Checking and refilling the windscreen washer fluid level
Fig. 68 In the engine compartment: cap of washer fluid reservoir
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The windscreen washer fluid level should be checked regularly and topped up as necessary.
•Open the bonnet ⇒ .
•The washer fluid reservoir is identified by the symbol on the cap ⇒ Fig. 68.
•Check whether there is enough windscreen washer fluid in the reservoir.
•To top up, mix clean water with a washer fluid recommended by Volkswagen ⇒. Observe the
dilution instructions on the packaging.
•At low temperatures, add a special anti-freeze agent so that the fluid cannot freeze ⇒.
Recommended windscreen washer fluid
•For warm weather: summer windscreen wash- G 052 184 A1 -. Dilution 1:100 (1 part
concentrate, 100 parts water) in the washer fluid reservoir.
•All-year washer fluid- G 052 164 A2 -. Dilution in winter to -18°C (0°F) approximately 1:2 (1 part
concentrate, 2 parts water), otherwise dilute one part concentrate to four parts water (1:4) in the
washer fluid reservoir.
Capacities
The windscreen washer fluid reservoir has a capacity of about 3 litres.
Mirrors
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Interior mirror
⇒ Exterior mirrors
For safety reasons it is important that the driver positions the exterior and interior mirrors correctly
before starting a journey ⇒.
The driver can use the exterior mirrors and the interior mirror to observe rear traffic and then adjust
his or her driving style accordingly. Looking in the exterior mirrors and the interior mirror does not
•In order to prevent damage to the bonnet and the windscreen wiper arms, the windscreen
wiper arms should only be lifted when in the service position.
•Always return the windscreen wiper arms to the windscreen before starting your journey.
NOTICE
Never mix anti-freeze or other unsuitable additives into the windscreen washer fluid. An oily
film may otherwise be left on the screen, and restrict the field of vision.
•Use clean, clear water with a washer fluid recommended by Volkswagen.
•A suitable anti-freeze agent should be added to the windscreen washer fluid if necessary.
WARNING
•Never mix other cleaning agents with the cleaning agents recommended by Volkswagen.
This can cause the ingredients to separate and block the washer jets.
•Never mix up service fluids when refilling. Failure to observe this warning can result in
serious malfunctions and engine damage.
NOTICE
In the interests of environmental protection, the vehicle should only be washed in specially
provided wash bays. This prevents waste water contaminated with oil, grease or fuel from entering
the sewerage system. In some countries, washing vehicles anywhere else may be prohibited.
Environmentally-friendly care products should be used.
Leftover car care products should not be disposed of with ordinary household waste. Read
the manufacturer's instructions.
Washing the vehicle
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The longer substances such as insects, bird droppings, resinous tree sap, road dirt, industrial
deposits, tar, soot or road salt and other corrosive materials remain on the vehicle, the more
damage they do to the paintwork. High temperatures (for instance in strong sunlight) further
intensify the corrosive effect. The underside of the vehicle should also be cleaned thoroughly and
regularly.
Car washes
Please observe the signs on the automatic car wash. Before using an automatic car wash take
the usual precautions, such as closing all windows and folding in the exterior mirrors, in order to
avoid damage to the vehicle. You must consult the car wash operator if there are special parts on
your vehicle such as spoilers, roof luggage carrier systems or radio aerials ⇒.
The paint is hard-wearing enough for the car to be generally washed in an automatic car wash.
However, the effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the design of the car wash.
Volkswagen recommends the use of car washes without brushes.
To remove any waxy residue from the windows and to stop wipers rubbing, please note the
following ⇒ Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors.
Washing the car by hand
When washing by hand, first soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse off as well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a glove or a brush using only light pressure. Start with
the roof and work from the top to the bottom. Use a shampoo for very stubborn dirt only.
The sponge or glove should be wrung out thoroughly at regular intervals.
Clean the wheels, sill panels etc. last. Use a different sponge for this purpose.
Car care products can be toxic and hazardous. Unsuitable care products and incorrect
application of care products can cause accidents, serious injuries, burns or poisoning.
•The care product must be kept in its original sealed container.
•Read the manufacturer's instructions.
•Never store car care products in empty food containers, bottles or any other non-original
containers as people finding these containers may not know that they contain care
products.
•Keep children away from care products.
•The products can give off harmful fumes during use. They should therefore only be used
outside or in well-ventilated spaces.
•Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other volatile fluids to wash,
clean or care for your vehicle. These substances are toxic and highly inflammable.
WARNING
Incorrect care and cleaning of vehicle parts can impair the safety features of the vehicle and
thus cause serious injury.
•Vehicle parts must be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.
•Only use approved or recommended cleaning products.
WARNING
Cleaning agents that contain solvents attack the material and can cause damage.
NOTICE
Before getting into the vehicle, close all Velcro fasteners that could touch the cloth seat
covers and fabric trims. Open Velcro fasteners can cause damage to cloth seat covers and
fabric trims.
Avoid the direct contact of sharp-edged items and accessories to the upholstery and fabric
trims in order to prevent damage. Accessories include zips, studs, rhinestones on clothing
or belts.
Dust and grit in upholstery pores, folds and seams should be removed regularly so that no
permanent damage is caused to the surface of the seats by scratching.
Always check whether garments are colourfast to prevent damage to the upholstery. This
is especially important for light-coloured upholstery.
•Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts ⇒ Accessories, modifications, repairs
and renewal of parts
Suitable care products are available from a Volkswagen dealership.
Seat covers
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Checklist
Please note the following for the cleaning and maintenance of the seat covers ⇒:
Volkswagen recommends that stained upholstery is cleaned by a specialist company.
Cleaning cloth seat covers, fabric trim and Alcantara upholstery
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
Car care products can be toxic and hazardous. Unsuitable care products and incorrect
application of care products can cause accidents, serious injuries, burns or poisoning.
•The care product must be kept in its original sealed container.
•Read the manufacturer's instructions.
•Never store car care products in empty food containers, bottles or any other non-original
containers as people finding these containers may not know that they contain care
products.
•Keep children away from care products.
•The products can give off harmful fumes during use. They should therefore only be used
outside or in well-ventilated spaces.
•Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other volatile fluids to wash,
clean or care for your vehicle. These substances are toxic and highly inflammable.
WARNING
Incorrect care and cleaning of vehicle parts can impair the safety features of the vehicle and
cause serious injury.
•Vehicle parts must be cleaned according to the manufacturer's instructions.
•Only use approved or recommended cleaning products.
WARNING
•Cleaning products that contain solvents attack the material and may cause irreparable
damage.
•Stains, dirt and other deposits containing aggressive and solvent-based ingredients attack
the material and may cause irreparable damage, even if only left for a short time.
•Stains, dirt and other deposits should be removed as quickly as possible and not allowed
to dry in.
•To avoid damage, stubborn stains should be removed by a specialist cleaning company.
NOTICE
Ignoring any of the items on this important checklist for maintaining the seat covers can lead
to damage or discolouration of the seat covers and fabric trims.
•Follow the instructions on the checklist.
NOTICE
®
Cleaning upholstery on seat cushions with seat heating, electrically
adjustable seats, or seats containing airbag components
Airbag-related components and electrical connectors may be installed in the driver seat, passenger
seat and sometimes also in the rear outer seats. Seat cushions or backrests that are damaged,
incorrectly cleaned or treated, or that become wet, may cause damage to the vehicle electrics or
trigger a fault in the airbag system ⇒.
Electrical components and connectors are installed in electrically adjustable seats and seat
cushions with seat heating. These can be damaged if cleaned or treated incorrectly ⇒. This can
also result in damage to other parts of the vehicle electrics.
For this reason, please follow these cleaning guidelines:
•Do not use high-pressure cleaners, steam cleaners or coolant spray.
•Do not use washing paste or fine detergent solutions.
•Avoid getting the seat wet.
•Only use detergents that have been approved by Volkswagen.
•If in doubt, consult a specialist cleaning company.
Cleaning upholstery on seat cushions without seat heating, seats that are
not electrically adjustable, and seats that do not contain airbag components
•Please read and follow the instructions, notes and warnings on the package before using
cleaning products.
•Upholstery, fabric trims, Alcantara seat covers and carpeting should be cleaned regularly with
a vacuum cleaner (brush).
•Do not use high-pressure cleaners, steam cleaners or coolant spray.
•We recommend that you use a soft sponge or commercially available lint-free microfibre cloth
for cleaning jobs ⇒.
•Clean Alcantara surfaces with a slightly damp cotton or woollen cloth or a commercially
available lint-free microfibre cloth ⇒.
General surface soiling of the upholstery and fabric trim can be cleaned with a commercially
available foam cleaner.
If the upholstery and fabric trims are generally heavily soiled, consult a Volkswagen dealership for
information on suitable cleaning methods before attempting any cleaning. If required, take the
vehicle to a specialist cleaning company.
Treating stains
When treating stains, it may be necessary to clean the entire surface and not just the stain itself.
This particularly applies if the surface shows general signs of wear. The cleaned area could
otherwise be lighter than the surrounding area. If in doubt, consult a specialist cleaning company.
Type of stainRecommended cleaning method for seat cushions
and upholstery
Water-based stains, e.g.
coffee, fruit juice.
– Moisten a sponge using a spray bottle and treat the stain by
rubbing it in a circular motion.
– Wipe with a dry absorbent cloth.
Stubborn stains, e.g.
chocolate, foundation.
– Only use detergents approved by Volkswagen.
– If required, take the vehicle to a specialist cleaning firm to have the
upholstery cleaned.
Oily stains, e.g. oil,
lipstick.
– Only use detergents approved by Volkswagen.
– If required, take the vehicle to a specialist cleaning firm to have the
upholstery cleaned.
®
®
If there is a fault in the airbag system, the airbag may not function properly, or not function at
all or function unexpectedly. This could cause accidents and fatal injuries.
•The airbag system should be checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
WARNING
If the upholstery on electrically adjustable seats or on seat cushions containing airbag
components gets wet, electric components and the vehicle electrics could be damaged.
•A wet seat cushion should always be dried out, and system components checked, by a
qualified workshop.
•Do not use steam cleaners as the steam pushes the soiling into the fabric and sets it.
•High-pressure cleaners and coolant sprays can damage the upholstery.
NOTICE
The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle's design. The tyres and rims approved
by Volkswagen are specifically matched to the characteristics of the vehicle and make a major
contribution to good road holding and safe handling.
Avoiding damage to the tyres
•If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obstacle, drive slowly and at a right angle if possible.
•Inspect the tyres regularly for damage such as cuts, cracks or blisters.
•Remove foreign objects that are in the outer tyre tread and have not penetrated the inner
tyre⇒ Tyre damage.
•Always respond to any warning messages given by the tyre monitoring system.
•Damaged or worn tyres must be replaced immediately ⇒ Tyre damage.
•Regularly check the tyres for hidden damage ⇒ Tyre damage.
•Never exceed the top speed and load permitted for the tyres that are fitted ⇒ Tyre lettering.
•Protect the wheels, including the spare wheel, from contact with corrosive substances, including
oils, lubricants, fuel and brake fluid ⇒.
•Replace missing dust caps immediately.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
Tyres with directional tread pattern have been developed to roll in one direction only. An arrow on
the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with directional tread ⇒ Tyre lettering.
The direction of rotation must be adhered to. This is the only guarantee for optimum grip and helps
to avoid aquaplaning, excessive noise and wear.
If, however, the tyre is fitted in the opposite direction to the tread pattern, you must take more care
when driving as the tyre is now no longer being used according to its designation. This is
particularly important on wet roads. The tyres must be replaced as quickly as possible or be fitted
with the tread in the correct direction.
Rotating wheels front to rear
Regularly rotating the wheels as shown in the illustration ⇒ Fig. 130 is recommended to help
ensure that tyres wear evenly. All the tyres will then last for about the same time.
Volkswagen recommends having the wheels changed by a qualified workshop.
Tyres that are older than 6 years
Tyres age through physical and chemical processes that can impair their function. Tyres that are
stored unused for an extended period will harden and become brittle more quickly than tyres which
are in constant use.
Volkswagen recommends replacing tyres that are older than 6 years with new tyres. This also
applies to tyres, including the spare wheel, which appear to still be in good condition and whose
tread depth has not yet reached the minimum value stipulated by legislation ⇒.
The age of a tyre can be determined from the manufacturing date, which is a component of the tyre
identification number () ⇒ Tyre lettering.
Storing tyres
Mark tyres before you remove them to indicate the direction of rotation. This ensures you will be
able to mount them correctly when you replace them (left, right, front, rear). When removed, the
wheels or tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and preferably dark place. Do not store tyres
mounted on the rim vertically.
Any tyres not fitted on rims should be kept in suitable sleeves to protect against dirt and should be
stored vertically (standing on the tread).
Old tyres should be disposed of as required by legislation.
Corrosive liquids and other substances can cause visible and invisible damage to the tyres,
which can cause the tyre to burst.
•Always keep chemicals, oils, lubricants, fuel, brake fluid and other corrosive substances
away from the tyres.
WARNING
Old tyres – even if they have not been used – can suddenly lose pressure or burst, especially
at high speeds, and thus cause accidents and serious injuries.
•Avoid using tyres that are more than six years old. If you have no alternative, drive slowly
and with extra care at all times.
WARNING