Get Park Distance Control (PDC) Guide for Volkswagen Golf 4 Door Sixth Generation (2008-2017)

Park Distance Control (PDC)

Applicable only in the United States

ꢀ Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Operation

PDC signal chimes and displays

PDC menu

Depending on equipment, the vehicle may be equipped with the Park Distance Control system (PDC).

The Park Distance Control (PDC) system can help the driver when backing up and parking.

PDC uses ultrasonic sensors in the bumpers to measure the distance between the vehicle and

objects. The system uses the time it takes for the ultrasonic waves to bounce back from the object to

calculate the distance between the vehicle and an object. PDC works only at speeds up to about 5–

10 mph (10–15 km/h).

A Declaration of Compliance with United States FCC and Industry Canada regulations is found in the

Consumer information section of this Manual ⇒ Consumer information.

More information:

ꢀ

Exterior views

Infotainment system

Braking and parking

Rear Assist

Consumer information

Exterior care and cleaning

Parts, accessories, repairs, and modifications

WARNING

Park Distance Control is no substitute for careful and attentive driving. Never rely completely

on these systems for information about people and objects that might be in the way of the

vehicle and could be struck resulting in serious personal injuries.

ꢀ

The sensors have blind spots in which they cannot detect people, animals, and objects.

Always be careful and look around you when parking. The sensors cannot always detect

people, animals, and objects. Watch out for small children and animals in particular.

ꢀ

Certain types of clothing and the surfaces of certain objects do not reflect the ultrasonic

waves that the sensors send and receive. Such objects and persons wearing such clothing

will not be detected by PDC or will not be detected accurately.

ꢀ Noise in the area can interfere with the signals of the Park Distance Control sensors.

Under certain circumstances, the system will not detect people and objects for this reason.

NOTICE

ꢀ

Things like trailer draw bars, thin rods, fences, trees, narrow painted vertical poles, posts,

or a rear hatch that is opening may not be detected by the Park Distance Control sensors and

could damage the vehicle.

ꢀ

If you continue driving closer to an object that the Park Distance Control has already

detected and reported, the object may disappear from the sensor range and may no longer be

detected. This is especially true for low or high objects. The system will no longer sound

warnings about these objects. Ignoring signals from the Park Distance Control system could

result in serious damage to the vehicle.

ꢀ

The sensors in the bumpers can be damaged or become misaligned in low speed impacts

and parking maneuvers. Damaged or misaligned sensors cannot accurately detect or report

objects that might be within range of the PDC system.

ꢀ

To help make sure that the system works properly, always keep the sensors in the bumpers

clean and free of snow and ice; do not cover the sensors with stickers or other objects.

When cleaning the sensors with power washers or steam cleaners, only spray the sensors

ꢀ

directly for a very short time, and always keep the washer nozzle at least 4 inches (10 cm) from

the sensors.

ꢀ

Noise from rough roads, cobblestones, other vehicles and the surrounding area, for

example, can prevent the Park Distance Control system from accurately detecting and

reporting people and objects that may be within range of the sensors.

ꢀ Aftermarket components such as bicycle racks can impair the function of the Park Distance

Control system.

Volkswagen recommends practicing with the Park Distance Control system in a location or

parking space with no traffic in order to become familiar with the system and how it works.

Applicable only in the United States

Operation

Fig. 145 In the front and rear bumpers: Park Distance Control system sensors.

Fig. 146 In the center console: Button to switch the Park Distance Control system on or off.

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The Park Distance Control (PDC) uses ultrasonic sensors to determine the distance from the front or

rear bumpers to an obstacle. There are 4 sensors for the PDC located in rear bumper (B) and

additional sensors in the front bumper (A) ⇒ fig. 145 (arrows).

The intermittent and permanent signal chimes given by the front PDC sensors are of a higher pitch

than those given by the rear PDC sensors. This is a standard feature.

The warning signals can be adjusted in the Infotainment system menu ⇒ Infotainment system.

Switching the Park Distance Control (PDC) system on and off

In order to

Operation (when the ignition is switched on)

Press the ꢀ button once.

Manually activate PDC:

Manually deactivate PDC:

Push the ꢀ button again.

Manually deactivate the

display (sound stays

active):

Press a function selection button on the factory-installed Infotainment

system

OR: Tap the ꢁ function key on the screen.

Shift into Reverse (R).

Automatically activate

PDC:

OR: Depending on vehicle equipment, when the vehicle rolls

backwards.

Automatically deactivate

PDC:

Shift into Park (P).

OR: Drive forward faster than about 5–10 mph (10–15 km/h).

Tap the ꢀ function key.

Mute the PDC volume:

Changing from mini PDC

display to full-screen

mode.

Shift into Reverse (R).

OR: Depending on vehicle equipment, when the vehicle rolls

backwards.

OR: Tap the mini PDC function key.

In order to

Operation (when the ignition is switched on)

Shift into Reverse (R).

Switch to the rearview

camera display (if

equipped):

OR: Tap the ꢀ function key.

The indicator light in the ꢀ button ⇒ fig. 146 lights up and stays on as long as the feature is active.

Automatic activation

When the PDC is activated automatically, a mini PDC display will appear on the left-hand side of the

screen ⇒ fig. 148.

Automatic activation of the PDC when driving slowly towards an obstacle located in front of the vehicle

only works when the speed falls below about 6–9 mph (10–15 km/h) for the first time. If the PDC was

switched off using the ꢀ button, performing one of the following actions with the ignition switched on

can automatically reactivate the PDC:

ꢀ If the vehicle accelerates to a speed greater than 6–9 mph (10–15 km/h) and then drops below that

speed again.

ꢀ

OR: if the selector lever is moved to Park (P) and then out of that position again.

OR: if automatic activation is activated and deactivated in the Infotainment system menu.

Automatic activation with mini PDC display can be activated and deactivated in the Infotainment

system ⇒ Infotainment system.

When automatic activation is activated, signal chimes are sounded from a distance of about 20 inches

(50 cm) from the obstacle.

WARNING

Never rely completely on the PDC for information about people and objects that might be in

the way of the vehicle and could be struck by the vehicle causing serious personal injury.

ꢀ

The PDC sensors have blind spots where they cannot detect people or objects.

Always watch for people, especially small children and animals, because the sensors may

not always be able to detect them.

If you hear a long beep of about 3 seconds when you first turn PDC on or the indicator light in the

button starts blinking, this means there is a malfunction in the Park Distance Control system. Switch

off the Park Distance Control system with the button and have it immediately checked by an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Applicable only in the United States

PDC signal chimes and displays

Fig. 147 PDC display of the area surrounding the vehicle.

Fig. 148 Mini PDC display of the area surrounding the vehicle.

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Key to elements in the color display

fig. 147 and fig. 148

Meaning

(A)

(B)

=

Scanned area behind the vehicle.

Scanned area in front of the vehicle.

System fault in the scanned area.

ꢀ

ꢁ

The yellow segment represents an obstacle in the vehicle’s path.

Red segment depicts an obstacle located close to the vehicle.

The grey segment represents an obstacle outside of the vehicle's path.

When the factory-installed Infotainment system is switched on, the areas to the front, rear, and side of

the vehicle that are scanned by ultrasonic sensors are shown on the screen ⇒ fig. 147. The positions

of potential obstacles are displayed relative to the vehicle ⇒

.

Signal chimes

When the vehicle approaches an obstacle located in the range of the ultrasonic sensors, there are

audible signal chimes. An intermittent signal chime means that a sufficiently short distance between

the vehicle and an obstacle is detected. The shorter the distance, the shorter the intervals between the

chimes. The signal chime will sound continuously if the obstacle is very close.

When there is an imminent risk of collision at the front area of the vehicle, the signal chimes beep at

the front of the vehicle. When there is a risk of imminent collision at the rear area of the vehicle, the

signal chimes beep at the rear of the vehicle.

If you continue to drive the vehicle closer to the obstacle despite a continuous signal chime, the

system will no longer be able to measure the distance.

The intermittent signal chime volume decreases after a few seconds if the distance remains the same.

The volume remains constant if the signal chime is continuous. As soon as the vehicle moves away

from an obstacle again, the intermittent signal chime switches off automatically. If the vehicle moves

towards an obstruction again, the intermittent signal chimes beep automatically.

Display

The graphic on the screen displays the scanned areas in several segments. The closer the vehicle

drives towards an obstacle, the closer the segment will move to the vehicle in the display. The collision

area has been reached at the latest when the second to last segment is displayed. Do not keep

driving!

Vehicles with PDC at the front and rear

Area of the vehicle

Distance of the

vehicle from an

obstacle

Signal tone Segment color if an

obstacle has been

detected

color display only)

(A)

(B)

(A)

(B)

Rear center

Rear side

Obstacle

not in the

vehicle’s

path

about 12 – 63 in.

(31 – 160 cm)

–

Grey

about 12 – 23 in.

(31 – 60 cm)

Front center

Front side

Rear center

Rear side

about 12 – 47 in.

(31 – 120 cm)

about 12 – 23 in.

(31 – 60 cm)

Obstacle in

the

vehicle’s

path

about 12 – 63 in.

(31 – 160 cm)

Intermittent

tone

Yellow

about 12 – 23 in.

(31 – 60 cm)

Front center

Front side

about 12 – 47 in.

(31 – 120 cm)

about 12 – 23 in.

(31 – 60 cm)

Vehicles with PDC at the front and rear

Area of the vehicle

Distance of the

vehicle from an

obstacle

Signal tone Segment color if an

obstacle has been

detected

color display only)

(A),

(B)

Obstacle outside of the

collision area

about 0 – 12 in.

(0 – 30 cm)

Intermittent

tone

Red

(A),

(B)

Obstacle in the collision

area

about 0 – 12 in.

(0 – 30 cm)

Constant

tone

WARNING

Do not allow the images shown on the screen to distract you from the traffic around you.

NOTICE

Failure to observe the illuminated text messages can lead to the vehicle being damaged.

It can take a few seconds before the area scanned by the sensors is displayed on the screen of

the factory-installed Infotainment system.

Applicable only in the United States

PDC menu

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

PDC settings in the Infotainment system menu

Switch on the ignition.

If necessary, switch on the Infotainment system.

Press the ꢂꢃꢄ button.

Tap the ꢁ function key.

Tap the Parking aids function key.

Select the required settings in the PDC menu.

Function button: action

ꢂAutomatic activation: If the box in the function key is checked ꢂ, the mini PDC will be switched on

automatically when the vehicle slowly approaches an obstacle located to the front. Tap ꢂAutomatic

activation again to switch off this function. After deactivation, the PDC will not be activated

automatically when the vehicle approaches an obstacle located to the front.

Function button: action

Front volume: Different volumes can be set separately for the signal chimes for the front by tapping

the - or + function keys, or by adjusting the control.

Front pitch: Different pitches can be set for the signal chimes for the front by tapping the - or +

function keys, or by adjusting the control.

Rear volume: Different volumes can be set for the signal chimes for the rear by tapping the - or +

function keys, or by adjusting the control.

Rear pitch: Different pitches can be set for the signal chimes for the rear by tapping the - or +

function keys, or by adjusting the control.

Audio lowering: Setting the level to which the Infotainment system volume should be reduced when

the PDC is active.

Audio volume reduction

Menu option

Off

Explanation

The volume in the Infotainment system is not reduced.

The volume in the Infotainment system is reduced slightly.

The volume in the Infotainment system is reduced to medium.

The volume in the Infotainment system is reduced to a minimum.

Low

Medium

Strong

Muting the Park Distance Control volume

You can mute the PDC beeping signals by tapping the ꢀ function key on Infotainment system screen

(if applicable). Tap the function key again to reactivate the acoustic signals.

Switching Park Distance Control back on after it was switched off reactivates the volume. System

malfunction warning signals cannot be switched off.

If you manually deactivate the display, PDC remains on and the sound is reactivated.

The mute setting is active if the PDC was switched on using the ꢀ button when the selector is in Park

(P).

Park Distance Control (PDC) for Your Volkswagen Golf 4 Door Sixth Generation (2008-2017)

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