2007-2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Door Off-road driving situations -> Driving through water User Manual
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Off-road driving situations -> Driving through water for Your Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Door First Generation (2007-2016)

Leaking engine oil and brake fluid can pollute the environment. Collect leaking operating fluids  
and dispose of them properly in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.  
Driving through water  
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS  
Important factors when deciding whether to drive through water:  
Water depth.  
Strength of the current.  
Firmness of stream bed and bank.  
Shape of the bank.  
Objects in the water.  
Before driving through water  
Stop, get out of the vehicle, and assess the situation ⇒ꢀ  
:
Measure water depth from one side to the other. The water must not be any higher than the bottom  
of the vehicle body (see Dimensions ). Check the firmness of the bed and banks; check for drop-offs  
and obstacles in the water ⇒ꢀ  
.
Make sure it is possible to enter and exit the water safely.  
Check the angle of the embankment and the firmness of the ground on each bank.  
Driving through standing and slow-moving water  
The vehicle can drive through standing water if the ground under the water is firm enough ⇒ꢀ  
.
Drive slowly into a river in the direction of the flow. Never exceed the departure/approach angle  
and lateral angle (vehicle slope).  
Always drive at a constant speed to the other side.  
This will help prevent engine damage from the water. It also allows an air pocket to form in front of the  
engine that can supply it with the necessary air.  
Entering the water quickly or driving too fast through the water will create a bow wave. A bow wave  
can force its way into the engine air intake duct and seriously damage the engine.  
Driving through fast-moving water  
Driving through fast-moving water is very dangerous ⇒ꢀ  
.
The vehicle can be swept away by the current. Even vehicles with high ground clearance can get  
stuck if the ground is washed out from under the tires. Fast-moving water will build up against the side  
of your vehicle. This will make the water deeper. Always think about this before entering the water.  
Water volume, speed, and depth can be very unpredictable and dangerous.  
If you are uncertain how fast the water is flowing, look for a shallower place where you can cross in  
safety. If you cannot find a safe place to cross, turn back.  
After driving through water  
After crossing through deep water, stop the engine and check the oil dipstick. If there are beads of  
water on the oil dipstick or the oil level has increased, do not start the engine. Change the engine oil  
immediately. Depending on the amount of water in the oil, running or starting the engine can result in  
engine failure or serious engine damage.  
Always dry the brakes by braking a couple of times.  
After driving through water, have the vehicle drive train and electrical system thoroughly inspected  
for damage by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.  
WARNING  
Flowing water is very powerful and can sweep your vehicle away. This can lead create an  
extremely dangerous situation and cause an accident with serious personal injuries.  
Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot  
go on or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.  
Never stop in the water.  
If water gets into the engine, your vehicle can break down. You will lose control of a  
broken down vehicle, and it can be swept away.  
Soft surfaces, mud, underwater obstacles, and holes can cause accidents and can cause  
the vehicle to break down in the water. This can lead pose extreme danger.  
Rapidly flowing water can develop strong forces that can pull the vehicle downstream.  
This can cause accidents and fatal injuries.  
Drive through water only where the banks and bottom are firm enough and the water is  
shallower at all points than the maximum permissible fording depth for your vehicle.  
NOTICE  
Vehicle components such as the engine, drive train, suspension or electrical system may  
be severely damaged by driving through water.  
Avoid stopping in deep water. This can let water get inside the vehicle.  
On soft ground, the tires dig into the surface. This reduces fording depth. Make sure that  
the ground is sufficiently firm.  
Avoid creating a bow wave in front of the vehicle while driving through water. A bow wave  
could force its way into the engine air intake duct and seriously damage the engine.  
If you even briefly exceed the maximum fording depth when driving through water, severe  
engine damage will result. This engine damage will lead to a vehicle breakdown. This can  
disable the vehicle in the water.  
Never drive over salt flats or through salt or salty water. Salt causes vehicle corrosion.  
Rinse all parts of the vehicle that were exposed to salt or salt water right away with fresh water.  
Driving over snow-covered terrain  
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS  
Install snow chains on all 4 tires before driving over snow-covered terrain.  
Snow-covered terrain may look harmless but the snow can hide many dangers. This is particularly true  
for stretches where you can't see the tracks left by other vehicles.  

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