2019 Volkswagen Beetle Owners Manual - Parking

Parking

Please note legal regulations when stopping and parking your vehicle.

Parking the vehicle

Please perform these steps only in the order listed.

• Stop the vehicle on a suitable surface  .

• Press the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a complete stop; leave your foot on the brake pedal and continue to hold it down.

• Automatic transmission: Shift the transmission to Park (P).

• Apply the parking brake to help prevent the vehicle from moving  .

• Make sure that the red indicator light  or  in the instrument cluster lights up.

• Switch off the engine and then take your foot off the brake pedal.

• If necessary, remove the vehicle key from the ignition.

• If necessary, turn the steering wheel slightly to engage the steering column lock.

• Make sure all passengers and especially children leave the vehicle.

• Take all vehicle keys with you when leaving your vehicle.

• Lock the vehicle.

On hills

Before stopping the engine, turn the steering wheel so that, if the vehicle starts to roll, its front wheels will roll into the curb:

• When facing downhill, turn the front wheels so that they point toward the curb.

• When facing uphill, turn the front wheels so that they point away from the curb.

WARNING

The vehicle exhaust system and the catalytic converter get very hot. They can cause fires and serious personal injury.

• Never park where the hot exhaust system could ignite flammable materials, such as brush, leaves, dry grass, spilled fuel, etc.

WARNING

Leaving the vehicle when the selector lever is not in Park (P) (automatic transmissions) can cause the vehicle to roll away. This can cause accidents and serious personal injuries.

• Always follow the correct order to stop the engine  .

• When leaving the vehicle, always move the selector lever to Park (P), engage the parking brake, and pay attention to the warning messages in the instrument cluster display at all times.

WARNING

Driving with bad brakes or worn brake pads can cause a collision and serious personal injury.

• If the brake pads are worn or you notice changes in the way the vehicle brakes, immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the brake pads checked and, if necessary, replaced.

WARNING

Parking improperly can cause serious personal injury.

• Never remove the key from the ignition switch or turn off the ignition with the starter button while the vehicle is moving or rolling to a stop. The electronic steering column could suddenly lock, you would not be able to steer, and you could lose control of the vehicle, crash, and seriously injure yourself and others.

• Never park the vehicle where the hot exhaust system or catalytic converter could ignite flammable materials, such as brush, leaves, dry grass, spilled fuel, etc.

• Always apply the parking brake when parking your vehicle.

• Improper use of the parking brake can seriously injure you and your passengers.

• Never use the parking brake to slow down the vehicle when it is moving, except in an emergency. The stopping distance is much longer because only the rear wheels are braked. Always use the foot brake to stop the vehicle.

• Never activate the throttle manually from the engine compartment when the engine is running and the automatic transmission is in gear. The vehicle will start to move as soon as the engine speed increases even if the parking brake is on.

• Never leave children or anyone who cannot help themselves behind in the vehicle. They could release the parking brake and move the gear selector lever or gear shift, which could cause the vehicle to start moving. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.

• Always switch off the engine and the ignition and take the key with you when you leave the vehicle. If the key is available, the engine can be started and vehicle systems such as the power windows can be operated, leading to serious personal injury.

• Never leave children, disabled persons, or anyone who cannot help themselves in the vehicle. The doors can be locked with the remote control vehicle key, trapping passengers in the vehicle in an emergency. For example, depending on the time of year, people trapped in the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.

• Heat buildup 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, particularly in summer. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness and death, particularly to small children.

NOTE

• Always be careful when you park in areas with parking barriers or high curbs. These vary in height and could damage your bumper and related parts if the front of your vehicle hits a barrier or curb that is too high while you are getting into or out of a parking spot. To help prevent damage, stop before the tires of your vehicle touch a parking barrier or curb.

• Always be careful when you enter a driveway or drive up or down steep ramps or over curbs or other obstacles. Parts of the vehicle close to the ground may be damaged (such as bumper covers, spoilers, and parts of the engine, suspension, and exhaust systems).

• Always close the convertible top (if equipped) before leaving the vehicle and when it may rain or snow. If the convertible top is open, rain or snow can damage the vehicle interior and can cause extensive damage to the electrical system.

Warning and indicator lights

Lights up	Possible cause or meaning	Proper response
	Brake system malfunction.	Stop! Get professional assistance immediately  .
	Brake fluid level too low.	Stop! Check the brake fluid level  .
	Together with the ABS indicator light  or : ABS failure.	See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. The vehicle brakes will work without ABS.
	Brake pedal not depressed.	Depress the brake pedal to select a gear or drive position.

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.

WARNING

Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal injury.

• If the brake warning light  or  does not go out, or lights up when driving, either the brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there is a fault in the brake system. Stop the vehicle as soon as you can do so safely and get expert assistance  .

• If the brake warning light  or  lights up at the same time as the ABS warning light  or , the ABS may not be working properly. This could cause the rear wheels to lock up relatively quickly during braking. Rear wheel brake lock-up can cause loss of vehicle control.

• If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, drive slowly and very carefully to the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer, authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or other qualified workshop and have the brake system inspected. Avoid sudden hard braking and steering.

• If the ABS indicator light  or  does not go out, or if it lights up while driving, the ABS system is not working properly. The vehicle can then be stopped only with the standard brakes (without ABS). You will not have the protection ABS provides. Contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility as soon as possible.

• If the brake pads are worn or you notice changes in the way the vehicle brakes, immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the brake pads checked and, if necessary, replaced.

NOTE

Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.