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If the start/stop system is used in very high outside temperatures over a long period, the 12-volt
vehicle battery can be damaged.
The engine stop function may be deactivated automatically if the temperature is above around 38°C
(100°F).
In some cases, it may be necessary to restart the engine manually. Follow any corresponding
messages on the instrument cluster display.
The start/stop function is activated automatically if the Eco driving profile is selected on vehicles
with driving profile selection ⇒ Driving profile selection and 4MOTION Active Control .
Always deactivate the start/stop system manually when driving through water.
Troubleshooting
Engine no longer starts automatically
Vehicles with DSG dual clutch gearbox and coasting function: if the engine does not start
automatically, the warning Error: vehicle power system. Please visit workshop can be displayed in
the instrument cluster.
Start the engine manually ⇒ Starting the engine .
Deactivate the start/stop system manually.
Go to a qualified workshop immediately.
Manual gearbox: selecting a gear
Fig. 103 Gear shift pattern of a 5-speed manual gearbox.
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Fig. 104 Gear shift pattern of a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Selecting a forward gear
The positions of the individual driving gears are shown on the gearshift
lever ⇒ Fig. 103 or ⇒ Fig. 104 .
Fully depress and hold the clutch pedal.
Move the gear lever to the required position ⇒ .
Release the clutch to engage.
In some countries, the clutch pedal will have to be depressed fully in order to start the engine.
Selecting reverse gear
Reverse gear should be selected only when the vehicle is stationary.
Fully depress and hold the clutch pedal ⇒ .
Move the gear lever to the neutral position and push down.
Push the gear lever fully to the left and then to the front into the reverse gear position ⇒ Fig. 103Ⓡ
or ⇒ Fig. 104Ⓡ .
Release the clutch to engage.
Shifting down
Shifting down when the vehicle is in motion should always take place to the next lower gear and
avoiding high engine speeds ⇒ . At high speeds or high engine speeds, damage to the clutch and
the gearbox could occur if one or more gears are skipped when shifting down gear, even if the clutch
is not released when doing this ⇒ .
WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction and skidding, particularly on slippery roads. This can
cause you to lose control of the vehicle, which can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
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Use fast acceleration only if visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit, and other road
users are not put at risk due to the acceleration and driving style.
Always adjust your driving style in accordance with the flow of traffic.
When the TCS is switched off, the drive wheels may spin, especially if the road surface is wet,
slippery or dirty. This may result in you no longer being able to steer or control the vehicle.
WARNING
When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a gear is engaged and the
clutch is released. This also applies when the electronic parking brake has been switched on.
Never engage reverse gear while the vehicle is in motion.
WARNING
Shifting gears incorrectly to gears that are too low can lead to a loss of control over the vehicle, with
accidents and serious injuries as a consequence.
NOTICE
Serious damage to the clutch and gearbox could occur if the gear lever of the manual gearbox is
shifted to a gear which is too low when travelling at high speeds or at high engine speeds. This also
applies if the clutch remains depressed and the gears do not engage.
NOTICE
Please note the following points in order to avoid damage and premature wear:
Do not rest your hand on the gear lever when driving. The pressure from your hand is passed onto
the selector forks in the gearbox.
Ensure that the vehicle has come to a full stop before engaging reverse gear.
Always fully depress the clutch pedal when changing gear.
Do not hold the vehicle by riding the clutch on uphill gradients with the engine running.
Changing up a gear early will help to save fuel and minimise engine noise.
Troubleshooting
Clutch slipping
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The indicator lamp lights up yellow.
Clutch is not transmitting the full engine torque.
If necessary, remove foot from the clutch pedal.
Clutch overheated
The indicator lamp lights up yellow.
An acoustic warning may also be given ⇒ .
The clutch can overheat, for example if the vehicle pulls off frequently, travels at a crawl for long
periods, or in stop and go traffic.
Overheating is indicated by the warning lamp and in some cases by additional warning lamps and a
text message in the instrument cluster display.
You can continue to drive.
Clutch faulty
The indicator lamp lights up yellow.
The clutch is faulty.
Drive on carefully!
Seek expert assistance. Failure to do so can cause considerable clutch damage.
DSG® dual clutch gearbox
Function of the DSG® dual clutch gearbox
Description
The vehicle is equipped with a DSG® dual clutch gearbox.
The DSG® dual clutch gearbox is a gearbox which uses dual-clutch technology to change gear
automatically. It uses a dual clutch and two gear train halves to enable very fast gear changes with
no loss of torque. The DSG® dual clutch gearbox thus combines the performance and economy of a
manual gearbox with the comfort and convenience of a conventional automatic gearbox.
Function
Engine power is transferred to the drive shaft via the gearbox. In order to change gears, the power
transmission between the engine and the gearbox has to be interrupted. This is what the clutch is
for.
With the DSG® dual clutch system with its two gear train halves, the engine power is always
connected to one gear train half when driving. Before a gear shift, the next-higher or lower gear is
already preselected in the load-free second gear train half. The clutch on the non-driven gear is then
closed, and the other is opened at the same time. This makes very fast gear changes possible.
Thanks to its design, the DSG® dual clutch gearbox is more efficient than an automatic gearbox.
Whereas in an automatic gearbox the torque converter is constantly in use, in the DSG® dual clutch
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gearbox the clutch can be opened at idling speed, thus saving fuel. Thanks to its efficiency, low
weight and intelligent control system, the DSG® dual clutch gearbox usually enables fuel
consumption that is equal to or lower than a manual gearbox.
However, just like the manual gearbox, the clutch in the DSG® dual clutch gearbox is subject to wear.
Regular maintenance is necessary depending on the type of DSG® dual clutch gearbox; further
information ⇒ Scope of service . In the event of a fault in one gear train half, the DSG® dual clutch
gearbox also allows one gear train half to be deactivated and the journey to be continued using the
other gear train half ⇒ Troubleshooting . The gearbox must then be checked as soon as possible by a
qualified workshop.
DSG® dual clutch gearbox: selecting a gear
Fig. 105 Left-hand drive vehicles: selector lever for dual clutch gearbox DSG with lock button (arrow).
The location is mirrored in right-hand drive vehicles.
When the ignition is switched on, the selected gear or gearbox programme is displayed in the
instrument cluster display.
Instrument cluster display
Selector lever position Display
P P
R R
N N
D/S E, D or S ⇒ Driving profile selection and 4MOTION Active Control
Tiptronic gate M ⇒ Changing gear using Tiptronic
– Parking lock
The drive wheels are locked mechanically. May be selected only when the vehicle is stationary. To
disengage this selector lever position while the ignition is switched on, depress the brake pedal and
press the lock button in the selector lever.
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– Reverse gear
Reverse gear is selected. May be selected only when the vehicle is stationary.
– Neutral
The gearbox is in the neutral position. No force is transmitted to the wheels and the braking effect of
the engine is not available.
– Standard forward driving position
Position : Normal programme.
All forward gears are shifted up and down automatically. The timing of the gear shift is determined
by the engine load, your individual driving style and the speed of the vehicle.
Position : Sport programme.
The forward gears are automatically changed up later and down earlier than in selector lever
position D. This exploits the engine’s full power reserves. The timing of the gear shift is determined
by the engine load, your individual driving style and the speed of the vehicle.
To change between positions D and S, move the selector lever to the rear ⇒ Fig. 105 .
The selector lever will always return to selector lever position D/S. That also works in the Tiptronic
gate ⇒ Changing gear using Tiptronic .
Selector lever lock
P
N
To release the selector lever lock, switch on the ignition and depress the brake pedal. Then press the
lock button in the selector lever handle in the direction of the arrow ⇒ Fig. 105 .
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the selector lever is moved quickly through position N, e.g.
when shifting from reverse to D/S. This makes it possible, for instance, to rock the vehicle backwards
and forwards if it is stuck in snow or mud. The selector lever lock engages automatically if the lever is
in position N for more than approximately one second without the brake being pressed and when
the vehicle is travelling no faster than approximately 5 km/h (3 mph).
WARNING
Selecting the wrong position can cause you to lose control of the vehicle, which can lead to accidents
and serious injuries.
Never depress the accelerator when selecting a position.
When the engine is running and a position is engaged, the vehicle will start moving as soon as the
brake pedal is released.
Never shift to reverse or selector lever position P while the vehicle is moving.
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WARNING
Unintentional vehicle movements can cause serious injury.
The driver must never leave the driver seat when the engine is running and a position has been
selected. If you have to leave the vehicle while the engine is running, always switch on the electronic
parking brake and move the selector lever to position P.
If the engine is running and the selector lever is in position D/S or R, the vehicle must be held by the
foot brake. The vehicle will creep forward even when the engine is idling, as power transmission is
even then not fully interrupted.
Never select reverse or selector lever position P when the vehicle is in motion.
Never leave the vehicle in selector lever position N. The vehicle will roll downhill irrespective of
whether or not the engine is running.
NOTICE
If the electronic parking brake is not switched on when the vehicle is stationary and the brake pedal
is released when the selector lever is in position P, the vehicle may move a few centimetres forwards
or backwards.
If the lever is moved accidentally to N when driving, take your foot off the accelerator. Wait for the
engine to reach idling speed in the neutral position before selecting a position again.
If the selector lever is left in any position other than P for long periods when the engine is switched
off, the 12-volt vehicle battery will discharge.
Changing gear using Tiptronic
With a DSG® dual clutch gearbox, Tiptronic allows the gears to be shifted up and down manually.
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Fig. 106 Selector lever in Tiptronic position (left-hand drive). Mirror image for right-hand drive
vehicles.
Fig. 107 Steering wheel with paddles for Tiptronic.
The gear that is currently selected will be maintained when the Tiptronic programme is selected.
This remains the case as long as the system does not automatically carry out a change of gear due to
the current driving situation.
Operating Tiptronic with the selector lever
Push the selector lever from position D/S to the right into the Tiptronic gate.
Tap the selector lever forwards ⊕ or back ㊀ to shift gear up or down ⇒ Fig. 106 .
When tapping the selector lever in the Tiptronic gate, it is not necessary to press the lock button on
the selector lever.
Operating Tiptronic with the paddles
Pull the right paddle ⇒ Fig. 107 towards the steering wheel to change up a gear.
Pull the left paddle towards the steering wheel to change down a gear.
To leave Tiptronic mode, pull the right paddle towards the steering wheel for approximately one
second.
Tiptronic is automatically deactivated if the selector paddles are not operated for some time and the
selector lever is not in the Tiptronic gate.
NOTICE
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up to the next gear shortly before the maximum
permitted engine speed is reached.
When shifting down a gear manually, the gearbox will not change gear until the engine can no longer
be overrevved.
Driving with DSG® dual clutch gearbox
The gearbox changes the forward gears up and down automatically.