Get Parking and maneuvering -> Park Distance Control (PDC) Guide for Volkswagen Golf 4 Door Seventh Generation (2017-2020)

The intelligent technology of the Auto Hold feature cannot overcome the laws of physics. Never let the increased convenience provided by the Auto Hold

feature tempt you into taking risks.

Never leave the vehicle with the engine running and the Auto Hold feature switched on.

Always switch off the engine and the ignition and take the key with you when you leave the vehicle.

The Auto Hold feature cannot keep the vehicle from moving in all hill-start situations (for example, if the ground is slippery or icy).

Unintended vehicle movement can cause serious personal injury.

NOTE

Before entering a car wash, always deactivate Auto Hold. Otherwise, the electronic parking brake can engage automatically and cause damage.

Park Distance Control (PDC)

Applicable only in the United States

Introduction to the subject

In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:

⇒ Using PDCꢀ

⇒ PDC signal chimes and displaysꢀ

⇒ Vehicle path displayꢀ

⇒ PDC menuꢀ

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).

If the vehicle gets too close to an obstacle behind it, a beeping signal sounds. The closer the vehicle gets to the obstacle, the faster the beep. When the obstacle is

very close, the sound is continuous.

If you move even closer to the obstacle despite the continuous warning sound, the system cannot measure the distance remaining until collision.

A Declaration of Compliance with United States FCC and Industry Canada regulations is found in the Consumer information section of this Manual ⇒ Declaration

Compliance, Telecommunications and Electronic Systemsꢀ.

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.

NOTE

Things like trailer draw bars, thin rods, fences, trees, narrow painted vertical poles, posts, or a trunk lid 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.

Repainting the sensors in the bumpers can impair the function of the PDC system.

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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.

If an ultrasonic sensor malfunctions, the corresponding sensor area is switched off and cannot be reactivated until the malfunction is corrected. Have the

system checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

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, there is a malfunction in the Park

Distance Control system. Switch off the Park Distance Control system with the button and have it checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Certain settings can be saved in the personalized user profiles ⇒ Personalized user profilesꢀ.

Applicable only in the United States

Using PDC

Fig. 143 In the front and rear bumpers: Park Distance Control system sensors.

Fig. 144 In the lower center console: Button to switch the Park Distance Control system on or off.

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first ⇒ Introduction to the subjectꢀ

The Park Distance Control (PDC) uses ultrasonic sensors to determine the distance from the front or rear bumpers to an obstacle. Depending on vehicle

equipment, there are either 4 or 6 sensors for the PDC located in the rear bumper ( ) and additional sensors in the front bumper ( ) ⇒ Fig. 143ꢀ (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 operation and displays ꢀ.

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

Function

Operation (when the ignition is switched on)

Press the

active.

button ⇒ Fig. 144ꢀ. The indicator light in the button lights up and stays on as long as PDC is

Manually activate or deactivate PDC:

Shift into Reverse (R).

OR: Depending on vehicle equipment, when the vehicle rolls backwards.

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Automatically activate PDC:

Function

Operation (when the ignition is switched on)

OR: Depending on vehicle equipment, when slowly driving toward an obstacle located in the scanned area

in front of the vehicle at a speed below about 5–10 mph (10–15 km/h) ⇒ PDC signal chimes and displaysꢀ,

when automatic activation is switched on in the Infotainment system. A miniature PDC view may be

displayed.

Shift into Park (P).

Automatically deactivate PDC:

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

Show the mini PDC display when the Rear

View Camera display is active:

Tap the MENU function key on the screen.

Tap the

function key.

Mute the PDC volume:

OR: Switch on the electronic parking brake (if equipped).

Shift into Reverse (R).

Switch from mini PDC display to full-screen

mode^a):

OR: Depending on vehicle equipment, when the vehicle rolls backwards.

OR: Tap the

function key.

Shift into Reverse (R).

OR: Tap the function key.

Switch to the Rear View Camera system

display^a):

Maneuver braking

The maneuver braking feature can help the driver by braking automatically when the vehicle is backing up and an obstacle behind the vehicle is detected.

Depending on vehicle equipment, the maneuver braking feature may also brake the vehicle automatically when driving forward. The maneuver braking feature

helps prevent collisions only at vehicle speeds lower than 5 mph (10 km/h), and the feature is activated or deactivated when PDC is activated or deactivated.

You can switch maneuver braking off in the Infotainment system by pressing the

button followed by the Vehicle,

, and Parking and maneuvering function

keys ⇒ Infotainment system operation and displays ꢀ.

After emergency braking occurs, the maneuver braking feature is deactivated until you move the selector lever to another position. The same restrictions that apply

to the PDC system also apply to the maneuver braking feature.

Special considerations for PDC

In some cases, the Park Distance Control system interprets water and ice on the sensors as an obstacle. To prevent automatic PDC activation in these cases,

you can turn Park Distance Control off in the Infotainment System.

If the distance remains the same, the warning chime volume decreases after a few seconds. If a continuous tone sounds, its volume remains the same.

If the vehicle moves away from the obstacle, the beeping sound stops automatically. The beep turns on once more automatically if the vehicle approaches the

obstacle again.

There is no beeping when the transmission is in Park (P) or the electronic parking brake is engaged.

The volume of the audible signals can be adjusted in the Infotainment system ⇒ Infotainment system operation and displays ꢀ.

Automatic activation (depending on equipment)

When the PDC is activated automatically, a mini PDC display appears on the left-hand side of the screen ⇒ Fig. 146ꢀ.

Automatic PDC activation only works when the speed falls below about 5–10 mph (10–15 km/h) for the ﬁrst time when driving slowly toward an obstacle located in

front of the vehicle. If the PDC was switched off using the

on:

button, automatically reactivate the PDC with one of the following actions when the ignition is switche

If the vehicle accelerates to a speed greater than about 5–10 mph (10–15 km/h) and then drops below that speed again.

206

OR: If the ignition is switched off and then switched on again.

OR: If the selector lever is moved from Park (P) and then to Reverse (R).

OR: If automatic activation is turned off and on again in the Infotainment system.

OR: Depending on vehicle equipment, if the electronic parking brake is switched on and is switched off again.

Automatic activation of the mini PDC display can be turned on or off in the Infotainment system ⇒ Infotainment system operation and displays ꢀ.

When the box in the automatic activation function key is checked , signal chimes sound 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.

WARNING

The automatic activation of PDC only functions at very low speeds. Improper driving behavior can lead to an accident and can cause serious personal injury.

Always heed the warning signals.

NOTE

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

^a)Depending on equipment.

Applicable only in the United States

PDC signal chimes and displays

Fig. 145 PDC display of the area around the vehicle (display may vary depending on vehicle equipment).

Fig. 146 Mini PDC display of the area around the vehicle (display may vary depending on vehicle equipment).

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first ⇒ Introduction to the subjectꢀ

Key to ⇒ Fig. 145ꢀ and ⇒ Fig. 146ꢀ:

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

A red segment represents an obstacle located close to the vehicle.

A white segment represents an obstacle outside of the vehicle's path.

Mute the PDC signal chimes.

Switch maneuver braking on and off (depending on vehicle equipment).

Switch to the Rear View camera display.

System fault in the scanned area.

Temporary malfunction in the scanned area, depending on vehicle equipment (not pictured).

Display

When the factory-installed Infotainment system is switched on, the areas to the front and rear of the vehicle that are scanned by ultrasonic sensors are shown on th

screen ⇒ Fig. 145ꢀ. The positions of potential obstacles are displayed relative to the vehicle ⇒ ꢀ.

207

The display shows the scanned areas in several segments. The closer the vehicle gets to 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 appears. Do not keep driving!

PDC signal chimes

When the vehicle gets near an obstacle in range of the ultrasonic sensors, a chime sounds. An intermittent chime means that a nearby obstacle is detected. The

shorter the distance, the shorter the intervals between the chimes. The PDC signal sounds continuously if the obstacle is very close.

The intermittent chime volume decreases after a few seconds if the distance stays the same. The volume also stays the same if the PDC signal is continuous. As

soon as the vehicle moves away from an obstacle again, the intermittent chime stops automatically. If the vehicle moves towards an obstruction again, the

intermittent chime starts automatically.

If you continue to drive the vehicle closer to the obstacle despite a continuous PDC signal, the system will no longer be able to measure the distance.

When there is an imminent risk of collision at the front area of the vehicle, the chime sounds at the front of the vehicle. When there is a risk of imminent collision at

the rear area of the vehicle, the chime sounds at the rear of the vehicle.

Muting the Park Distance Control volume

Tap the

function key in the Infotainment system to mute the PDC signals. Tap the function key again to turn the signals back on.

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.

Switching on the electronic parking brake also mutes the PDC volume.

The mute setting is active if the PDC was switched on using the

button when the selector lever is in Park (P).

Scanned areas along the sides of the vehicle

The scanned areas along the sides of the vehicle¹⁾are automatically hidden in the following situations:

When a vehicle door is opened.

When the ASR is switched off.

When ASR or ESC is taking corrective action.

When the vehicle is standing still for longer than about 3 minutes.

The vehicle must move a few yards (meters) forward or backward for the entire area around the vehicle to appear on the screen. The missing areas are then

scanned and the area around the vehicle is calculated.

WARNING

Never pay so much attention to the images on the screen that you fail to notice what is going on around you.

NOTE

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 Infotainment system screen.

¹⁾The areas along the sides of the vehicle are not shown in vehicles with 4 ultrasonic sensors in each bumper, front and rear.

Applicable only in the United States

Vehicle path display

Fig. 147 PDC display (depending on vehicle equipment): Vehicle path display without steering input.

208

Fig. 148 PDC display (depending on vehicle equipment): Vehicle path display with steering input.

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first ⇒ Introduction to the subjectꢀ

Depending on equipment, the vehicle path may be displayed on the Infotainment screen.

Key to ⇒ Fig. 147ꢀ and ⇒ Fig. 148ꢀ:

Ⓐ

Vehicle path display.

Vehicle path display

Function

Operation (when the ignition is switched on)

Forward gear engaged.

Front vehicle path display

OR: Shift to Neutral (N).

OR: Depending on vehicle equipment, roll forward.

Select the Reverse (R) gear.

Rear vehicle path display

OR: Depending on vehicle equipment, roll backward.

The vehicle path display changes in relation to steering input. Obstacles that are located in the vehicle's path, depending on the current steering angle, are

displayed in yellow and red segments.

When the selector lever is in position P and the PDC is activated, the vehicle path display is not shown.

Vehicles with electronic parking brake: When the electronic parking brake is engaged, all segments symbolizing an obstruction are displayed in grey, and the

vehicle path display is not shown.

NOTE

If an ultrasonic sensor malfunctions, the vehicle path display is switched off and cannot be reactivated until the malfunction is corrected.

In this case, the steering angle no longer determines the segments displayed on the screen or the chimes that sound.

Applicable only in the United States

PDC menu

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first ⇒ Introduction to the subjectꢀ

PDC settings in the Infotainment system menu

Switch on the ignition.

If necessary, switch on the Infotainment system.

Press the

button followed by the Vehicle,

, and Parking and maneuvering function keys.

Select the required settings in the ParkPilot menu.

Function key

Action

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Parking and maneuvering -> Park Distance Control (PDC) for Your Volkswagen Golf 4 Door Seventh Generation (2017-2020)

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