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

Towing

¤ Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Towing on a commercial tow truck

Tips on towing

Installing the front towing eye

Installing the rear towing eye

Driving tips while towing

Observe legal requirements when towing.

For technical reasons:

A vehicle with a dead battery must never be towed. Jump-start

the vehicle instead.

It is not possible to tow-start or push-start your vehicle. Jump-

start the vehicle instead.

Vehicles with Keyless Access may only be towed with the ignition on.

Towing the vehicle when the engine is turned off and the ignition is

turned on drains the vehicle battery. Depending on the charge level of

the vehicle battery, it is possible that even after just a few minutes,

electrical devices such as the emergency flashers may not have the

power necessary to function. The steering wheel might lock in vehi-

cles with Keyless Access ⇒ꢀ

.

More information:

Exterior views

Shifting

Engine control and emission control system

Jump-starting

WARNING

Never tow a vehicle without any electrical power.

Never remove the remote control vehicle key from the igni-

tion switch or turn off the ignition with the starter button while

the vehicle is moving. The electronic steering column lock

could suddenly engage, and you would not be able to steer or

control the vehicle. You can lose control of the vehicle, crash,

and seriously injure yourself and others.

If the vehicle loses power while it is being towed, stop towing

the vehicle immediately and contact your authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility

for assistance.

WARNING

Towing a vehicle changes the way it handles and brakes. To

help reduce the risk of an accident and serious personal injury,

note the following:

The driver of the vehicle that is being towed:

– Since the brake booster also does not work when the en-

gine is stopped, you will need to press harder on the brake

pedal to slow down or stop. Always be alert so as not to rear-

end the towing vehicle.

– Will have to use considerably more force to turn the steer-

ing wheel because the power steering is not working.

The driver of the vehicle that is doing the towing:

– Must accelerate gradually and gently and avoid jerking

movements.

– Must not brake hard or steer sharply.

– Must brake earlier and more gently than in normal driving.

NOTICE

Be careful not to damage the paint when installing and remov-

ing the towing eye and the cover for the threaded hole behind

the bumper.

Unburned fuel can get into the catalytic converter during tow-

ing and damage it.

Towing on a commercial tow truck

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

To help avoid damaging the vehicle, have it towed only by a profes-

sional towing company. Read and heed the following information:

General information

Never let the vehicle be towed at speeds above 30 mph (50 km/h).

Never let the vehicle be towed for more than 30 miles (50 km).

Towing manual transmission vehicles

Release the parking brake.

Shift the transmission into Neutral (N).

If possible, have the vehicle towed with the front wheels off the

ground.

If necessary, the vehicle can also be towed with the rear wheels off

the ground ⇒ꢀ .

Towing automatic transmission vehicles

Release the parking brake.

Shift the transmission into Neutral (N).

Tow the vehicle only with its front wheels off the ground ⇒ꢀ .

Special towing instructions for vehicles with all-wheel drive

(4MOTION)

To help prevent unnecessary damage, vehicles with all-wheel drive

(4MOTION) must be transported on a flat-bed truck.

To load the vehicle on the flat bed, use the towing eye found in the

vehicle tool kit and attach it to the front anchorage ⇒ꢀpage 539, Vehi-

cle tool kit, ⇒ꢀ Installing the front towing eye.

When not to tow your vehicle

If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to

your vehicle, it must be moved with the drive wheels off the ground.

The vehicle can only be towed if its ignition is switched on and its

electrical system is operating. In the following situations, the vehicle

cannot be towed at all and must be transported on a flatbed truck or

trailer:

If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.

If the vehicle battery is dead (because the electronic steering col-

umn lock engages and cannot be released).

If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than

30 miles (50 km).

WARNING

It is not safe for children or other persons to ride in a vehicle

that is being towed.

Never let children or anyone else remain in the vehicle while

it is being towed.

NOTICE

The drive axle rotates while the vehicle is being towed with its

rear wheels off the ground. This can damage the automatic

transmission.

Never tow automatic transmission vehicle with the rear wheels

off the ground.

Tow manual transmission vehicles with the rear wheels off the

ground only if it is certain that no transmission fluid can leak

out.

Tips on towing

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Towing eye; tow rope or tow bar

A towing eye is included in your vehicle's tool kit. This can be inserted

in a threaded hole in the front bumper and used when your vehicle is

being towed by another vehicle. On most vehicles, there is another

threaded hole in the rear bumper, so you can use the towing eye to

tow other vehicles as well. Towing a vehicle with a tow bar is safer

and easier on both vehicles than using a tow rope. A tow rope should

be used only if a tow bar is not available.

The tow rope should be flexible enough to help protect both vehicles

from damage. Use a synthetic fiber rope or similar rope.

Attach the tow rope or tow bar only to the towing eye included in the

vehicle tool kit for this purpose, or to a trailer hitch.

Towing manual transmission vehicles

Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below ⇒ꢀ When

not to tow your vehicle

If yes, not the following for the towed vehicle:

Shift the gearshift lever to Neutral ⇒ꢀ Shifting.

Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).

Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).

Towing automatic transmission vehicles

Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below ⇒ꢀ When

not to tow your vehicle

If yes, not the following for the towed vehicle:

Put the transmission in Neutral (N).

Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).

Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).

When a commercial tow truck is being used, the vehicle must only

be towed with the front wheels lifted off the ground.

Follow the special instructions for towing vehicles with all-wheel

drive (4MOTION).

Towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)

Vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) should be towed with a tow

bar or a tow rope. If the vehicle is towed with the front or rear axles

lifted off the ground, the engine must be switched off. Otherwise the

powertrain may be damaged.

For vehicles with the DSG^®Direct Shift Gearbox, also follow the di-

rections on how to tow a vehicle with automatic transmission ⇒ꢀ Tow-

ing automatic transmission vehicles.

When not to tow your vehicle

In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towed and must be

transported on a flatbed truck or trailer:

If transmission fluid has leaked out of the transmission.

If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to

your vehicle, it must be moved with the drive wheels off the ground.

If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.

When the vehicle battery is dead, because the steering may remain

disabled and it may not be possible to release the electronic steering

column lock. If the electronic parking brake was engaged when the

battery died, it cannot be released.

If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than

30 miles (50 km).

Towing other vehicles

Obey all legal requirements

Read and heed all towing information in the owner's manual for the

other vehicle.

A vehicle can be towed only if the electronic parking brake and

the electronic steering column lock are released. In case of a power

loss or malfunctions of the electrical system, the engine may have to

be jump-started ⇒ꢀJump-starting in order to release the electronic

parking brake and the electronic steering column lock.

Installing the front towing eye

Fig. 212 In the right front bumper: Removing the cover cap.

Fig. 213 In the right front bumper: Installing the towing eye.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

There is a threaded hole for the towing eye in the right front bumper

behind a cover ⇒ꢀfig. 212.

Always keep the towing eye in the vehicle and stow it securely.

Read and follow the notes about towing ⇒ꢀTips on towing.

Installing the front towing eye

Take the towing eye, the lug wrench, and the screwdriver out of the

vehicle tool kit in the luggage compartment ⇒ꢀ Vehicle tool kit.

Push on the left side of the cover ⇒ꢀfig. 212 (arrow) so that it pops

out.

Remove the cover and let it hang from the bumper.

Screw the towing eye counterclockwise into the threaded hole as

far as it will go ⇒ꢀfig. 213 (arrow) ⇒ꢀ . Use the lug wrench to turn and

tighten the towing eye.

When towing is complete, unscrew the towing eye clockwise to

remove it.

Position the left side of the cover in the opening in the bumper and

carefully push the right side over the edge of the opening.

Push on the cover until it locks into place.

NOTICE

Always make sure the towing eye is screwed all the way into

threaded hole so that it is secure. If not, it could be pulled out

while your vehicle is being towed.

Installing the rear towing eye

Fig. 214 In the right rear bumper: Removing the cover cap.

Fig. 215 In the right rear bumper: Towing eye installed.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

The mount for the threaded towing eye is located in the right rear

bumper behind a cover cap ⇒ꢀfig. 214.

Read and follow the notes about towing ⇒ꢀ Tips on towing.

Installing the rear towing eye

Take the towing eye, the lug wrench, and the screwdriver out of the

vehicle tool kit in the luggage compartment ⇒ꢀ Vehicle tool kit.

Push on the bottom of the cover ⇒ꢀfig. 214 (arrow) so that it pops

out.

Remove the cover and let it hang from the bumper.

Screw the towing eye counterclockwise into the threaded hole as

far as it will go ⇒ꢀfig. 215 ⇒ꢀ . Use the lug wrench to turn and tighten

the towing eye.

When towing is complete, unscrew the towing eye clockwise to

remove it.

Position the bottom of the cover in the opening in the bumper and

carefully push the top of the cover over the edge of the opening.

Push on the cover until it locks into place.

NOTICE

Always make sure the towing eye is screwed all the way into

threaded hole so that it is secure. If not, it could be pulled out

while your vehicle is being towed.

Driving tips while towing

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Towing requires some experience, especially when using a tow rope.

Both drivers must be familiar with the techniques required for towing.

Inexperienced drivers should not try to tow a vehicle or to drive a ve-

hicle that is being towed.

Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle, and avoid jerking the tow

rope. When towing on an unpaved road, there is always a risk of

overloading and damaging the attachment points.

If your vehicle is being towed, it can still signal turns even if the emer-

gency flashers are activated, as long as the ignition is switched on.

Use the turn signal in the normal way. The emergency flashers go off

as long as the turn signal is blinking. As soon as the turn signal lever

returns to its neutral position, the emergency flashers are automati-

cally activated again.

As the driver of the vehicle being towed:

If your vehicle is the one being towed, the ignition switch must be

switched on to keep the steering wheel from locking and to be able to

release the electronic parking brake. Also make sure that the turn

signals, horn, windshield wipers, and windshield washers work

properly.

Since power steering does not work when the engine is switched

off, more effort is needed to steer the vehicle.

Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is

stopped, you will need to press harder on the brake pedal to slow

down or stop. Do not hit the towing vehicle.

Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the towing ve-

hicle's owner's manual.

As the driver of the towing vehicle:

Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Avoid sudden driv-

ing maneuvers.

Brake earlier and more gently than usual and with light pedal pres-

sure.

Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the owner's

manual of the vehicle being towed.

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

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