WARNING
When powered by the electric motor, the vehicle makes much less noise, both when idling and driving, than when it is running on the internal combustion engine. It is much harder or even impossible for the drivers of other vehicles and above all for cyclists, pedestrians, and children to hear the vehicle when it is running on electrical power.
x Pedestrians and others can be struck and seriously injured because they cannot hear the vehicle and tell that it is getting close to them, for instance when you are parking, backing up, or driving in a low-speed zone where there is likely to be pedestrian traffic.
x Always watch out for pedestrians, especially small children, cyclists, and others who may not hear the vehicle or realize that it is about to move or will cross their path of travel.
x Always be especially careful in residential areas, school zones, and other places where the speed of motor vehicles is restricted and pedestrians may be at greater risk.
x Make sure the ignition and the hybrid drive system have both been turned off before leav-ing the vehicle.
WARNING
Never leave the vehicle when hybrid drive system indicator lights are still lit. The vehicle can move if the accelerator is depressed even though the combustion engine has been stopped. This can cause accidents and severe or fatal injuries.
x Make sure the transmission is in Park (P) before you get out of the vehicle.
WARNING
Never support the vehicle with cinder blocks, bricks, or other objects to inspect it. The vehi-cle could slip or move suddenly and cause an accident with serious personal injury.
WARNING
Never let the hybrid battery get wet. Liquids and other fluids can cause short circuits, electri-cal shock, burns, and explosions.
x Never carry large amounts of liquids or other fluids in the luggage compartment.
x Always make sure that any containers with liquids and other fluids are properly secured and tightly closed to prevent leakage during normal driving as well as hard cornering, brak-ing, and other vehicle maneuvers. Leaking liquids can get into the cover of the high-voltage battery and the high-voltage cable connections. This can damage the electrical system and the high-voltage battery.
Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty. There may not always be enough charge in the high-voltage battery to get to the next gas station.
When outside temperatures are low, a cold high-voltage battery can affect how the combustion engine starts up and can also reduce the vehicle's range in electric drive.
Warning and indicator lights
Warning messages
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.
Warning lights and text messages are shown in the instrument cluster display. Acoustic warnings may also sound at the same time.
Lights
up
Warnings in the in-
strument cluster dis-
play
Proper response
∋
Fault in the hybrid sys-
tem: stop the vehicle at
a safe location!
Stop the vehicle in a safe place as
soon as it is safe to do so.
∋
Fault in the hybrid sys-
tem: Workshop!
See an authorized Volkswagen dealer
or an authorized Volkswagen Service
Facility.
Hybrid battery is charg-
ing, leave engine run-
ning.
While this message appears, do not
stop the engine.
2 % ! $ 9 Electric drive is
READY.
Never leave the vehicle parked in the
ready position. Remove the remote
control vehicle key out of the ignition
or for vehicle with Keyless Access
press the starter button ⇒ page 395.
When leaving the vehicle always take
the remote control vehicle key with
you.
%
Lights
up
Warnings in the in-
strument cluster dis-
play
Proper response
Electric driving is cur-
rently not possible.
Never leave the vehicle parked in the
ready position. Remove the remote
control vehicle key out of the ignition
or for vehicle with Keyless Access
press the starter button.
Request to start the
engine.
Start the engine with the ignition
switch or starter button.
Warning when leaving the vehicle
Switch off the ignition before leaving the vehicle unattended ⇒ Starting and stopping the engine. In certain situations, a message Ignition on appears in the instrument cluster display as you are leaving the vehicle. This message warns you that the vehicle's electric drive is still enabled and that the combustion engine might start automatically.
Always switch the engine off, remove the key, and take it with you when leaving the vehicle ⇒ . As a reminder to do so, the combustion engine may start automatically under the following conditions:
x The ignition is switched ON.
x AND: Electrical drive is functional (Ready).
x AND: The transmission is in Park (P) or Neutral (N).
x AND: The driver safety belt is not fastened. OR The driver door is open.
The message in the instrument cluster display also reminds you to switch the ignition off. In addition, always be sure to apply the parking brake, remove the key, and take it with you when leaving the vehicle.
WARNING
A parked vehicle that is not properly parked can roll away and cause accidents or severe injuries. When leaving the vehicle, always move the selector lever into Park (P) and engage the electronic parking brake.
WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Maintenance of the high-voltage battery
Other than taking the vehicle in for scheduled maintenance to an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility that is qualified to do work on hybrid vehicles, there is nothing that the vehicle driver has to do to maintain the high-voltage battery.
The maintenance connection for the high-voltage battery is under the luggage compartment floor under an orange cover. This connection is only for scheduled maintenance, which must be performed only by specially trained service technicians. There is no need to remove the connector at any time
when the vehicle is being used ⇒
WARNING
The high-voltage hybrid electrical system is dangerous and can cause burns, other serious personal injuries, electrocution and death.
x Never open, service, repair, or disconnect the high-voltage hybrid battery.
x Never touch or let jewelry or other metal objects contact high-voltage cables or the high-voltage battery and battery poles, especially if the cables, battery, or battery poles have been damaged in a crash or in some other way.
x Always have work on the hybrid electrical system and on systems that could be indirectly affected by it done by qualified, trained technicians, who have the know-how, experience, documentation, and tools to do the work safely.
WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
NOTICE
x Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
x If the 12 Volt vehicle battery is disconnected or dead or has been replaced, there is a possi-bility that the combustion engine will not automatically switch off when the vehicle is powered by the electric motor. If this situation persists for several days, take the vehicle to an author-ized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility that is qualified to do work on hybrid vehicles.
x Never transport water or other liquids or fluids in open containers, such as an aquarium. If liquid is spilled in the luggage compartment, this can cause short circuits or damage the high-voltage battery.
NOTICE
Never block or cover the cooling air vents for the high-voltage hybrid battery under the rear seat. Blocking or covering these vents can damage the high-voltage battery.