automatic transmission VOLKSWAGEN CC 2009 User Guide

Fig. 141 Automatic transmission selector lever with shift lever release
button (arrow).

Selector
lever
position
Designation Meaning ⇒ 
. Neutral Transmission is in Neutral position. No
power is transmitted to the wheels and no
engine braking is available.
$ Drive
(standard
driving
position)
All forward gears shift up and down auto-
matically. The transmission shifts as need-
ed depending on engine load, individual
driving style, and vehicle speed.
3 Sport Drive
(sport driving
position)
All forward gears automatically upshift later
and downshift earlier than in the D (Drive)
position, to take full advantage of the en-
gine's power reserves. The transmission
shifts as needed depending on engine
load, individual driving style, and vehicle
speed.

Automatic Shift Lock (ASL)
The Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) in Park (P) and Neutral (N) prevents
drive positions from being engaged inadvertently, which would cause
the vehicle to move.
To release the ASL, depress and hold the brake pedal with the igni-
tion switched on. Press the release button on the selector lever at the
same time.
The ASL is not engaged if the selector lever is moved quickly through
Neutral (N) (e.g., when shifting from Reverse (R) to Drive (D)). This
makes it possible to “rock” the vehicle backwards and forwards if it is
stuck in snow or mud. The ASL engages automatically if the brake
pedal is not depressed and the lever is in Neutral (N) for more than
about 1 second and the vehicle is traveling no faster than about
3 mph (5 km/h).
In rare cases, the ASL may not engage on vehicles with DSG® Direct
Shift Gearbox. If this happens, power to the drive wheels will be inter-
rupted to prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly. The green

indicator light K will blink and a text message will be displayed. To
engage the Automatic Shift Lock (ASL):
On 6-speed transmissions: Depress and then release the brake
pedal. Try to engage the ASL again.
On 7-speed transmissions: First shift into Park (P) or Neutral (N),
and then shift to a drive position.
WARNING
Moving the selector lever to the wrong position can cause loss
of vehicle control, a collision, and serious personal injury.
Never accelerate when moving the selector lever.
When the engine is running and a drive position is engaged,
the vehicle will start to move as soon as the brake pedal is re-
leased.
Never shift into Reverse or Park when the vehicle is moving.
WARNING
Unintended vehicle movement can cause serious personal inju-
ry.
Never get out of the driver's seat while the engine is running,
especially when the transmission is in a drive gear. If you must
leave your vehicle while the engine is running, always set the
electronic parking brake and shift the transmission into Park
(P).
Never leave the vehicle in Neutral (N). It will roll down hills,
whether the engine is running or not.
When the engine is running and a drive gear - Drive (D), Sport
Drive (S), or Reverse (R) - has been selected, press and hold
the brake pedal to keep the vehicle from moving. The vehicle
may “creep” and move forward or backward even if the engine
is idling slowly.
Never shift into Reverse (R) or Park (P) when the vehicle is
moving.

NOTICE
During acceleration, the transmission will shift automatically
into the next higher gear before reaching maximum engine
speed (rpm).
If you use Tiptronic to shift into a lower gear, the transmission
will downshift only when doing so will not over-rev the engine.
Driving with automatic transmission

With kick-down actuated, the transmission will stay in the current gear
longer and not upshift until the engine reaches maximum rpm.
WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause skidding and loss of traction, es-
pecially on slippery roads, resulting in a loss of vehicle control,
collisions, and serious personal injury.
Only use the kick-down feature or fast acceleration if visibil-
ity, weather, road, and traffic conditions permit and other driv-
ers will not be endangered by your driving and the vehicle's ac-
celeration.
Always adapt your driving to the traffic flow.
Note that the drive wheels can spin and the vehicle can
swerve when ASR is switched off, especially when the road is
slippery.
Once you have accelerated, switch ASR back on again.
NOTICE
When stopping on hills with the transmission in a drive gear,
do not use the accelerator to help prevent the vehicle from roll-
ing backwards. This can cause the automatic transmission to
overheat and be damaged.
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.
Automatic transmission malfunction

gency shift program lets you drive the vehicle, but at a reduced speed
and without being able to use all of the forward gears.
In some cases, vehicles with a DSG® Direct Shift Gearbox automatic
transmission may not be able to shift into reverse. It is then impos-
sible to drive the vehicle backwards.
In any event, have the automatic transmission checked by an author-
ized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Overheating of Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG®) automatic
transmission
The DSG® automatic transmission may overheat, for example, due to
frequent starts, extended “creeping,” or stop-and-go traffic. Overheat-
ing is indicated by the warning light

clutch pedal all the way down before you start driving so the system
recognizes that the parking brake should be released.
Emergency braking function
Only use the emergency braking function in an emergency, when you
cannot stop the vehicle using the brake pedal ⇒ !
Pull and hold the button ⇒ fig. 144 to brake the vehicle hard. An
audio warning signal will sound at the same time.
To stop the braking maneuver, release the button or press the ac-
celerator pedal.
WARNING
Improper use of the electronic parking brake can cause acci-
dents and severe injuries.
Never use the parking brake to slow down the vehicle when it
is moving, except in an emergency. Braking distance is much
longer, since only the rear wheels are braked. Always use the
foot brake.
Never press the accelerator pedal when a selector lever posi-
tion or gear is engaged and the engine is running. The vehicle
could begin moving, even if the electronic parking brake is set.
Never activate the throttle manually from the engine com-
partment when the engine is running and the automatic trans-
mission is in gear. The vehicle will start to move even if the
parking brake is engaged.
NOTICE
Even though the transmission is in Park (P), the vehicle may
move a couple of inches (a few centimeters) forwards or back-
wards if you take your foot off the brake pedal after stopping the
vehicle without first firmly setting the parking brake.
Vehicles with manual transmission: the electronic parking brake
releases automatically when you release the clutch pedal and press
the accelerator pedal at the same time.

Brake booster
The brake booster works only when the engine is running. It increas-
es 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.
New brake pads do not have the best stopping power for the
first 200 miles (320 km) and must be “broken in.” You can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by putting more
pressure on the brake pedal.
Drive with extra care while the new brake pads are being bro-
ken in. This reduces the risk of collisions and serious personal
injuries due to a loss of control over the vehicle.
Never follow other vehicles too closely or put yourself into
other situations that might require sudden, hard braking, espe-
cially when the brake pads have not been broken in.
WARNING
Overheated brakes will reduce the vehicle's stopping power
and increase stopping distances considerably.
When driving downhill, the brakes have to work especially
hard and heat up quickly.
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.
A damaged front spoiler or a non-standard spoiler can re-
duce 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.
Carefully apply the brakes to test them.
Always dry brakes and clean off ice and salt coatings with a
few cautious brake applications when visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions permit.
WARNING
Driving when the brake booster is not working increases stop-
ping distances and can cause accidents and serious personal
injuries.
Never let the vehicle coast when the engine is switched off.
If the brake booster is not working (such as when the vehicle
is being towed), a lot more pedal force is needed to slow down
and stop.
NOTICE
Never “ride” the brakes by keeping your foot on the brake pe-
dal when you do not want to brake. Constant pressure on the
brake pedal can make the brakes overheat. Riding the brakes
will substantially reduce braking performance, increase stopping
distance, and can cause complete brake system failure.
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.
When the front brakes are serviced, you should have the rear
brake pads inspected at the same time. The wear of all brake pads
should be visually checked regularly. The best way to check for brake
pad wear is to have your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility visually inspect the pads through the

Step Manual transmission Automatic transmission
1. Hold the stopped vehicle on an incline with the foot or parking
brake.
2. The engine must be running “smoothly.”
3. A manual transmission vehicle
must be in 1st gear (1) if
headed up a hill or in Reverse
(R) if backing up a hill; you
must hold the clutch down and
the foot brake must be de-
pressed to keep the vehicle
from moving.
An automatic transmission
vehicle must be in Reverse
(R), Drive (D), or Sport Drive
(S) and the foot brake must be
depressed to keep the vehicle
from moving.
4. To drive off, take your foot off
the brake pedal as you let the
clutch out and gently depress
the accelerator within
2 seconds.
To drive off, take your foot off
the brake pedal and gently
depress the accelerator within
2 seconds.

Hill Hold is immediately deactivated:
If any requirement listed in the table above is no longer met.
If the engine is not running smoothly or the engine malfunctions.
If the engine stalls or is switched off.
Automatic transmission vehicles: If the transmission is in Neutral
(N).
Automatic transmission vehicles: If a tire does not have enough
road contact (such as when the vehicle is tipped or at an angle).