Fig. 96 Gear shift pattern of a 5-speed manual gearbox
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The positions of the individual driving gears are shown on the gearshift lever ⇒ Fig. 96.
•Fully depress and hold the clutch pedal.
•Move the gear lever to the required position ⇒.
•Release the clutch to engage.
In models for certain countries the clutch pedal will have to be depressed fully in order to start the
engine.
Selecting reverse gear
•Reverse gear should only be selected when the vehicle is stationary.
•Fully depress and hold the clutch pedal ⇒.
•Shift the gear lever to the neutral position.
•Push the gearshift lever fully to the right and then back into the reverse gear position
⇒ Fig. 96Ⓡ.
•Release the clutch to engage.
Shifting down
You should always select the next immediate gear when shifting down a gear whilst the vehicle is in
motion. The engine revs should not be too high when doing this ⇒. Damage to the clutch and
the gearbox could occur if at high speeds or high engine revs one or more gears are skipped when
shifting down gear, even if the clutch is not released when doing this ⇒.
Automated manual gearbox: selecting a gear
When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a gear is engaged and
the clutch released. This also applies when the handbrake is on.
•Never engage reverse gear while the vehicle is in motion.
WARNING
Shifting gears incorrectly to a lower gear can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle, which can
cause accidents and serious injuries.
WARNING
Serious damage to the clutch and gearbox can occur if the gear stick on the manual gearbox
is shifted to too low a gear when travelling at high speeds or at high revs. This also applies if
the clutch remains depressed and the gears do not engage.
NOTICE
Please note the following to help 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 a slope with the engine running.
NOTICE
Fig. 99 Selector lever in Tiptronic position
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
With Tiptronic the gears in an automated manual gearbox can be shifted up and down manually.
The gear that is currently selected will be maintained when the Tiptronic programme is selected.
This remains the case until the system does not perform a gear change due to the current driving
situation.
Operating Tiptronic
•From position D push the selector lever left into the Tiptronic gate M⇒.
•Gently push the selector lever forwards ⊕ or back ㊀ to shift gear up or down ⇒ Fig. 99.
•Push the selector lever to the left again in the Tiptronic gate M to exit Tiptronic mode ⇒.
In selector lever position D, push the lever towards the ⊕ or the ㊀ to switch briefly into the Tiptronic
programme M.
Driving with an automated manual gearbox
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The gearbox changes the forward gears up and down automatically.
Driving down hills
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear you will need. Lower gears increase the braking effect
of the engine. Never allow the vehicle to roll down mountains or hills in the neutral position N.
•Reduce your speed.
•Push the selector lever in position D to the left into the Tiptronic gate M⇒ Changing gear with
Tiptronic.
•Gently push the selector lever back ㊀ to change down gear.
Stopping the vehicle and pulling away when driving uphill
The steeper the incline, the lower the gear that is required.
If you wish to stop the vehicle or pull away when driving uphill, you should use the Hill Hold Assist
function ⇒ Pull-away assist systems. Pulling the handbrake switches the Hill Hold Assist off.
Vehicles without Hill Hold Assist: When you stop the vehicle on an incline and a position is still
selected, the vehicle must always be prevented from rolling by depressing the brake pedal or by
applying the handbrake. The brake pedal or the handbrake should not be released until you start to
pull away ⇒.
Kick-down
The kickdown function enables maximum acceleration in the selector lever position D or in the
Tiptronic position M.
If the accelerator pedal is depressed fully, the gearbox will automatically shift to a lower gear,
depending on the speed and engine revs. This will make use of the full vehicle acceleration ⇒.
The gearbox does not shift up to the next gear until the engine reaches the maximum engine speed
for the gear.
•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.
NOTICE
Fault in the automated manual gearbox
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Emergency programme
There may be a fault in the system if warning and indicator lamps for the automated manual
gearbox light up in the vehicle cluster ⇒ Warning and indicator lamp. When certain faults occur, the
automated manual gearbox runs in an emergency programme. The vehicle can still be driven in the
emergency programme, but only at reduced speed and not in all gears.
With an automated manual gearbox it may then be the case that the vehicle can no longer be
driven in all gears.
In all cases the automated manual gearbox should be checked by a qualified workshop
immediately.
Overheating in the automated manual gearbox
The automated manual gearbox can overheat, for example if the vehicle regularly pulls off from the
starting position or in stop-and-go traffic. Overheating is indicated by a warning lamp displayed
in the instrument cluster. An acoustic warning may also be heard. Stop the vehicle and allow the
gearbox to cool down ⇒.
The vehicle does not move forwards or backwards even though a position
has been selected
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.
Gear-change indicator (manual gearbox)
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
In some vehicles, the instrument cluster will show which gear should be selected while the vehicle
is in motion to reduce fuel consumption.
DisplayMeaning
The current gear is optimal.
A higher gear is recommended.
A lower gear is recommended.
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.
•Always adjust your driving style in accordance with the flow of traffic.
•The kickdown function or fast acceleration should only be used if the visibility, weather,
road and traffic conditions permit.
•You should never endanger other road users through the acceleration of your vehicle or
through your driving style.
WARNING
If you stop the vehicle on an incline, do not attempt to stop it from rolling back by depressing
the accelerator while a position is still selected. The automated manual gearbox could
overheat and be damaged.
NOTICE
•If the display indicates that the gearbox is overheating for the first time, the vehicle will
have to be parked safely or driven faster than 20 km/h (12 mph).
•If the lamp signal and acoustic warning are repeated approximately every 10 seconds, the
vehicle must immediately be parked safely and the engine switched off. Allow the gearbox
to cool down.
•In order to prevent damage to the gearbox, you should not drive on until the lamp goes out.
You should not pull away or drive the vehicle at very low speeds while the gearbox is
overheated.
NOTICE
Warning and indicator lamps
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Lit upPossible cause ⇒Solution
Handbrake is applied.⇒ Handbrake.
Brake system fault.
Do not drive on!
Seek expert assistance immediately ⇒ Fault
in the brake system.
Brake fluid level is too low.Do not drive on!
Check brake fluid level ⇒ Brake fluid level.
In conjunction with ABS indicator lamp
: ABS and EDV not functioning.
Do not drive on!
Seek expert assistance immediately ⇒ Fault
in the brake system.
ESC switched off by the system.Switch the ignition on and off. If necessary,
drive a short distance.
ESC fault.Proceed to a qualified workshop.
In conjunction with ABS indicator lamp
: ABS fault.
Proceed to a qualified workshop. The
vehicle can be braked without ABS.
Vehicle battery has been reconnected.
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 ⇒ Vehicle
battery.
Traction Control fault or switched off for
system-related reasons.
Go to qualified workshop ⇒ Traction Control
System (TCS) or Traction Control (TC).
In conjunction with ESC indicator lamp
: ABS fault.
Proceed to a qualified workshop. The
vehicle can be braked without ABS.
Driving with worn brake pads or with a faulty brake system can cause accidents and serious
injuries.
•If you have reason to believe that the brakes are worn down or the brake system is faulty,
go to a qualified workshop immediately and have the brake system checked and have any
worn brake pads replaced.
WARNING
Incorrect parking can cause serious injuries.
•Never remove the vehicle key from the ignition 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
vehicle.
•Never park the vehicle where parts of the exhaust system can come into contact with
inflammable material underneath the vehicle, e.g. leaves, dry grass, spilt fuel.
•Always apply the handbrake fully when the vehicle is parked.
•Never leave children or people requiring assistance alone in the vehicle. They could
release the handbrake, move the selector lever or gearshift lever and thus set the vehicle
in motion. This can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
•Always take all vehicle keys with you every time you leave the vehicle. The engine can still
be started and electrical equipment such as the window controls still can be operated,
potentially causing serious injury.
•Never leave children or people requiring assistance alone in the vehicle. 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, according to season. This can cause serious injuries and illness or
fatalities, especially for small children.
WARNING
•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
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 damaged.
NOTICE
An acoustic warning is given if the car is driven faster than approximately 6 km/h (4 mph)
with the handbrake applied.
Parking
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Please adhere to relevant legislation when stopping and parking your vehicle.
Stopping the vehicle
The steps should only be carried out in the specified order.
•Stop the vehicle on a suitable surface ⇒.
•Depress and hold the brake pedal until the engine has stopped.
•Apply the handbrake firmly ⇒ Handbrake.
•With an automated manual gearbox, move the selector lever to position D or R.
•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 first gear for flat ground and uphill inclines, or reverse gear for
downhill inclines, and then release the clutch.
•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.
Incorrect use of the handbrake can cause accidents 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. It can also cause premature wear to the rear brake
pads.
•Never activate the accelerator from the engine compartment if a position or gear has been
selected and the engine is running. The vehicle can start to move even if the handbrake is
applied.
WARNING
To avoid unintentional movement when parking the vehicle, first apply the handbrake firmly
and then remove your foot from the brake pedal.
NOTICE
Driving with respect for the environment
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ An economic driving style
⇒ Driving in a fuel-efficient manner
Fuel economy, environmental impact and wear on the engine, brakes and tyres depend largely on
three factors:
•Personal driving style.
•Conditions of use (weather, road surface).
•Technical conditions.
Depending on your personal driving style, a few simple measures can help save fuel by up to 25%.
An economic driving style
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Changing gear earlier
In principle, the highest gear is always the most economical gear. A rule of thumb for most vehicles:
at a speed of 30 km/h (19 mph) drive in 3rd gear, at 40 km/h (25 mph) in 4th gear and at 50 km/h
(31 mph) in 5th gear.
If the traffic and driving situation allows it, skipping gears when changing up a gear will also save
fuel.
Do not drive gears to their upper limit. Use first gear only for pulling away then quickly change up to
second gear. Avoid using the kickdown function in vehicles with an automated manual gearbox.
Vehicles with a gear display help to improve fuel economy by indicating the optimum time to
change gear.
Rolling to a stop
Taking your foot off the accelerator will interrupt the supply of fuel to the engine and decrease fuel
consumption.
Therefore, in situations such as approaching a red traffic light, let the vehicle roll without applying
the accelerator. Only press on the clutch pedal to disengage if the vehicle becomes too slow or if
the stopping distance is longer. The engine will then run at idling speed.
Switch off the engine in situations when the vehicle might be stationary for a long time, e.g. at a
level crossing. In vehicles with an active start/stop system, the engine will switch off automatically
when the vehicle is stationary.
Thinking ahead when driving, and driving with the flow of traffic
Applying the brake and accelerator too often will significantly increase fuel consumption. By thinking
ahead when driving and by maintaining a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front, simply
keeping your foot off the accelerator will stop the speed from fluctuating. This means that active
braking and accelerating is not always necessary.
Driving smoothly and evenly
Even more important than speed is smoothness: the more evenly you drive, the lower your fuel
consumption will be.
When driving on a motorway, it is much more effective to drive at a constant moderate speed than
to drive with constant acceleration and braking. As a rule, driving with a constant style will get you
to your destination just as quickly.
The cruise control system will help you to maintain a constant driving style.
Using additional equipment in moderation
It is always important to be comfortable in your vehicle, but it is also important to consider the
environment.
Some equipment will increase fuel consumption when switched on:
Adapt your speed and distance from the vehicles ahead to suit visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions.
WARNING
•The cooling function of the air conditioning system: if the air conditioning system is set to a very
high or low temperature it will require a lot of energy, which is generated by the engine.
Therefore the temperature setting in the vehicle should not vary too much from the outside
temperature. It may be a good idea to air the vehicle before setting off and then to travel a short
distance with the windows open. The air conditioning system should then be switched on once
the windows have been closed.
•Keep the windows closed when driving at high speeds. Having the windows open increases fuel
consumption.
•Switch the seat heating off as soon as it has served its purpose.
•Switch the rear window heating off as soon as the window has defogged and is clear of ice.
Other factors that increase fuel consumption (examples):
•Fault in engine management.
•Driving in hilly regions.
Driving in a fuel-efficient manner
Fig. 102 Fuel consumption in litres per 100 km at two different outside temperatures
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
By adopting an economical driving style and anticipating the traffic situation ahead, you can easily
reduce 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
minimise fuel consumption and emissions. The outside 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. 102.
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.
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 resistance and therefore also fuel consumption.
Ensure that any new tyres purchased have optimum rolling resistance.
Using 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 better and more quickly, especially for cold
starts. They are especially effective in vehicles that make a lot of short journeys.
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 ensure that it complies with engine oil norms and has been
approved by Volkswagen.
Avoid unnecessary loads
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical and environmentally-friendly it is. An extra weight of
100 kg can increase fuel consumption by up to 0.3 l/100 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 equipment and luggage carriers that are not in use,
especially if you are going to be driving at high speeds.
Steering
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Warning and indicator lamps
⇒ Information on steering
Depending on its equipment level the vehicle may have power steering.
The power steering is not hydraulic. It is an electromechanical system. The advantage of this
steering system is that no hydraulic hoses, hydraulic oil, pumps, filter or other parts are required.
The electromechanical system reduces fuel consumption. A hydraulic system requires constant oil
pressure in the system, whereas an electromechanical steering system only needs an energy
supply while steering.
The power steering provided by the electromechanical steering system automatically adjusts to the
vehicle speed, steering wheel torque and steering wheel angle. The electromechanical steering
only functions when the engine is running.
Additional information and warnings:
•Starting and stopping the engine ⇒ Starting and stopping the engine
•Battery ⇒ Vehicle battery
•Tow-starting and towing ⇒ Tow-starting and towing
Warning and indicator lamps
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Lit upPossible causeSolution
The electromechanical steering is faulty
or not working.
The steering should be checked by a
qualified workshop as soon as possible.
Electromechanical steering function
reduced.
The steering should be checked by a
qualified workshop as soon as possible.
If the yellow warning lamp remains off after
the ignition has been restarted and you have
driven a short distance, you do not need to
consult a qualified workshop.
The vehicle battery has been
disconnected and reconnected.
Drive a short distance at a speed of
15 – 20 km/h (9 – 12 mph).
Several warning and indicator lamps will light up briefly as a functional check when the ignition is
switched on. They will go out soon afterwards.
If the power steering is not working, the steering wheel is difficult to turn, which makes it
difficult to steer the vehicle.
•The power steering only functions when the engine is running.
•Never allow the vehicle to roll if the engine is switched off.
•Never remove the vehicle key from the ignition lock when the vehicle is in motion. The
steering lock may be activated and you will no longer be able to steer the vehicle.
WARNING