service VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2008 User Guide

WARNING
Careless or unsupervised use of the sunroof can cause serious injuries.
x Always make sure that no one is in the way of the power sunroof when it is closing.
x Always take all vehicle keys with you when leaving the vehicle.
x Never leave children or persons requiring assistance unattended in the vehicle, especially if they have access to the vehicle key. Unsupervised use of the remote control vehicle key can lock the vehicle, start the engine, switch on the ignition and operate the sunroof.
x The sunroof can still be opened or closed for a short period after the ignition has been switched off, as long as the driver or passenger door is not opened.
WARNING
Closing the sunroof without pinch protection can cause severe injuries.
x Always be careful when closing the sunroof.
x Always make sure that no one is in the way when overriding pinch protection to close the sunroof.
x Pinch protection does not prevent fingers or other body parts from being pressed against the roof frame, thereby causing injury.
If the power sunroof malfunctions, pinch protection may not function properly. See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.

DANGER
20 mm button cells and other lithium batteries will cause serious personal injury and even death within a short time if swallowed.
x Always keep hand-held remote control devices with batteries, spare batteries, as well as dead button cell and larger 20 mm batteries out of the reach of children.
x Get medical attention immediately if you suspect that a battery has been swallowed.
WARNING
Improper use of the HomeLink® Universal Transmitter can cause serious or even fatal personal injury.
x Garage doors operate with enough force to cause serious personal injury.
x Never let anyone get in the way of a garage door when it is opening or closing.
x When programming the HomeLink® Universal Transmitter, you may be operating a garage door or estate gate. Always make sure that people and objects are out of the way to help prevent serious personal injury or property damage.
x When operating the “training” button on a garage door opener with a rolling code, you will need to stand on a ladder or step-stool. Always take extra precautions to prevent falls and serious injury.
x Never use the HomeLink® Universal Transmitter with any garage door opener that does not have the safety stop-and-reverse feature, as required by federal safety standards. This includes any garage door opener model manufactured before April 1, 1982.
x A garage door opener that cannot detect an object, signaling the door to stop and reverse, does not meet current federal safety standards. Using a garage door opener without these features increases the risk of serious injury or death.
x Follow the installation manual and the included safety information from the manufacturer when using the remote-controlled garage door opener or electrical drive.
NOTICE
The wrong batteries can damage the hand-held remote control. Replace a dead battery with one that has the same voltage, size, and specifications.
Please dispose of old batteries properly and in an environmentally responsible manner. Always keep them out of the reach of children.
Certain batteries used in hand-held remote controls are classified as Perchlorate Material. Special handling may apply – see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate. Obey all legal requirements regarding proper disposal. Authorized Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities are familiar with the requirements, and we recommend that you have them perform this service for you.

WARNING
Always adjust seat, safety belts, and head restraints properly before driving and make sure that all passengers are properly restrained.
x Push the passenger seat as far back as possible. Always be sure that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the front passenger's breastbone and the instrument panel.
x Always adjust the driver's seat and the steering wheel so that there are at least 10 inches (25 cm) between your breastbone and the steering wheel.
x Adjust the driver's seat so that you can easily push the pedals all the way to the floor while keeping your knee(s) slightly bent. The distance to the instrument panel in the knee area must be at least 4 inches (10 cm).
x If these requirements cannot be met for physical reasons, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to see whether adaptive equipment is available.
x Always hold the steering wheel on the outside of the steering wheel rim with your hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions to help reduce the risk of personal injury if the driver's airbag inflates.
x Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with your hands at other places inside the steering wheel rim or on the steering wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the wrong way can cause serious injuries to the hands, arms, and head if the driver's airbag inflates.
x Pointing the steering wheel toward your face decreases the ability of the driver's airbag to help protect you in a collision.
x Never drive with backrests reclined or tilted back farther than necessary to drive comfortably. The farther back the backrests are tilted, the greater the risk of injury caused by incorrect positioning of the safety belts and improper seating position.
x Never drive with the front seat passenger backrest tilted forward. If the front airbag deploys, the front backrest can be forced backward and injure passengers on the rear seat.
x Sit as far back as possible from the steering wheel and the instrument panel.
x Always sit upright with your back against the backrest with the front seats properly adjusted. Never lean against or place any part of your body too close to the area where the airbags are located.
x Rear seat passengers who are not properly seated and restrained are more likely to be seriously injured in a crash.
WARNING
Improper adjustment of the seats can cause accidents and severe injuries.
x Never adjust the seats while the vehicle is moving. Your seat may move unexpectedly and you could lose control of the vehicle. In addition, you will not be in the correct seating position while adjusting the seats.
x Adjust the front seat height, angle and longitudinal direction only if the seat adjustment area is clear.
x The adjustment of the front seats must not be restricted by things in the footwell in front or behind the seats.
Examples of improper seating positions

x Liquids, sharp objects and things that do not let the heat in the seat escape into the air, including, for example, a child restraint, a blanket, or seat covers on the seat can damage seat heating.
x If you smell an odor, immediately shut off seat heating and have it checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Never install leather upholstery on a vehicle with seat heating that originally had cloth upholstery. The seat heating elements for seats with cloth seats will overheat if the cloth upholstery is replaced with leather upholstery.
Switch off seat heating when it is not needed to help reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.
Memory seats

Fig. 68 Memory buttons on the outer side of the driver seat.

Recalling settings for driver seat and outside mirrors
x Briefly press the appropriate memory button when the vehicle is not moving, the ignition is switched off, and the driver door is open.
x OR: If the ignition is switched on and the driver door is closed, press and hold the appropriate memory button until the stored position is reached.
x The passenger-side outside mirror automatically adjusts back from the position stored for backing up when the vehicle moves forward at about 10 mph (15 km/h) or more or when the rotary knob is rotated from R into a different position.
Assigning driver seat and outside mirror settings to a vehicle key
The memory function of all vehicle keys is disabled when the vehicle is first delivered from the factory.
To enable vehicle key memory function:
x Unlock the driver door.
x Press and hold a memory button until memory position is reached.
x Press and hold the unlock button 0 on the vehicle key and then press the desired memory button at the same time within about 3 seconds. A chime sounds to confirm activation.
To disable vehicle key memory function:
x Press and hold the SET button.
x Press and hold the unlock button 0 on the vehicle key and the desired memory button at the same time within about 10 seconds. A chime sounds to confirm deactivation.
Assigning settings to an additional vehicle key
x Follow the instructions, Assigning driver seat and outside mirror settings to a vehicle key to assign the driver seat and outside mirror settings to the vehicle key.
x Unlock the vehicle with the same vehicle key.
x Adjust driver seat and outside mirrors.
x Lock the vehicle with locking button 1 in the vehicle key to store the settings.
Once the settings are stored, the driver seat and the outside mirrors move to the stored positions whenever the vehicle is unlocked with the vehicle key open button 0 and the driver door is opened. If two people use the vehicle, each of them should always use the key in which his or her personal settings have been stored.
Initializing the memory seats
The memory system must be initialized by an authorized Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified workshop in certain situations, for instance, if a new driver seat is installed.
Initializing clears all memories and assignments of the memory seat. After that, memory buttons can be reprogrammed and assigned to a vehicle key.
x Open the driver door but do not enter the vehicle.
x Adjust the seats from the outside.
x Move the angle of the backrest forward as far as it will go.
x Release the backrest adjustment switch and press it again until you hear a chime sound.
Cancellation conditions when storing settings for the memory buttons
When one of the following conditions is met, the storing process will be cancelled:
x The vehicle battery is weak or dead.
x The SET button is pressed again within about 10 seconds.
x The seat position is readjusted within about 10 seconds after pressing the SET button.

WARNING
Damage to safety belts reduces their overall effectiveness and increases the risk of serious personal injury and death whenever the vehicle is being used.
x Never let safety belts become damaged by being caught in the door or seat hardware.
x Torn or frayed safety belts can tear, and damaged safety belt hardware can break in an accident.
x Inspect belts regularly for damage. If webbing, bindings, buckles, or retractors are damaged, have the belts replaced immediately with the correct replacement belts approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle, model, and model year.
x Safety belts that were subject to stress in an accident and stretched must be replaced with a correct, new safety belt, preferably by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Replacement after a crash may be necessary even if a safety belt shows no visible damage. Anchorages that have been loaded must also be inspected.
x Damaged safety belts must be replaced; they cannot be repaired.
x Never try to repair a damaged safety belt yourself. Never remove or modify the safety belts in any way.
x Have safety belts, bindings, retractors and buckles replaced by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Always keep the belts clean. Dirty belts may not work correctly and can impair the function of the inertia reel.
Warning light

Fig. 69 Warning light in the instrument cluster.

WARNING
Improperly positioned safety belts can cause serious personal injury in an accident or a sudden braking maneuver.
x Always make sure that all vehicle occupants are correctly restrained and stay in a correct seating position whenever the vehicle is being used.
x Safety belts offer optimum protection only when the seat backrest is upright and belts are correctly positioned on the body.
x A loose-fitting safety belt can cause serious injuries by shifting its position on your body from the strong bones to more vulnerable soft tissue and cause serious injury.
x The shoulder belt portion of the safety belt must be positioned over the middle of the occupant's shoulder and never across the neck or throat.
x The safety belt must lie flat and snug on the occupant's upper body.
x Never wear the shoulder part of the safety belt under your arm or otherwise out of position.
x The lap portion of the safety belt must be positioned as low as possible across the pelvis and never over the abdomen. Make sure the belt lies flat and snug against the pelvis. Pull on the safety belt to tighten if necessary.
x Expectant mothers must always wear the lap portion of the safety belt as low as possible across the pelvis and below the rounding of the abdomen.
x Do not twist the belt when attaching it. If you cannot untwist a twisted safety belt, wear it anyway, but make sure the twisted part is not in contact with your body. Have the problem corrected right away by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Never hold the safety belt away from your body with your hand.
x Never wear belts over rigid or breakable objects, such as eyeglasses, pens or keys.
x Never modify the position of the belt using comfort clips, loops or similar devices.

x If you have a physical impairment or condition that prevents you from sitting properly on the seat with the safety belt properly fastened, special modifications to your vehicle may be necessary.
x Contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility or call the Volkswagen Customer CARE Center at 1-800-822-8987 for information about possible modifications to your vehicle.
Safety belt height adjusters

Fig. 81 Next to the front seats: Safety belt height adjuster.

If a safety belt is too short to correctly fit you or one of your passengers, even when the safety belt is pulled out all the way, you can use a safety belt extender.
Never use the safety belt extender for any other purpose – including the attachment of a child restraint.
The extender adds about 8 inches (20 cm) to the safety belt. Always remove the safety belt extender when it is not needed and stow it safely. Contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility if you believe you may need an extender.
Key to fig. 82:
(1) Vehicle safety belt buckle.
(2) Buckle tongue on the safety belt extender.
(3) Safety belt buckle on the safety belt extender.
(4) Safety belt buckle tongue on the factory-installed safety belt.
Key to fig. 83:
(A) Safety belt buckle on the safety belt extender.
(B) Distance between the safety belt buckle on the safety belt extender and the centerline of the person using the safety belt extender. The distance must be more than 6 inches (15 cm)!
(C) Centerline of the person using the safety belt extender.
Using a safety belt extender
x Adjust both the seat and the head restraint properly, Adjusting the seating position.
x Insert the buckle tongue on the safety belt extender ⇒ fig. 82 (2) into the vehicle belt buckle for the seat where the safety belt extender is being used (1).
x Fastening or unfastening the vehicle safety belt ⇒ page 101, Fastening and unfastening safety belts.
x Pull the belt to make sure that the tongues are securely locked in the buckles.
x Make sure that the safety belt is positioned properly, Safety belt position, Safety belt position.
Properly using safety belt extenders:
x Use a safety belt extender only when the factory installed safety belt is too short when worn properly by a person in proper seating position.
x Only use 1 safety belt extender per seat and vehicle safety belt.
x Always remove the safety belt extender when it is not needed.
x Never leave a safety belt extender attached to the vehicle safety belt buckle when the extender is not needed and being used with the safety belt. Otherwise, the airbag control module will receive an incorrect signal from the safety belt buckle and this will prevent the airbag from working properly for a person who is not using the safety belt. Leaving the extender attached to the safety belt buckle when the front seat is occupied and the safety belt is not being used will signal the airbag control unit during a collision that the front passenger seat is occupied and that the safety belt is being used. The electronic control unit for the airbag system will then receive incorrect information that will cause the safety belt pretensioner to deploy unnecessarily and the front passenger airbag to deploy later in collisions that would normally trigger the front airbag earlier in the collision to help protect an unrestrained front seat occupant. The airbag will not be able to provide enough protection for an occupant not wearing a safety belt.
x Only use the safety belt extender approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle.

WARNING
Improper handling, care, servicing, and repair procedures can increase the risk of personal injury and death by preventing a belt pretensioner from activating when needed or by causing it to activate unexpectedly.
x The pretensioner can be activated only once. If a pretensioner has been activated, the safety belt must be replaced.
x Safety belt systems including the pretensioners cannot be repaired. Special procedures are required to remove, install, and dispose of this system.
x Never repair, adjust, or change pretensioners or any other part of the safety belt system yourself. We strongly recommend that you have any work on the safety belt system performed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. They have the necessary technical information, training, and special equipment, Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications.
WARNING
Undeployed safety belt pretensioners and airbag modules contain explosive materials that can cause serious personal injuries if they are not properly handled when they or the vehicles they are installed in are scrapped.
x Never abandon vehicles or vehicle parts.
x Always scrap vehicles and vehicle parts, especially those containing undeployed airbag modules and undeployed safety belt pretensioners, at a licensed facility that has the knowledge and experience to properly dispose of the vehicle and its safety belt and airbag systems.
Undeployed airbag modules and safety belt pretensioners are classified as Perchlorate Material. Special handling may apply – see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate. Obey all applicable legal requirements regarding handling and disposal of the vehicle or parts of its restraint system, including airbag modules and safety belts with pretensioners. Authorized Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities are familiar with the requirements, and we recommend that you have them perform this service for you.

Lights up Possible cause Proper response
 One or more driving lights not working or cornering light malfunction.
Replace burned out bulb or if all light bulbs are OK, see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service facility.
Fog lights switched on (indicator light on the headlight switch).
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