warning VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2008 User Guide

WARNING
Improper use of power locks can result in serious personal injury.
x The power locking button locks all doors. Locking the doors from the inside can help prevent unintended door opening during a collision and can also prevent unwanted entry from the outside. Locked doors can, however, delay assistance to vehicle occupants and rescue from the outside in an accident or other emergency.
x Never leave children or anyone who cannot help themselves behind in the vehicle. All doors can be locked from the inside with the power lock button. This could leave people trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. Depending on the time of year, people trapped in the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.
x A closed vehicle can become very hot or very cold, depending on the season. Particularly in the summer, heat build-up 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. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness and death, particularly to small children.
x Never allow passengers to remain in a locked vehicle. In an emergency any person still inside the vehicle might not be able to get out.
Indicator light in the driver door

When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds.
If a door is not closed properly, the  or  red warning light comes on in the instrument cluster or the vehicle icon appears in the instrument cluster display showing an open door.
Depending on vehicle options, the red warning light or icon may still be displayed even after the ignition is switched off as long as the key has not been taken out of the ignition. The icon in the instrument cluster display goes out about 15 seconds after the vehicle has been locked.
Child safety lock

Fig. 40 In the left rear door: Child safety lock A deactivated, B activated.

Fig. 41 In the right rear door: Child safety lock A deactivated, B activated.

x Using the key bit, move the slot into the desired position.
Slot position ⇒ fig. 40 or ⇒ fig. 41:
(A) Child safety lock disengaged.
(B) Child safety lock engaged.
WARNING
When the child safety lock is engaged, that rear door cannot be opened from the inside.
x Never leave children, disabled persons, or anyone who cannot help themselves, in the vehicle when locking the doors. This could result in people being locked in the vehicle. This could result in people being trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. Depending on the time of year, people trapped in the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.
x A closed vehicle can become very hot or very cold, depending on the season. Particularly in the summer, heat build-up 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. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness and death, particularly to small children.

NOTICE
Before opening or closing the luggage compartment lid, make sure there is enough room to do so, as for example when the vehicle has a trailer or is in a garage.
Warning light

WARNING
Improper or unsupervised unlocking or opening of the luggage compartment lid can cause severe injuries. Never open the lid when someone is in the way.
x If a bicycle or luggage rack is installed on the luggage compartment lid, it may be hard to see that the luggage compartment lid is unlatched. An unlatched luggage compartment lid may open suddenly when the vehicle is moving.
At temperatures below +32 °F (0 °C), the luggage compartment lid may not open automatically after you unlock it. It will be necessary to lift it by hand.
Closing the luggage compartment lid

Fig. 46 Opened luggage compartment lid: Recessed grips for closing.

WARNING
Improper or unsupervised closing of the luggage compartment lid can cause severe injuries. Never close the lid when someone is in the way.
x Never leave your vehicle unattended or let children play around your vehicle, especially with the luggage compartment lid left open. A child could crawl into the vehicle and pull the luggage compartment lid shut, becoming trapped and unable to get out. A closed vehicle can become very hot or very cold depending on the season. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness or death, particularly to small children.
Make sure that the remote control vehicle key is not in the luggage compartment before closing the luggage compartment lid.

x From inside the vehicle, pull up and hold the switch for the driver window until all windows and the sunroof are closed, Power locking and closing system.
Convenience closing first closes the windows and then the power sunroof. All turn signals blink once to confirm that the windows and power sunroof are closed.
WARNING
Improper use of power windows can result in serious personal injury.
x Never let anyone get in the way of a power window when closing it.
x When locking the vehicle from the outside, make sure that no one, especially children, remains in the vehicle. The windows will not open in case of an emergency.
x Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle. You can still use the power windows for several minutes after the ignition is switched off as long as the driver or front passenger door has not been opened.
x Always use the safety switch when children are in the back seat to disable the rear power windows and keep them from being opened and closed.
If the power windows malfunction, the one-touch feature, as well as pinch protection will not work properly. See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility right away.
Power window pinch protection

WARNING
Without pinch protection, power windows will close with enough force to cause serious personal injury.
x Always be careful when closing power windows.
x Always make sure that no one is in the way when overriding pinch protection to close power windows!
x Pinch protection cannot prevent fingers or other parts of the body from being pressed against the window frame; injuries may result.
Pinch protection is also active during convenience closing of the windows and the power sunroof, Convenience closing.

WARNING
Without pinch protection, the power sunroof will close with enough force to cause serious personal injury.
x Always be careful when closing the power sunroof.
x Always make sure that no one is in the way when overriding the pinch protection to close the power sunroof!
x Pinch protection cannot prevent fingers or other parts of the body from being pressed against the edge of the roof; injuries may result.
Pinch protection is also active during convenience closing of the windows and the power sunroof, Convenience closing.
If the power sunroof malfunctions, pinch protection may not function properly. See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.
Initializing the power sunroof

Fig. 49 In the headliner: Sunroof rotary switch.

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.