Get Lights Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

Lights

¤ Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Indicator lights

Turn signal lever and high beam switch

Switching lights on and off

Lights and vision features

“Coming home” and “Leaving home” feature (orientation lighting)

Instrument panel lighting and headlight range adjustment

Interior and reading lights

Always obey local vehicle lighting laws.

The driver is always responsible for the correct headlight settings.

More information:

Exterior views

Volkswagen Information System

Changing a light bulb

WARNING

Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see

the road ahead and when you cannot be seen by other motor-

ists.

Always switch on the low beam headlights at dusk or when it

is dark and whenever the weather is bad or visibility is poor.

WARNING

Headlights that are aimed too high and improper use of the

headlight flasher or high beams can blind and distract other

drivers. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.

Always make sure that headlights are properly adjusted.

Never use the headlight flasher or high beams when they can

blind or distract other drivers.

Indicator lights

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Lights

up

Possible cause

Proper response

One or more driving lights not

working or cornering light

malfunction.

Replace burned out bulb

ꢀ

Cornering light malfunction.

If all light bulbs are OK, see

an authorized Volkswagen

dealer or authorized

Adaptive Front Lighting Sys-

tem (AFS) malfunction.

Volkswagen Service Facility.

Fog lights switched on (indi-

cator light on the headlight

switch).

Left or right turn signal.

The indicator light blinks

Z Ù twice as fast if a turn signal is

not working on the vehicle or

the trailer.

Check the turn signals on the

vehicle and the trailer.

ꢁ

Daytime running lights (DRL)

on.

$2,

High beams switched on or

ꢂ

headlight flashers in use.

When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights

come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds.

WARNING

Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text mes-

sages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result

in a collision and serious personal injury.

Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.

Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Whenever stalled or stopped for repair, move the vehicle a

safe distance off the road, stop the engine, turn on the emer-

gency flashers, and use other warning devices to warn ap-

proaching traffic.

Never park the vehicle in areas where the hot catalytic con-

verter and exhaust system can come into contact with dry

grass, brush, spilled fuel, oil, or other material that can catch

fire.

A broken down vehicle presents a high accident risk for itself

and others. Switch on emergency flashers and set up a warning

triangle to warn oncoming traffic.

NOTICE

Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in

vehicle damage.

High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights provide bright, uniform

lighting to help you see and be seen. The light comes from an electric

arc between two electrodes in the gas-filled bulb. Over time, the elec-

trodes can wear down and the gap between them will get wider. The

HID lamp’s control unit then increases the voltage to keep the arc’s

brightness constant. However, the commonly called “Xenon” bulbs

will also ultimately burn out. Before they burn out, HID lamps can

flicker. A message will then appear in the MFI. This is your reminder

to see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized

Volkswagen Service facility to check the headlights.

Turn signal lever and high beam switch

Fig. 85 Turn signal lever and high beam switch.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Move the lever to the desired position.

(1) Right turn signal.

(2) Left turn signal.

(3) Switching high beams on ⇒ꢀ . An indicator light ꢂ comes on in

the instrument cluster when the high beams are switched on.

(4) Switching the high beams off and operating the headlight flasher.

The headlight flasher turns on the high beams as long as the

lever is pulled and manually held in the pulled position. The indi-

cator light ꢂ lights up. When released, the lever moves back to

the home position and turns off the high beams. The indicator

light ꢂ goes out.

Move the lever back to the home position to turn the selected feature

off.

Convenience turn signal (lane change feature)

To use the convenience turn signal feature, move the lever up or

down slightly, just to the point of resistance and then release it. If you

have the convenience turn signal (Conv. turn sig.) switched on, the

turn signals and the turn signal indicator flash 3 times. If it is switched

off, they flash as long as you hold the lever up or down, and go out

when you release the lever.

The convenience turn signal is switched on and off in the Lights &

Vision menu in the instrument cluster display ⇒ꢀVolkswagen Infor-

mation System. If your vehicle is not equipped with the Lights & Vi-

sion menu, the convenience turn signal feature can be deactivated

by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Ser-

vice Facility.

WARNING

Improper use of high beams can distract and blind others,

causing accidents and serious injuries.

The turn signal light works only when the ignition is switched on.

The emergency flasher works even when the ignition is switched off

⇒ꢀ In an emergency.

The indicator light flashes twice as fast if a turn signal bulb is

burned out.

High beams can only be switched on when the low beams are on.

Switching lights on and off

Fig. 86 Headlight switch next to the steering wheel. A: Vehicles with

fog lights. B: Vehicles without fog lights.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Adjust the light switch to the desired position ⇒ꢀfig. 86:

Symbol When the ignition is

switched off

When the ignition is

switched on

/

Fog lights and low beams Headlights off, daytime run-

switched off. ning lights (DRL) on.

!54/

ꢃ

Orientation lighting may be Automatic headlight control

switched on.

active; DRL on.

Low beams switched off.

The DRL may stay on. The

length of time they stay on

depends on the vehicle

battery charge.

Low beams switched on.

Fog lights switched off.

The DRL may stay on for

some time.

Headlights and fog lights

switched on.

Fog lights

The indicator light in the headlight switch or the instrument cluster

shows that the fog lights are switched on.

To switch on the fog lights : first turn the light switch to

position ꢃ, then pull the light switch out to the first detent.

To switch off the fog lights, push the switch back in from the first

detent. To then turn off the headlights, turn the switch to position /.

Acoustic warning when lights are not switched off

In the following situation, a warning chime will sound if you take the

key out of the ignition and open the driver door. This is to remind you

that lights are still on.

Light switch in position ꢃ if the vehicle has no orientation lighting

⇒ꢀ Coming home and Leaving home feature (orientation lighting).

WARNING

Daytime running lights are not bright enough to let you see

ahead or be seen by others when it is dark.

Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it

is dark and whenever the weather is bad or visibility is poor.

Never use the daytime running lights to see where you are

going. They are not bright enough and will not let you see far

enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is dark.

Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is

dark.

The taillights do not come on with the daytime running lights.

Unless the taillights are on, a vehicle cannot be seen by others

in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.

Even if automatic headlight control (!54/) is switched on, the

low-beam headlights may still not come on by themselves in

fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam head-

lights manually.

In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the rear

lights, and turn signals can temporarily fog up. This is normal and

does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.

Lights and vision features

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Daytime running lights (DRL)

Separate lamps are installed in the headlights or in the front bumper

for the daytime running lights (DRL).

When the daytime running lights are switched on, only these separate

lamps come on ⇒ꢀ

.

The daytime running lights are switched on whenever the ignition is

switched on and the light switch is in position / or !54/. The indicator

light ꢁ or $2, may come on in the instrument cluster to indicate that

the feature is active ⇒ꢀ Indicator lights.

If the light switch is in position !54/, a low-light sensor switches the

low beams as well as the instrument and switch lighting on and off

automatically.

Daytime running lights (DRL) parking feature

Some models are equipped with a daytime running lights (DRL) park-

ing feature that switches the daytime running lights off when the vehi-

cle is parked and the ignition is switched on.

Function

Action

Switching the DRL off:

– Switch the ignition on.

– Turn the light switch to the /

position.

– Set the parking brake.

Switching the DRL back on:

– Release the parking brake.

Static cornering lights

Your vehicle may have fog lights under the front bumper, which on

some models are also static cornering lights. On some models the

static cornering lights may be integrated in the headlights. At speeds

below about 25 mph (40 km/h), the light on one side of the vehicle will

come on automatically when you turn a corner. If you turn to the right,

the right fog light comes on; turn left and the left fog light comes on.

The light dims and goes out when the steering wheel is straightened

out again.

When you move the selector lever to Reverse (R), the static cornering

lights on both sides of the vehicle may come on so that you can see

the area around the vehicle better when backing up.

The static cornering lights work only when the headlights are on. If

you are using automatic headlight control (headlight switch in the !54/

position ⇒ꢀfig. 86), they work only when the headlights have been

automatically switched on. The static cornering lights do not come on

when the headlight switch is in the / position or when the fog lights

themselves have been switched on ⇒ꢀSwitching lights on and off.

Automatic headlight control (!54/)

Automatic headlight control is a convenience feature only and cannot

always recognize all lighting and driving situations.

If the light switch is in the !54/ position, both vehicle lighting and in-

strument and switch lighting are automatically switched on and off in

the following situations ⇒ꢀ

:

Automatic activation:

Automatic deactivation:

If the low-light sensor registers

If sufficient brightness is regis-

darkness, for example when driv- tered.

ing through a tunnel.

If the rain sensor recognizes rain If the windshield wipers have not

and switches the windshield wip- moved for several minutes.

ers on.

Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)

The Adaptive Front Lighting System works only with the low beams

switched on and only at speeds above about 6 mph (10 km/h). The

swivel-mounted lamps automatically improve road illumination during

cornering.

On vehicles equipped with the Adaptive Front Lighting System, the

feature is switched on and off via the Assistants menu in the instru-

ment cluster display ⇒ꢀVolkswagen Information System.

WARNING

Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see

the road ahead and when you cannot be seen by other motor-

ists.

Never use daytime running lights (DRL) to see where you are

going. DRL are not bright enough to light up the roadway and

be seen by other motorists. You will not be able to see far

enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is dark.

Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is

dark.

The taillights do not come on when the daytime running

lights are switched on. A vehicle without taillights on cannot be

seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.

If automatic headlight control (!54/) is switched on, the low-

beam headlights still may not be switched on in fog or heavy

rain. You have to switch on the low-beam headlights yourself.

In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the rear

lights, and turn signals can temporarily fog up. This is normal and

does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.

“Coming home” and “Leaving home” feature (orientation

lighting)

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

The “Coming home” feature must be switched on manually. The

“Leaving home” feature is controlled automatically by a low-light sen-

sor.

“Coming home” Action

Switch on:

– Switch off the ignition.

– Operate the headlight flasher for about

1 second

The “Coming home” lighting is switched on when

the driver door is open.

The delay period starts once the last vehicle door

or the luggage compartment lid is closed.

Switch off:

– Automatically after delay period is over.

– Automatically, if a vehicle door or the luggage

compartment lid is still open about 30 seconds

after activation.

– Turn light switch to the / position.

– Switch the ignition on.

“Leaving

home”

Action

Switch on:

– Unlock the vehicle if the light switch is in the !54/

position and the low-light sensor registers darkness.

Switch off:

– Automatically after preset delay period is over.

– Lock the vehicle.

– Turn the light switch to the / position.

– Switch the ignition on.

Background lighting in the outside mirrors

The background lighting in the outside mirrors illuminates the area

near the doors when entering and exiting the vehicle. It is switched on

when the vehicle is unlocked, a vehicle door is opened, or the “Com-

ing home” or “Leaving home” feature is activated. If the vehicle is

equipped with a light sensor, the background lighting in the outside

mirrors is only switched on in darkness.

The delay period can be adjusted in 10 second intervals and the

function can be switched on and off in the Lights & Vision menu ⇒ꢀ

Volkswagen Information System.

If the “Coming home” feature is switched on and the driver door is

opened, no warning chime will sound to alert you that the lights are

still on.

Instrument panel lighting and headlight range adjustment

Fig. 87 To the left of the steering wheel: Thumbwheel to adjust in-

strument panel lighting 1.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Instrument panel lighting

When the lights are on, the brightness of the instrument panel lighting

is adjusted by turning the thumbwheel ⇒ꢀfig. 87 (1).

Instrument cluster brightness

When the lights are on, the brightness of the instrument cluster light-

ing is adjusted by turning the thumbwheel (1).

In some vehicles with daytime running lights (DRL), the instrument

cluster lighting switches on automatically when it is dark outside or

when driving through tunnels, for example. You will need to switch the

headlights on manually when this happens, so that the vehicle's tail-

lights will turn on ⇒ꢀ Daytime running lights (DRL)

Dynamic headlight range adjustment

In some vehicles with HID (Xenon) headlights, the headlight range is

automatically adjusted to the vehicle loading condition once the low

beams are switched on ⇒ꢀ

.

WARNING

Headlights that are aimed too high because of the way the ve-

hicle is loaded can blind and distract other drivers. This can

lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.

Always make sure the headlights are adjusted to loading

conditions so that they do not blind others.

WARNING

If dynamic headlight range adjustment does not work properly

or at all, the headlights could blind and distract other drivers.

This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.

Have headlight range adjustment checked immediately by an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen

Service Facility.

Interior and reading lights

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Button Function

/

Interior lights off.

Interior lights on.

ꢄ

Button Function

Door contact switch - center position.

Interior lights go on automatically when the vehicle is un-

locked, a door is opened, or the vehicle key is removed

from the ignition.

s

The lights go out about 20 seconds after you close the

doors. They also go out when you lock the vehicle or switch

on the ignition.

*

Reading light on or off.

ꢅ

Glove and luggage compartment lights

The glove and luggage compartments may have lights that come on

automatically when they are opened and go off when they are closed.

Background lighting

When the ignition and headlights are switched on, the background

lighting in the roof console lights up.

There may also be lighting in the footwells and on the inside door trim

and door handle recesses.

The interior and reading lights go out when you lock the vehicle

or a few minutes after you remove the vehicle key from the ignition.

This helps to prevent unnecessary drain on the vehicle battery.

Lights for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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