brake fluid VOLKSWAGEN E GOLF 2015 5G / 7.G Owners Manual

Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less.
Ply
A layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.
Ply separation
A parting of rubber compound between adjacent plies.
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fabric, and steel or other materials, that, when mounted on an automotive wheel, provides the traction and contains the gas or fluid that sustains the load.
Production options weight
The combined weight of installed regular production options weighing over 5 lbs (2.3 kg) more than the standard items they replace, and not previously considered as curb weight or accessory weight. These include, for example, heavy-duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy-duty battery, and special trim.
Radial ply tires
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.
Recommended 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.
Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pressures than the corresponding standard tire.
Rim
The outer edge of a wheel upon which the tire beads are seated.
Rim diameter
The nominal diameter of the wheel's tire bead seating surface. If you change your wheel size, to wheels of a different diameter, you will have to purchase new tires to match the new wheels.
Rim size
Designation means rim diameter and width.
Rim type designation
The industry or manufacturer's designation for a rim by style or code.
Rim width
The nominal distance between wheel rim flanges.
Section width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due to labeling decoration, or protective bands.
Sidewall
The portion of a tire between the bead and the tread.

x The charging port (B)
x Covers on components of the high-voltage system (B)
Power output of the electric motor
The maximum torque of the electric motor is available as soon as you press the accelerator pedal ⇒ 
.
As the charge level of the high-voltage battery increases, the recuperation and thus also the electric motor braking effect will decrease when the vehicle is braked and when the vehicle rolls in overrun mode or drives downhill. No brake energy recuperation occurs and therefore no electric motor braking
effect is available once the high-voltage battery is fully charged ⇒ .
DANGER
High-voltage systems in the electric motor compartment and in other places on the vehicle can cause electrical shocks or even electrocution, severe burns, other serious injuries, and even death!
x Touching damaged orange high-voltage cables, the high-voltage battery or other parts of the high-voltage electrical system can cause fatal electric shock.
x The high-voltage system may also be active even when the ignition is switched off!
x Electrolyte fluid in the high-voltage battery will cause severe chemical burns. If electrolyte fluid contacts skin, thoroughly flush affected area with clean water for at least 15 minutes and then wash affected area with soap and water; medical attention is recommended.
x Any work on the high-voltage system, or on systems which could be directly or indirectly affected by it, must only be carried out by properly trained and qualified experts.
WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction and skidding, particularly on slippery roads. This can cause you to lose control of the vehicle, which can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
x Always adjust your driving style in accordance with the flow of traffic.
x Only use the kickdown or fast acceleration if visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit, and other road users are not put at risk due to the acceleration and the driving style.
WARNING
Medium, high and very high recuperation can lead to loss of traction and skidding, particular-ly on slippery roads. This can cause you to lose control of the vehicle, which can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
x Only use medium, high or very high recuperation if visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions permit, and other road users are not put at risk due to the vehicle's acceleration and your driving style.
WARNING
The higher the charge level of the high-voltage battery, the lower the electric motor braking effect, to the point where no electric motor braking effect may be generated at all.
x Reduce your speed before driving down a long, steep gradient.
x When driving down a long, steep gradient, slow the vehicle using the vehicle brake.

WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
WARNING
Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal injury.
x If the brake warning light "2!+% or H does not go out, or lights up when driving, either the brake fluid level in the reservoir 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 assistance ⇒ Brake fluid.
x If the brake warning light "2!+% or H lights up 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 rela-tively quickly during braking. Rear wheel brake lock-up can cause loss of vehicle control.
x If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, drive slowly and very carefully to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer, authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or other qualified workshop and have the brake system inspected. Avoid sudden hard braking and steering.
x If the ABS indicator light !"3 or J does not go out, or if it lights up while driving, the ABS system is not working properly. The vehicle can then be stopped only with the standard brakes (without ABS). You will not have the protection ABS provides. Contact your author-ized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility as soon as possible.
x If the brake pads are worn or you notice changes in the way the vehicle brakes, immedi-ately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized 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.
Warning messages when leaving the vehicle

Brake fluid

Fig. 130 In the electric motor compartment: Brake fluid reservoir cap (cap design may vary depending on vehicle equipment).

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.
WARNING
Brake failure and reduced brake performance can be caused by not having enough brake fluid in the reservoir or by old or incorrect brake fluid.
x Check the brake system and brake fluid level regularly.
x Always change the brake fluid according to the service schedule in your
⇒ Booklet Warranty and Maintenance.
x Hard braking with old brake fluid may cause vapor lock. Vapor lock reduces braking per-formance, increases stopping distances and can even cause total brake failure.
x Always make sure that only the correct brake fluid is used. Only use brake fluid that ex-pressly conforms to VW Standard 501 14 or, if it is not available, only use a high-quality brake fluid that conforms to U.S. Standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 requirements.
x Using another brake fluid, or one that is not of high quality, can impair the function of the brake system and reduce its effectiveness. If the container does not say that the brake fluid complies with VW Standard 501 14, or U.S. Standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4, do not use it.
x The brake fluid must be new.
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous.
x To reduce the risk of poisoning, never use food, beverage or other non-original containers to store brake fluid. Someone might be misled by the original label on the container, or by the shape of the container, and drink the brake fluid. This could occur even if you relabel the container as “brake fluid.”
x Only store brake fluid in the closed, original container and keep it out of the reach of chil-dren.
NOTICE
Brake fluid will damage vehicle paint, plastic parts, and tires. Wipe any brake fluid off vehicle paint and other vehicle parts immediately.
Brake fluid can pollute the environment. Brake fluid that has leaked out must be collected and disposed of properly, following all applicable environmental regulations.

WARNING
The electric motor compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially dangerous area and can cause serious personal injury.
x Always use extreme caution when doing any work in the electric motor compartment. Always follow commonly accepted safety practices and use common sense. Never risk per-sonal injury.
x Never perform any work in the electric motor compartment unless you know exactly how to carry out the job and have the correct technical information and the correct tools.
x If you are uncertain about what to do, have the work performed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified work-shop. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work.
x We strongly recommend that you always have HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights and H7 bulbs replaced by a qualified technician. Serious personal injury may re-sult from improperly performed work.
x Never open or close the electric motor hood if steam or coolant is escaping. Hot steam or coolant can cause serious burns. Always wait until you no longer see or hear steam or cool-ant escaping from the electric motor.
x Always let the electric motor cool down completely before carefully opening the hood.
x Hot parts of the electric motor and the exhaust system will burn skin on contact.
x When the electric motor has cooled down and you are ready to open the hood:
– Firmly apply the parking brake and shift the transmission into Park (P) (automatic) or Neutral (manual only).
– Take the vehicle key out of the ignition.
– On vehicles with Keyless Access, make sure that the remote control vehicle key is out of range of the vehicle and that the vehicle cannot be started by depressing the starter
button ⇒  Unlocking or locking the vehicle with Keyless Access.
– Always keep children and others away from the electric motor compartment and never leave them unsupervised.
x The electric motor coolant system is under pressure when the electric motor is hot. Never unscrew the coolant expansion tank cap when the electric motor is hot. Hot coolant can spray out and cause severe burns and other serious injuries.
– Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counterclockwise direction while applying light downward pressure on the top of the cap.
– Always protect your face, hands, and arms from hot escaping coolant or steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
x Never spill fluids on the electric motor or exhaust system when refilling. Spilling fluids onto hot parts of the electric motor or exhaust system can cause a fire.

WARNING
High voltage systems in the electric motor compartment can cause electrical shocks or even electrocution, severe burns, other serious injuries, and even death!
x Never short-circuit the electrical system. Be especially careful when using jumper cables. The vehicle's battery could explode!
x To reduce the risk of electrical shock and personal injury while the electric motor is acti-vated:
– Never touch ignition cables. Never touch other components of the high voltage elec-tronic ignition system.
– Never touch the wiring of the HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights.
x Read and heed the important information and warnings on cleaning the electric motor
compartment ⇒  Cleaning the electric motor compartment.
WARNING
Moving parts in the electric motor compartment can cause serious personal injury on con-tact.
x Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan. Contact with the blades can cause serious personal injury. Always remember that the radiator fan is temperature-controlled and can come on suddenly even when the electric motor has been switched off for a while and the key has been removed from the ignition.
x If you have to perform a check or repair when the electric motor is activated, 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 rotat-ing electric motor parts. Before starting any work remove your jewelry, take off your neck-tie, tie back and cover your hair, and do not wear clothing that can hang down and get caught in moving electric motor 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 parking brake is on.
x Never leave any objects in the electric motor compartment, for example cleaning rags and tools. Objects left behind can cause malfunctions, electric motor damage, and even fires.
WARNING
Additional materials in the electric motor compartment such as blankets can interfere with the operation of the electric motor and can cause fires, which can lead to serious injuries.
x Never cover the electric motor with blankets or other materials.
WARNING
Operating fluids and some materials in the electric motor compartment can catch fire easily, causing burns and other serious personal injuries!
x Never smoke near the electric motor compartment.
x Never work next to open flames or sparks.
x Never pour or spill operating fluids or other flammable liquids on the electric motor. These fluids can ignite on hot electric motor parts and cause injuries.
x Always have a functional, approved fire extinguisher nearby.

WARNING
Hot steam and hot electric motor coolant can cause serious burns.
x Never open the hood if you see steam or coolant escaping from the electric motor com-partment. Always wait until you no longer see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the electric motor.
x Always let the electric motor cool down completely before carefully opening the hood. Hot components will burn skin on contact.
x When the electric motor has cooled down and you are ready to open the hood:
– Firmly apply the parking brake and shift the transmission into Park (P) (automatic) or Neutral (manual only).
– Take the vehicle key out of the ignition.
– On vehicles with Keyless Access, make sure that the remote control vehicle key is out of range of the vehicle and that the vehicle cannot be started by depressing the starter
button ⇒  Starter button.
– Always keep children and others away from the electric motor compartment and never leave them unsupervised.
x The electric motor coolant system is under pressure when the electric motor is hot. Never unscrew the coolant expansion tank cap when the electric motor is hot. Hot coolant can spray out and cause severe burns and other serious injuries.
– Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counterclockwise direction while applying light downward pressure on the top of the cap.
– Always protect your face, hands, and arms from hot escaping coolant or steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
x Never spill fluids on the electric motor when refilling. Spilling fluids onto hot parts of the electric motor can cause a fire. Under some conditions, the ethylene glycol in electric motor coolant can catch fire.
NOTICE
x Use distilled water only when adding coolant! All other types of water contain chemical compounds that can cause extensive corrosion damage to the electric motor. This can even lead to electric motor failure. If you have added non-distilled water, take the vehicle immediate-ly to an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the coolant system drained, flushed, and refilled completely with the proper coolant.
x Refill electric motor coolant only up to the top edge of the marked fill range ⇒ fig. 154. Ex-cess electric motor coolant may be forced out of the electric motor cooling system when it gets hot and cause damage.
x In the case of significant electric motor coolant loss, refill electric motor coolant only when the electric motor is completely cooled down. Significant electric motor coolant loss is a sign of leaks in the cooling system. Have the electric motor cooling system checked immediately by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Otherwise the electric motor may be damaged!
x Do not refill electric motor coolant if there is no coolant in the expansion tank. Air could enter the cooling system. Do not drive the vehicle! Get expert assistance. Failure to do so can result in electric motor damage.
x When changing or topping off operating fluids, make sure that you pour the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Serious malfunctions and electric motor damage can result if you pour operating fluids into the wrong reservoir.