Automatic transmission
Warning and indicator lights
| Lights up | Possible cause | Proper response |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission malfunction. | Allow the transmission to cool with the selector lever in the P position. If the warning does not turn off, do not continue driving. See your authorized Volkswagen dealer for assistance. Otherwise, serious transmission damage could result . |
|
| Brake pedal not depressed. | Depress the brake pedal to select a drive gear . |
| Flashes | Possible cause | Proper response |
|---|---|---|
| The release button in the selector lever is not engaged. | Engage the Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) , . | |
| The release button in the selector lever did not engage. Vehicle movement is prevented. | Engage selector lever release button , . | |
| Automatic transmission malfunction. |
Drive at low engine speed (rpm) to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the system checked. |
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.
- Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
- Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Whenever stalled or stopped for repair, move the vehicle a safe distance off the road, turn on the emergency flashers, stop the engine, and use other warning devices to warn approaching traffic.
NOTE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Automatic transmission selector lever
Fig. 103 Automatic transmission selector lever with shift lever release button (arrow).
Automatic transmission vehicles have an Automatic Shift Lock (ASL). With ASL, you must switch on the ignition, depress the brake pedal and hold it down while pressing the release button on the selector lever handle in the direction of the arrow to move the selector lever out of Park (P) and into a drive gear. When the selector lever is in Neutral (N), you also have to depress the brake pedal before you can move the selector lever to Drive (D), Sport Drive (S), or Reverse (R).
If the ignition is switched on, either the current selector lever setting or the current gear is shown in the instrument cluster display.
– Park
The drive wheels are mechanically locked. Select only when the vehicle is not moving. To change the selector lever position, switch on the ignition (if it is off) and then press the selector lever release button while holding down the brake pedal.
– Reverse
The Reverse gear is engaged. Shift into Reverse only when the vehicle is not moving.
– Neutral
Transmission is in Neutral position. No power is transmitted to the wheels and no engine braking is available.
– Drive (standard driving position)
: All forward gears shift up and down automatically. The transmission shifts as needed depending on engine load, individual driving style, and vehicle speed.
The timing of the gear shift is determined by the engine load, your individual driving style, and the vehicle speed.
– Sport Drive
All forward gears automatically upshift later and downshift earlier than in the Drive (D) position, to take full advantage of the engine's power reserves. The transmission shifts as needed depending on engine load, individual driving style, and vehicle speed.
The timing of the gear shift is determined by the engine load, your individual driving style, and the vehicle speed.
Automatic Shift Lock (ASL)
The Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) in Park (P) and Neutral (N) prevents drive positions from being engaged inadvertently, which would cause the vehicle to move.
To release the ASL, depress and hold the brake pedal with the ignition switched on. Press the release button on the selector lever at the same time.
The ASL is not engaged if the selector lever is moved quickly through Neutral (N) (e.g., when shifting from Reverse (R) to Drive (D)). This makes it possible to rock the vehicle backwards and forwards if it is stuck in snow or mud. The ASL engages automatically if the brake pedal is not depressed and the lever is in Neutral (N) for more than about 1 second and the vehicle is traveling no faster than about 3 mph (5 km/h).
In rare cases, the ASL may not engage. If this happens, power to the drive wheels will be interrupted to prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly. The green indicator light will blink and a text message will be displayed. To engage the Automatic Shift Lock (ASL):
- Depress and then release the brake pedal. Try to engage the ASL again.
WARNING
Moving the selector lever to the wrong position can cause loss of vehicle control, a collision, and serious personal injury.
- Never accelerate when moving the selector lever.
- When the engine is running and a drive position is engaged, the vehicle will start to move as soon as the brake pedal is released.
- Never shift into Reverse (R) or Park (P) when the vehicle is moving.
WARNING
Unintended vehicle movement can cause serious personal injury.
- Never get out of the driver's seat while the engine is running, especially when the transmission is in a drive gear. If you must leave your vehicle while the engine is running, always set the parking brake and shift the transmission to Park (P).
- Never leave the vehicle in Neutral (N). It will roll down hills, whether the engine is running or not.
- When the engine is running and a drive gear - Drive (D), Sport Drive (S), or Reverse (R) - has been selected, press and hold the brake pedal to keep the vehicle from moving. The vehicle may creep and move forward or backward even if the engine is idling slowly.
- Never shift into Reverse (R) or Park (P) when the vehicle is moving.
NOTE
Even though the transmission is in Park (P), the vehicle may move a couple of inches (a few centimeters) forwards or backwards if you take your foot off the brake pedal after stopping the vehicle without first setting the parking brake.
If the selector lever is moved into Neutral (N) by mistake when the vehicle is moving, take your foot off the accelerator pedal. Wait until the engine speed has dropped to idle speed before moving the selector lever into a drive gear.
Leaving the selector lever for a long period of time in any position other than Park (P) when the ignition is switched off can drain the 12 Volt vehicle battery.
Shifting with Tiptronic®
Fig. 104 Selector lever in Tiptronic position.
Fig. 105 Steering wheel with Tiptronic shift paddles (if equipped).
Tiptronic lets you upshift and downshift manually with the automatic transmission. When Tiptronic mode is used, the transmission stays in the current gear and does not upshift or downshift automatically unless the transmission senses a situation where upshifting or downshifting is necessary to keep the engine from over- or under-revving.
Using Tiptronic with the selector lever
- Push the selector lever sideways to the right from Drive (D) position into the Tiptronic position .
- Briefly push the selector lever forward ⊕ to upshift into a higher gear or backward ㊀ to downshift into a lower gear .
Using Tiptronic with the shift paddles behind the steering wheel (if equipped)
- The paddles (arrows) work when the selector lever is in the Tiptronic position or when the selector lever is in Drive (D) or Sport Drive (S). You do not have to move the selector lever over to the right into the Tiptronic position.
- To upshift, pull the paddle on the right +
toward you.
- To downshift, pull the paddle on the left – toward you.
- To switch off Tiptronic mode, pull the paddle on the right +
Tiptronic will switch off automatically if the shift paddles have not been used for a while and the selector lever is not in the Tiptronic position.
NOTE
- During acceleration, the transmission will shift automatically into the next higher gear before reaching maximum engine speed (rpm).
- If you use Tiptronic to shift into a lower gear, the transmission will downshift only when doing so will not over-rev the engine.
Driving with automatic transmission
All forward gears shift up and down automatically.
Driving on hills
The steeper the slope, the lower the gear that must be selected. Lower gears increase the braking effect of the engine. Never coast downhill in Neutral (N).
- Reduce speed.
- Switch to Tiptronic mode by moving the selector lever from Drive (D) to the right into the Tiptronic position .
- Downshift by pulling the selector lever back briefly (-).
- OR: Downshift using the paddles on the steering wheel .
Vehicles with Hill Start Assist (Hill Hold): If you stop and start up again when going uphill, the Hill Start Assist feature can help prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards as long as the engine is running .
Vehicles without Hill Start Assist (Hill Hold): If you stop on a hill with the vehicle in gear, you must depress the brake pedal or engage the parking brake to keep the vehicle from rolling. Do not release the brake pedal or the parking brake until the vehicle has started to move forward .
Kick-down acceleration
The kick-down feature permits maximum acceleration when the selector lever is in the Drive (D), Sport Drive (S) or Tiptronic mode.
If you push the accelerator all the way down, the vehicle will automatically downshift, depending on vehicle speed and engine speed (rpm). This feature lets you take advantage of the full acceleration capacity of the vehicle .
With kick-down acceleration, the transmission will stay in the current gear longer and not upshift until the engine reaches maximum rpm.
WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause skidding and loss of traction, especially on slippery roads, resulting in a loss of vehicle control, collisions, and serious personal injury.
- Only use the kick-down feature or fast acceleration if visibility, weather, road, and traffic conditions permit and other drivers will not be endangered by your driving and the vehicle's acceleration.
- Always adapt your driving to the traffic flow.
NOTE
- When stopping on hills with the transmission in a drive gear, do not use the accelerator to help prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards. This can cause the automatic transmission to overheat and be damaged.
- Never let the vehicle coast or roll down a hill in Neutral (N), especially when the engine is not running. The transmission will not be lubricated and will be damaged.
Automatic transmission malfunction
Emergency shift program
If all selector lever position indicators in the instrument cluster display are highlighted against a bright background, there is a system malfunction. The automatic transmission will then operate in the emergency shift program. The emergency shift program lets you drive the vehicle, but at a reduced speed and without being able to use all of the forward gears.
In any event, have the automatic transmission checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Overheating of the transmission
The transmission may overheat, for example, due to frequent starts, extended creeping, or stop-and-go traffic. Overheating is indicated by the warning light and, if applicable, by a text message in the instrument cluster. An additional warning chime may sound. Stop and let the transmission cool down .
The vehicle does not move forward or in reverse even though a drive position is selected with the selector lever
If the vehicle does not move in the desired direction, the system may not have engaged the drive position correctly. Press the brake pedal and select the drive position again.
If the vehicle still does not move in the desired direction, there is a system malfunction. See your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance to have the system checked.
NOTE
- As soon as you get any of these warnings about transmission overheating, you must either park the vehicle in a safe place or drive faster than 12 mph (20 km/h).
- If the text message and acoustic warning repeat themselves every 10 seconds or so, you must park the vehicle in a safe place as soon as you can safely do so and stop the engine. Let the transmission cool down.
- To help prevent damage to the transmission, do not drive the vehicle again until the acoustic warning has stopped. As long as the engine is overheated, avoid stop and start driving and avoid low speeds (walking pace).
Emergency release for the selector lever lock
Fig. 106 Removing the selector gate cover.
Fig. 107 Releasing the selector lever lock.
If the power supply fails (due to a dead vehicle battery, for example) and the vehicle has to be pushed or towed, the emergency release must be used to move the selector lever to Neutral (N). You will need the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit to release the selector lever .
The emergency release is located under the selector gate cover on the right side when viewed in the driving direction.
Preparations
- Set the parking brake. If the parking brake cannot be set firmly, you must find another way to help prevent the vehicle from moving.
- Switch off the ignition.
Removing the selector gate cover
- Using your hands, pull upward on the cover around the selector lever sleeve .
- Slip the cover up and over the selector lever .
Emergency release for the selector lever
- Using the flat blade of the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit, carefully push down on the middle of the colored release lever in the direction of the arrow and hold it in this position.
- Press the release button in the selector lever handle and shift the selector lever to Neutral (N).
- Carefully press the selector gate cover back in place, making sure that the electrical wiring stays in the correct position and is not pinched or damaged.
WARNING
Never shift the transmission out of Park (P) without first firmly applying the parking brake. Otherwise, the vehicle can start to roll unexpectedly, especially on hills or inclines, and cause an accident and serious injuries.
NOTE
Even with the selector lever is in Neutral (N), the automatic transmission will be damaged if the vehicle is towed (or you let it coast) for an extended period or at high speed with the engine shut off.
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