check engine VOLKSWAGEN CC 2011 User Guide

WARNING
Moving parts in the engine compartment can cause serious
personal injury on contact.
Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan.
Contact with the blades can cause serious personal injury. Al-
ways remember that the radiator fan is temperature-controlled
and can come on suddenly even when the engine has been
switched off for a while and the key has been removed from the
ignition.
If you have to perform a check or repair when the engine is
running, there are more risks from the rotating parts, such as
the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., and from the high-
voltage ignition system. Always use extreme care.
– Always make sure that jewelry, loose clothing and long hair
do not get caught in rotating engine parts. Before starting
any work remove your jewelry, take off your necktie, tie back
and cover your hair, and do not wear clothing that can hang
down and get caught in moving engine parts.
– Always use extreme caution if the accelerator pedal has to
be depressed to perform a check. The vehicle will start to
move even if the electronic parking brake is on.
Never leave any objects in the engine compartment, for ex-
ample cleaning rags and tools. Objects left behind can cause
malfunctions, engine damage, and even fires.

WARNING
Operating fluids and some materials in the engine compartment
can catch fire easily, causing burns and other serious personal
injuries!
Never smoke near the engine compartment.
Never work next to open flames or sparks.
Never pour or spill operating fluids or other flammable liq-
uids on the engine. These fluids can ignite on hot engine parts
and cause injuries.
If work on the fuel system or the electrical system is neces-
sary:
– Always disconnect the 12 Volt vehicle battery. Make sure
the vehicle is unlocked when you disconnect the battery, or
the alarm will go off. Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system.
– Never work near heaters, water heaters, or other open
flames.
Always have a functional, approved fire extinguisher nearby.
NOTICE
When changing or topping off fluids, make sure that you pour
the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Adding the wrong type of
operating fluids will cause serious malfunctions and engine
damage.
Fluid leaks and spills are harmful to the environment. Regularly
check the ground underneath your vehicle for this reason. If you find
spots of oil or other fluids, have your vehicle checked by your author-
ized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Dispose of leaked operating fluids properly.
Display

d Shift the transmission into Park (P) (automatic) or Neutral (manual
only) ⇒  Shifting.
d Stop the engine and remove the key from the ignition switch ⇒ 
Starting and stopping the engine.
d Let the engine cool down sufficiently.
d Keep children and others away from the vehicle.
d Make sure the vehicle cannot move unexpectedly.
WARNING
Disregarding the safety-related checklist may result in serious
injuries.
Always review and follow the checklist. Follow accepted safe-
ty practices and use common sense.
Opening or closing the engine compartment

Fig. 163 In the footwell on the driver side: Inside engine hood release
lever.

WARNING
If the hood is not closed properly, it could fly up and block your
view while you are driving. This can lead to a crash and serious
personal injuries.
After closing the engine hood, check that the hood release
lever is properly latched into the hood latch. The engine hood
must be flush with the surrounding auto body parts.
If you ever notice that the hood latch is not properly secured
when the vehicle is moving, stop at once and close it.
Never let anyone get in the way of the hood when closing it.
NOTICE
Make sure the windshield wipers are switched off and the
windshield wiper arms are resting on the windshield before you
open the hood. Otherwise, the windshield wipers and the hood
may be damaged.
Always put the windshield wiper arms down against the wind-
shield before driving the vehicle.
NOTICE
Before opening or closing the engine hood, make sure there is
enough room to do so, for example when the vehicle is in a gar-
age.

Checking the engine oil level and adding oil

Fig. 165 Oil dipstick with engine oil level marks.

Fig. 166 In the engine compartment: Engine oil filler cap.

If the indicator in the engine coolant temperature gauge is located in
the cold range (A), the engine has not reached operating tempera-
ture. High engine speeds and heavy engine loads should be avoided.
Under normal driving conditions, the needle should be in the middle
of the gauge. The temperature may go higher when the engine is
working hard, especially in hot weather.
When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights
come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds.
The following table explains what to do if the engine coolant tempera-
ture warning light ~ does not go out a few seconds after the engine
is started or starts flashing while driving.

Flashes
Temperature
gauge
needle
⇒ fig. 167
Possible
cause Proper response

Flashes
Temperature
gauge
needle
⇒ fig. 167
Possible
cause Proper response
(B)
Normal range
Engine coolant
level too low.
Check the engine coolant
level after the engine has
cooled down and add en-
gine coolant if low.
If the engine coolant level
is correct or the problem
continues after adding
coolant, do not drive any
farther. Contact an au-
thorized Volkswagen deal-
er or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facili-
ty.
These instructions apply
only when the coolant
temperature stays in the
normal range. Stop imme-
diately if the needle goes
into the red warning zone
(C).
–
Engine coolant
system
malfunction.

When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights
come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds.
WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text mes-
sages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result
in a collision and serious personal injury.
Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in
vehicle damage.
Engine coolant specifications

Checking engine coolant level and topping off

Fig. 168 Coolant expansion tank in the engine compartment.

Fig. 169 Coolant expansion tank cap in the engine compartment.

Checking engine coolant level
When the engine is cold, check the engine coolant level relative to
the marking on the side of the expansion tank ⇒ fig. 168.
If the coolant level in the tank is below the minimum mark (“min”),
add coolant. When the engine is warm, the engine coolant level may
be slightly above the upper edge of the marked range.
Adding engine coolant
Always protect face, hands and arms from hot escaping coolant or
steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
Carefully unscrew the cap ⇒ .
Add only new engine coolant according to Volkswagen specifica-
tions (⇒ Engine coolant specifications) ⇒ .
The engine coolant level must be inside the marks on the side of
the reservoir ⇒ fig. 168. Do not fill above the top edge of the filling
range! ⇒ 
Screw the lid tightly.
Even in an emergency, do not use any other kind of coolant addi-
tive if engine coolant meeting Volkswagen specifications (⇒ page 456,
Engine coolant specifications) is unavailable! Instead, add distilled
water only ⇒ . As soon as possible, have the correct coolant ratio
restored using engine coolant that meets Volkswagen specifications
⇒  Engine coolant specifications.