Get Maintenance Guide for Volkswagen Atlas SUV First Generation (2018-2023)

Maintenance

Service

Information regarding the service schedule

Information regarding maintenance of your vehicle and the type and scope of service work can be found in your service schedule. The service schedule is included

with your manual Service schedule.

Vehicle care

Vehicle care information

Regular, proper care helps to maintain your vehicle.

The longer dirt remains on the surfaces of vehicle components, the more difﬁcult it may be to clean and care for them. Long-term exposure can make it impossible

for dirt to be removed.

For questions regarding care products or for vehicle components that are not listed, consult a suitably qualiﬁed professional. Volkswagen recommends contacting

an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Suitably qualiﬁed professionals can provide you with suitable accessories. Volkswagen recommends the use of Genuine Volkswagen Accessories, which you

can acquire from an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Read and follow the usage instructions on the packaging.

WARNING

Improper care and cleaning of vehicle components could impair vehicle safety equipment and cause serious injuries.

Clean and maintain vehicle components only according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Always use approved or recommended cleaning solution.

Never use cleaning solutions that contain solvents. Solvents can cause permanent damage to the airbag module.

Protect your hands and arms against components with sharp edges, for example when cleaning the inside of the wheel housings.

WARNING

Dirty, foggy, or icy windows reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents and serious injuries. The vehicle safety equipment could become impaired.

Only drive when there is clear visibility through all windows.

Do not use water-repellent window solutions on the windshield. This can cause intense glare under poor visual conditions.

WARNING

Care products can be poisonous and dangerous. Unsuitable care products and incorrect application of care products can cause accidents, serious injuries,

burns, and poisoning.

Only store care products in their sealed original containers.

Read and follow the package leaﬂet.

Keep children away from all care products.

Only use care products outside or in well-ventilated areas so that no harmful vapors are inhaled.

Never use turpentine, engine oil, nail polish remover, or other ﬂuids with vapors that dissipate easily for vehicle care. They are poisonous and highly

ﬂammable.

NOTICE

Cleaning dirt with aggressive and solvent-based products can cause permanent damage to vehicle equipment, even if only exposed to the vehicle component

for a brief period, for example on seat cushions or decorative parts.

Do not allow dirt to dry.

Have stubborn spots removed by a suitably qualiﬁed, authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Washing the vehicle

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and Notice ⇒

and Vehicle care information.

Washing your vehicle regularly prevents exposure to contamination, which may damage the paint.

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Matte-ﬁnish vehicles require special care due to the particular properties of the paint.

To ensure that your vehicle is washed correctly and appropriately, note the following information

⇒

, ⇒

.

WARNING

After a car wash, the braking efﬁciency may be delayed due to damp or icy brake rotors and brake pads in the winter, and this can increase the braking distance.

Perform careful braking maneuvers to “dry and remove ice” from the brakes. Do not endanger other road users while doing this.

NOTICE

Improper car washes can increase the risk of severe vehicle damage.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.

In cold weather, never direct a jet of water at locks, doors, or the trunk lid. Vehicle components could freeze.

Removing stubborn dirt on matte paint

Soak insects or bird excrement that have adhered to the surface immediately with water and spray with a special cleaner for matte paint.

Remove tar splashes on the paint surface with commercially available tar removers. Residue must not be removed by intensive rubbing.

Remove tree resin and rust particles with special cleaner for matte paint and a cleaning clay bar. Slide the cleaning clay bar over the affected areas without

pressing down on it.

Spray grease and ﬁngerprints with matte paint ﬁnish spray and rub with a soft microﬁber cloth.

Rinse gasoline residue immediately with plenty of water.

Automatic car washes

If your vehicle has matte paint, never select a wash program with wax or drying aids.

If your vehicle has matte paint, only use textile car washes, never brush car washes.

For vehicle with decorative and protective decals, never use a wash package with hot wax.

Choose car washes without brushes.

Also ensure that the underside of the vehicle is washed regularly and thoroughly to remove any residue.

Observe the information provided by the car wash operator, particularly with regard to attachments on the vehicle, e.g. spoilers

The windows are closed and the outside mirrors are folded in.

The vehicle must be in roll mode.

⇒

.

The electronic parking brake is switched off.

Vehicles with steering lock: If the vehicle is mechanically towed in the car wash, the steering must not be locked ⇒ Steering information.

The windshield wiper ⇒ Window wipers and the rain/light sensor ⇒ Rain/light sensor are switched off.

If applicable: the roof antenna has been removed.

NOTICE

Car washes which mechanically scan contours may damage the vehicle, e.g. spoiler.

Pressure washers

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Fig. 211 Warning sign: Do not use pressure washers in the marked area.

Never use rotating nozzles. Observe the manufacturer's instructions.

Only use water up to maximum +140 °F (+60 °C).

Move the water jet evenly with a distance of at least 20 inches (50 cm) between the spray nozzle and all parts of the vehicle.

Do not direct the water at the same spot for a long period of time.

If possible, do not direct the water straight at sensitive vehicle components, e.g. rubber seals, side windows, glossy trims, tires, sensors, camera lenses,

decorative and protective decals.

Never clean icy or snow-covered door windows with a pressure washer.

Hand washing

Individual contaminations on the paint can be removed with a cleaning clay bar.

1. Clean dust and large dirt deposits from the vehicle with plenty of water.

2. If your vehicle has matte paint, remove insects, grease spots and ﬁngerprints with a special cleaner for matte paint. Apply the product using a microﬁber cloth

with gentle pressure.

3. Clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a washing glove, or a washing brush with light pressure. Start at the roof, and continue to work from the top down. Only

use a cleansing shampoo on stubborn dirt.

If your vehicle has matte paint, clean from top to bottom with a neutral cleansing shampoo and a microﬁber cloth. Wash the microﬁber cloth thoroughly at

frequent intervals.

4. Clean the wheels and side members with a clean sponge.

5. Rinse with plenty of water.

6. Let the vehicle air dry. Remove water residue with a leather cloth.

NOTICE

Washing the vehicle incorrectly can destroy the matte paint ﬁnish.

Never use washing programs with wax treatment.

Generally, only cleaning agents free of solids and abrasives, such as cleansing shampoos or insect removers, can be used for cleaning purposes.

Do not use insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar. The surface may be damaged.

NOTICE

The plenum chamber drain can be blocked by leaves and dirt. Water that cannot drain may leak into the interior. Water introduced manually into the plenum

chamber, for example with a pressure washer, can cause considerable vehicle damage.

Remove leaves or other loose objects with a vacuum or by hand.

Have the area under the perforated cover cleaned by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Only wash the vehicle in facilities speciﬁcally designed for that purpose. This will reduce the risk of water contaminated with oil from entering the sewer system.

Exterior care and cleaning

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and Notice ⇒

and Vehicle care information.

351

The following overview gives recommendations for cleaning and caring for individual vehicle components.

Door windows, glass surfaces

Remove wax residue, for example from care products, with a suitable glass cleaner or the Volkswagen Genuine cleaning cloth.

Remove snow with a hand brush.

Remove ice with a plastic scraper. When doing so, scrape in one direction only.

Defrost the ice with a suitable deicer or Volkswagen Genuine deicer.

Clean wiper blades or change them if necessary.

Paint

Always treat surfaces with extreme care to prevent paint damage.

Treat light contaminants, for example deposits, insects, and cosmetics, immediately with a clean soft towel and a mild soap solution of maximum

two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water, or with a cleaning clay bar.

Clean spilled fuel or operating materials immediately.

Dampen rust spots with soap solution. Then remove with a cleaning clay bar.

Have corrosion removed by suitably qualiﬁed professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen

Service Facility.

In the event of paint damage, consult suitably qualiﬁed professionals and have the paint damage repaired. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

A preservation treatment protects the vehicle paint. When water no longer clearly beads up and drips off clean vehicle paint, the vehicle should be retreated with a

wax protectant if not earlier.

For matte paint, use a soft sponge to apply a special wax for matte paint to the cleaned vehicle. Remove excess wax with a microﬁber cloth.

Even if a wax protectant is applied regularly in an automatic car wash, Volkswagen recommends protecting the vehicle paint at least twice a year with a

suitable hard wax or Volkswagen Genuine hard wax.

Polishing is only needed if the appearance of the vehicle paint is poor and a shiny ﬁnish can no longer be achieved using protectants.

Never polish matte-ﬁnish surfaces. The surface will be permanently damaged by the paint shining.

Plenum chamber, engine compartment

Fig. 212 Between the engine compartment and windshield: plenum chamber (general example).

Remove leaves or other loose objects with a vacuum or by hand ﬁg. 212 , ⇒

.

Always have the engine compartment cleaned by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility qualiﬁed in this respect ⇒

.

Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Water introduced manually into the plenum chamber, for example with a pressure washer, can cause considerable vehicle damage.

352

NOTICE

The plenum chamber drain can be blocked by leaves and dirt. Water that cannot drain may leak into the interior.

Have the area under the perforated cover regularly cleaned by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility qualiﬁed in

this respect. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Sensors, camera lenses

Fig. 213 In the rear of the vehicle: Rear View Camera system on the handle (general example).

Clean the area in front of the sensors or the camera with a soft cloth and solvent-free cleaning solution.

Clean sensitive surfaces of the rain/light sensor and the camera window on the windshield as you would windows and glass surfaces (depending on the

equipment).

Remove snow with a hand brush.

Never use warm or hot water.

Defrost the ice with a suitable deicer or Volkswagen Genuine deicer.

Decorative and protective decals

Remove contaminants as described for paint. For matte decorative decals, use a suitable plastic cleaner or a Volkswagen Genuine plastic cleaner.

Treat the vehicle every three months with liquid hard wax. The vehicle must be free of dirt and dust before treating. Apply using only clean, soft microﬁber

cloths. Do not use hot wax, even in a car wash.

Hard contaminants: remove gently with ethyl alcohol and then wash with warm water.

The durability and coloring on decorative and protective decals can be affected by environment conditions, such as sunlight, moisture, air pollution, stone chips,

etc. Decorative decals may show signs of wear and aging after approximately one to three years, and protective decals after approximately two to three years.

In very hot climates, the decorative decals may fade slightly within one year and the protective decals within two years.

Trims made out of chrome-plated plastic, aluminum or stainless steel

Clean surfaces with a suitable chrome and aluminum product or Volkswagen Genuine chrome and aluminum products.

Chrome-plated trims can be protected with a suitable hard wax or Volkswagen Genuine hard wax.

Headlights, taillights

Use a soft sponge saturated with a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water to remove dirt. Do not use cleaning

solutions containing alcohol and/or solvents.

Remove stubborn dirt with a suitable chrome and aluminum product or Volkswagen Genuine chrome and aluminum products.

Wheels

Remove contaminants and road salt with plenty of water.

Clean dirty alloy wheels with a suitable rim cleaner or with Volkswagen Genuine rim cleaner. Volkswagen recommends applying a suitable hard wax or

Volkswagen Genuine hard wax to the rims every three months.

Repair a damaged protective paint layer immediately with a paint pen. If necessary, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen

Service Facility. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

353

Remove brake dust with a suitable rim cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine rim cleaner.

Door lock cylinder

1. Defrost the door lock cylinder with a suitable door lock deicer or Volkswagen Genuine deicer.

Do not use any door lock deicers with degreasing substances.

WARNING

The engine compartment is a dangerous area in any vehicle. There is a risk of injury, scalding, accidents, and burns when performing any work in the engine

compartment.

Always note the necessary handling guidelines and the safety precautions every time before working in the engine compartment → page , Safety

precautions for working in the engine compartment.

Have all the work performed by suitably qualiﬁed professionals. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility.

NOTICE

Incorrect cleaning and care can cause vehicle damage.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Never use cleaning objects that are too hard or abrasive.

Interior care and cleaning

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and Notice ⇒

and Vehicle care information.

The following overview gives recommendations for cleaning and caring for individual vehicle components.

NOTICE

Incorrect cleaning and care can cause vehicle damage.

Never use steam cleaners, brushes, hard sponges, etc.

Have tough spots removed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Door windows

Clean the door window with a glass cleaner.

Wipe the door windows dry with a clean chamois or a lint-free cloth.

Textiles, microﬁber, leatherette

Regularly remove dirt particles that adhere to the surface with a vacuum cleaner so that the material is not permanently damaged by scrubbing.

Remove contaminants with a suitable interior cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine interior cleaner.

For grease-based contaminants such as oil, use a suitable interior cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine interior cleaner. Blot away the dissolved grease or dye with

an absorbent towel. If necessary, treat afterwards with water.

For contaminants, for example from pens or nail polish, use a suitable interior cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine interior cleaner. If necessary, treat afterward wit

a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water.

Never use leather cleaners, solvents, ﬂoor polish, shoe polish, paint remover, or other similar substances.

Never use pressure washers, steam cleaners or cooling sprays.

Natural leather

Remove fresh dirt with a cotton cloth and a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water. Do not let any ﬂuids seep into the

cracks.

For contaminants, for example from pens or nail polish, use a suitable leather cleaner or Volkswagen Genuine leather cleaner.

Treat dried spots with a suitable leather cleaner or with Volkswagen Genuine leather cleaner.

Remove any fresh spots of grease such as oil with an absorbent cloth.

Apply leather care to seats regularly and each time you clean. If leaving the vehicle parked for long periods of time, you should cover the leather to protect it

from direct sunlight.

Never treat leather with solvents, ﬂoor polish, shoe polish, paint remover, or other similar substances.

Plastic parts

354

Clean with a soft, damp cloth.

If a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water cannot remove stubborn stains, use a solvent-free plastic cleaner or

Volkswagen Genuine plastic cleaner, if necessary.

Trims, decorative trims made out of chrome, aluminum or stainless steel

Clean using a clean, soft towel and mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water, in a dust-free area.

Treat anodized surfaces with a suitable chrome and aluminum product or Volkswagen Genuine chrome and aluminum products.

Controls

1. Use a soft brush to remove large dirt deposits as well as any dirt that is difﬁcult to reach.

2. Use a clean, soft cloth and a fairly mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water. Fluids must not enter into the controls.

Displays and screens

Do not clean the instrument cluster display and the Infotainment system screen when they are dry.

1. Turn off the Infotainment system temporarily to clean it.

2. Use a suitable cleaning cloth or Volkswagen Genuine cleaning cloth with some water, suitable glass cleaner, or an LCD cleaner.

Rubber seals

Clean with a soft, lint-free cloth and plenty of water.

Treat regularly with a suitable rubber care product or Volkswagen Genuine rubber care product.

Safety belts

1. Unreel the safety belt completely and leave the belt unreeled.

2. Remove large spots of dirt with a soft brush.

3. Clean the safety belt with a mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water.

4. Let the belt webbing dry completely, then allow the belt to retract.

WARNING

Improper cleaning can cause damage to the safety belts, anchors, and the automatic safety belt retractors.

Never attempt to modify or remove the safety belts to clean them.

Never use chemical products to clean the safety belts and their components.

Do no use any corrosive ﬂuids, solvents, or sharp objects.

Do not allow ﬂuids and objects to enter the safety belt buckle.

Let the safety belt dry after cleaning before allowing it to retract completely.

Wood trims

Clean with a soft cloth and fairly mild soap solution of maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in a liter of water.

Cleaning the seat covers

If dye from clothing such as denim stains the seat covers, this is not considered a defect in the vehicle upholstery. Airbag system components and connectors may

be installed in the seat covers. Damage, incorrect cleaning and handling, or moisture can also cause an airbag system malfunction as well as damage to the vehicl

electrical system ⇒

.

Depending on the equipment, electrical components and connectors may be installed in the seat surface with seat heating, which can be damaged by incorrect

cleaning or handling. This can also result in damage to other areas of the vehicle electrical system.

Never use pressure washers, steam cleaners or cooling sprays.

Never soak seat covers.

Never switch on seat heating to dry the seats.

Do not use detergent pastes or mild detergent solutions.

If there is uncertainty, contact suitably qualiﬁed professionals for assistance. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

WARNING

Improper care and cleaning of vehicle components could impair vehicle safety equipment and cause serious injuries.

Clean and maintain vehicle components only according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

355

Maintenance for Your Volkswagen Atlas SUV First Generation (2018-2023)

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