VOLKSWAGEN EOS 2012 Owners Manual

Exterior care and cleaning

WARNING
Improper care and cleaning of vehicle components can impact the safety features of the vehicle and cause severe injuries.
x Always clean and maintain vehicle components according to manufacturer's instructions.
x Only use approved or recommended cleaners.
NOTICE
Vehicle care products containing solvents can damage plastics and other vehicle the materials.
Wash the vehicle only at specifically designated wash locations to help prevent water contaminated with oil, grease and fuel from entering the storm drain sewer system. In some areas it is against the law to wash motor vehicles anywhere than other than at specified designated car washing locations.
When buying vehicle care products, try to choose those that are not harmful to the environment.
Never throw out vehicle care products with ordinary household waste. Always read and heed all the instructions and all WARNINGS on the package.
Washing the vehicle

Cleaning the CSC roof
x Clean the CSC roof only when it is closed ⇒ page 55, CSC roof.
x Wash the CSC roof only in an automatic car wash or by hand.
x Never wash the CSC roof with a power washer.
x If the CSC roof is very dirty, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x The CSC roof gaskets (rubber seals) require special care ⇒ page 382, Caring for rubber door and window seals.
x Ask an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility if you have any additional questions about cleaning and caring for the CSC roof.
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.
WARNING
x Always close the CSC roof completely before washing. Never pause the CSC roof in a partly open position to clean the side roof pillar shafts or the roof rods. The CSC roof will go down by itself after a short time and could injure someone who is in its way.
x Never reach into the roof pillar compartments or the roof linkage, regardless of whether the roof is opened, closed, or somewhere in between.
CAUTION
Sharp edges under the vehicle can cut exposed skin.
x Always protect your hands and arms from cuts on sharp metal edges when cleaning the underbody, the inside of the wheel housings, etc.
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 The water temperature must 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 Do not use insect sponges, abrasive kitchen sponges or similar things to clean the vehicle. These can damage the paint finish.

x Never clean headlights with a dry cloth or sponge. Always use a wet cloth or sponge. For best results use soapy water.
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!
x In cold weather, dry the rubber gaskets (rubber seals) and the surfaces they touch with a cloth to make sure they do not freeze shut.
NOTICE
To help prevent vehicle damage in a car wash:
x Close the CSC roof completely.
x Compare the vehicle track width with the dimensions of the guide rails in the car wash to help prevent damage to wheel rims and tires!
x Switch off the rain sensor before driving the vehicle through a car wash, Rain sensor.
x Make sure there is enough clearance for the height and width of the vehicle.
x To help prevent paint damage to the engine hood, place wiper blades against the windshield after they have dried. Do not let them snap back into place.
x Fold the outside mirrors toward the vehicle body. Do not fold power folding mirrors manually!
x Lock the luggage compartment lid to help prevent unintentional opening in the car wash.
Washing with a power washer

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

Windshield cleaners, special cleaners, and cleaning cloths are available from your authorized Volkswagen dealer and authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Removing snow
Remove snow from all windows and outside mirrors with an appropriate brush.
Removing ice
The best way to remove ice is with a deicer spray. When using an ice scraper always scrape in one direction, never back and forth. Dirt can scratch the glass when moving the scraper backward.
WARNING
Dirty or fogged up windows reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents and severe injuries.
x Don't drive until you have clear visibility through all windows.
x Remove ice, snow and condensation from all inside and outside window surfaces.
NOTICE
x Never mix recommended cleaning agents with other cleaning agents in the windshield washer reservoir. If you do, this could cause sediments or other by-products that can clog the windshield wiper nozzles.
x Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack!
x The heating elements for the rear defroster are on the inside of the rear window. Do not put stickers over the heating elements on the inside of the rear window and never clean the inside of the windows with corrosive or acidic cleaning agents or other chemicals that could damage the heating elements.
Cleaning and changing the windshield wiper blades

Fig. 159 Changing the windshield wiper blades.

Check all wiper blades regularly. Wiper blades that grab and squeak must be replaced if worn or
damaged and cleaned if dirty ⇒ .
Replace worn or damaged wiper blades immediately. Replacement blades may be purchased from any authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Lifting and tilting windshield wiper arms
Move the wiper arms to the service position before lifting them away from the windshield ⇒ page 198, Windshield wipers and washer.
It is not possible to lift the wiper arms away from the windshield when they are not in the service position.
When lifting or replacing a wiper blade on a window, grip it only by its mounting and not by the blade itself.
Cleaning the wiper blades
x Lift the wiper arm(s) away from the windshield.
x Using a soft cloth, carefully remove dust and dirt from the wiper blades.
x If the blades are very dirty, carefully clean them with a sponge or cloth ⇒ .
x Carefully fold the wiper arm back down onto the windshield.
Changing wiper blades
x Lift the wiper arm(s) away from the windshield.
x Press and hold the release button ⇒ fig. 159 (1).
x While lifting the wiper blade in the direction of the wiper arm, pull off the wiper blade in the direction of the arrow. This may require moderate force.
x Install a new wiper blade of same length and type onto the wiper arm by pushing in the opposite direction of the arrow until it latches.
x Carefully fold the wiper arm back down onto the windshield.
WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents and severe injuries.
x Always change wiper blades if they are damaged or worn, and if they cannot clean the windows sufficiently.
NOTICE
x Damaged or dirty wiper blades can scratch the windshield.
x Solvents, abrasive sponges and sharp-edged objects will damage the graphite coating on the wiper blades.
x Do not clean the windows with gasoline, nail polish remover, paint thinner or similar fluids.
x To help prevent damage to the engine hood and the windshield wiper arms, lift the wiper arms away from the windshield only when they are in the service position.
Cleaning the wind deflector

x Open the wind deflector, Wind deflector.
x Use a vacuum cleaner with a small nozzle to clean out dirt out of the net.
x Loosen any stubborn particles in the net, such as insects, with a fine-pore sponge and soapy water
⇒ .
x Close the wind deflector, if necessary.
NOTICE
Vehicle care products containing solvents can damage plastics and other vehicle the materials.
Waxing and polishing vehicle paint

x Do not use hard wax.
NOTICE
Chrome wheel covers and hubcaps can have an extra coating. Do not treat them with chrome care or polishing products. Use regular paint care and polishing products.
Cleaning wheel rims

Care of the power sunroof seals (A)
x Briefly press the  button in the center console to tilt open the power sunroof
x Press the  button again briefly one more time. The power sunroof is opened.
x Hold down the lever in the center console to start opening the CSC roof, but only until the sunroof moves to the rear as far open as possible to expose the seals. The roof frame must not separate from the top of the windshield frame. The rear window element must not lift up!
x Use a soft, lint-free cloth and a light cleaning solution to remove dust and dirt from the roof seals,
shown in green ⇒ fig. 160 (A).
x If necessary, also remove dust and dirt from the painted sealing surfaces.
x Dry the roof seals thoroughly
x Volkswagen recommends the sparing application of suitable care products ⇒ page 383 to the
rubber seals ⇒ .
Care of the rubber seals around the power windows (B)
x Use a soft, lint-free cloth and lots of water to remove dust and dirt from the window seals, shown in yellow (B).
x Do not use any care products on the (B) seals ⇒ . The care product could wash down on the glass and smudge it!
Care of the rubber seals around the luggage compartment lid and the doors (C)
x Use a soft, lint-free cloth and lots of water to remove dust and dirt from the door and rear lid seals, shown in blue (C).
x If necessary, also remove dust and dirt from the painted sealing surfaces.
x Dry the roof seals thoroughly
x Volkswagen recommends the sparing application of suitable care products to the rubber seals
⇒ .
Recommended rubber care product overview

Seal Recommended product
(A) Maintenance set (original accessory) 000.096.331 or special lubricant (liquid)G 052 172 A1
(B) Clean only! Use no care products.
(C) Silicone-free rubber care product or special lubricant (liquid)G 052 172 A1
NOTICE
x Using the wrong care product can damage the seals. Check with an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for information about suitable products.
x Do not use any rubber cleaning or treatment products containing silicone, or any products containing acids, such as industrial dust removers or insect removal products, on the seals around the power sunroof (A).