bumper VOLKSWAGEN EOS 2008 Owners Manual

These dimensions are important because they help determine the way that the forces that arise during towing are applied to the receiver and its attachments to the vehicle. If you buy a ball mount and ball, make sure that they meet the following specifications.
Ball mount dimensions
x The drop height (A) from the center of the ball to the center of the hole for the securing pin on the ball mount must be at least 1 inch (25.4 mm) and at most 27/8 inches (73 mm).
x The pin-to-ball distance (B) from the center of the ball to the center of the hole for the securing pin on the ball mount must be no more than 7 inches (178 mm).
x The ball diameter must be no more than 11/4 inches (32 mm).
A ball mount and ball combination that does not meet these specifications can damage your vehicle
and may even fail in use ⇒ .
Never install a “weight distributing” or “load equalizing” trailer hitch on your vehicle. The vehicle is not
designed for this kind of trailer hitch ⇒ .
WARNING
An improperly installed or unsuitable trailer hitch can cause the trailer to separate from the towing vehicle and result in a major accident with serious personal injuries.
x Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch done by a qualified workshop.
CAUTION
The ball mount sticks out behind the rear bumper and can cause injury to pedestrians and cyclists.
x To reduce the risk of injury in rear-end collisions, and the risk to pedestrians and cyclists when the vehicle is parked, always remove the ball carrier when you are not towing a trailer.
NOTICE
x Never use a ball larger than 11/4 inches (32 mm) on your vehicle. The vehicle was not designed to tow heavier trailers with a receiver larger than the specified ball. The increased loads can damage the attachment points for the trailer hitch.
x Never use an adapter to increase the size of the trailer hitch receiver from 11/4 inches (32 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) or more to tow a trailer that is heavier than the maximum permissible trailer weight that your vehicle can tow.
x You can use an adapter if required for the proper installation of a bicycle rack or other similar carrier as long as the maximum weight limits are observed. When using bicycle racks or similar carriers, make sure that the rear lights are not blocked.
x Only use trailer hitches that are approved by the hitch manufacturer for your vehicle and model.

WARNING
Parking improperly can cause serious personal injury.
x Never remove the key from the ignition switch while the vehicle is moving or rolling to a stop. The steering wheel will lock and you will not be able to steer or control the vehicle.
x Never park the vehicle where the hot exhaust system or catalytic converter could ignite flammable materials, such as brush, leaves, dry grass, spilled fuel, etc.
x Always apply the parking brake when parking your vehicle.
x Improper use of the parking brake can seriously injure you and your passengers.
x Never use the parking brake to slow down the vehicle when it is moving, except in an emergency. The stopping distance is much longer because only the rear wheels are braked. Always use the foot brake to stop the vehicle.
x Never activate the throttle manually from the engine compartment when the engine is running and the automatic transmission is in gear. The vehicle will start to move as soon as the engine speed increases even if the parking brake is on.
x Never leave children or anyone who cannot help themselves behind in the vehicle. They could release the parking brake and move the gear selector lever or gear shift, which could cause the vehicle to start moving. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.
x Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle. The engine can be started and vehicle systems such as the power windows can be operated, leading to serious personal injury.
x Never leave children, disabled persons, or anyone who cannot help themselves in the vehicle. The doors can be locked with the remote control vehicle key, trapping passengers in the vehicle in an emergency. For example, depending on the time of year, people trapped in the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.
x Heat buildup in the passenger and luggage compartment of a parked vehicle can result in temperatures in the vehicle that are much higher than the outside temperatures, particularly in summer. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness and death, particularly to small children.
NOTICE
x Always be careful when you park in areas with parking barriers or high curbs. These vary in height and could damage your bumper and related parts if the front of your vehicle hits a barrier or curb that is too high while you are getting into or out of a parking spot. To help prevent damage, stop before the tires of your vehicle touch a parking barrier or curb.
x Always be careful when you enter a driveway or drive up or down steep ramps or over curbs or other obstacles. Parts of the vehicle close to the ground may be damaged (such as bumper covers, spoilers, and parts of the engine, suspension, and exhaust systems).
Warning and indicator lights

x Lock the vehicle.
On hills
Before stopping the engine, turn the steering wheel so that, if the vehicle starts to roll, its front wheels will roll into the curb:
x Facing downhill, turn the front wheels so that they point toward the curb.
x Facing uphill, turn the front wheels so that they point away from the curb.
WARNING
The vehicle exhaust system and the catalytic converter get very hot. They can cause fires and serious personal injury.
x Never park where the hot exhaust system could ignite flammable materials, such as brush, leaves, dry grass, spilled fuel, etc.
NOTICE
x Always be careful when you park in areas with parking barriers or high curbs. These vary in height and could damage your bumper and related parts if the front of your vehicle hits a barrier or curb that is too high while you are getting into or out of a parking spot. To help prevent damage, stop before the tires of your vehicle touch a parking barrier or curb.
x Always be careful when you enter a driveway or drive up or down steep ramps or over curbs or other obstacles. Parts of the vehicle close to the ground may be damaged (such as bumper covers, spoilers, and parts of the engine, suspension, and exhaust systems).
x Always close the CSC roof before leaving the vehicle and when it may rain or snow. If the CSC roof is open, rain or snow can damage the vehicle interior and can cause extensive damage to the electrical system.
About the brakes

WARNING
x Opening and closing the luggage compartment lid and the CSC roof can cause serious injuries if someone gets in the way of moving parts. The rear lid assist system is no substitute for careful and attentive driving. It is the driver's responsibility to make sure that nobody is in the way when opening or closing the luggage compartment lid, particularly when putting the CSC roof up or down.
x If the opening or closing process is interrupted or the hydraulic pump overheats, the CSC roof will automatically lower itself into a balanced position after a while (may take up to 8 minutes).
NOTICE
x Things like trailer draw bars, thin rods, fences, trees, narrow painted vertical poles, posts, or a luggage compartment lid that is opening may not be detected by the Park Distance Control sensors and could damage the vehicle.
x If you continue driving closer to an object that the Park Distance Control has already detected and reported, the object may disappear from the sensor range and may no longer be detected. This is especially true for low or high objects. The system will no longer sound warnings about these objects. Ignoring signals from the Park Distance Control system could result in serious damage to the vehicle.
x The sensors in the bumper can be damaged or become misaligned in low speed impacts and parking maneuvers. Damaged or misaligned sensors cannot accurately detect or report objects that might be within range of the PDC system.
x To help make sure that the system works properly, always keep the sensors in the bumpers clean and free of snow and ice; do not cover the sensors with stickers or other objects.
x When cleaning the sensors with power washers or steam cleaners, only spray the sensors directly for a very short time, and always keep the washer nozzle at least 4 inches (10 cm) from the sensors.
x Noise from rough roads, cobblestones, other vehicles and the surrounding area, for example, can prevent the Park Distance Control system from accurately detecting and reporting people and objects that may be within range of the system sensors.
x Aftermarket components such as bicycle racks can impair the function of the Park Distance Control system.
NOTICE
x Rear lid assist does not detect obstacles above the rear bumper. For this reason, always check to make sure there is enough room behind the vehicle before opening or closing the CSC roof.
x When the CSC roof is opening or closing, the luggage compartment lid lowers and covers the Park Distance Control sensors. The sensors cannot detect people or things that are moving behind the vehicle within range of the luggage compartment lid or that were not there before the lid began to descend.
x Rear lid assist only checks the area behind the vehicle for obstacles at the start of CSC roof operation, when the roof is still completely closed or open. If roof operation is interrupted, the area behind the vehicle will not be checked a second time when roof operation starts again.
x You can damage the vehicle if rear lid assist detects an obstacle and stops CSC roof operation, and you continue to operate the switch to open or close the roof.
Volkswagen recommends practicing with the Park Distance Control system in a location or parking space with no traffic in order to become familiar with the system and how it works.

Rear lid assist during opening and closing the CSC roof
Before the CSC roof opens or closes, the rear lid assist system uses the PDC sensors to check that there is enough room behind the vehicle for the rear lid to swing out past the rear bumper.
x If an obstacle is detected, roof operation stops. Unlike the Park Distance Control system, rear lid assist has no acoustical alert signal. Remove any obstacles behind the vehicle or move the vehicle forward so that there is enough room for the luggage compartment lid to swing out.
x If you operate the CSC roof lever again after roof has automatically stopped (because rear lid assist has detected an obstacle), roof operation will start again after a few seconds. The CSC roof will not stop again automatically if an obstacle is detected a second time. Instead, a warning will appear in the instrument cluster display.
x Because the rear lid assist system uses the PDC sensors, its operation depends on whether or not the PDC system is working properly. PDC is working properly if the warning chime sounds when you shift into Reverse.
Muting the Park Distance Control volume
You can mute the PDC beeping signals by tapping the + function key on the Radio or Navigation system screen (if applicable). Tap the function key again to reactivate the acoustic signals.
Switching Park Distance Control back on after it was switched off reactivates the volume. System malfunction warning signals cannot be switched off.
WARNING
Never rely completely on the PDC for information about people and objects that might be in the way of the vehicle and could be struck by the vehicle causing serious personal injury.
x The PDC sensors have blind spots where they cannot detect people or objects.
x Always watch for people, especially small children and animals, because the sensors may not always be able to detect them.
If you hear a long beep lasting about 3 seconds when you first turn PDC on, this means there is a malfunction in the Park Distance Control system. Switch off the Park Distance Control system with the button and have it immediately checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Rear lid assist can be deactivated by an authorized Volkswagen dealership or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. If this is done, Park Distance Control still works and will give an acoustic warning if the CSC roof is opened or closed while the vehicle is in Reverse. The signal sounds as soon as the luggage compartment lid swings into the area scanned by the PDC sensors.

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.
x Always dry the brakes and clean off any ice coatings with a few careful applications of the brake. Make sure not to endanger other motorists or cyclists or disobey legal requirements.
NOTICE
Never wash the CSC roof with a power washer or use “brushless” automatic car washes. Water that is sprayed under high pressure may cause leaks or may damage the rubber seals of the CSC roof.
x Do not use any rubber care materials that contain silicone or any cleaners that contain acids such as industrial dust remover or insect remover on the CSC roof seals.
NOTICE
x Water temperature should not be more than +140 °F (+60 °C).
x To help prevent damage to the paint, do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.
x In order for Park Distance Control to work correctly, the sensors in the rear bumper must be kept clean and clear of snow and ice.
x 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.
x Do not clean icy or snow-covered windows with a power washer.
x 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!
Cleaning windows and outside mirrors

Please carry out each step only in the order specified:
fig. 192 (1) (2) (3) (3)
Low beam Front turn signal indicator High beam/ daytime running light
Parking light (small bulb holder)
4. Turn the bulb holder counterclockwise as far as it will go and pull it out towards the rear together with the light bulb.
Pull the bulb holder out towards the rear along with the light bulb.
5. Pull the light bulb straight out of the bulb holder. If necessary, press the lock on the bulb holder.
6. Replace the burned out light bulb with a new bulb of the same type.
7. Insert the bulb holder into the headlight assembly and turn clockwise as far as it goes. Insert the bulb holder into the headlight and slide it in completely.
8. Attach the rubber or plastic cover. If applicable slide the securing clip rearward.
The illustrations show the left headlight assembly from the rear. The right headlight assembly is the mirror image of the left headlight assembly.
Different models may have different lights, and the location and design of covers, bulb holders, and bulbs may be in a different location than shown in the illustrations.
You cannot replace the LEDs in LED daytime running lights. Contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.
Replacing light bulbs in the front bumper

Fig. 193 In front right bumper: Removing the light assembly.

Please carry out each step only in the order specified:
2. Carefully insert the flat blade of the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit in the direction of
the arrow into the slot in the license plate light ⇒ fig. 195.
3. Pull the license plate light out slightly.
4. Press the lock on the connector plug in the direction of the arrow ⇒ fig. 196 (1) and pull the connector plug off.
5. Turn the bulb holder in the direction of the arrow (2) and remove it with the bulb.
6. Replace the burned out light bulb with a new bulb of the same type.
7. Insert the bulb holder in the license plate light assembly and turn it counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow (2) until it stops.
8. Plug the connector plug back into the bulb holder.
9. Carefully Insert the license plate light back into the opening in the bumper. Make sure the license plate light is installed in the correct direction.
10. Press the license plate light assembly into the bumper until it latches with an audible “click.”
Different models may have different lights, and the location and design of covers, bulb holders, and bulbs may be in a different location than shown in the illustrations.
You cannot replace the LEDs in LED license plate lights. Contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.

WARNING
Towing a vehicle changes the way it handles and brakes. To help reduce the risk of an accident and serious personal injury, note the following:
x The driver of the vehicle that is being towed:
– Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is stopped, you will need to press harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Always be alert so as not to rear-end the towing vehicle.
– Will have to use considerably more force to turn the steering wheel because the power steering is not working.
x The driver of the vehicle that is doing the towing:
– Must accelerate gradually and gently and avoid jerking movements.
– Must not brake hard or steer sharply.
– Must brake earlier and more gently than in normal driving.
NOTICE
x Be careful not to damage the paint when installing and removing the towing eye and the cover for the threaded hole behind the bumper.
x Unburned fuel can get into the catalytic converter during towing and damage it.
Towing on a commercial tow truck

Towing other vehicles
x Obey all legal requirements
x Read and heed all towing information in the owner's manual for the other vehicle.
A vehicle can be towed only if the electronic steering column lock is released. In case of a power loss or malfunctions of the electrical system, the engine may have to be jump-started in order to release the electronic steering column lock.
Installing the front towing eye

Fig. 198 In right front bumper: Remove cover.

Fig. 199 In right front bumper: Screwing in towing eye.