Get Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) Guide for Volkswagen California Van Fourth Generation (2024-2025)

The indicator lamp lights up yellow.

—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. Keep the

area around the radar sensor clear (→ Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts).

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

damage is visible (→ Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts).

—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 Autonomous Emergency Braking(Front Assist) system 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:

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—Pedestrian Monitoring.

—Cyclist Monitoring.

The listed functions are automatically active when Front Assist is switched on.

Detectable objects

Front Assist can detect the following objects depending on vehicle equipment and country:

—Vehicles.

—Bicycles and motorcycles.

— Pedestrians.

Driving with Front Assist

You can cancel the automatic braking interventions by steering or pressing the accelerator.

Automatic braking

Front Assist can decelerate the vehicle to a standstill. The vehicle will not remain stationary. Depress the brake pedal!

The brake pedal will feel harder during an automatic braking manoeuvre.

WARNING

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

limits of the system. Never let the extra convenience afforded by Front Assist tempt you into taking risks when

driving. Front Assist cannot prevent accidents and serious injuries on its own. The driver is always responsible for all

driving tasks.

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

● Please note that Front Assist cannot detect all objects throughout the entire speed range (→ Autonomous

Emergency Braking (Front Assist)).

● If Front Assist issues a warning, brake the vehicle immediately if the traffic allows or avoid the obstacle.

● Front Assist can intervene unintentionally, for example if its functioning is impaired. You should therefore

consider cancelling the automatic interventions by Front Assist if appropriate.

● If you are unsure about the equipment and country-specific systems that are fitted in your vehicle, please enquire

at a correspondingly qualified workshop before starting your journey.

Warning levels and braking intervention

Speed ranges

Front Assist provides maximum assistance in the following speed ranges:

—Reaction to vehicles: around 5 km/h (around 3 mph) to around 250 km/h (around 155 mph).

—Reaction to bicycles and motorcycles: around 5 km/h(around 3 mph) to around 250 km/h (around 155 mph).

—Reaction to pedestrians: around 5 km/h(around 3 mph) to around 65 km/h (around 40 mph).

The assistance may include an advance warning, an urgent warning and automatic braking or a braking intervention.

A distance warning may also be displayed.

Influencing factors

Whether and in what speed range Front Assist reacts to the specified objects depends on the following factors:

—Type of object.

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—Direction of travel of the object.

—Speed of the object.

—Speed of the vehicle.

The operating range may therefore be restricted if the vehicle approaches an object very quickly and there is

therefore little time for a reaction.

In addition, not all warning levels are used in all situations. Depending on speed, there may not be an advance

warning or an urgent warning, for example. Instead, automatic braking may take place immediately in order to ensure

optimum protection for the object.

Distance warning

Front Assist detects when safety is endangered due to driving too close to the vehicle in front.

The indicator lamp lights up. Increase the distance.

Advance warning

Front Assist detects a possible collision and prepares the vehicle for possible emergency braking.

An acoustic warning sounds and the red warning lamp lights up. Brake or take evasive action!

Urgent warning

If you do not react to the advance warning, the system may initiate a short braking jolt in order to draw attention to

the increasing collision risk. Brake or take evasive action!

Automatic braking

Front Assist can brake the vehicle automatically in several stages with increasing braking force. The reduced speed

may help to minimise the severity of an accident.

Braking intervention

If the system detects that you are braking insufficiently when there is a risk of collision, Front Assist can increase the

braking force and help prevent a collision. The braking intervention takes place only for as long as you press the brake

pedal hard.

System limits of Front Assist

Limits of the sensors

Front Assist 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 (400 ft).

Observe the limits of the sensor system (→ Sensors). Always pay due attention and intervene yourself if

necessary.

After vehicle start

Front Assist is not available or only available to a limited extent directly after the vehicle has been started or if

the system is restarted. The white indicator lamp lights up in the instrument cluster display during this time.

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Objects that cannot be detected

Front Assist cannot react – or will react with a delay – in the case of the following objects:

—Oncoming vehicles or vehicles crossing your path.

—Stationary or oncoming pedestrians; generally no reaction to persons without Pedestrian Monitoring.

—Stationary or oncoming cyclists; additionally no reaction to crossing cyclists without Cyclist Monitoring.

—When pedestrians and cyclists are not detected, for example because they are partially or fully hidden.

Function limitations

In addition to the situations specified in the section on the limits of the sensors, Front Assist may not react or may

react with a delay or in an undesired way in the following situations, among others:

—Reversing.

—If TCS

is switched off manually.

—If ESC

is performing a control intervention.

—If several brake lights on the vehicle are defective.

—If there is a fault in several brake lights on a trailer or bicycle carrier with an electrical connection to the vehicle.

—If the vehicle accelerates hard or the accelerator is fully depressed.

—In unclear traffic situations, e.g. vehicles ahead are braking heavily or turning off.

—If there is a fault in Front Assist.

Switching off Front Assist

Front Assist is not suitable for use in the following situations due to the limitations of the system and must be

switched off →

:

—If the vehicle is utilised in a capacity beyond usage on public roads, e.g. offroad or racing tracks.

—If the vehicle is being towed or is loaded onto another vehicle.

—If the radar sensor is covered by any auxiliary equipment, e.g. auxiliary headlights.

—If the radar sensor is faulty.

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

—In the event of multiple unwanted interventions.

WARNING

If you use Front Assist in the situations mentioned, this can cause accidents and serious injuries or even death.

● Switch off Front Assist in the specified situations.

Operating Front Assist

Front Assist and the advance warning(country-dependent) are automatically switched on when you switch on the

ignition.

However, Front Assist is not available or only available to a limited extent as long as the white indicator lamp is

lit.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommends that Front Assist and the distance and advanced warnings are

switched on at all times. Exceptions (→ Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist)).

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Switching on and off

You can switch Front Assist on and off manually and view the current activation status.

On the display of the instrument cluster:

1. Press the

button.

2. Switch Front Assist on or off.

Depending on the equipment, in the Infotainment system (→ Vehicle settings menu):

1. Open the Assist systems menu.

2. Switch Front Assist on or off in the corresponding submenu.

The advance warning and distance warning are also switched off if you switch off Front Assist. The yellow

indicator lamp lights up in the instrument cluster display.

Adjusting the distance and advance warnings

When Front Assist is switched on, you can adjust the distance and advance warnings as follows:

1. Switch the desired function on and off in the Assist systems menu of the Infotainment system (→ Vehicle

settings menu).

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

automatically when the user account changes .

Troubleshooting

Front Assist is starting

The indicator lamp lights up.

—Front Assist is temporarily not available or only available to a limited extent. Front Assist is available after driving

straight ahead for a short time, and the indicator light goes out. When the vehicle is not moving, the indicator

lamp lights up continuously.

Front Assist is not available, the radar sensor does not have sufficient visibility

—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. Keep the

area around the radar sensor clear (→ Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts).

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

damage is visible (→ Accessories, modifications, repairs and renewal of parts).

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

—If the problem persists, switch off Front Assist and go to a suitably qualified workshop.

Front Assist does not function as expected or is triggered unnecessarily several times

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

—The system limits have been exceeded (→ Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist)).

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Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) for Your Volkswagen California Van Fourth Generation (2024-2025)

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