towing VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC 2015 1.G User Guide

Starting off with a trailer on hills
Depending on how steep the hill is and the combined towing weight, a
parked vehicle with trailer can roll backwards when you first start
moving.
When starting off with a trailer on a hill:
Depress and hold the brake pedal (and depress and hold the clutch
- manual transmission).
Press the G button once to deactivate the electronic parking brake
⇒  Braking and parking.
Press the G button again and hold it to use the electronic parking
brake to help prevent the vehicle and trailer from rolling backwards. If
applicable, follow the instructions for the Hill Hold feature ⇒ Starting
assistance systems.
Shift into first gear or Drive D ⇒  Shifting.
Release the brake pedal.
Drive ahead slowly at first. If your vehicle has manual transmission,
slowly let out the clutch.
Do not release the G button until the engine starts to move the
vehicle forward. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, you
can also depress and hold the brake pedal for added braking and
then let up on the brake pedal when you feel that the vehicle “wants”
to move forward.
Drive ahead slowly.

WARNING
Improper trailer towing can cause loss of vehicle control and
serious personal injury.
Driving with a trailer and carrying heavy or bulky items
changes the way the vehicle handles and increases the dis-
tance it needs to stop safely.
Always watch what is happening up ahead and around you.
Brake earlier than you would if you were not towing a trailer.
Always adapt your speed and driving to the heavier load and
the weight distribution in the vehicle. Take road, weather, traf-
fic, and visibility conditions into account as well.
Reduce your speed even more than you otherwise would
when going downhill and under unfavorable load, weather, or
wind conditions.
Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Always avoid
sudden maneuvers and hard braking.
Be especially careful when passing other vehicles.
Reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows even the
slightest sign of swaying.
Never try to stop the swaying by accelerating.
Always obey speed limits. In some areas speed limits for ve-
hicles towing trailers are lower than for vehicles without trail-
ers.
Ball mount

Fig. 108 Dimensions of the ball mount support.

CAUTION
The ball mount sticks out behind the rear bumper and can
cause injury to pedestrians and cyclists.
To reduce the risk of injury in rear-end collisions, and the risk
to pedestrians and cyclists when the vehicle is parked, always
remove the ball carrier when you are not towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Never use a ball larger than 11/4 inches (32 mm) on your vehi-
cle. The vehicle was not designed to tow heavier trailers with a
receiver larger than the specified ball. The increased loads can
damage the attachment points for the trailer hitch.
Never use an adapter to increase the size of the trailer hitch
receiver from 11/4 inches (32 mm) to 2 inches (50.8 mm) or more
to tow a trailer that is heavier than the maximum permissible
trailer weight that your vehicle can tow.
You can use an adapter if required for the proper installation
of a bicycle rack or other similar carrier as long as the maximum
weight limits are observed. When using bicycle racks or similar
carriers, make sure that the rear lights are not blocked.
Only use trailer hitches that are approved by the hitch manu-
facturer for your vehicle and model.

from the center of the hitch ball to the surface of the road ⇒ fig. 109
(D) be less than the specified minimum. This minimum height must be
present even when the vehicle is fully loaded and subject to the max-
imum tongue weight.
Distance dimensions ⇒ fig. 109:
(A) Attachment points.
(B) 46 inches (1170 mm)
(C) at least 3 inches (79 mm)
(D) 14–16 inches (350 – 420 mm)
(E) 10 inches (251 mm)
(F) 21 inches (546 mm)
(G) 41 inches (1031 mm)
(H) 41 inches (1036 mm)
WARNING
Improper or incorrect connections to the vehicle electrical sys-
tem can cause malfunctions that affect the entire vehicle elec-
trical system and cause accidents and serious personal injury.
Never connect the electrical system of the trailer directly to
the electrical connections of the rear lights or other unsuitable
power sources. Use only a suitable connector to provide power
to the trailer.
Have any trailer hitch retrofit or other work on a trailer hitch
done by a qualified workshop.
WARNING
An improperly installed or unsuitable trailer hitch can cause the
trailer to separate from the towing vehicle and result in a major
accident with serious personal injuries.
Maximum permissible trailer weight

Engine Engine
ID
code
Trailer with
brakes
Trailer
without
brakes
Trailer
hitch
tongue
weight
All gasoline
engines
all 2000 lbs
(907 kg)
1650 lbs
(748 kg)
200 lbs
(91 kg)

The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
must not be exceeded, even with a trailer. These ratings are listed on
the safety compliance label on the driver door jamb ⇒ page 55, Im-
portant vehicle labels. When a trailer is towed, the weight of the ball
mount and the tongue weight of the trailer are added to the vehicle
weight ⇒  Determining the correct load limit.
The trailer weight ratings given above are valid only up to altitudes of
3000 ft (1000 m) above sea level. The maximum permissible com-
bined towing weight must be reduced by about 10% for every 3000 ft
(1000 m), or portion thereof, of additional altitude.
WARNING
Exceeding the gross trailer weight rating and tongue weight
can cause accidents and serious personal injury.
Never let the actual weights at the front and rear axles exceed
the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Never let the combined
front and rear weights exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR).
NOTICE
Exceeding the gross weight ratings can cause extensive vehicle
damage that is not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warran-
ty.

There are limits to the load any vehicle or any tire can carry. A vehicle
that is overloaded will not handle well and is more difficult to stop.
Overloading can damage important parts of the vehicle. Overloading
can also lead to blowout, sudden loss of pressure or other tire failure
that can cause loss of control.
Your safety and the safety of your passengers depends on making
sure that load limits are not exceeded. Vehicle load includes every-
body and everything in and on the vehicle. These load limits are
technically referred to as the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR).
The GVWR includes the weight of the basic vehicle, all factory-
installed and other accessories, a full tank of fuel, oil, coolant and
other fluids plus maximum load. The maximum load includes the
number of passengers that the vehicle is intended to carry (seating
capacity) with an assumed weight of 150 lbs (68 kg) for each passen-
ger at a designated seating position and the total weight of any lug-
gage in the vehicle. If you tow a trailer, the weight of the trailer hitch
and the tongue weight of the loaded trailer must be included as part
of the vehicle weight. At altitudes above 3000 ft (1000 m), combined
towing weight (vehicle plus trailer) must be reduced by 10% for every
3000 ft (1000 m).
The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is the maximum load that
can be carried at each of the vehicle's 2 axles (by the front or rear
tires). GVWR and GAWR are listed on the safety compliance label on
the driver door jamb. Because there is an upper limit to your vehicle's
total weight (GVWR), the weight of whatever is being carried (includ-
ing the weight of a trailer hitch and the tongue weight of the loaded
trailer) is also limited. More passengers, or passengers who are heav-
ier than the assumed 150 lbs (68 kg), mean that less weight can be
carried as luggage or other cargo. The tire pressure label on your
Volkswagen also lists the maximum combined weight of all of the oc-
cupants and luggage or other cargo that the vehicle can carry.

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit:
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there
will be five 150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400-
750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being
loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this Manual to determine
how this reduces the available cargo and luggage capacity of
your vehicle.
Check the tire sidewall to determine the load index specified for
the tire.

UTQG classification

WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
The vehicle could move suddenly, especially when the vehicle
is in gear, resulting in accidents and personal injury.
WARNING
“Starting fluids” can explode and can cause a “run-away” vehi-
cle condition.
Never use starting assist fluids.
NOTICE
You can damage the starter or the engine if you try to start the
engine when the vehicle is still moving, or if you try to restart the
engine right after switching it off.
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle acceleration, and heavy
engine loads when the engine is cold.
Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle.
Unburned fuel can get into the catalytic converter and damage it.
The steering column may also be locked.
Do not let your vehicle warm up while standing; instead, start
driving right away after making sure that you have good visibility
through all windows. This will help the engine reach operating tem-
perature faster and keep down emissions.
If the remote control vehicle key battery is weak or dead, the
starter button will not start the engine. In this case, start the engine by
inserting the vehicle key in the ignition switch ⇒ Vehicle key positions
in the ignition switch.
Major consumers of electricity are temporarily switched off when
the engine is being started.
After starting a cold engine, there may be increased operating
noises for a few seconds. This is normal and harmless.

outside temperature. It may be helpful to ventilate the vehicle before
driving and then to drive a short distance with the windows open. Af-
ter that, switch on the air conditioner with the windows closed. Keep
the windows closed when driving at high speeds. Open windows in-
crease fuel consumption.
Switch off seat heating once it has served its purpose.
Switch off the rear window defroster as soon as the windows are
free of fog and ice.
Additional factors that increase fuel consumption (examples):
Malfunctioning engine control.
Driving in the mountains.
Towing a trailer.
NOTICE
Never let the vehicle coast or roll down a hill in Neutral (N), es-
pecially when the engine is not running. The transmission will
not be lubricated and will be damaged.
Fuel-efficient driving

Fig. 147 Fuel consumption in mpg at 2 different outside air tempera-
tures.

Description Possible causes,
among others Possible remedy
Electrical con-
sumers do not
work.
Vehicle battery
charge too low. Charge vehicle battery
Remaining fuel level
too low. Refuel
Fuse blown. Check fuse and replace if
necessary
Fuel consumption
higher than indi-
cated.
– Short hauls.
– “Jumpy” accelera-
tor pedal.
– Avoid short distance
driving.
– Drive defensively.
– Accelerate smoothly.
Electrical loads
switched on.
Switch off unnecessary
loads.
Engine control
malfunction.
Have the malfunction cor-
rected
Tire pressure too
low. Adjust tire pressure
Driving in the
mountains.
No direct corrective action
possible.
Towing a trailer or
driving with a roof
rack.
– Check use.
– Remove if not in use.
Driving with heavy
payload.
No direct corrective action
possible.
Driving at high en-
gine speed. Select a higher gear.