VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI 2013 5G / 7.G Owners Manual

Lights
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Indicator lights
Turn signal lever and high beam switch
Switching lights on and off
Lights and vision features
Lights and vision features
Instrument panel lighting and headlight range adjustment
Interior and reading lights
Always obey local vehicle lighting laws.
The driver is always responsible for the correct headlight settings.
More information:
x Exterior views
x Volkswagen Information System
x Changing a light bulb
WARNING
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.
x Always switch on the low beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark and whenever the
weather is bad or visibility is poor.
WARNING
Headlights that are aimed too high and improper use of the headlight flasher or high beams
can blind and distract other drivers. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.
x Always make sure that headlights are properly adjusted.
x Never use the headlight flasher or high beams when they can blind or distract other
drivers.
Indicator lights

Lights
up Possible cause Proper response

Fog lights switched on (indicator light on
the headlight switch or the instrument
cluster).
.



Left or right turn signal.
The indicator light blinks twice as fast if a
turn signal is not working on the vehicle or
the trailer.
Check the turn signals on the vehicle and
the trailer.
 Daytime running lights (DRL) on. .
$2,
 High beams switched on or headlight
flashers in use. .

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.
WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to
break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
x Whenever stalled or stopped for repair, move the vehicle a safe distance off the road, stop
the engine, turn on the emergency flashers, and use other warning devices to warn
approaching traffic.
x Never park the vehicle in areas where the hot catalytic converter and exhaust system can
come into contact with dry grass, brush, spilled fuel, oil, or other material that can catch fire.
x A broken down vehicle presents a high accident risk for itself and others. Switch on
emergency flashers and set up a warning triangle to warn oncoming traffic.
NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights provide bright, uniform lighting to help you see and be
seen. The light comes from an electric arc between two electrodes in the gas-filled bulb. Over time, the
electrodes can wear down and the gap between them will get wider. The HID lamp’s control unit then
increases the voltage to keep the arc’s brightness constant. However, the commonly called “Xenon”
bulbs will also ultimately burn out. Before they burn out, HID lamps can flicker. A message will then
appear in the MFI. This is your reminder to see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service facility to check the headlights.

Turn signal lever and high beam switch

Fig. 84 Turn signal lever and high beam switch.

High beams can only be switched on when the low beams are on.
Switching lights on and off

Fig. 85 Headlight switch next to the steering wheel.

Fig. 86 Headlight switch next to the steering wheel (with fog lights).

x To switch off the fog lights, push the switch back in from the first detent. To then turn off the
headlights, turn the switch to position O.
Acoustic warning when lights are not switched off
In the following situation, a warning chime will sound if you take the key out of the ignition and open
the driver door. This is to remind you that lights are still on.
x Light switch in position %.
WARNING
Daytime running lights are not bright enough to let you see ahead or be seen by others when
it is dark.
x Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark and whenever the
weather is bad or visibility is poor.
x Never use the daytime running lights to see where you are going. They are not bright
enough and will not let you see far enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is
dark. Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark.
x The taillights do not come on with the daytime running lights. Unless the taillights are on,
a vehicle cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the rear lights, and turn signals can
temporarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.
Applicable only in the United States
Lights and vision features

Static cornering lights
Your vehicle may have fog lights under the front bumper, which on some models are also static
cornering lights. On some models the static cornering lights may be integrated in the headlights. At
speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h), the light on one side of the vehicle will come on automatically
when you turn a corner. If you turn to the right, the right fog light comes on; turn left and the left fog
light comes on. The light dims and goes out when the steering wheel is straightened out again.
When you move the selector lever to Reverse (R), the static cornering lights on both sides of the
vehicle may come on so that you can see the area around the vehicle better when backing up.
The static cornering lights work only when the headlights are on. The static cornering lights do not
come on when the headlight switch is in the O position or when the fog lights themselves have been
switched on.
Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
The Adaptive Front Lighting System works only with the low beams switched on and only at speeds
above about 6 mph (10 km/h). The swivel-mounted lamps automatically improve road illumination
during cornering.
On vehicles equipped with the Adaptive Front Lighting System, the feature is switched on and off via
the Assistants menu in the instrument cluster display
WARNING
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.
x Never use daytime running lights (DRL) to see where you are going. DRL are not bright
enough to light up the roadway and be seen by other motorists. You will not be able to see far
enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is dark. Always switch on the low-
beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark.
x The taillights do not come on when the daytime running lights are switched on. A vehicle
without taillights on cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the rear lights, and turn signals can
temporarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.
Applicable only in Canada
Lights and vision features

when you turn a corner. If you turn to the right, the right fog light comes on; turn left and the left fog
light comes on. The light dims and goes out when the steering wheel is straightened out again.
When you move the selector lever to Reverse (R), the static cornering lights on both sides of the
vehicle may come on so that you can see the area around the vehicle better when backing up.
The static cornering lights work only when the headlights are on. The static cornering lights do not
come on when the headlight switch is in the O position or when the fog lights themselves have been
switched on
Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS)
The Adaptive Front Lighting System works only with the low beams switched on and only at speeds
above about 6 mph (10 km/h). The swivel-mounted lamps automatically improve road illumination
during cornering.
On vehicles equipped with the Adaptive Front Lighting System, the feature is switched on and off via
the Assistants menu in the instrument cluster display
WARNING
Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.
x Never use daytime running lights (DRL) to see where you are going. DRL are not bright
enough to light up the roadway and be seen by other motorists. You will not be able to see far
enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is dark. Always switch on the low-
beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark.
x The taillights do not come on when the daytime running lights are switched on. A vehicle
without taillights on cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.
In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the rear lights, and turn signals can
temporarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.
Instrument panel lighting and headlight range adjustment

Fig. 87 To the left of the steering wheel: Thumbwheel to adjust instrument panel lighting 1.

Instrument cluster brightness
When the lights are on, the brightness of the instrument cluster lighting is adjusted by turning the
thumbwheel (1).
In some vehicles with daytime running lights (DRL), the instrument cluster lighting switches on
automatically when it is dark outside or when driving through tunnels, for example. You will need to
switch the headlights on manually when this happens, so that the vehicle's taillights will turn on
Dynamic headlight range adjustment
In vehicles with HID (Xenon) headlights, the headlight range is automatically adjusted to the vehicle
loading condition once the low beams are switched on ⇒ .
WARNING
Headlights that are aimed too high because of the way the vehicle is loaded can blind and
distract other drivers. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.
x Always make sure the headlights are adjusted to loading conditions so that they do not
blind others.
WARNING
If dynamic headlight range adjustment does not work properly or at all, the headlights could
blind and distract other drivers. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.
x Have headlight range adjustment checked immediately by an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Interior and reading lights

Background lighting
When the ignition and headlights are switched on, the roof console control buttons light up.
There may also be footwell lighting.
The interior and reading lights go out when you lock the vehicle or a few minutes after you
remove the vehicle key from the ignition. This helps to prevent unnecessary drain on the vehicle
battery.

Sun protection
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Sun visors
Windshield made of heat-insulating glass
WARNING
Sun visors can reduce visibility.
x Always stow sun visors when not needed to block sun glare.
Sun visors

Fig. 88 Sun visor.