Get Starting and stopping the engine Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

Starting and stopping the engine

¤ Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Indicator lights

Vehicle key positions in the ignition switch

Starter button

Starting the engine

Stopping the engine

Electronic immobilizer

Engine preheating system

Explanatory notes in this section regarding automatic transmis-

sions also apply to the DSG^®Direct Shift Gearbox automatic

transmission.

Immobilizer display

If an unauthorized vehicle key is used or the system malfunctions,

Immobilizer active! may appear on the instrument cluster display.

The engine cannot be started.

Push-starting and tow-starting

For technical reasons, never try to push-start or tow-start the vehicle.

Jump-start the vehicle instead while following proper and safe proce-

dures.

More information:

Vehicle key set

Shifting

Steering

Braking and parking

Starting assistance systems

Refueling

Fuel

Emergency closing and opening

Jump-starting

Towing

WARNING

Switching off the engine while the vehicle is moving can make

the vehicle harder to stop and result in loss of vehicle control,

leading to collisions and severe personal injuries.

Brake and steering assistance systems, the airbag system,

safety belt pretensioners, and other vehicle safety features only

work when the engine is running.

Switch off the engine only when the vehicle is not moving.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of serious personal injury when starting and

running the vehicle's engine:

Never start the engine or let it run in a confined or enclosed

area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a poisonous,

colorless, and odorless gas. Carbon monoxide can cause un-

consciousness and death.

Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.

The vehicle could move suddenly or some other unexpected

event could occur, resulting in property damage or personal

injury.

Never use starting assist fluids. Starting fluids can explode

and can cause a “run-away” vehicle condition.

WARNING

The vehicle exhaust system and the catalytic converter get very

hot. They can cause fires and serious personal injury.

Never park the vehicle where the hot exhaust system or cata-

lytic converter could ignite flammable materials, such as brush,

leaves, dry grass, spilled fuel, etc.

Never apply additional undercoating or rust proofing on or

near the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter,

or heat shields.

Indicator lights

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Lights

up

Possible cause

Proper response

Apply the brake pedal to start

the engine

K

Brake pedal not depressed.

Flashes Possible cause

Proper response

The release button in the

selector lever did not en-

gage. Vehicle movement is release button

prevented.

Engage the selector lever

K

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, turn on the emergency flashers, stop

the engine, and use other warning devices to warn approaching

traffic.

NOTICE

Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in

vehicle damage.

Vehicle key positions in the ignition switch

Fig. 133 In the ignition switch: Vehicle key positions.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

If there is no vehicle key in the ignition, the steering column is locked.

Vehicle key position ⇒ꢀfig. 133

(0) Ignition switched off. Steering column lock engaged. The vehicle

key can be removed.

(1) Ignition switched off. Steering column lock disengaged. Vehicle

key can be removed.

(2) Ignition is switched on. Vehicle key can be removed from ignition

switch.

(3) Start the engine. Once the engine has started, the vehicle key

stays in this position. To remove the vehicle key, push it fully into

the ignition switch. When released, the vehicle key returns to po-

sition (1) and the engine is switched off.

If you use the wrong key

If an unauthorized vehicle key has been inserted into the ignition

switch, it can be removed as follows:

Automatic transmission: The vehicle key cannot be removed from

the ignition unless both the key and the selector lever have been

moved to the correct position. Press the release button on the trans-

mission selector lever, move the selector lever to the Park (P) posi-

tion, and release the button. The vehicle key can now be removed.

Manual transmission: Pull out the vehicle key.

WARNING

Improper use of vehicle keys can result in serious personal in-

jury.

Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle. The

engine can be started and vehicle systems such as the power

windows can be operated, leading to serious personal injury.

Never leave children, disabled persons, or anyone who can-

not help themselves in the vehicle. The doors can be locked

with the remote control vehicle key. This could result in people

being trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. For example, de-

pending on the time of year, people trapped in the vehicle can

be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.

Heat buildup in the passenger and luggage compartment of a

parked vehicle can result in temperatures in the vehicle that are

much higher than the outside temperatures, particularly in

summer. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause

unconsciousness and death, particularly to small children.

Never remove the key from the ignition switch while the vehi-

cle is moving or rolling to a stop. The steering wheel will lock

and you will not be able to steer or control the vehicle.

Leaving the key in the ignition for a long time when the engine is

not running will drain the vehicle battery.

Leaving the selector lever for a long period of time in any position

other than Park (P) when the ignition is switched off can drain the

vehicle battery.

On automatic transmission vehicles, the vehicle key can be

removed from the ignition switch only when the transmission is in

Park (P). You may have to press the release button on the transmis-

sion selector lever to put the lever into Park (P).

Starter button

Fig. 134 In the center console: Starter button for the Keyless Access

locking and starting system.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

For vehicles with Keyless Access, the vehicle can be started either

with the starter button in the lower center console ⇒ꢀfig. 134 or with

the vehicle key in the ignition switch ⇒ꢀfig. 133.

The starter button can only be used when an authorized vehicle key

is in the vehicle.

When leaving the vehicle, the electronic steering column lock is

activated when the ignition is switched off and the driver door is

opened ⇒ꢀ Steering.

Switching the ignition on and off

Briefly press the starter button once without operating the brake or

clutch pedals ⇒ꢀ

.

Emergency starting

If an authorized remote control vehicle key is in the passenger com-

partment but the instrument cluster displays Key not in Range when

you push the starter button, the remote control vehicle key battery is

weak or dead. You can still start the engine by inserting the key in the

ignition switch ⇒ꢀ Vehicle key positions in the ignition switch.

Emergency shut-off

If the engine does not switch off by briefly pressing the starter button,

emergency shut-off is necessary:

Press the starter button twice within 3 seconds or press and hold

the button longer than 1 second ⇒ꢀ in Stopping the engine

The engine switches off automatically.

Engine restart feature

If no authorized remote control vehicle key is identified in the passen-

ger compartment after the engine has been switched off, the engine

can be restarted within about 5 seconds. A related message is shown

in the instrument cluster display.

After the 5 seconds have passed, the engine can no longer be started

without an authorized vehicle key in the passenger compartment.

WARNING

Unintended vehicle movement can cause serious personal inju-

ry.

Do not depress the brake or clutch pedals when switching on

the ignition, as the engine could otherwise start immediately.

WARNING

Improper use of vehicle keys can result in serious personal in-

jury.

Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle.

Children or unauthorized persons may use it to lock the vehi-

cle, start the engine, and operate vehicle systems such as the

power windows, leading to serious personal injury.

Never leave children, disabled persons, or anyone who can-

not help themselves in the vehicle. The doors can be locked

using the remote control vehicle key. This could result in peo-

ple being trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. For example,

depending on the time of year, people trapped in the vehicle

can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.

Heat buildup in the passenger and luggage compartment of a

parked vehicle can result in temperatures in the vehicle that are

much higher than the outside temperatures, particularly in

summer. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause

unconsciousness and death, particularly to small children.

If the ignition is switched on or the engine is running and the driv-

er door is opened, a chime sounds. The chime is also a reminder to

switch off the engine and turn off the ignition before leaving and lock-

ing the vehicle from the outside.

Starting the engine

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Please perform these steps only in the order listed.

Step Vehicles without Keyless

Access

Vehicles with Keyless

Access

1.

Automatic transmission: Depress the brake pedal and hold

it down until step 5 is completed.

1 a.

Manual transmission: Depress clutch pedal fully and hold

until the engine has started.

2. Shift the transmission into Neutral (N) or Park (P) (automatic),

or into Neutral (manual only).

3.

Push the vehicle key to posi- Briefly press the starter button

tion ⇒ꢀfig. 133 (3) – do not ⇒ꢀfig. 134 – do not depress

depress the accelerator pedal. the accelerator pedal. An au-

thorized vehicle key must be

inside the vehicle in order to

start the engine.

4.

5.

6.

When the engine starts, re-

lease the vehicle key.

When the engine starts, re-

lease the starter button.

If the engine does not start, switch off the ignition and start

again after about 1 minute.

Release the electronic parking brake when you are ready to

start driving

WARNING

Never leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.

The vehicle could move suddenly, especially when the vehicle

is in gear, resulting in accidents and personal injury.

WARNING

“Starting fluids” can explode and can cause a “run-away” vehi-

cle condition.

Never use starting assist fluids.

NOTICE

You can damage the starter or the engine if you try to start the

engine when the vehicle is still moving, or if you try to restart the

engine right after switching it off.

Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle acceleration, and heavy

engine loads when the engine is cold.

Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle.

Unburned fuel can get into the catalytic converter and damage it.

The steering column may also be locked.

Do not let your vehicle warm up while standing; instead, start

driving right away after making sure that you have good visibility

through all windows. This will help the engine reach operating tem-

perature faster and keep down emissions.

If the remote control vehicle key battery is weak or dead, the

starter button will not start the engine. In this case, start the engine by

inserting the vehicle key in the ignition switch ⇒ꢀVehicle key positions

in the ignition switch.

Major consumers of electricity are temporarily switched off when

the engine is being started.

After starting a cold engine, there may be increased operating

noises for a few seconds. This is normal and harmless.

Stopping the engine

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Please perform these steps only in the order listed.

Vehicles without Keyless

Access

Vehicles with Keyless

Access

Step

1.

2.

Bring the vehicle to a complete stop ⇒ꢀ

.

Depress and hold down the brake pedal until step 4 is com-

pleted.

Automatic transmission: Shift the transmission into Park

(P).

3.

4.

Apply the electronic parking brake to help prevent the vehicle

from moving

5. Push the vehicle key fully into Briefly press the starter button

the ignition switch and re-

⇒ꢀfig. 134. If the engine will

lease. The vehicle key springs

not switch off, carry out the

back to position ⇒ꢀfig. 133 (1). emergency shut-off procedure

6.

7.

Manual transmission: Shift into 1st gear (vehicle on flat sur-

face or pointing uphill) or reverse (vehicle pointing downhill).

Removing the vehicle key

Opening the doors switches

from the ignition switches off

off electrical equipment and

electrical equipment and acti-

activates the steering column

vates the steering column

lock.

WARNING

Never stop the engine before the vehicle has come to a com-

plete stop. You can lose control of the vehicle, crash, and be

seriously injured.

The airbags and safety belt pretensioners will not work when

the ignition is switched off.

The brake booster does not work when the engine is not run-

ning. More brake pedal pressure will be needed to stop the ve-

hicle.

The power steering system does not work when the engine is

not running, and you will need more force to steer the vehicle.

When the key is removed from the ignition switch, the steer-

ing will lock and you will not be able to steer the vehicle.

NOTICE

If the vehicle has been driven hard for a long time, the engine

could overheat when it is stopped. To reduce the risk of engine

damage, let the engine idle in Neutral for about 2 minutes before

you switch off the ignition.

If the ignition is switched on or the engine is running and the driv-

er door is opened, a chime sounds. The chime is also a reminder to

switch off the engine and turn off the ignition before leaving and lock-

ing the vehicle from the outside.

On vehicles with automatic transmissions, the vehicle key can

only be removed from the ignition when the transmission is in Park

(P).

After the engine has been switched off, the radiator fan in the

engine compartment may keep running for several minutes, or may

start running after the vehicle has been parked for a while, even if the

ignition is switched off and the vehicle key has been removed. The

radiator fan shuts off automatically when the engine has cooled down

enough.

Electronic immobilizer

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

The immobilizer helps to prevent the engine from being started and

driven with an unauthorized vehicle key.

There is a microchip inside the vehicle key. The chip deactivates the

immobilizer automatically when an authorized vehicle key is inserted

into the ignition switch.

The electronic immobilizer is automatically activated when the remote

control vehicle key is pulled out of the ignition switch. On vehicles

with Keyless Access, the vehicle key must be outside the vehicle ⇒ꢀ

Power locking and closing system.

The engine can therefore only be started with an authorized and cor-

rectly coded genuine Volkswagen vehicle key. Coded vehicle keys

are available from authorized Volkswagen dealers, authorized

Volkswagen Service Facilities, and from certain independent repair

facilities and locksmiths who are qualified to make these vehicle keys

⇒ꢀ Vehicle key set.

If an unauthorized vehicle key is used, Immobilizer active! appears

in the instrument cluster display. The vehicle cannot be operated with

this key.

A Declaration of Compliance with the United States FCC and Industry

Canada regulations is on ⇒ꢀ Declaration of Compliance, Telecommu-

nications and Electronic Systems.

Using genuine Volkswagen keys helps minimize the risk of mal-

functions.

Starting and stopping the engine for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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