Get Park Distance Control (PDC) Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

Park Distance Control (PDC)

¤ Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Park Distance Control (PDC)

Depending on vehicle 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 ob-

ject. Park Distance Control works only at speeds up to about 6 –

9 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 warn-

ing sound, the system cannot measure the distance remaining until

collision.

A Declaration of Compliance with the United States FCC and Industry

Canada regulations is found on ⇒ꢀ Declaration of Compliance, Tele-

communications and Electronic Systems.

More information:

Exterior views

Braking and parking

Consumer information

Exterior care and cleaning

Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications

Radio or Navigation system ⇒ꢀBooklet Radio or

⇒ꢀBooklet Navigation system

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 luggage compartment 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 Dis-

tance 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 misa-

ligned 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 Con-

trol system in a location or parking space with no traffic in order to

become familiar with the system and how it works.

Park Distance Control (PDC)

Fig. 156 In the front bumpers: Park Distance Control system sensors.

Fig. 157 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 System sensors are in the front and rear

bumpers ⇒ꢀ Exterior views.

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

In order to

Operation

Manually activate

PDC:

Press the ꢀ button ⇒ꢀfig. 157 once when the

ignition is switched on.

Manually deactivate Push the ꢀ button again when the ignition is

PDC:

switched on.

Press a function selection button on the radio

or the navigation system ⇒ꢀBooklet Radio or

⇒ꢀBooklet Navigation system.

Manually deactivate

the display (sound

stays active):

OR: Tap the function key E on the display.

Shift into Reverse (R).

Automatically

activate PDC:

Automatically

deactivate PDC:

Drive forward faster than about 6 – 9 mph

(10 – 15 km/h).

Shift into Reverse (R).

Switch to the rear-

In order to

Operation

view camera dis-

play (if equipped):

OR: Tap the function key Z or 26# on the dis-

play.

The indicator light in the button ꢀ ⇒ꢀfig. 157 comes on and stays on

as long as the feature is active.

A chime sounds to tell you that the system is on. If the chime does

not sound, PDC is not working. Have the system inspected by an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service

Facility.

Special considerations when using Park Distance Control

In some cases, the Park Distance Control interprets water and ice

on the sensors as an obstacle.

If the distance remains the same, the warning tone volume de-

creases 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 again automatically if the ve-

hicle approaches the obstacle again.

For vehicles with automatic transmissions, there is no beeping

when the transmission is in Park (P) and the electronic parking brake

is engaged.

The volume of the audible signals can be adjusted by an author-

ized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facili-

ty.

Muting the Park Distance Control volume

You can mute the PDC beeping signals by tapping the ꢀ function

key on the Radio or Navigation 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 re-

activates the volume. System malfunction warning signals cannot be

switched off.

If you manually deactivate the display, PDC remains on and the

sound is reactivated.

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 ani-

mals, because the sensors may not always be able to detect

them.

If you hear a long beep lasting 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.

Park Distance Control (PDC) for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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