Get Driver assist systems -> Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Guide for Volkswagen California Van Third Generation (2015-2024)

Introduction

The Adaptive Cruise Control(ACC) maintains a speed selected by the driver. If the vehicle approaches a vehicle in

front, the ACC automatically adapts the speed so that a distance you have selected is maintained.

Does my vehicle have the ACC function?

The vehicle is equipped withACC

if you can adjust settings for ACC in the Assist systems menu in the Infotainment system. (→ Vehicle settings menu).

Speed range

You can set a speed between 30 km/h(20 mph) and 210 km/h (130 mph). This speed range may differ in certain

countries.

Driving with Adaptive Cruise Control

You can override the ACC at any time. Control will be cancelled if you brake. If you accelerate, the system will be

interrupted for the duration of the acceleration process and will then continue again.

Control by the ACC is less dynamic when towing a trailer (→ Trailer towing).

Driver intervention prompt

The ACC will send a message to the instrument cluster telling you to apply the brake if the ACC's automatic

deceleration is insufficient, or if the system limits are reached. In addition, the red warning lamp lights up and

an acoustic warning is given. Take control of the vehicle and be prepared to apply the brakes!

Radar sensor

ACC detects driving situations by means of the radar sensor at the front of the vehicle. The range of the radar sensor

is up to approximately 120 m (around 400 ft).

WARNING

The intelligent technology used in the ACC cannot overcome the laws of physics, and functions only within the

limits of the system. Never let the extra convenience tempt you into taking safety risks when driving. Careless or

unintentional use of the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) can cause accidents and lead to serious injury. The system is

not a substitute for the full concentration of the driver.

● Adapt your speed and distance from the vehicles ahead to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions.

● Never use the ACC in poor visibility, on steep or winding roads, or on slippery road surfaces e.g. due to snow, ice,

wet roads, loose chippings, or on flooded roads.

● Never use the ACC off-road or on non-surfaced roads. The ACC is designed for use on surfaced roads only.

● Take control of the vehicle immediately if a driver intervention prompt appears on the instrument cluster display

or if the ACC does not reduce the speed sufficiently.

● Apply the brakes if the vehicle starts rolling unintentionally, e.g. after a driver intervention prompt.

● Be prepared to control the speed yourself at all times.

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Special driving situations

The functions described below are dependent on the equipment level and are not available in all countries.

Overtaking

If you indicate left (left-hand traffic: indicate right) to overtake, ACC

will accelerate the vehicle and reduce the distance from the vehicle in front. The system will not exceed the speed

you have stored.

If the ACC has not detected a vehicle in front once you have changed lanes, the ACC will accelerate the vehicle up to

the selected speed.

Stop-and-go traffic

ACC can brake vehicles with an automatic gearbox to a standstill and hold them stationary for a few seconds. ACC

remains active and the instrument cluster display shows ACC ready. In this time, the vehicle will move off again

automatically as soon as the vehicle in front moves off.

After this time, the vehicle will automatically release the brakes. The vehicle will be free to roll and ACC control will

be cancelled.

You can extend the readiness to drive period by pressing the brake pedal. ACC remains active so long as the brake

pedal is depressed. When you take your foot off the brake pedal, ACC remains ready to pull away for a few seconds.

The readiness to drive is ended if the driver’s seat belt is unfastened.

WARNING

If the message ACC ready appears on the instrument cluster display and the vehicle in front moves off, your vehicle

will move off automatically. In some cases, obstacles in the vehicle's path may not be detected. This can result in

serious injury and accidents.

● Always check the road every time the vehicle starts to pull away and brake the vehicle if necessary.

Inside Overtaking Prevention System (left-hand traffic: inside overtaking prevention on

left-hand side)

Fig. 1 On the display of the instrument cluster: Slower

vehicle detected in the left-hand lane (illustration).

If the ACC detects a slower vehicle in the left-hand lane(left-hand traffic: in the right-hand lane), the ACC will brake

the vehicle gently within the system limits and can therefore prevent a prohibited overtaking manoeuvre. The

function is active from speeds of around 80 km/h (around 50 mph).

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Limits of the ACC

When not to use the ACC

ACC

is not suitable for use in the following driving situations due to the system limitations. To cancel control →

—Driving in heavy rain, snow or heavy spray.

:

—Driving through road works, tunnels or toll stations.

—Driving on twisting roads, e.g. mountain roads

—Driving off-road

—Driving in multi-storey car parks.

—Driving on roads with embedded metal objects, e.g. railway tracks.

—Driving on roads with loose chippings

—Vehicles without Inside Overtaking Prevention System:On roads with more than one lane, if other vehicles are

driving more slowly in the overtaking lane.

—If components in the area of the radar sensor are exposed to external force, e.g. after a rear-end collision.

WARNING

Using the ACC in the situations listed above may lead to accidents, severe injuries and violations of the relevant

statutory regulations.

Delayed response

If the radar sensor is exposed to environmental conditions that impair sensor functioning, the system may detect this

only after a certain delay. For this reason, any restrictions to functions may be displayed only after a delay at the start

of the journey and when driving (→ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)).

Objects that cannot be detected

The ACC only detects vehicles moving in the same direction as your vehicle. It cannot detect:

—Persons

—Animals

—Stationary vehicles.

—Crossing or oncoming vehicles

—Other stationary obstacles.

Fig. 1 Turning vehicle, stationary vehicle

If a stationary vehicle is hidden behind a vehicle that has been detected by the Adaptive Cruise Contro(lACC) and this

vehicle turns off the road or changes lane, the ACC will not react to the stationary vehicle → Fig. 1.

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Cornering

Fig. 2 Driving through bends.

The radar sensor always scans the area directly in front of the vehicle. For this reason, the ACC may detect vehicles

erroneously or may not detect vehicles ahead when driving around tight bends → Fig. 2.

Vehicles outside of the sensor's range

Fig. 3 Narrow vehicle.

Fig. 4 Vehicle changes lane.

ACC may not react or may react with a delay or with an unwanted response in the following driving situations:

—Vehicles that are driving outside the sensor range in close proximity to your vehicle, e.g. motorbikes→ Fig. 3.

—Vehicles that change into your lane directly in front of your vehicle→ Fig. 4.

—Vehicles with bodies or attachments that project beyond the vehicle.

Switching ACC on and off

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Fig. 1 Left-hand side of the multifunction steering wheel.

Switching on

1. Press the

ACC

button.

is not yet performing a control intervention.

Starting control

1. Press the

button while driving forwards.

The ACC stores the current speed and maintains the selected distance. If the current speed is outside the

defined speed range, ACC will set the minimum speed (when driving more slowly than the limit) or maximum

speed (when driving faster than the limit).

Depending on the situation and the design of the instrument cluster, the following warning lamps light up:

ACC is regulating the speed.

ACC control active, no vehicle detected ahead.

ACC control active, vehicle in front detected.

Cancelling control

1. Briefly press the

button.

Or: Depress the brake pedal.

The indicator lamp corresponding to the driving situation lights up, and the speed and distance remain stored.

Control is automatically cancelled if the traction control system T( CS

) is deactivated.

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Restarting control

1. Press the

button.

The ACC adopts the last stored speed and gap. The instrument cluster display shows the set speed and the

indicator lamp corresponding to the driving situation lights up.

Switching off

1. Press and hold the button.

The set speed will be deleted.

Deactivating Adaptive Cruise Control (not available in all countries)

1. Press the

button.

2. Select cruise control on the instrument cluster display.

Adaptive Cruise Control is deactivated. The vehicle maintains only the set speed.

Changing to the speed limiter

1. Press the

button.

2. Select the speed limiter on the instrument cluster display.

Adaptive Cruise Control is switched off.

Adjusting ACC

Adjusting the distance

Fig. 1 On the instrument cluster display: set distance 1 ,

ACC regulating (illustration).

You can set the distance in five steps from very small to very large:

1. Press the button.

2. Press the or button.

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Or: Alternatively, press the button repeatedly until the required distance is set.

1

The instrument cluster display shows the chosen distance setting→ Fig. 1

. Note the country-specific

regulations regarding the minimum distance.

In the vehicle settings of the Infotainment system, you can choose whether you want to start control with the

distance set at the end of the journey or a preselected distance (→ Vehicle settings menu).

If the ACC

is not controlling the distance, the set distance and vehicle are not highlighted on the instrument cluster display.

Adjusting the speed

Using the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel, you can adjust the stored speed within the specified speed

range as follows:

+ 1 km/h (1 mph):

Press the

button only when ACC is regulating the speed.

- 1 km/h (1 mph):

Press the

+ 10 km/h (5 mph):

Press the button. Pressing it for the first time switches to the next highest 10 km/h or 5 mph interval:

- 10 km/h (5 mph):

Press the button. Pressing it for the first time switches to the next lowest 10 km/h or 5 mph interval:

Press and hold the or button to continuously change the stored speed.

WARNING

If you do not maintain the minimum distance to a vehicle in front or if the difference in speed between the vehicle in

front and your own vehicle is so great that the braking action of the ACC is insufficient, you are in danger of colliding

with the vehicle in front. Rain and winter conditions will also reduce the braking distance.

● The Adaptive Cruise Control may not be able to detect all driving situations correctly.

● Always be prepared to brake the vehicle yourself.

● Depressing the accelerator will override the Adaptive Cruise Control. In this case, the ACC will not brake the

vehicle automatically.

● Observe any country-specific regulations regarding the minimum distance between vehicles.

● Maintain a larger gap in wet weather, snow or poor visibility.

Adjusting the way the ACC responds

You can decide how sporty the response of the ACC should be:

1. Vehicles with driving profile selection:Set preferred driving profile.

Vehicles without driving profile selection:Select your preferred gearbox programme in the vehicle settings

menu of the Infotainment system.

Some settings can be stored in the user accounts of the personalisation function and therefore change

automatically when the user account changes (→ Personalisation).

Troubleshooting

ACC not available

The indicator lamp lights up yellow.

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—The radar sensor is dirty. Clean the radar sensor (→ Vehicle care, exterior).

—The radar sensor's range has been impaired by the weather, e.g. by snow, or residue/layers of cleaning agent.

Clean the radar sensor (→ Vehicle care, exterior).

—The radar sensor's range is obstructed by add-on parts, trim frame for number plate holders or stickers. Remove

any obstructions from the area around the radar sensor.

—The radar sensor has been displaced or damaged, e.g. due to damage to the front of the vehicle. Check whether

damage is visible (→ Repairs and technical modifications).

—Fault or malfunction. Switch off and restart the engine.

—Painting work or structural modifications have been performed on the front of the vehicle.

—If the problem persists, go to a correspondingly qualified workshop.

ACC does not function as expected

—The radar sensor is dirty. Clean the radar sensor (→ Vehicle care, exterior).

—The system limits have been exceeded (→ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)).

—The brakes have overheated, control was cancelled automatically. Leave the brakes to cool and check them again.

—If the problem persists, go to a correspondingly qualified workshop.

Control cannot be started

Make sure the following conditions are met:

—Vehicles with a manual gearbox:A forward gear other than first gear is selected and the speed is at least 25 km/h

(16 mph).

—Vehicles with an automatic gearbox: A position has been selected for driving forward.

—The brake lights on the vehicle are working.

—The brake lights on the electrically connected trailer are in working order.

—ESC

is not performing a control intervention.

—If control is to be started while the vehicle is stationary, depress the brake pedal. Otherwise, do not depress the

brake pedal.

Unusual noises during automatic braking

This is normal and is not a fault.

Introduction

The emergency braking system (Front Assist) can detect imminent frontal collisions and issue corresponding

warnings. The system can also assist when braking and initiate automatic braking.

Front Assist can help to avoid accidents, but is not a substitute for the full concentration of the driver.

Front Assist functions only within the system limits. The warning times vary depending on the traffic situation and

driver behaviour.

Functions

Front Assist includes the following additional functions depending on vehicle equipment and country:

—Pedestrian Monitoring.

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Driver assist systems -> Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) for Your Volkswagen California Van Third Generation (2015-2024)

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