Get Correct and safe Guide for Volkswagen Virtus 4 Door First Generation (2018-2023)

New brake pads

Correct and safe

New brake pads do not provide optimum braking

during the first 800 km – they must be worn off

first. So drive with extra care.

Introductory notes for correct

use

New tyres

New tyres do not provide optimum grip for the first

500 km. So drive with extra care.

— Read this Owner's Manual carefully to ensure that

you are using the vehicle correctly. Always keep

this Owner's Manual in the vehicle.

— When using the vehicle, always observe the gen-

erally binding legal provisions applicable in the

country of use, e.g. those for transporting chil-

dren, switching off airbags, using tyres, road traf-

fic, etc.

Regular checks

What you should be mindful of before driving?

A vehicle with technical defects can increase the risk

of accidents and injuries.

— Do not exceed the maximum permissible weights

and loads.

Repair any defects before driving. If required, seek

assistance from a specialised garage.

— Use the specified fuel and operating fluids.

Pay special attention to the following points:

— Are the tyres undamaged?

— Drive on roads that meet the vehicle technical pa-

rameters. Obstacles that exceed the vehicle's

ground clearance » page 129 can damage the ve-

hicle.

— Is the tyre tread depth sufficient?

— Is the tyre pressure sufficient?

— Take care when carrying out operational, mainte-

nance and self-assistance tasks to avoid damage

or injury. If required, seek assistance from a speci-

alised garage.

— Do the headlights, brake and turn signals work?

— Is the windscreen in good condition?

— Are the engine oil, brake fluid and coolant levels

OK?

— Work on the vehicle’s safety systems (seat belts

and airbag system) may only be carried out by

a specialist garage. This could include the seat

belts or the airbag system.

— Is the air intake in the engine compartment free

from obstruction?

— Are the air outlet nozzles and air intake in front of

the windscreen free from obstruction?

— When using accessories, follow the instructions in

the accessory manufacturer’s manual. This applies

to e.g. child seats, roof racks, compressors etc.

— Are the windscreen wiper and washer system and

windscreen wiper blades functional?

— Always observe the service intervals.

— Is the windscreen washer fluid level sufficient?

— Are the windscreen wiper blades frozen?

— Are all seat belt system components in good

working order? Are the seat belts clean and the

buckles free from obstruction?

New vehicle or new parts

New vehicle – running in the engine

— Are the spoilers undamaged?

The driving style during the first 1,500 km deter-

mines the quality of the engine run-in process.

— Are parts and components of the vehicle still visi-

bly attached?

— For the first 1,000 km load the engine to maxi-

mum 3/4 of the highest permissible engine speed

and avoid using a trailer.

— Are there oil stains or other operating fluids under

the vehicle?

— Over the next 500 km the engine speed can be

slowly increased.

Incorrect vehicle adjustments

Depending on the driving style and operating condi-

tions, the engine will consume up to 0.5 l of oil per

1,000km. Consumption may be higher over the first

5,000km.

Incorrect changes and maintenance can cause mal-

functions and affect the vehicle's safety-relevant

and other functions.

Introductory notes for correct use

13

— Adjustments, repairs and technical changes to the

vehicle should only be carried out by a specialist

garage.

When working in the engine compartment

— Keep children away from the engine compart-

ment.

— Never place additional insulation material over

the engine, e.g. a cover.

— Do not touch the radiator fan. The radiator fan

may start up automatically, even when the igni-

tion is off.

— Do not touch electrical cables. Avoid short circuits

in the electrical system, especially on the 12V ve-

hicle battery.

Sensor and camera mainte-

nance

— Do not smoke near the engine, and keep open

flames and sparks away from it.

Certain functions are supported by sensors and cam-

eras inside and outside the vehicle.

— If you are working in the engine compartment

with the engine running, beware of rotating en-

gine parts and electrical equipment.

Accessories such as bike racks installed at the rear of

the vehicle can impair the functioning of the sensors

and cameras

— Do not leave any objects in the engine compart-

ment.

— Keep the sensors and cameras for the assist sys-

tems clean and do not cover or stick anything

over them.

Handling fluids

— If you suspect that the sensors and the cameras

may be damaged, seek assistance from a special-

ist garage.

Your vehicle uses various operating fluids that can

affect health or the environment when emitted.

These are fuel, oils, acid from the 12-volt vehicle

battery, coolant and brake fluid.

Engine compartment

— Only use operating fluids outdoors or in well-ven-

tilated areas. If necessary, wear protective equip-

ment.

Before you open the bonnet

Risk of scalding! Do not open the bonnet if steam or

coolant is escaping.

— Do not use or check operating fluids with the en-

gine running.

— Stop the engine and allow it to cool.

— If the skin is stained by operating fluids, wash af-

fected areas with warm water. If necessary, seek

medical assistance.

— Remove the ignition key. On vehicles with a key-

less locking system, open the driver's door.

— Engine oil leaks can cause fire. Wipe away any

leaks using a cloth.

Explanation of the warning symbols on the sticker

in the engine compartment

— Store cloths soiled with brake fluid in a well-ven-

tilated place until disposal. Cloths with residues of

engine oil can ignite and cause a fire.

12V vehicle battery

Handling the 12V vehicle battery

The acid in the 12V vehicle battery is very caustic.

Incorrect handling of the 12V vehicle battery can

cause an explosion, fire, chemical burns or poison-

ing!

Do not touch the engine compartment

Beware of hot parts!

— When handling the 12V vehicle battery, eye and

skin protection must be worn.

Beware of rotating parts!

Risk of electric shock!

— Do not tilt the 12V vehicle battery, as it may leak

the battery acid.

Use prescribed engine oil

14

Correct and safe

— If battery acid comes into contact with skin, wash

the affected area with water for a few minutes.

Seek medical attention immediately.

— Check the seat belts, their locks and attachment

points for damage.

— Do not leave any objects in the driver's footwell.

They can get into the pedal area and restrict the

pedal control.

— Should electrolyte get into your eyes, rinse them

immediately with water. Seek medical attention

immediately.

— Always fix the floor mats securely in the driver's

pedal area.

— Do not charge a frozen or thawed 12V vehicle

battery. Replace a frozen 12V vehicle battery.

— Wear footwear that does not interfere with the

safe operation of the pedals.

— Do not use a damaged 12V vehicle battery.

— Risk of short circuit Do not connect the poles of

the 12V vehicle battery.

Sitting safely

For the safety of the occupants and to reduce the

risk of injury in the event of an accident, follow the

instructions below:

Using vehicle electrical sock-

ets

— Adjust the seat backrests to an upright position so

that the whole of your back rests on them. If the

front passenger seat backrest has been folded

forward, only the seat behind the driver's seat

may be used for transporting passengers.

Incorrect use of the sockets can lead to life-threat-

ening electric shock or fire.

— The sockets can become warm during operation.

Do not touch the sockets that have become

warm.

— Engage the rear seat backrests correctly.

— Protect the sockets from liquids.

— Adjust the height-adjustable headrest so that the

top of the headrest is as close as possible to the

top of the head.

— If fluid does enter the power socket, dry it out

completely before reusing.

— Do not insert any objects into the socket contacts.

— The headrest on the occupied rear seat should not

be in the lower position, but the upper edge of

the headrest should be at the same height as the

top of the head.

Before your journey

— Keep your feet in the footwell.

— Use the entire seat.

Adults and children, cargo and objects – everything

has its place in the vehicle. Follow the instructions

below to insure optimal occupant protection in the

event of an accident.

— Do not lean forward or sit to the side.

— Do not place any limbs out the window.

Before you set off

— Ensure that you have a good view of outside the

vehicle. Attach the navigation system or other ex-

ternal devices so that they do not obstruct your

view.

— Adjust the rear-view mirrors.

— Close all doors, the bonnet and the boot lid.

— Assume the correct sitting position, adjust the

seats correctly and fasten the seat belt properly.

Tell your fellow passengers to do the same.

— Adjust the driver's seat longitudinally so that the

pedals can be easily reached with slightly bent

legs.

— Always keep your seat belt on while driving.

— Only one person can be secured with one seat

belt.

—

Adjust the steering wheel so that the distance

A

— Make sure that the seat belts are not trapped,

e.g.in the door or in the seat.

between the steering wheel and the breastbone is

at least. 25 cm.

Using vehicle electrical sockets

15

— Adjust the angle of the backrest so that your

hands rest on the top of the steering wheel with

your arms slightly bent.

— Move the passenger seat back as far as possible.

The front passenger must maintain a distance

from the dashboard at least 25 cm.

Correct belt webbing arrange-

ment

— For pregnant women, the lap belt part must be as

low as possible on the pelvis, so that there is no

pressure on the abdomen.

The webbing arrangement is extremely important to

ensure that the seat belts offer the best possible

protection.

Correct steering wheel posi-

tion

Incorrect steering wheel position can lead to serious

injuries to the arms, hands and head if the airbag de-

ploys.

— The shoulder belt must run down the centre of

the shoulder, not across the neck.

— The shoulder belt must fit snugly against the body

and must not lead over multi-layered loose cloth-

ing.

— The lap belt part must be placed in front of the

pelvis and fit tightly.

— The webbing must not be pinched or twisted or

rub against sharp edges.

— Hold the steering wheel with both hands on the

outer edge in the “9 o'clock” and “3 o'clock” posi-

tion.

— The webbing must not pass over solid or fragile

objects under clothing, such as a key ring, etc.

— The tongue may only be inserted into the buckle

of the associated seat.

Securing children properly

— The webbing must be tight. Therefore, do not at-

tach clamps or similar items to the webbing to

adjust the seat belt according to body size.

— Do not carry a child on your lap, and do not secure

the child and yourself with one seat belt.

— Only transport children in a suitable child

seat » page 37.

Children under 150 cm tall will not be properly pro-

tected without a child seat. Children who have been

inadequately secured can be thrown through the ve-

hicle in the event of an accident or a sudden ma-

noeuvre. This can result in life-threatening injuries

to yourself and other occupants.

If children lean forward or assume an incorrect sit-

ting position during the journey, they are more likely

to be injured in the event of an accident. This is es-

16

Correct and safe

pecially true for children who are carried in the pas-

senger seat – if the airbag system triggers, they

could be seriously injured or killed.

— Stow objects so they do not hinder the driver.

Keep the driver footwell clear.

— Only use laptops or other mobile devices when

the vehicle is stationary.

Child secured in an incorrect sitting position is at

risk from the side airbag

— Stow small items in the storage compartments.

— Do not leave lockable storage compartments

open.

— Do not allow items to protrude out of compart-

ments. This does not apply to bottles in bottle

trays.

— Do not place any objects on the dash panel or on

the luggage compartment cover.

— Do not exceed the maximum permissible load of

fasteners and shelves.

— Distribute the load evenly in the luggage com-

partment and secure it so that it cannot slip.

The child should not be in the deployment area of

the side airbag.

— Place heavy objects as far forward as possible in

the luggage compartment.

Child properly secured in a child seat

Safe driving

Introductory notes

— Pay attention when you are driving. As a driver,

you are fully responsible for road safety.

— Always adjust your driving speed to the road, traf-

fic and weather conditions.

Paying attention to warning signals

There must be enough room between the child and

the deployment area of the side airbag for the side

airbag to offer the best possible protection.

The driver information system warns you with indi-

cator lights and messages in the event of any faults.

Failure to follow the warnings may increase the risk

of accidents and injuries.

— If the vehicle issues a warning signal, park the ve-

hicle safely and follow the information on the in-

strument cluster and in this Owner's Manual.

Transporting objects safely

When transporting heavy objects, the centre of

gravity of the vehicle changes, and so does the han-

dling of the vehicle.

Use assist systems

The assist systems are only for support and do not

— Adjust the driving speed and style to allow for

changed behaviour.

absolve you from your responsibility for driving safe-

ly.

Unsecured or incorrectly positioned items may be

thrown around in the event of an accident or sudden

manoeuvre. There is a risk of serious injury and loss

of control of the vehicle.

The assist systems are subject to physical and tech-

nical limitations. Therefore, in certain situations,

system reactions may be perceived as undesirable or

delayed.

In a collision at 50 km/h, unsecured objects are

thrown forward with up to fifty times their weight.

A thrown 1.5 litre water bottle can weigh up to

75 kg.

— Stay alert and be ready to intervene.

— Familiarise yourself with the assist systems, their

limitations and operating conditions.

— Activate, deactivate and adjust the assist systems

so that you have full control of the vehicle in any

traffic situation.

— Transport objects securely.

Transporting objects safely

17

Driving with a substitute spare wheel or emergency

wheel

Stop the vehicle safely

A substitute spare wheel or emergency wheel is only

used to reach the nearest specialist garage.

If the vehicle is not safely secured against moving

off, it can do so spontaneously and cause an acci-

dent.

— Inflate the wheel to the max. prescribed inflation

pressure.

— When parking, look for a place with suitable

ground. Do not park the vehicle on flammable

materials such as dried leaves or spilt fuel. Hot

vehicle parts may cause a fire.

— Follow the instructions on the warning label on

the rim.

— Do not cover the warning label.

Carry out the following activities in the specified or-

der when parking.

— Avoid full acceleration, strong braking and fast

cornering.

1. Stop the vehicle and keep the brake pedal de-

pressed.

— Do not drive with more than one spare wheel

mounted.

2. Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

— Avoid using snow chains on the temporary spare

wheel.

3. For vehicles with an automatic gearbox, place

the selector lever in the position.

Driving through water

4. Turn off the engine.

There must be no water ingress into the vehicle, e.g.

the engine intake.

5. For vehicles with manual transmission, engage

1. gear or reverse gear.

— Therefore, determine the depth before driving

through water. The water level must not exceed

the lower edge of the lower beam.

6. Release the brake pedal.

— Drive at max. walking speed. Otherwise, a wave

may form in front of the vehicle, increasing the

water level.

Exiting the vehicle

Do not leave children or other people or animals un-

attended in the vehicle.

— Never stop in the water, do not reverse or stop

the engine.

— Injuries can occur when handling seats, releasing

the parking brake etc.

Is something wrong?

— Pay attention to changes in vehicle handling.

— In emergency situations it may not be possible to

leave the vehicle or resolve the situation.

— If you have any safety concerns, stop driving and

seek assistance from a specialist garage.

— Very high or very low temperatures may pose

a danger to life.

— Unusual vibrations or the vehicle ‘pulling’ to the

side may indicate a puncture.

— If the tyre pressure loss is very sudden, try to stop

the vehicle carefully without heavy steering or

heavy braking.

Different climatic conditions

— Immediately remove foreign objects stuck in the

tyre tread.

If you wish to operate your vehicle in countries with

different climatic conditions from those specified,

contact a Volkswagen Partner. They will tell you the

following:

— Do not remove foreign objects that have penetra-

ted the tyre. Check the tyre pressure and seek as-

sistance from a specialised garage.

— Is it possible to drive the car in your country?

— Immediately remove any objects jammed under

the floor of the vehicle. These can damage the ve-

hicle or ignite and cause a fire.

— Do any measures need to be taken to ensure that

the vehicle is fully functional?

— Do any measures need to be taken to prevent

damage to the vehicle, e.g. coolant change, 12V

vehicle battery, etc.?

18

Correct and safe

After an accident

What to do after an accident

Where possible, follow the instructions below:

1. Switch off the ignition.

2. Turn on the hazard warning lights.

3. Put on the reflective vest.

4. Set up the warning triangle to warn other road

users.

5. Keep safe distance from the vehicle, along with

any passengers.

6. Report the accident to the emergency services.

7. Wait for the emergency services to arrive.

Safety systems

After an accident, the vehicle's safety systems, e.g.

seatbelts and airbag system, may be out of action.

— Have the vehicle's safety systems checked by

a specialist garage, even if no load or trip has oc-

curred.

— Have the damaged, loaded or triggered safety

system components replaced by a specialist ga-

rage.

What to do in the event of a fire

Where possible, follow the instructions below:

1. Switch off the ignition.

2. Turn on the hazard warning lights.

3. Put on the reflective vest.

4. Set up the warning triangle to warn other road

users.

5. Keep safe distance from the vehicle, along with

any passengers.

6. Report the fire to the emergency services.

7. Wait for the emergency services to arrive.

After an accident

19

Correct and safe for Your Volkswagen Virtus 4 Door First Generation (2018-2023)

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