional points for ascending and descending inclines
Before switching off the engine, turn the steering wheel so that the front wheels will roll against the kerb if the parked vehicle starts to move.
• When facing downhill, turn the wheels so that they face the kerb.
• When facing uphill, turn the wheels so that they face the centre of the road.
Information on the brakes
r--f"n First read and observe the Introductory L-J.:.lJ information and safety warnings & on page 269.
New brake pads cannot generate the full braking effect during the first 200 to 300 km and must first be "run in" &. However, you can compensate for
2721 While driv1ng
A WARNING
The components of the exhaust system be-come very hot. This can cause fires and seri-ous Injuries.
• Never park the vehicle where parts of the exhaust system can come Into contact with any Inflammable material underneath the ve-hicle, e.g. undergrowth, leaves, dry grass, split fuel.
CD
• To avoid unintentional movement when parking the vehicle, first apply the handbrake firmly and then remove your foot from the brake pedal.
• Always take care when driving in car parks with protruding kerbstones or bollards. Objects that protrude from the ground can damage the bumper and other components when parking the vehicle. In order to avoid any damage, stop the vehicle before the wheels can touch the bollards or kerbs.
• Drive carefully through dips in the road, over driveways, ramps, kerbstones and other objects. Low-lying vehicle components such as the bumper, spoiler and parts of the running gear, engine or exhaust system could be dam-aged.
• If the handbrake Is not applied fully when the vehicle Is stationary and the brake pedal Is released when then selector lever Is in posi-tion P, the vehicle may move a few centimetres forwards or backwards. the slightly reduced braking force by applying more pressure to the brake pedal. During the run-in pe-riod, the braking distance Is longer when the brakes are depressed fully or during emergen-cy braking than with brakes that have been fully run in. In the run-in period, the brakes should not be depressed fully and situations that create a .,.

heavy load on the brakes should be avoided. For example, when driving too close to the vehicle ahead.
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends to a great extent on the conditions under which the ve-hicle is operated and the way in which the vehicle is driven. With regular urban trips, short journeys and a sporty driving style, the brake pads must be checked by a qualified workshop more regularly than stated in the service schedule.
When driving with wet brakes, for example after driving through water, after heavy rainfall or after washing the vehicle, the braking effect may be de-layed as the brake discs will be wet, or possibly ic-ed up (in winter). The brakes must be "dried" as quickly as possible by careful braking at higher speed. Ensure that no vehicle behind you or no other road user is put at risk as a result of this ac-
Any salt layer accumulating on the discs and pads will delay the braking effect and increase the braking distance. If the brakes on the vehicle have not been applied for a long time on roads that have been gritted with salt, the layer of salt must be re-duced through careful braking &.
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt in the brake pads are facilitated through long periods of inactivi-ty, low mileage and low load levels. With inactivity or low use levels for the brake pads as well as cor-rosion, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recom-mends that the brake discs and brake pads be cleaned by braking strongly several times from high speed. Ensure that no vehicle behind you or no other road user is put at risk as a result of this
Fault in the brake system
A brake circuit may have failed if you have to re-duce speed and the vehicle does not brake as nor-mal (sudden increase in braking distance). This will be indicated by the warning lamp m and in some cases a text message. Go to the nearest qualified workshop immediately to have the fault corrected. Drive at low speed when doing this and anticipate much longer braking distances and an increase in the pressure required on the pedal.
Brake servo
The brake serve will only function when the engine is running and reinforces the pressure applied by the driver on the brake pedal.
If the brake serve is not functioning or the vehicle is being towed, the brake pedal will have to be de-pressed more forcefully as the braking distance will be increased due to the lack of assistance for the brake system &.
A WARNING
New brake pads will not have the optimal braking effect when first fitted.
• New brake pads cannot generate the full braking effect during the first 300 km and must first be run In. A reduced braking effect can be Increased by applying more pressure to the brake pedal.
• You must drive particularly carefully when driving with new brake pads In order to re-duce the risk of accidents, serious Injuries and loss of control of the vehicle.
• Never drive too close to other vehicles when running in new brake pads, and never create a driving situation that will place a heavy load on the brakes.
A WARNING
Overheated brakes reduce the braking effect and considerably Increase the braking dis-tance.
• When driving downhill the brakes are placed under particular strain and become hot very quickly.
• Before driving down a long, steep gradi-ent, reduce speed and change to a lower gear or move the selector lever to a lower position. This will make use of the engine braking ef-fect and relieve the load on the brakes.
• Non-standard or damaged front spoilers could restrict the airflow to the brakes and cause them to overheat.
A WARNING
Wet brakes or brakes coated with ice or road salt react more slowly and require longer braking distances.
• Carefully apply the brakes to test them.
• Always dry brakes and clean off any coat-Ing of Ice and salt with a few cautious appli-cations of the brake when visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
A WARNING
Driving without the brake servo can consider-ably Increase the braking distance and thus cause accidents and serious Injuries.
• Never allow the vehicle to roll if the engine Is switched off.
Starting the engine, changing gear and parking 273

A WARNING (Continued)
• If the brake servo does not function or the vehicle is being towed, the brake pedal will have to be depressed more forcefully as the braking distance will be Increased due to the lack of assistance for the brake system.
CD
• Never let the brakes "rub" by applying light pressure to the brake when it is not necessary to brake. Continual pressure on the brake pedal will overheat the brakes. This can considerably reduce the brake effect, increase the braking distance and, In certain circumstances, cause the brake system to fail completely.
Brake support systems
r-f'n First read and observe the Introductory l..-Wl information and safety warnings&. on page 269.
The brake support systems ESC, ABS, BAS, TCS and EDL only function when the engine is running. They make a considerable contribution to active driving safety.
Electronic stability control (ESC)
The ESC helps to reduce the risk of skidding and to improve driving stability by braking individual wheels in certain driving situations. The ESC de-tects critical driving situations such as oversteer, understeer and wheelspin. The system helps to stabilise the vehicle through targeted application of the brakes or by reducing engine torque.
ESC has its limitations. lt is important to realise that ESC cannot overcome the laws of physics. ESC will not be able to assist in every situation faced by a driver. For example, ESC will not be able to assist every time that there is a sudden change in the road surface quality. If a section of dry road is suddenly covered with water, mud or snow, ESC will not be able to assist in the same manner as on a dry road. If the vehicle aquaplanes (drives on a layer of water rather than on the road surface), ESC will not be able to assist in steering the vehicle as the contact to the road surface has been interrupted and it is therefore no longer pos-sible to steer or brake the vehicle. When driving at speed through bends, particularly on stretches of road with many bends, the ESC will not always be able to process complicated driving situations as
2741 While dnvang
• Before driving down a long, steep gradient, reduce speed and change to a lower gear or move the selector lever to a lower position. This will make use of the engine braking effect and relieve the load on the brakes. The brakes could otherwise overheat and possibly fall. The brakes should only be used to slow or stop the vehicle.
m If the front brake pads are tested, the rear L!..J brake pads should be tested at the same time. Regularly check the thickness of the brake pads through the openings in the rims or from the underside of the vehicle. If necessary, remove the wheels to carry out a comprehensive check. Volks-wagen Commercial Vehicles recommends using a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealership for this purpose. effectively as at lower speeds. When towing a trail-er, ESC is unable to assist the driver in regaining control over the vehicle.
Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions. ESC cannot defy the laws of motion, improve the availa-ble power output, or keep the vehicle on the road if insufficient care and attention on the part of the driver causes the vehicle to leave the road. In-stead, the ESC improves the chances of keeping the vehicle under control and, in extreme on-road driving situations, exploits the driver's steering in-put to keep the vehicle travelling in the desired di-rection. If the vehicle is driving at a speed that leads it to leave the road before the ESC can pro-vide any kind of support, the ESC will be unable to provide any assistance.
The ASS, BAS, TCS and EDL systems are integra-ted into the ESC. The ESC is always on. If the trac-tion achieved in certain situations is not sufficient, TCS can be switched off by pressing the ASR (TCS) button =>Fig. 224. Always ensure that ASR (TCS) is switched back on again once traction is sufficient.
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System
In the event of an accident, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System can help the driver to re-duce the risk of skidding, and the danger of secon-dary collisions, through automatic braking.

The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System only functions in frontal, side and rear collisions if the airbag control unit registers the corresponding trig-gering threshold during the accident, and the acci-dent occurs at a speed greater than 10 km/h (6 m ph).
The ESC brakes the vehicle automatically, provi-ded that the hydraulic braking system, the ESC and the electrical system are undamaged in the accident and remain functional.
The following actions override automatic braking in the event of an accident:
• When the driver depresses the accelerator. No automatic braking occurs.
• When the brake pressure transmitted through the depressed brake pedal is greater than the brake pressure provided by the system. The vehi-cle is braked manually.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
The ABS prevents the wheels from locking when the brakes are applied up until the point where the vehicle is nearly stationary and assists the driver in steering the vehicle and keeping it under control. This means that the vehicle is less likely to spin, even when the brakes are depressed fully:
• Depress and hold the brake pedal with force. Do not take your foot off the brake pedal or reduce the force on the brake pedal.
• Do not pump the brake pedal or reduce the pressure on the brake pedal.
• Steer the vehicle while the brake pedal is fully depressed.
• The ABS will switch off when the brake pedal is released or if the pressure on the brake pedal is reduced.
If the ABS is taking corrective action, there is a pulsing movement in the brake pedal and some noise. However, ABS will not necessarily guaran-tee shorter braking distances in a// conditions. The braking distance could even be longer when brak-ing on gravel or on fresh snow covering an icy or slippery surface.
Brake Assist system (BAS)
The Brake Assist system can help to reduce the braking distance. The Brake Assist system reinfor-ces brake pressure when the driver depresses the brake pedal quickly in an emergency situation. As a result, full braking power is made accessible very quickly, braking power is reinforced and the brak-ing distance reduced. This means that the ABS is activated more quickly and more effectively.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal. The Brake Assist system will switch off the brake servo automatically when the brake pedal is re-leased or if the pressure on the brake pedal is re-duced.
Traction control system (TCS)
The TCS reduces the engine output if wheels pin occurs and adapts the output to suit road surface conditions. TCS helps the car to start moving, ac-celerate and climb gradients in unfavourable road conditions.
The TCS can be switched on and off manually 276.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
The EDL is available for normal driving on straight roads. EDL brakes the wheel that has lost traction and distributes the driving force to the other drive wheels. To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating, the EDL cuts out automat-ically if subjected to excessive loads. The EDL will switch on again automatically when the brake has cooled down.
A WARNING
Driving fast on icy, slippery or wet roads can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle and could cause serious injury to the driver and passengers.
• Always adapt your speed and driving style to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic con-ditions. Do not Jet the extra safety afforded by the brake support systems ABS, BAS, EDL, TCS and ESC tempt you into taking any risks when driving.
• The Intelligent technology of the brake support systems cannot overcome the Jaws of physics or system-related vehicle limita-tions. Slippery and wet roads will remain dan-gerous, even when the ESC and other sys-tems are active.
• Driving too fast on wet roads can cause the wheels to Jose contact with the road sur-face and aquaplane. The vehicle cannot be braked, steered or controlled once it has lost contact with the road surface.
• Brake support systems cannot prevent an accident if, for example, you are driving too close to the vehicle in front or are driving too fast for the individual situation. .,.
Starting the engine, changing gear and parking 275

A WARNING (Continued)
• Although the brake support systems are very effective and can help to control the ve-hicle in difficult driving situations, please al-ways remember that the driving stability of the vehicle depends on the tyre grip.
• When accelerating on a slippery surface, for example on ice and snow, press the accel-erator carefully. The wheels can spin even when brake support systems are active, and this can lead to a loss of control of the vehl-cl e.
A WARNING
ESC will be considerably less effective if oth· er components and systems that affect driv-ing dynamics are not serviced correctly or are not functioning properly. This also ap-plies, but not exclusively, to the brakes, tyres and other systems that have already been named.
Switching the TCS on and off
BSO·OC40
Fig. 224 in the centre console: button for switch-ing the TCS on and off manually.
.-m First read and observe the introductory l-J=J.I information and safety warnings & on page 269.
276 Wh1lo driving
A WARNING (Continued)
• Please always note that modifications and changes to the vehicle can affect the function of the ABS, BAS, EDL, TCS and ESC.
• Alterations to the suspension system or the use of non-approved wheel and tyre com-binations can affect the function of ABS, BAS, TCS, EDL and ESC and reduce their ef· fectiveness.
• Suitable tyres are also crucial if ESC is to function optlmaliy =>page 367.
m The ESC and TCS can only function properly L.:U if ail 4 wheels are fitted with the same tyres. Any differences in the roiling radius of the tyres can cause the system to reduce engine power unex-pectedly.
m If there is a fault in the ABS, the ESC, TCS lU and EDL will also stop working.
m Operating noises may be heard during the L.:U self-regulation processes of the systems ex-plained above. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) only func-tions when the engine is running. lt consists of ABS, EDL and TCS.
When the engine is running, the TCS can be switched off by pressing the@ 224 button. The TCS should only be switched off in certain sit-uations when the traction achieved is not sufficient. For example:
• When driving in deep snow or on loose surfa-ces.
• When rocking the vehicle backwards and for-wards to free it from mud.
Then press the@ 224 button to switch the TCS back on.

Brake fluid
B7E.02AO
Fig. 225 In the engine compartment: cap on the brake fluid container.
r-111 First read and observe the Introductory l-Jr:,U Information and safety warnings&. on page 269.
Brake fluid will gradually absorb water from the surrounding air. The brake system will be damaged if there is too much water in the brake fluid. The boiling point of the brake fluid is also considerably reduced by the water content. Heavy use of the brakes may cause a vapour lock in the brake sys-tem if the water content is too high. Vapour locks reduce levels of braking power, considerably in-crease braking distance and can even cause the brake system to fail completely. Your own safety and that of other road users depends on having a brake system that functions properly at all times
Brake fluid specification
Volkswagen has developed a brake fluid that has been optimised for the brake system in the vehicle. To ensure optimal operation of the brake system, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends the use of brake fluid compliant with VW stand-ard 501 14.
Before using a particular brake fluid, check that the specifications printed on the container correspond to the vehicle requirements.
Brake fluid that is compliant with VW stand-ard 501 14 is available from Volkswagen Commer-cial Vehicles dealerships.
If this brake fluid is not available and it is necessa-ry to use another high-quality brake fluid instead, brake fluid that is compliant with DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 or US standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 can be used.
Not all brake fluids that are compliant with DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 or US standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 have the same chemical com-position. Some of these brake fluids may contain chemicals that can damage or destroy brake sys-tem components over time.
To ensure sustained optimal operation of the brake system, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles there-fore recommends the use of brake fluid that is compliant with VW standard 501 14.
Brake fluid that is compliant with VW stand-ard 501 14 fulfils the requirements of DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 or US standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4.
Brake fluid level
The brake fluid level must always be between the MIN and MAX marking of the brake fluid container or above the MIN marking &.
The brake fluid level cannot be checked accurately in all models as engine components may partially conceal the brake fluid container. If the brake fluid level cannot be read exactly, please go to a quali-fied workshop.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehi-cle is being used as the brake pads wear and the brakes are automatically adjusted.
Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid must be changed as indicated in the service schedule Service schedule. The brake fluid should be changed by a qualified workshop. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles rec-ommends using a Volkswagen Commercial Vehi-cles dealership for this purpose. Only brake fluid that confonns with the required specification should be used.
A WARNING
Brake failure or reduced braking effect can be caused by the brake fluid level being too low or by brake fluid that Is too old or unsuitable.
• The brake system and brake fluid level must be checked regularly.
• The brake fluid should be changed regu-larly, according to the service schedule Service schedule.
• Heavy use of the brakes may cause a va-pour lock If the brake fluid Is left In the sys-tem for too long. Vapour locks reduce levels
Starting the engine, changing gear and parking I 277