brake pads VOLKSWAGEN CC 2012 Owners Manual

Lights
up
Possible cause or
meaning ⇒  Proper response
Together with ABS indica-
tor light J or !"3: ABS fail-
ure.
See an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an au-
thorized Volkswagen Service
Facility.
The vehicle brakes will work
without ABS.
"2!+%
7%!2
Brake pads worn.
If you believe that it is safe to
do so, immediately take the
vehicle to an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or author-
ized Volkswagen Service Fa-
cility. Check, and if necessary
replace, all brake pads.
I

WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious per-
sonal injury.
If the brake warning light "2!+% or H does not go out, or
comes on when driving, either the brake fluid level in the reser-
voir is too low or there is a fault in the brake system. Stop the
vehicle as soon as you can do so safely and get expert assis-
tance ⇒  Brake fluid.
If the brake warning light "2!+% or H comes on at the same
time as the ABS warning light !"3 or J, the ABS may not be
working properly. This could cause the rear wheels to lock up
relatively quickly during braking. Rear wheel brake lock-up can
cause loss of vehicle control.
If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, drive slowly and
very carefully to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer, au-
thorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or other qualified work-
shop and have the brake system inspected. Avoid sudden hard
braking and steering.
If the ABS indicator light !"3 or J does not go out, or if it
comes on while driving, the ABS system is not working proper-
ly. The vehicle can then be stopped only with the standard
brakes (without ABS). You will not have the protection ABS
provides. Contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or an au-
thorized Volkswagen Service Facility as soon as possible.
If the symbol "2!+% 7%!2 or I lights up in the instrument clus-
ter display, whether alone or together with a text message, im-
mediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or author-
ized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the brake pads
checked and, if necessary, replaced.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in
vehicle damage.

following other vehicles too closely) – especially during the break-in
period.
Brake pad wear depends mostly on operating conditions and the
way the vehicle is driven. If you do a lot of city and short-distance
driving and/or have a sporty driving style, you should have the brake
pads checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility more often than the regular service inter-
vals.
Wet brakes (for example, after driving through water or washing the
vehicle or after heavy rainfall) will not brake as well. Stopping dis-
tances will be longer when brake discs are wet or, in winter, even icy.
Wet or icy brakes must be dried as soon as possible by carefully ap-
plying the brakes a couple of times while traveling at a relatively high
speed. Make sure nobody is behind you and that you do not endan-
ger yourself or others ⇒ .
Brakes coated with road salt also react slower and need longer
stopping distances. If there is salt on the roads and you are not brak-
ing regularly, brake carefully and gently from time to time to remove
any salt coating from the brake discs and pads ⇒ .
Brake disc corrosion (rust) and dirt buildup on the brake pads are
more likely to occur if the vehicle is not driven much or is driven only
for short distances with little braking. If the brakes have not been
used and there is some rust on the discs, clean the brake discs and
pads once in a while by carefully braking a couple of times while driv-
ing at relatively high speed to help clean the brake discs and pads.
Make sure nobody is behind you and that you do not endanger your-
self or others ⇒ .
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 author-
ized 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 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

Check the information on the container for the brake fluid you want to
use to make sure it meets the requirements for your vehicle.
Brake fluid that complies with VW Standard 501 14 can be pur-
chased from your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.
If this special brake fluid is not available you may – under these cir-
cumstances – use another high quality brake fluid that complies with
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 116 DOT 4 ⇒ 
.
Please note, however, that not all brake fluids that comply with U.S.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 have the
same chemical composition. Some of these brake fluids can contain
chemicals that could, over time, degrade or damage internal parts of
the vehicle’s brake system.
Volkswagen therefore recommends that you use brake fluid that ex-
pressly complies with VW Standard 501 14 for optimum brake sys-
tem performance over the long term.
Brake fluid level
The fluid level in the transparent brake fluid reservoir must always be
between the MIN and MAX marking ⇒ .
On some vehicles, engine components block the view of the brake
fluid reservoir and make it impossible to see the brake fluid level. If
you cannot clearly see the brake fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir,
please see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used as
the brake pads wear and the brakes are automatically adjusted.
Changing brake fluid
Brake fluid must be changed according to the service schedule in
your ⇒ Booklet Warranty and Maintenance. Have the brake fluid
checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility. Refill only with new brake fluid that
meets the standards listed above.

Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and often.
Clean the wheels and under the door sills last. Use a different sponge
or wash mitt.
WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the wet brakes or, in winter,
brake discs or pads coated with ice, react slower and need
longer stopping distances.
Always dry the brakes and clean off any ice coatings with a
few careful applications of the brake. Make sure not to endan-
ger other motorists or cyclists or disobey legal requirements.
CAUTION
Sharp edges under the vehicle can cut exposed skin.
Always protect your hands and arms from cuts on sharp
metal edges when cleaning the underbody, the inside of the
wheel housings, etc.
NOTICE
The water temperature must not be more than +140 °F
(+60 °C).
To help prevent damage to the paint, do not wash the vehicle
in direct sunlight.
Do not use insect sponges, abrasive kitchen sponges or simi-
lar things to clean the vehicle. These can damage the paint fin-
ish.
Never clean headlights with a dry cloth or sponge. Always use
a wet cloth or sponge. For best results use soapy water.
When washing or rinsing the vehicle in cold weather, do not
let water get into the lock cylinders or point the hose at gaps
around the doors, hood, or luggage compartment lid. The water
could freeze on the locks and seals and make it difficult to open
the vehicle!

WARNING
Improper use of power washers can cause serious invisible
permanent damage leading to tire failure and loss of vehicle
control. This can cause accidents and severe personal injury.
Keep sufficient distance between water jet and tires. Never
wash tires with a nozzle that sprays the water out in a direct
stream regardless of the distance to the tire and even for a very
short time.
Never use “dirt blasters” to clean tires. Even spraying from a
relatively long distance for a very short time can do visible or
invisible damage to tires.
WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the wet brakes or, in winter,
brake discs or pads coated with ice, react slower and need
longer stopping distances.
Always dry the brakes and clean off any ice coatings with a
few careful applications of the brake. Make sure not to endan-
ger other motorists or cyclists or disobey legal requirements.
NOTICE
Water temperature should not be more than +140 °F (+60 °C).
To help prevent damage to the paint, do not wash the vehicle
in direct sunlight.
In order for Park Distance Control to work correctly, the sen-
sors in the rear bumper must be kept clean and clear of snow
and ice.
When using a power washer or steam cleaner, only spray the
sensors directly for a short period of time and always keep the
nozzle at least 4 inches (10 cm) from the sensor.
Do not clean icy or snow-covered windows with a power
washer.
When washing or rinsing the vehicle in cold weather, do not
let water get into the lock cylinders or point the hose at gaps
around the doors, hood, or luggage compartment lid. The water

Engine life is influenced by how you drive the vehicle for the first
1000 miles (1600 km). Even afterwards, driving at moderate engine
speeds, especially when the engine is cold, will tend to reduce engine
wear and help the engine to last longer and go farther. But do not
drive at an excessively low engine speed, either. Always downshift if
the engine is not running smoothly. For the first 600 miles
(1000 km):
Do not use full throttle.
Don't let the engine speed get above 2/3 the maximum speed.
Do not tow a trailer.
From 600 to 1000 miles (1000 to 1600 km): Speed may gradually
be increased to maximum permissible road and engine speed.
New tires and brake pads
New tires and replacement tires ⇒  Tires and wheels
Brakes ⇒  About the brakes
Breaking in a new engine gently will increase service life and
reduce oil consumption.
Parts and accessories