Braking, stopping and parking
COl Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Warning and indicator lamps Handbrake ............................ .
Parking . . . . . . . ............. .
Information on the brakes ................ . Brake support systems .................. .
Switching the TCS on and off ............. .
Brake fluid ............................ .
270 271
272 272
274
276
277
The brake support systems are the anti-lock brake system (ASS), the Brake Assist system (SAS), the electronic differential lock (EDS), the traction control system (TCS) and the Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
Additional information and warnings:
• Towing a trailer 139
• Pull-away assist systems 282
• Wheels and tyres 367
• Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts 394
A WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or with a faulty brake system can cause accidents and seri-ous Injuries.
• If the warning lamp 0 lights up either on its own or with a text message In the display of the Instrument cluster, go to a qualified workshop Immediately, have the brake pads checked and any worn brake pads replaced.
A WARNING
Incorrect parking can cause serious Injuries.
• Never remove the vehicle key from the lg-nltlon lock when the vehicle Is In motion. The steering lock may be activated and you will no longer be able to steer or control the vehl-cl e.
A WARNING (Continued)
• Never park the vehicle where parts of the exhaust system can come into contact with inflammable material underneath the vehicle, e.g. undergrowth, leaves, dry grass, spilt fuel.
• Always apply the handbrake when the ve-hicle Is parked.
• Never leave children or people requiring assistance alone In the vehicle. They could release the handbrake, move the selector lev-er or gearshift lever and thus set the vehicle In motion. This can lead to accidents and se-rious injuries.
• Always take all vehicle keys with you ev-ery time you leave the vehicle. The engine can be started and electrical equipment such as the window controls can be used which could cause serious injury.
• Never leave children or people requiring assistance alone in the vehicle. They could become trapped in the vehicle in an emergen-cy and may not be able to get themselves to safety. For example, locked vehicles may be subjected to very high or very low tempera-tures, according to season. This can cause serious Injuries and illness or fatalities, espe-cially for small children.
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• To avoid unintentional movement when parking the vehicle, first apply the handbrake and then remove your foot from the brake ped-al.
• 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.
Starting the engine, changing gear and parking I 269
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.
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• 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.
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)
• 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.
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
Saving fuel
1/100 km
-10°C
+20 oc
L----------------tkm 5 15 25 30
en-o11S
Fig. 226 Fuel consumption in litres per 100 km at two different outside temperatures.
r-1"'11 First read and observe the Introductory Information and safety warnings&. on page 278.
By adopting an economical driving style and antici-pating the traffic situation ahead, you can easily re-duce fuel consumption by 10-15%.
Cars use most fuel when accelerating. If you think ahead when driving, you will need to brake less and thus accelerate less. Wherever possible, let the car roll slowly to a stop, for instance when you can see that the next traffic lights are red.
Avoid short journeys
Directly after a cold start, the engine has a very high fuel consumption. The engine reaches its working temperature after a few kilometres, when fuel consumption will return to a normal level.
The engine and catalytic converter need to reach their proper working temperature in order to mini-mise fuel consumption and emissions. The out-side temperature is a key factor.
The different rates of fuel consumption for the same distance at both +20"C (+68"F) and at -10"C (+14"F) are shown in Fig. 226.
Therefore, avoid making too many short journeys and car share whenever possible.
Under the same conditions, the vehicle will use more fuel in winter than in summer.
280 I While dnvmg
Not only is it illegal in some countries to "warm up" the cold engine by running it while the vehicle is stationary, it is also technically unnecessary and a waste of fuel.
Adjust the tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure reduces rolling resist-ance and therefore also fuel consumption.
Ensure that any new tyres purchased have opti-mum rolling resistance.
Use low viscosity engine oils
Fully synthetic low viscosity engine oils reduce fuel consumption. Low viscosity engine oils decrease frictional resistance in the engine and spread bet-ter and more quickly, especially for cold starts. They are especially effective In vehicles that make alotofshortjourneys.
Always ensure that the engine oil level is correct and that you keep to the service intervals (oil change intervals).
When buying engine oil, always make sure it com-plies with engine oil norms and has been approved by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Avoid unnecessary loads
Lighter vehicles are more economical and have lower environmental impact. An extra 100 kg, for example, can increase fuel consumption by up to 0.311100 km.
Remove all unnecessary objects and loads from the vehicle.
Remove any unnecessary special equipment and accessories
The more aerodynamic a vehicle, the lower its fuel consumption. Special equipment and accessories, such as roof carriers or bicycle carriers, make the vehicle less aerodynamic.
You should therefore remove any special equip-ment and luggage carriers that are not in use, es-pecially if you are going to be driving at high speeds.
A WARNING (Continued)
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-Please ensure that the spare fuel can is· ter corresponds with the Industry stand· ard, for example AN SI or ASTM F852-86.
• Remove split fuel from all vehicle compo· nents as quickly as possible In order to avoid damage to the wheel housing, tyres and vehicle paint.
• • Filling up with petrol in a vehicle fitted with a diesel engine or refilling with diesel in vehicle equipped with a petrol engine can cause seri· ous ands expensive engine damage and dam· age to the fuel system that is not covered by
Indicator lamps and fuel gauge
Fig. 269 In the instrument cluster: fuel gauge for petrol and diesel.
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any Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles guaran· tee. Do not start the engine under any circum-stances if you have refilled using the Incorrect fuel. Seek expert assistance. The substances In these fuels can cause serious damage to the fuel system and to the engine itself if it Is switched on.
• Vehicles with a diesel engine should under no circumstances be filled and driven with pet· rol, kerosene, heating oil or any other fuels that have not been expressly approved for diesel engines. Other fuels could cause extensive and expensive engine damage and damage to the fuel system which will not be covered by any Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles guarantee.
r.:Gh Fuels can pollute the environment. Any spilt W service fluids must be cleaned up and dis· posed of properly.
Lit up Needle position Possible cause & Solution 269
b Red marking (arrow) Fuel tank almost empty. Fill the tank as soon as possible Reserve is used up 343.
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.
When the Indicator lamp Blllghts up, the supple-mentary heating system and fuel-powered supple-mentary heater switch off automatically.
A WARNING
Driving the vehicle when the fuel level is too low could lead to your vehicle breaking down In traffic, accidents and serious injuries.
• When the fuel level is too low, the fuel supply to the engine could be Irregular, espe-cially when driving up or down hills and in-clines. .,..
At the filling station 341
Capacities
r--('n First read and observe the introductory L-W.I information and safety warnings & on page 340.
Checks when filling the tank
r--r'n First read and observe the introductory L-W.I information and safety warnings & on page 340.
Checklist
Never carry out any work on the engine or in the engine compartment if you are not familiar with the necessary procedures and the general safety re-quirements or if the correct operating equipment, fluids and unsuitable tools are not available 350, Preparation for working in the engine compartment! The work should be carried out by a qualified workshop if you are uncertain. Please en-sure that the following are checked regular1y, pref-erably every time you fill the tank:
..( Windscreen washer fluid level 116
..( Engine oil level 353
Fuel
c:QJ Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Petrol
Diesel ...
344 345
Different engines require different fuels. The facto-ry-fitted sticker on the inside of the tank flap indi-cates the fuel type that is required for your particu-lar vehicle.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends us-ing fuels with a low sulphur content or which are sulphur-free in order to reduce fuel consumption and prevent damage to the engine.
If the engine is not running smoothly or begins to judder, this can indicate poor or inadequate fuel quality, e.g. water in the fuel. If these symptoms appear, reduce the vehicle speed immediately and drive to the nearest qualified workshop at medium engine speeds, avoiding high engine loading. If these symptoms occur immediately after the vehi-
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 80.0 I,
..( Engine coolant level 358
..( Brake fluid level 269
..( Tyre pressure 367
..( Vehicle lighting necessary for traffic safety:
-Turn signals
-Side lights, dipped beam headlights and main beam headlights
-Tail light cluster
-Brake lights
-Rear fog light 1 08
Information on changing bulbs 432.
cle has been refuelled, switch the engine off as soon as it is safe to do so and seek expert assis-tance. This can help to prevent further damage.
Additional information and warnings:
• Filling the tank 340
• Engine management system and exhaust puri-fication system 407
• Service schedule
A WARNING
Incorrect handling of fuel can cause explo-sions, fire, serious burns and other injuries.
• Fuel is highly explosive and inflammable.
• Never handle fuel near open flames, sparks or glowing matter (e.g. cigarettes).
• Keep naked flames, hot parts and sparks at a safe distance.
At the filling station 1343