towing VOLKSWAGEN E GOLF 2015 5G / 7.G Owners Manual

Front view

Fig. 2 Vehicle front overview.
Key to fig. 2:
(1) Windshield area:
– Windshield wipers
– Rain sensor (if equipped)
– Low-light sensor (if equipped)
(2) Electric motor hood release
(3) Area for e-Golf emblem
(4) Headlights (on both left and right)
(5) Park Distance Control (PDC) sensors (if equipped)
(6) static cornering lights (on left and right)
(7) Threaded hole for the front towing eye (behind cover)

Rear view

Fig. 3 Vehicle rear overview.
Key to fig. 3:
(1) High-mounted brake light
(2) Rear window:
– Rear window defroster
– Rear windshield wiper
(3) Volkswagen emblem for opening the rear hatch
(4) Taillights (on both left and right)
(5) Area for e-Golf emblem
(6) Area for the Rear View Camera system (if equipped)
(7) Park Distance Control (PDC) sensors (if equipped)
(8) License plate lights
(9) Threaded hole for the rear towing eye (behind cover)

WARNING
Heavy loads will influence the way your vehicle handles and increase stopping distances. Heavy loads that are not properly stowed or secured can cause loss of control and serious injury.
x Secure the load properly to keep it from shifting.
x Always remember when transporting heavy objects that a change in the center of gravity also changes the way your vehicle handles:
– Always distribute the load as evenly as possible.
– Secure heavy objects properly as far forward in the luggage compartment as possible.
– Always tie down heavy items securely with suitable straps using the tie-downs in the luggage compartment.
x Securely latch the rear seat backrest in the upright position.
x Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating on the safety compliance sticker on the left door jamb. Exceeding permissible weight can cause the vehicle to skid and handle differently.
x Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and the weight distribution in the vehicle. Take road, weather, traffic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
x Always accelerate gently and avoid sudden braking and driving maneuvers.
x Always brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.
Stowing luggage

The ESC, ABS, BAS, ASR, and EDL braking assistance systems work only when the electric motor is activated. These systems can significantly improve active driving safety.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ESC helps to improve road holding and vehicle dynamics to help reduce the probability of skidding and loss of vehicle control. It works only when the electric motor is activated. ESC detects certain difficult driving situations, including when the vehicle is beginning to spin (yaw) out of control. ESC then helps you to get the vehicle back under control by selectively braking the wheels and/or reducing electric motor power and by providing steering assistance to help hold the vehicle on the driver's intended course.
ESC has limitations. It is important to remember that ESC cannot overcome the laws of physics. It will not always be able to help out under all conditions you may come up against. For example, ESC may not always be able to help you master situations where there is a sudden change in the coefficient of friction of the road surface. When there is a section of dry road that is suddenly covered with water, slush or snow, ESC cannot perform the same way it would on a dry surface. If the vehicle “hydro-planes” (rides on a cushion of water instead of the road surface), ESC will not be able to help you steer the vehicle because contact with the pavement has been interrupted and the vehicle cannot be braked or steered. During fast cornering, particularly on winding roads, ESC cannot always deal as effectively with difficult driving situations as it can at lower speeds. When towing a trailer, ESC is not able to help you regain control as it would if you were not towing a trailer.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic, and weather conditions. ESC cannot override the vehicle's physical limits, increase the available traction, or keep a vehicle on the road if road departure is a result of driver inattention. Instead, ESC improves the possibility of keeping the vehicle under control and on the road during extreme maneuvers by using the driver's steering inputs to help keep the vehicle going in the intended direction. If you are traveling at a speed that causes you to run off the road before ESC can provide any assistance, you may not experience the benefits of ESC.
ESC includes and/or works together with the ABS, BAS, ASR, EDL, and XDL systems (see below). ESC is switched on all the time. In certain situations when you need less traction or additional traction cannot be achieved, you can switch off ASR in the Infotainment system by pressing the #!2 button
followed by the

x Start the electric motor and let it run.
x Insert the cable plug ⇒ fig. 177 (9) into a 12 Volt socket of the vehicle
x Switch the air compressor on using the ON /OFF switch ⇒ fig. 177 (8),
x Let the air compressor run until a pressure of 29 – 36 psi (200 – 250 kPa) is reached ⇒ . Max-
imum run time 8 minutes ⇒ .
x Switch off the air compressor.
x If an air pressure of 29 – 36 psi (200 – 250 kPa) cannot be reached, unscrew the tire inflation hose from the tire valve.
x Drive about 30 feet (10 meters) backwards or forwards so that the sealant can be distributed inside the tire.
x Connect the tire inflation hose of the air compressor again to the tire valve and repeat the inflation process.
x If the required tire pressure still cannot be reached, the tire is too badly damaged. The tire cannot be sealed using the tire mobility set. Do not drive the vehicle. Contact an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or Volkswagen service facility for assistance ⇒ .
x Disconnect the air compressor and unscrew the tire inflation hose from the tire valve.
x If a tire pressure of 29 – 36 psi (200 – 250 kPa) is reached, continue driving right away and drive at a speed of no more than 50 mph (80 km/h).
x Check tire pressure after 10 minutes of driving
WARNING
The tire inflation hose and air compressor can get hot during inflation.
x Protect hands and skin from hot parts.
x Do not place the hot tire inflation hose or hot air compressor on flammable material.
x Let the equipment cool off almost completely before stowing it.
x If the tire cannot be inflated to at least 36 psi (250 kPa), the damage is too great to be re-paired with the tire mobility set. The sealant is not able to seal the tire. Do not drive the vehi-cle. Contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or Volkswagen service facility for assistance.
NOTICE
Do not let the compressor run for more than 8 minutes to help prevent overheating and dam-age. Let the compressor cool down for a few minutes before switching it on again. Let it cool down almost completely before stowing it in the repair kit.
Check after 10 minutes of driving

The procedure for attaching and for removing the jumper cables is described below. Perform each of the following steps only in the order described, which follow the letters shown in the illustration
⇒ fig. 183 A – B – C – D.
Attaching jumper cables
1. Switch off the ignition in both vehicles ⇒ page 205, Starting and stopping the electric drive.
2. Open the battery cover in the electric motor compartment if the battery has a cover ⇒  12 Volt vehicle battery.
3. Attach one end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal (+) of the dead battery: (1) ⇒ .
4. Attach the other end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal (+) of the good battery (booster battery): (2).
5. Attach one end of the black jumper cable to the negative jump-start terminal ⇒  Jump-start termi-nal, or if that is not available, to the negative terminal (-) of the battery in the vehicle providing
assistance (2) ⇒ fig. 183.
6. Attach the other end of the black jumper cable (3) to the negative jump-start terminal ⇒  Jump-start terminal, or if that is not available, a bare metal part of the vehicle with the dead battery. This part should be connected directly to the electric motor block. You may also attach the cable to the
electric motor block itself or to the towing eye installed on the front of the vehicle ⇒ page 408, Tow-
ing. Attach the clamp to a point that is as far away as possible from the dead battery (1) ⇒ .
7. Route the jumper cables so that they cannot get caught in any moving parts in the electric motor compartment of either vehicle.
Starting the electric motor
x Start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery that is providing help and let it run at idle speed.
x Turn on the ignition of your vehicle with the dead battery. If the electric motor can be activated, wait
2 to 3 minutes before removing the jumper cables as described below ⇒ . If the electric motor cannot be activated within about 10 seconds, turn off the ignition and wait at least 1 minute; then try again.
Before removing the jumper cables
x Switch off the headlights (if they are on).
x In the vehicle with the dead battery, switch on the heater fan and the rear window defroster. This helps to minimize voltage spikes when the cables are disconnected.
Removing jumper cables
With the electric motor activated, remove the jumper cables in reverse order to the way they were connected.
1. Disconnect the black (-) cable from the vehicle with the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black (-) cable from the other vehicle (vehicle with the good battery).
3. Disconnect the red (+) cable from the other vehicle (vehicle with the good battery).
4. Disconnect the red (+) cable from the vehicle with the dead battery.
5. Close the battery cover.
6. If necessary, unscrew the towing eye on the front of the vehicle ⇒  Installing the front towing eye.

Towing

WARNING
Towing a vehicle changes the way it handles and brakes. To help reduce the risk of an acci-dent 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 electric motor 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.
Text messages

WARNING
It is not safe for children or other persons to ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
x Never let children or anyone else remain in the vehicle while it is being towed.
NOTICE
The drive axle rotates while the vehicle is being towed with its rear wheels off the ground. This can damage the electric drive.
x Never tow the vehicle with the rear wheels off the ground.
Tips on towing

WARNING
If the vehicle is towed even though the text message Towing damages electrical sys-tem. See owner's man.! appears in the instrument cluster, vibrations can occur in the electric drive and the front wheels can lock, especially on ice or wet roads. Locking front wheels can impair the steering functions and cause accidents and serious injuries.
x If the message Towing damages electrical system. See owner's man.! appears in the instrument cluster, only tow the vehicle in emergency situations at walking speed and for a maximum of 330 ft. (100 m).
NOTICE
If the vehicle is towed even though the text message Towing damages electrical system. See owner's man.! appears in the instrument cluster and walking speed is exceeded or it is towed further than 330 ft. (100 m), serious damage can be done to the to the electric drive.
A vehicle can be towed only if the electronic parking brake is switched off and the electronic steering column lock is released. In case of a power loss or malfunctions of the electrical system, the electric motor may have to be jump-started in order to release the electronic steering column lock and the electronic parking brake.
Installing the front towing eye

Fig. 184 In the right front bumper: Removing the cover.