Starting and stopping the engine
Ignition lock
Fig. 99 To the right of the steering wheel: positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock.
When there is no vehicle key in the ignition lock, the steering column lock may be activated.
Vehicle key positions ⇒ Fig. 99
Ignition switched off. The vehicle key can be removed.
Ignition switched on. Steering lock can be released. The diesel engine is pre-heated and the
indicator lamp lights up yellow.
Depress the brake pedal when the indicator lamp lights up green. Start the engine. Release
the vehicle key as soon as the engine starts. Once released, the vehicle key moves back to position
⇒ Fig. 99① .
Ignition switched on warning
A warning message appears in the instrument cluster display if the driver door is opened while the
ignition is switched on. A signal tone may also be given.
The warning is a reminder that the ignition must be switched off before leaving the vehicle.
WARNING
Improper or unsupervised use of the vehicle keys can cause accidents or serious injuries.
Always take all vehicle keys with you every time you leave the vehicle. The engine can be started and
electrical equipment such as the window controls can be operated. This can cause serious injury.
Never leave children or people requiring assistance alone in the vehicle when the vehicle is locked.
They could become trapped in the vehicle in an emergency and may not be able to get themselves
to safety. For example, locked vehicles may be subjected to very high or very low temperatures
depending on the season. This can cause serious injuries and illness or fatalities, especially in the
case of small children.
Never remove the vehicle key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. The steering column lock
may be activated and you will no longer be able to steer the vehicle.
Vehicles with ignition lock: turn the vehicle key to position ⇒ Fig. 99① . The ignition is
switched on.
Vehicles with a starter button: press the starter button once. The ignition is switched on.
Vehicles with a diesel engine: during the diesel engine preheating phase, the indicator lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.
Depress and hold the brake pedal until the electronic parking brake has been switched off.
Vehicles with manual gearbox: fully depress the clutch pedal and hold it until the engine has
been started. Move the gear lever to neutral position.
Vehicles with DSG dual clutch gearbox: move the selector lever to position P or N.
Vehicles with ignition lock: turn the vehicle key to position ⇒ Fig. 99② – do not depress the
accelerator.
Release the vehicle key once the engine has started.
Vehicles with a starter button: press the starter button ⇒ Starter button – do not depress the
accelerator. There must be a valid vehicle key in the vehicle before the engine can be started.
If the engine does not start immediately, switch off the starter and try again after about a minute.
Vehicles with starter button: perform an emergency start if necessary ⇒ No valid vehicle key
recognised .
Vehicles with starter button: the starter button is deactivated if the vehicle was locked with the
vehicle key. If you are in the vehicle and need to start the engine, unlock the vehicle first or perform
an emergency start ⇒ No valid vehicle key recognised .
Switch off the electronic parking brake if you wish to pull away.
WARNING
The risk of serious injury can be reduced with the engine running or when starting the engine.
Never start or run the engine in unventilated or enclosed spaces. The exhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, an odourless and colourless toxic gas. Carbon monoxide can cause people to lose
consciousness. It can also cause death.
Never start or run the engine if oil, fuel or any other highly flammable fluids are under or near the
vehicle, or are leaking out of the vehicle, e.g. as the result of damage.
Components with a high power consumption are switched off temporarily when the engine is
started.
The engine cannot be started with the starter button, for example, if the button cell in the vehicle
key is weak or flat. In this case, use the emergency start function ⇒ No valid vehicle key recognised .
When starting from cold, the engine may be a little noisy for the first few seconds. This is quite
normal, and no cause for concern.
At outside temperatures of less than +5°C (+41°F), fumes may be detected under a vehicle with a
diesel engine if the fuel-powered supplementary heater is switched on.
Switching off the engine
Bring the vehicle to a standstill ⇒ .
Park the vehicle ⇒ Parking .
Vehicles with ignition lock: turn the vehicle key to position ⇒ Fig. 99⓪ in the ignition lock.
Vehicles with a starter button: press the starter button briefly ⇒ Fig. 100 . If the engine cannot
be switched off, carry out the emergency switch-off procedure ⇒ Engine cannot be switched off .
Follow the instructions in the instrument cluster ⇒ Instrument cluster .
Ignition warning
In order to indicate an active ignition when leaving the vehicle, an acoustic warning signal sounds
when opening the driver door and corresponding warning messages appear on the display of the
instrument cluster.
Warning before leaving the vehicle
Vehicles with DSG dual clutch gearbox: if the selector lever is not in position P, an acoustic
warning signal will sound when the driver door is opened and the warning message Please move
selector lever to position P. will be shown on the instrument cluster display. In this way, a warning is
given that the vehicle could potentially roll away. When you leave the vehicle, the electronic parking
brake also switches on to prevent the vehicle rolling away.
WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle is in motion. This can lead to a loss of vehicle control,
accidents and serious injuries.
Fig. 101 On the right-hand side of the steering column: emergency start function in vehicles with the
keyless locking and starting system Keyless Access.
Fault in engine management system
The indicator lamp lights up yellow.
Fault in the engine management system.
The engine should be checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
Engine speed limited
The indicator lamp lights up yellow.
The engine speed was limited to prevent the engine from overheating.
The engine speed is shown on the instrument cluster display.
The engine speed limitation will be cancelled again in the following cases:
Engine is no longer in a critical temperature range.
Foot is taken off the accelerator.
together with engine speed limitation due to fault in the engine management system
The indicator lamps light up yellow.
Engine speed limitation is activated due to a fault in the engine management system.
Make sure that the displayed engine speed is not exceeded.
The engine should be checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
Glow plug system/engine management system
Vehicles with diesel engine:
The indicator lamp lights up yellow.
When the diesel engine is being pre-heated, the indicator lamp lights up in the instrument cluster for
a few seconds.
The indicator lamp flashes yellow.
There is a fault in the engine management system.
The engine should be checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
Vehicle key cannot be removed from the ignition lock
An unauthorised vehicle key has been inserted in the ignition lock.
Remove the vehicle key as follows:
Vehicles with DSG dual clutch gearbox
Press the lock button in the selector lever and release.
Remove the vehicle key from the ignition lock.
Vehicles with a manual gearbox
Remove the vehicle key from the ignition lock.
No valid vehicle key recognised
A corresponding display will appear in the instrument cluster.
If the button cell in the vehicle key is weak or discharged, it is possible that the vehicle key will not
be recognised.
In this case, you will need to perform an emergency start:
Depress and hold the brake pedal.
Hold the vehicle key to the right of the steering column trim directly after pressing the starter button
⇒ Fig. 101 .
The ignition is switched on automatically, and in some cases the engine is started.
Engine cannot be switched off
The engine cannot be switched off by briefly pressing the starter button.
In this case it is necessary to perform an emergency switch-off procedure:
Press the starter button twice within a few seconds or press and hold once.
The engine will switch off automatically ⇒ .
Engine cannot be started
A corresponding message will be displayed in the instrument cluster if an unauthorised vehicle key is
used or there is a system fault.
Use an authorised vehicle key.
If the problem persists, seek expert assistance.
After manual unlocking, carefully press the cover into the centre console while ensuring that the
electrical wires are positioned correctly.
Using the flat blade of the screwdriver from the vehicle toolkit, carefully push the release lever in the
direction of the arrow and keep it in this position ⇒ Fig. 109 .
Press the lock button on the front of the selector lever and move the selector lever into position N.
After manual unlocking, carefully press the cover into the centre console while ensuring that the
electrical wires are positioned correctly.
Emergency programme
There is a fault in the system if all the displays on the instrument cluster for the selector lever
positions have a light background. The DSG® dual clutch gearbox is running in an emergency
programme. The vehicle can still be driven in the emergency programme, but only at reduced speed
and not in all gears.
In vehicles with a DSG® dual clutch gearbox, you may no longer be able to select reverse gear.
In all cases, you should have the DSG® dual clutch gearbox checked by a qualified workshop
immediately.
Vehicle does not move even though position is engaged
If the vehicle will not move in the required direction, the system may have selected the position
incorrectly.
Depress the brake pedal and reselect the position.
If the vehicle still does not move in the required direction, there is a system fault. Seek expert
assistance and have the system checked.
WARNING
Never move the selector lever out of the position P if the electronic parking brake is not switched on.
Otherwise the vehicle could move unexpectedly if it is stopped on an uphill or downhill gradient,
which could lead to accidents and serious injuries.
NOTICE
If the vehicle rolls for an extended period or at high speed with the engine switched off and the
selector lever in the position N, the DSG® dual clutch gearbox will be damaged, e.g. when being
towed.
NOTICE
If the display indicates that the gearbox is overheating for the first time, the vehicle must either be
parked safely or driven faster than 20 km/h (12 mph).
An incorrect tyre pressure can cause overheating, sudden tyre damage including tyre bursts and
ripping of the tread surface and thus to a loss of control over the vehicle.
Driving on steep terrain
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
Driving uphill or downhill
Get out of the vehicle and assess the situation before you attempt to drive up or down a hill:
Walk along the section and check the firmness of the ground. Look out for obstacles and other
hidden dangers ⇒ .
Check the section beyond the hill.
You should not follow the route if it is too steep, uneven or if the ground surface is too loose. Select
another route.
Drive slowly and at constant speed straight up or down a slope.
Accelerate only to the speed you need to climb the slope. Too much acceleration can cause the
wheels to spin and lead to a loss of control of the vehicle. Insufficient throttle increases the
probability of stalling the engine.
Never attempt to stop or turn on a slope.
Avoid allowing the engine to stall.
Do not change gear or engage the clutch when climbing a slope.
Use the offroad display ⇒ Offroad display .
If you cannot continue to drive up a hill
Never turn the vehicle around on an uphill gradient.
If the engine has stalled, depress the footbrake and start the engine again.
Select reverse gear and reverse back slowly in a straight line.
Use the foot brake to keep a constant speed until you have reached a safe place.
Driving downhill
Never exceed the tilt angle of the vehicle! If, in an emergency, you have to traverse the slope when
driving down it and the vehicle threatens to tip over, steer into the fall line immediately.
There is an increased risk of rolling over when driving downhill. Concentrate on steering the vehicle
when driving downhill in particular.
Use the offroad display on steep downhill stretches ⇒ Offroad display .
Drive down steep inclines in first gear.
Use the foot brake sparingly in order not to lose control of the vehicle.
The brakes have overheated, control was interrupted automatically. Allow the brakes to cool down
and check functioning again.
If the problem persists, go to a qualified workshop.
Control cannot be started.
A forward gear other than first gear is selected (manual gearbox) or the selector lever is in selector
lever position D/S or the Tiptronic gate.
The speed is at least 25 km/h (16 mph) in the case of vehicles with manual gearbox.
The brake lights on the vehicle and trailer ⇒ are working.
ESC is not regulating.
The brake pedal is not depressed.
Unusual noises during automatic braking.
This is normal and is not a fault.
Area monitoring system (Front Assist)
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Warning levels and braking intervention
⇒ Limits of Front Assist
⇒ Pedestrian Monitoring
⇒ Operating the area monitoring system (Front Assist)
⇒ Troubleshooting
The area monitoring system (Front Assist) with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian
Monitoring can help to avoid accidents.
Within the limits of the system, Front Assist can warn the driver about imminent collisions, prepare
the vehicle for emergency braking, assist with braking, and initiate automatic braking. The warning
time varies depending on the traffic situation and driver behaviour.
Front Assist is not a substitute for the full concentration of the driver.
Driving with Front Assist
You can cancel the automatic braking interventions of Front Assist by steering or pressing the
accelerator.
Automatic braking
Front Assist can decelerate the vehicle to a standstill. The vehicle will then not be held permanently.
Depress the brake pedal.