air condition VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2012 Owners Manual

d Properly fasten your safety belt before driving the vehicle and wear your safety belt properly at all
times while driving. Make sure that all passengers do the same.
d Only transport as many passengers as there are seats and safety belts available.
d Never drive if your driving ability has been impaired, for example by medication, alcohol or illegal
drugs.
d Never let passengers or phone calls distract you while driving, and never take your attention off the
road while using vehicle software or adjusting vehicle equipment or accessories.
d Always adapt your speed and driving style to visibility, weather, road, and traffic conditions.
d Always obey traffic laws and speed limits.
d On long 42)0s make frequent rest stops – at least once every 2 hours.
d Secure animals in the vehicle with a system that corresponds to weight and size.
WARNING
Always observe traffic rules and posted speed limits and use common sense. Your good
judgment can mean the difference between arriving safely at your destination and being seri-
ously injured in a crash or other kind of accident.
Regular service and maintenance of your vehicle is important both for operational and driving
safety and to help prolong your vehicle's service life. Always follow the scheduled maintenance inter-
vals in the ⇒ Booklet Warranty and Maintenance, especially for changing the brake fluid. Hard use,
frequent stop-and-go driving, driving in very dusty areas, and other factors may make it necessary to
have the vehicle serviced more frequently. Ask an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility for more information.
Driving in other countries

Function Action for seat heating ⇒fig.38
Switch on: Press the A or e button. Seat heating is switched
on to maximum.
Adjust the heating
level:
Press the A or e button repeatedly until the desired
heating level is set.
Switch off: Press the A or e button repeatedly until all indicator
lights in the button are off.

Special seat heating features
On the driver and the passenger side, the seat heating will resume at the setting that was set when the
ignition was switched off. However, this feature only works if the key is not taken out of the ignition
switch, or, for vehicles with Keyless Access, the driver door is not opened or the vehicle is not locked.
People suffering from a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain as from medica-
tion, paralysis, or chronic illness (e.g. diabetes) should NEVER use the seat heating feature ⇒ !
The use of seat heating by persons with these conditions could result in burns to the back, buttocks,
and legs that may take a long time to heal and may never heal completely. If you have any of these
conditions, you should take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly on long trips. Consult
your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.
WARNING
Certain medical conditions, such as paralysis and diabetes, and certain medications can
increase the risk of serious burns when the seat heating feature is switched on.
x Vehicle occupants who have a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain
can receive serious burns to the back, buttocks, and legs that take a long time to heal or may
never heal completely.
x Never use the seat heating feature if you or your passengers are at risk of being burned
because of a medical condition. Take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly
on long trips. Consult your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.
x Never let exposed skin remain in contact with the seat upholstery when the seat heating is
being used.
WARNING
A wet seat can cause the seat heating to malfunction and increase the risk of serious burns.
x Always make sure the seats are dry before using the seat heating.
x Never sit on the seat with wet clothes.
x Never put damp or wet things including clothes on the seat.
x Never spill liquids on the seats.
NOTICE
x To help prevent damage to electrical and other parts in the seat, do not kneel on the front
seats or apply concentrated pressure to a small area of the seat or backrest.
x Liquids, sharp objects and things that do not let the heat in the seat escape into the air,
including, for example, a child restraint, a blanket, or seat covers on the seat can damage seat
heating.

Brake system malfunction
If you brake and find that the vehicle doesn't brake nearly as well as it used to (sudden increase in
stopping distance), a brake circuit may have failed. The brake warning light H or "2!+% will come on
and a message may appear in the instrument cluster display. If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive,
immediately take it to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service
Facility for repair. Drive slowly and very carefully, allow for the longer stopping distance, and be ready
to push longer and harder on the brake pedal to slow the vehicle down.
Brake booster
The brake booster works only when the engine is running. It increases the force on the brakes above
and beyond the pressure put on the brake pedal by the driver.
If the brake booster is not working, or if the vehicle has to be towed, you will have to push the brake
pedal harder to make up for the lack of booster assistance and the resulting longer stopping distance
⇒ .
WARNING
New brake pads do not provide maximum braking performance.
x New brake pads do not have the best stopping power for the first 200 miles (320 km) and
must be “broken in.” You can compensate for the slightly reduced braking force by putting
more pressure on the brake pedal.
x Drive with extra care while the new brake pads are being broken in. This reduces the risk
of collisions and serious personal injuries due to a loss of control over the vehicle.
x Never follow other vehicles too closely or put yourself into other situations that might
require sudden, hard braking, especially when the brake pads have not been broken in.
WARNING
Overheated brakes will reduce the vehicle's stopping power and increase stopping distances
considerably.
x When driving downhill, the brakes have to work especially hard and heat up quickly.
x Before driving downhill, especially on hills that are long or steep, always reduce speed
and shift into lower gear (manual or automatic transmission). This will let the vehicle use
engine braking and reduce the load on the brakes. Otherwise, the brake system could
overheat and possibly fail. Only use the brakes when you need them to slow the vehicle down
more or to stop.
x A damaged front spoiler or a non-standard spoiler can reduce airflow to the brakes and
make them overheat.
WARNING
Wet brakes or brakes coated with ice or road salt react slower and need longer stopping
distances.
x Carefully apply the brakes to test them.
x Always dry brakes and clean off ice and salt coatings with a few cautious brake
applications when visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit.

Calm and smooth driving
Consistency is more important than speed. The more smoothly you drive, the less fuel the vehicle
consumes.
When driving on the highway or freeway, a constant, moderate speed is more efficient and economical
than constantly accelerating and braking. Usually you can reach your destination just as quickly by
driving at a moderate, but steady speed.
The cruise control system can assist in maintaining a uniform driving style.
Moderate use of extra electrical loads
Comfort inside the vehicle is nice and important, but it is important to use them in an environmentally
conscious manner.
Some devices can increase fuel consumption when activated (examples):
x Climate control system (air conditioner): If the air conditioner has to produce starkly contrasting
temperatures, it requires a large amount of energy, which is generated by the engine. The temperature
in the vehicle should therefore not be extremely different from that of the outside temperature. It may
be helpful to ventilate the vehicle before driving and then to drive a short distance with the windows
open. After that, switch on the air conditioner with the windows closed. Keep the windows closed when
driving at high speeds. Open windows increase fuel consumption.
x Switch off seat heating once it has served its purpose.
x Switch off the rear window defroster as soon as the windows are free of fog and ice.
Additional factors that increase fuel consumption (examples):
x Malfunctioning engine control.
x Driving in the mountains.
NOTICE
Never let the vehicle coast or roll down a hill in Neutral (N), especially when the engine is not
running. The transmission will not be lubricated and will be damaged.
Fuel-efficient driving

Fig. 105 Fuel consumption in mpg at 2 different outside air temperatures.

Heating and air conditioning

WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces driver alertness, which can cause accidents,
collisions and serious personal injury.
x Never switch off the fan for a long period of time and never use air recirculation for a long
period of time because no fresh air will enter the passenger compartment.
NOTICE
x If you think the air conditioner is not working properly or may be damaged, switch it off to
help prevent more damage. Have the air conditioner checked by an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Air conditioner repair requires specialized knowledge and special tools. Volkswagen
recommends that you see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility.
x Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on. Smoke drawn into the ventilation
system can leave residue on the evaporator and on the dust and pollen active carbon filter,
resulting in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.
If the air conditioner is switched off, the fresh outside air will not be dehumidified. To help keep
the windows from fogging over, Volkswagen recommends leaving the air conditioner (compressor)
switched on. Press the !

Buttons, knobs More information: Manual AC ⇒fig. 109
Switching off. Turn fan switch to position 0.

WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces alertness, which can cause accidents, collisions,
and serious personal injury.
x Never switch off the fan for a long time because no fresh air will enter the passenger
compartment.
Air conditioner operation

Special considerations
When it is very hot and humid outside, water condensation can drip from the air conditioner
evaporator and form a puddle under the vehicle. This is normal and does not indicate a leak.
The climate control system adjusts the passenger compartment temperature as fast as possible
considering the outside temperature.
Due to residual moisture in the air conditioner, the windshield may fog up after the engine is
started. Switch on the windshield defroster to help evaporate the condensation as quickly as possible.
The air coming out of the vents flows through the passenger compartment and out through the
vents under the rear window. Do not cover these slots with clothing or other things.
Air vents

Fig. 110 In the instrument panel: Air vents.

Cold tire inflation pressure
The tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for a tire of a specified size that has not
been driven for more than a couple of miles (kilometers) at low speeds in the 3 hour period before the
tire pressure is measured or adjusted.
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, air conditioner, and additional weight of optional equipment.
Extra load tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pressures than the corresponding
standard tire.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The load-carrying capacity of a single axle system, measured where the tire contacts the ground.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The maximum loaded weight of the vehicle.
Groove
The space between 2 adjacent tread ribs.
Load rating (code)
The maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given inflation pressure. You may not find this
information on all tires because it is not required by law.
Maximum load rating
The load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible inflation pressure for that tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The total of:
x Curb weight.
x Accessory weight.
x Vehicle capacity weight.
x Production options weight.
Maximum (permissible) inflation pressure
The maximum cold inflation pressure to which a tire may be inflated. Also called “maximum inflation
pressure.”
Normal occupant weight
Means 150 lbs (68 kilograms) times the number of occupants seated in the vehicle up to the total
seating capacity of your vehicle.
Occupant distribution
The placement of passengers in a vehicle.
Outer diameter
The diameter of a new, properly inflated tire.
Overall width
Total width measured at the exterior sidewalls of an inflated tire, including the additional width of
labeling, decorations, or protective bands or ribs.