ski, bicycle or roof load carriers after use.
Save electrical energy
The alternator is driven by the engine and generates electrical power for convenience consumers such as the air
conditioning system, windscreen heating and ventilation. Reducing electrical power consumption is easy. Observe the
following points:
—Open the windows and doors before driving at high outside temperatures and drive for a short distance with a
window open. Only then switch the air conditioning system on.
—Switch the convenience consumers off as soon as they have served their purpose.
WARNING
Adapt your speed and distance from the vehicles ahead to suit visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions.
NOTICE
Never allow the vehicle to roll down mountains or hills in the neutral positionN. The gearbox will not be lubricated
and could be damaged.
Inform yourself about other ways of protecting the environment.Think Blue. is the global Volkswagen
trademark for sustainability and environmental compatibility.
A suitably qualified workshop will provide you with further information on the correct maintenance and
replacement parts that are particularly energy-efficient, e.g. new tyres.
Information on the brakes
New brake padscannot generate the full braking effect during the first 200 to 300 km and must first be “run in”→
. However, you can compensate for the slightly reduced braking force by applying more pressure to the brake
pedal. During the run-in period, the braking distance is longer when the brakes are depressed fully or during
emergency braking than with that have been fully run in. In the run-in period, the brakes should not be depressed
fully and situations should be avoided that create a heavy load on the brakes, e.g. when driving up close to the vehicle
ahead.
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends to a great extent on the conditions under which the vehicle is operated
and the way in which the vehicle is driven. If the vehicle is used for regular urban trips or short journeys and is driven
with a sporty driving style, the brake pads must be regularly checked by a qualified workshop.
When driving withwet brakes, for example after driving through water, after heavy rainfall or after washing the
vehicle, the braking effect may be delayed as the brake discs will be wet, or possibly iced up (in winter). The brakes
must be “dried” as quickly as possible by careful braking at higher speed. Make sure that no following vehicle and no
other road user is put at risk as a result of this action →
.
Any salt layer accumulating on the discs and padswill delay the braking effect and increase the braking distance. If
the brakes on the vehicle have not been applied for a long time on roads that have been gritted with salt, the layer of
salt must be reduced through careful braking →
.
Corrosion on the brake discs anddirt in the brake pads are facilitated through long periods of inactivity, low mileage
and low load levels. If the brake pads have been hardly used, or if they are at all corroded, we recommend that the
brake discs and brake pads be cleaned by braking strongly several times from high speed. Make sure that no
following vehicle and no other road user is put at risk as a result of this action →
.
Brake servo
The brake servo will only function when the engine is running and reinforces the pressure applied by the driver on
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