Get Starting and driving Guide for Volkswagen Virtus 4 Door First Generation (2018-2023)

On vehicles with automatic gearbox, the key can on-

ly be removed from the ignition switch when the se-

lector lever is in the position.

Starting and driving

Starting with the key

Notes on starting

WARNING

Steering lock hazard!

If the vehicle is moving with the engine off, e.g.

when towing, switch on the ignition.

·

DANGER

Danger of poisoning by exhaust gases!

NOTICE

Do not run the engine in an enclosed space.

·

Risk of engine overheating!

Key positions in the ignition switch

Do not switch the engine off immediately at the

·

end of your journey after the engine has been

running at high loads. Leave it to run at an idling

speed for about 1 minute.

Start at the push of a button

Notes on starting

DANGER

1

2

3

Danger of poisoning by exhaust gases!

Ignition off

Ignition on

Do not run the engine in an enclosed space.

·

Starting the engine

Operating conditions:

Starting a vehicle with manual gearbox

1. Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

2. Move the gear lever to the neutral position.

3. Keep the clutch pedal depressed.

✓

Vehicle key is inside the vehicle.

NOTICE

Risk of key loss, possibly of key damage!

4.

Turn the key to position 3 .

The system can detect the key even if it has been

forgotten on the vehicle roof.

5. Release the key.

Always keep the key with you.

·

Starting a vehicle with automatic gearbox

1. Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

2. Keep the brake pedal depressed.

Switching the ignition on and off

3. Move the selector lever to position or

4.

.

Turn the key to position 3 .

5. Release the key.

— Press the starter button.

CAUTION

Danger of unexpected vehicle movement!

Starting a vehicle with manual gearbox

1. Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

2. Move the gear lever to the neutral position.

3. Keep the clutch pedal depressed.

4. Press the starter button.

At temperatures below -10°C, start the vehicle

with the selector lever in the position.

·

Stopping the engine

1. Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

2.

Turn the key to position 1 .

84

Starting and driving

Starting a vehicle with automatic gearbox

1. Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

2. Keep the brake pedal depressed.

2. If the engine does not start, seek assistance

from a specialist garage.

The key cannot be turned in the ignition

3. Move the selector lever to position or

4. Press the starter button.

.

— Move the steering wheel back and forth while

turning the key.

Starting is not possible with the starter button, the

system did not detect the key

CAUTION

Danger of unexpected vehicle movement!

illuminated

At temperatures below -10°C, start the vehicle

with the selector lever in the position.

·

Stopping the engine

1. Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

2. Press the starter button.

WARNING

Steering lock hazard!

If the vehicle is moving with the engine off, e.g.

when towing, switch on the ignition.

·

NOTICE

1. Put the key on the plastic cover under the right

control lever.

Risk of engine overheating!

2. Press the starter button.

Do not switch the engine off immediately at the

·

end of your journey after the engine has been

running at high loads. Leave it to run at an idling

speed for about 1 minute.

3. If the engine does not start, seek assistance

from a specialist garage.

The key might not be detected if the battery

in the key is nearly discharged or the signal is

faulty.

Starting issues

The engine cannot be turned off with the starter

button

Troubleshooting

— Hold the starter button or press it twice.

NOTICE

The radiator fan keeps running even after the en-

gine has stopped

Risk of damage to the engine

The radiator fan may continue to run for approxi-

mately 10 minutes after the engine stops. This is not

a fault.

Do not start the vehicle by towing.

·

The engine does not start

The engine makes noises after a cold start

1. Switch off the ignition.

The increased running noise is due to the briefly in-

creased engine speed. This is not a fault.

2. Wait 30 seconds and repeat the starting proce-

dure.

3. If the engine does not start, use the jump start

leads with the 12V vehicle battery of another

vehicle » page 107 or seek assistance from

a specialist garage.

START STOP

The engine does not start, the screen shows a mes-

sage about the immobiliser

Use

The START-STOP system reduces the CO₂emissions

and saves fuel.

1. Use the other vehicle key.

Starting issues

85

When the system is deactivated, the symbol in the

button illuminates.

Functionality

If a system-related engine switch-off occurs and the

system is deactivated, the engine will start.

If the system determines that the engine is not nee-

ded when the vehicle stops, it turns off the engine

and starts it again when moving off.

Vehicle with manual transmission

Troubleshooting

A system-related engine switch-off occurs when

stopping, when the gear lever is moved into the

neutral position, and when the clutch pedal is re-

leased.

The engine does not switch off when stopping, or it

starts before starting up

The system has detected that the engine is running.

A system-related engine start occurs when the

clutch pedal is depressed.

Vehicle with automatic transmission

Manual gearbox

A system-related engine switch-off occurs when the

brake pedal is depressed and the engine is stopped.

Operation

A system-related engine start takes place when the

brake pedal is released.

NOTICE

Status display on the instrument cluster display

Risk of damage to the engine

– the engine is switched by the START-STOP

system.

Shift into a higher gear before reaching the red

area of the rev counter scale.

·

– the engine is not switched off by the

START-STOP system because the operating

conditions have not been met.

NOTICE

Risk of damage to the gearbox

Depress the clutch pedal fully.

·

Remove your hand from the gear lever once you

have changed gear.

Operating conditions

Engaging reverse gear

Some conditions are systemic and can neither be in-

fluenced nor recognised. Some conditions are deter-

mined by the state of the car's systems and cannot

be influenced or recognized. Therefore, the system

may react differently in situations which seem iden-

tical from the driver's perspective.

1. Stop the vehicle.

2. Depress the clutch pedal fully.

3. Move the gear lever to the neutral position.

4. Push the gear lever down.

5. Move it fully to the left.

6. Wait for a moment.

The driver must fulfil the following conditions:

✓

The driver's door is closed.

7. Engage reverse gear.

The driver has fastened the seat belt.

The driving speed was more than 4 km/h after

the last stop.

Settings

Automatic activation

— Upon start-up of engine.

Deactivating/activating the system

— Press the button.

86

Starting and driving

WARNING

Automatic gearbox

Risk of the vehicle moving forwards without warn-

ing.

Lever positions

With the selector lever in the

or in manual shift mode, secure the vehicle with

the brake.

or position,

·

Operation

Starting up

1. Keep the brake pedal depressed.

2. Start the engine.

3. Press the button on the selector lever and set it

to the desired position.

Parked vehicle

4. Release the brake pedal and gently depress the

accelerator pedal

The drive wheels are locked.

The position can only be set when the vehicle

is stationary.

Maximum acceleration when driving (Kick-down)

Reverse gear

— Depress the accelerator pedal fully.

The position can only be set when the vehicle

is stationary.

Stopping temporarily (e.g. at a junction)

Neutral

— Leave the selector lever in the

position and

secure the vehicle with the brake pedal.

There is no transmission of engine power to the

wheels.

Stopping

Forward drive/sports program

1. Keep the brake pedal depressed.

The gear is changed automatically.

2. Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

In the mode, the gear is changed at higher

speeds than in the mode.

3. Press the button on the selector lever and set it

to the position.

Choosing between and (sprung position)

4. Turn off the engine.

Moving the selector lever out of the or position

Driving in neutral

If the system detects that no gear is engaged while

driving, it automatically switches to the neutral po-

sition.

lights up – the selector lever is locked

Requirements for driving in neutral:

✓

mode is selected.

Neither the accelerator nor the brake pedal is

depressed.

✓

The driving speed is 20 – 130 km/h.

Manually changing gear with the selector lever

— To turn on, place the selector lever in the

po-

sition to the right.

— Depress the brake while pressing the button on

the selector lever.

— To turn off, place the selector lever back to the

position.

Automatic gearbox

87

illuminates together with

Message indicating gearbox overheating

— You may continue driving, exercising appropriate

caution.

illuminates together with

Or:

illuminates together with

Message indicating gearbox overheating

1. Do not continue driving! Stop the vehicle and

turn off the engine.

+

–

Change up a gear

Change down a gear

2. After the indicator light goes out, your journey

can continue.

Manually changing gear with the shift paddles on

the steering wheel

3. If the warning light does not go out, stop driv-

ing. Seek assistance from a specialist garage.

Gearbox malfunction

illuminates together with

Or:

illuminates together with

Message indicating gearbox in emergency

mode

1. You may continue driving, exercising appropri-

ate caution.

–

+

Change down a gear

Change up a gear

2. Seek assistance from a specialist garage as soon

as possible.

—

–

+

To turn on, press the

button, or

button.

.

illuminates together with

Or:

+

To turn off, hold the

If no button is used for certain time, manual shift

mode is deactivated automatically.

illuminates together with

Message indicating a gearbox malfunction

If there is a risk of over-revving

— The gearbox automatically changes up a gear.

— The transmission prevents downshifting.

— Do not continue driving! Seek assistance from

a specialist garage.

Recovering a stranded vehicle

1. If possible, remove the obstacle, e.g. snow.

Troubleshooting

2. Put underneath the wheels of the driven axle

e.g. rubber mats.

The selector lever cannot be moved out of the po-

sition in the usual way.

3. At low engine speed, move the selector lever

smoothly between

and . The vehicle will

— Manually unblock the selector lever » page 89.

start to rock and be easier to free.

Gearbox overheated

illuminates together with

Or:

88

Starting and driving

Manually releasing an automatic

gearbox.

Towing eye and towing proce-

dure

✓

Secure the vehicle with the parking brake.

Conditions for towing

The towed vehicle must meet the following condi-

tions:

✓

Technical condition of the vehicle allows tow-

ing.

✓

The ignition of the towed vehicle is switched on.

The gear lever or selector lever of the vehicle is

in position.

1. Insert a flat-head screwdriver or a similar tool

into the gap at the arrow.

Limitations

2. Carefully release and lift the gear shift cover.

— Towing speed max. 50 km/h

— Towing distance max. 50 km

3. Push the foam insert away until the yellow re-

lease lever is visible.

4. Using the vehicle key, press the release lever

while pressing the button in the selector lever.

Towing eye

5. Place the selector lever in the position.

Removing the front cap

Economical driving style

Tips for economical driving

— Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.

— Follow the gear changing recommendation on the

instrument cluster display.

— Avoid full acceleration and excessive speeds.

— Do not allow the engine to idle for long periods.

— Press on the cap and remove it.

— Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is

stationary. If possible, start your journey as soon

as the engine starts.

Removing the rear cap

— Observe the prescribed tyre pressure » page 116.

— Remove unnecessary ballast.

— Switch on electric consumers only for as long as

necessary.

— Do not leave the windows open while driving.

— Press on the cap and remove it.

Economical driving style

89

Installing the towing eye

Braided rope / coiled rope

NOTICE

1. Screw in the towing eye.

2. Insert the wheel wrench or similar object

through the towing eye.

Always keep the tow rope taut while towing.

·

NOTICE

3. Tighten the towing eye.

Risk of damage to the gearbox

After towing

If the gearbox no longer contains oil, the vehicle

·

1. Unscrew the towing eye.

2. Insert the cover cap.

must only be towed with the front axle raised

clear of the ground or transported on a special

breakdown vehicle.

Vehicles with an automatic transmission must not

be towed without the ignition switched on or

with the rear axle raised.

·

Towing the vehicle

When towing, observe the country-specific legal

regulations.

Where should the tow rope or the tow bar be se-

cured?

Towing takes practice. Both drivers should be famili-

ar with the specifics of the towing process.

— On the front towing eye

— On the rear towing eye

WARNING

Information for the driver of the towing vehicle

1. Drive slowly and smoothly.

When the engine is off, the brake booster and the

power steering do not operate. When the ignition

is off the steering wheel can be locked.

2. Only accelerate once the rope is taut.

If the engine cannot be started,switch on the

ignition.

·

Information for the driver of the towed vehicle

— Move the gear lever to neutral or the selector lev-

er to the position.

WARNING

The tow rope must not be twisted.

·

Use a braided synthetic fibre rope for towing.

Do not use a twisted tow rope.

Brakes

What you should be mindful of

WARNING

Problems and faults with the brake system can ex-

tend the braking distance of the vehicle!

DANGER

Danger of a functional restriction of the brake

booster!

90

Starting and driving

When braking in a vehicle with manual trans-

mission, when the vehicle is in gear and at low

revs, depress the clutch pedal.

Specification

·

The brake fluid must comply with the VW 501 14

standard. This standard meets the requirements of

the FMVSS 116 DOT4 standard.

DANGER

Replacing

Risk of the brakes overheating!

Have the brake fluid changed by a specialist garage.

Do not depress the brake pedal unless braking is

required.

·

WARNING

If the original front spoiler is damaged, ensure

the air supply to the front brakes is guaranteed.

·

Risk of brake failure!

If the brake fluid replacement interval is exceeded,

heavy braking may cause vapour bubbles to form

in the brake system.

Checking the brake fluid level

Test conditions

Troubleshooting

✓

Vehicle on a flat surface

Engine off

Brake fluid level too low

illuminated

Checking

— Do not continue driving! Seek assistance

from a specialist garage.

Brake system and anti-lock braking system fault

illuminates together with

— Do not continue driving! Seek assistance

from a specialist garage.

Reduced braking effect

Damp, frozen, salt-affected or corroded brakes can

impair braking.

— Clean the brakes by braking several times if traffic

conditions allow it.

The fill level must be within the marked range.

1. If the level is below the

ue.

mark, do not contin-

The brake booster does not work when the engine is

off

2. Do not refill.

— Depress the brake pedal more forcefully.

3. Seek assistance from a specialist garage.

Low brake fluid is indicated by the instrument clus-

ter illuminating . However, we recommend that

you regularly check the brake fluid level in the reser-

voir.

Handbrake

Operation

WARNING

Risk of brake failure!

WARNING

If the fluid level falls significantly within a short

time or drops below the

mark, there may be

Risk of accident!

a leak in the brake system.

If the parking brake is not properly released, the

braking system will not function properly.

Do not continue driving! Seek assistance from

a specialist garage.

·

Release the parking brake fully before driving.

·

Handbrake

91

Securing

Driver Assist systems

Braking and stabilising sys-

tems

Overview

— Pull the lever up to the stop position.

illuminates.

Stabilisation control (ESC)

ESC helps stabilise the vehicle in borderline situa-

tions (e.g. when the vehicle starts to skid). ESC

brakes the individual wheels to maintain the direc-

tion of travel.

Releasing

1. Pull the lever up a little and push in the lock

button.

2. Press and hold the lock button and lower the

lever fully.

flashes – ESC is engaged

Traction control (ASR)

ASR helps stabilise the vehicle when accelerating or

driving on low-grip roads. ASR reduces the drive

power transmitted to the wheels when they start

spinning.

flashes – ASR is engaged

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

ABS helps maintain control of the vehicle during

emergency braking. An ABS intervention is signalled

by pulsating movements of the brake pedal.

Motor Slip Regulation (MSR)

MSR helps maintain control of the vehicle in the

event of a sudden reduction in speed, e.g. on icy

roads. If the wheels on the driven axle lock, MSR in-

creases the engine speed. This reduces the engine

braking effect and the wheels can rotate freely

again.

Electronic Differential Lock (EDS)

EDS helps stabilise the vehicle when driving on road

surfaces with varying grip under the individual

wheels. EDS brakes the spinning wheel and trans-

mits power to a different drive wheel.

Electronic Differential Lock (XDS+)

XDS+ helps keep the vehicle turning by effectively

braking the wheels on the inside of the turn.

Hill Hold Control (HHC)

The HHC system helps with hill starts by braking the

vehicle for approximately 2 seconds after the brake

pedal is released.

Operating conditions:

✓

The gradient is at least 5 %.

92

Driver Assist systems

Starting and driving for Your Volkswagen Virtus 4 Door First Generation (2018-2023)

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