Lights -> Lights and vision features for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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