Heating and air conditioning -> Introduction for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

Heating and air conditioning  
¤ Introduction  
In this section you’ll find information about:  
Climatronic controls  
Operation  
Air vents  
Air recirculation  
Climatronic  
Climatronic information appears in the Climatronic display and/or on  
the screen of the factory-installed Radio system or Radio & Naviga-  
tion system.  
The temperature units (Fahrenheit or Celsius) in the factory-installed  
Radio system or Radio & Navigation system screen can be changed  
in the Settings menu in the instrument cluster display on appropriate-  
ly equipped vehicles.  
The dust and pollen filter  
The dust and pollen filter with an activated carbon insert reduces the  
entry of pollutants into the passenger compartment.  
The dust and pollen filter must be replaced at the intervals recom-  
mended in Booklet Warranty and Maintenance so that the air condi-  
tioner can work properly.  
If the effectiveness of the filter decreases prematurely due to operat-  
ing the vehicle where the outside air is heavily polluted, the dust and  
pollen filter should be replaced more frequently than indicated.  
More information:  
Exterior views  
Passenger compartment  
Volkswagen Information System  
Seat functions  
Windshield wipers and washer  
Starting and stopping the engine  
Exterior care and cleaning  
WARNING  
Poor visibility increases the risk of collisions and other acci-  
dents that cause serious personal injuries.  
Always make sure all windows are clear of ice, snow and  
condensation for good visibility to the front, sides, and rear.  
Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not  
possible until the engine has reached operating temperature.  
Wait until you have good visibility before driving off.  
Always make sure you know how to properly use the climate  
control system as well as the rear window defroster that you  
will need for good visibility.  
Never use air recirculation for long periods of time. When the  
air conditioner is off and recirculation mode is on, condensa-  
tion can quickly form on the windows and greatly reduce visi-  
bility.  
Always switch off recirculation mode when it is not needed.  
WARNING  
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces driver alertness,  
which can cause accidents, collisions and serious personal in-  
jury.  
Never switch off the fan for a long period of time and never  
use air recirculation for a long period of time because no fresh  
air will enter the passenger compartment.  
NOTICE  
If you think the air conditioner is not working properly or may  
be damaged, switch it off to help prevent more damage. Have the  
air conditioner checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or  
an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.  
Air conditioner repair requires specialized knowledge and  
special tools. Volkswagen recommends that you see an author-  
ized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service  
Facility.  
Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on. Smoke  
drawn into the ventilation system can leave residue on the evap-  
orator and on the dust and pollen active carbon filter, resulting  
in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.  
If the air conditioner is switched off, the fresh outside air will not  
be dehumidified. To help keep the windows from fogging over,  
Volkswagen recommends leaving the air conditioner (compressor)  
switched on. Press the !‡# button. The indicator light in the button  
must come on.  
When it is very hot and humid outside, water condensation can  
drip from the air conditioner evaporator and form a puddle under the  
vehicle. This is normal and does not indicate a leak.  
Keep the air intake slots in front of the windshield free of ice,  
snow, and leaves in order to maintain proper functioning of the heat-  
ing and ventilation systems.  
Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not  
possible until the engine has reached operating temperature.  
Emergency starting and starting the engine with a very weak ve-  
hicle battery or after the vehicle battery has been replaced may  
change or delete system settings (including time, date, personal con-  
venience settings, and programming). Check the settings and correct  
as necessary once the vehicle battery has built up a sufficient charge.  
Climatronic controls  
Fig. 158 In the center console: Climatronic controls.