Power locking system
Introduction to the subject
In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:
The power locking system works properly only when all doors and the trunk lid are completely closed. When the driver door is open, the vehicle cannot be locked with the remote control vehicle key.
For vehicles equipped with Keyless Access with push-button start, the vehicle can be locked only if the ignition is switched off and the driver door is closed.
WARNING
Improper use of power locks can result in serious personal injury.
- The power locking button locks all doors. Locking the doors from the inside can help prevent unintended door opening during a collision and can also prevent unwanted entry from the outside. Locked doors can, however, delay assistance to vehicle occupants and rescue from the outside in an accident or other emergency.
- Never leave children or anyone who cannot help themselves behind in the vehicle. All doors can be locked from the inside with the power lock button. This could leave people trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. Depending on the time of year, people trapped in the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.
- A closed vehicle can become very hot or very cold, depending on the season. Particularly in the summer, 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. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness and death, particularly to small children.
- Never allow passengers to remain in a locked vehicle. In an emergency any person still inside the vehicle might not be able to get out.
Indicator light in the driver door
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The indicator light for the power locking system is in the driver door .
If the vehicle is locked: The red LED light flashes for about 2 seconds in short intervals, then slower.
If there is a locking system malfunction: Red LED light flashes for about 2 seconds in short intervals, then lights up continuously for about 30 seconds. See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
NOTE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Description of the power locking system
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
The power locking system lets you unlock and lock all doors and the trunk lid.
The doors can be locked manually if the remote control vehicle key or the power locking system is not working .
When the vehicle is locked from the outside, the fuel filler flap is also locked.
Special functions of the power locking system can be turned on or off by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Automatic locking (Auto lock)
The vehicle locks automatically when it reaches a speed of about 10 mph (15 km/h). When the vehicle is locked, the indicator light comes on in the power locking button .
Automatic unlocking (Auto unlock)
Auto unlock works only if the vehicle has been automatically locked with the Auto lock feature. When one of the following conditions is met, the doors will unlock automatically.
- The selector lever is in Park (P).
- OR: The ignition is switched off.
- OR: You open a door from inside the vehicle.
- OR: The airbags inflate after a collision .
The indicator light goes out in the power locking button when the doors unlock .
Automatic unlocking after airbag inflation allows emergency responders to access the vehicle.
If the remote control vehicle key buttons or the power locking buttons are pushed repeatedly in quick succession, the power locking system is switched off for a brief period to help keep it from being overloaded. During this period, the vehicle can be unlocked only once. After several seconds, the power locking system is switched back on and the vehicle can be locked again.
Unlocking or locking the vehicle from the outside
Fig. 48 Remote control vehicle key with panic button.
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- To unlock: Press the
button on the remote control vehicle key.
- To lock: Press the
button on the remote control vehicle key.
- For vehicles with Keyless Access: Touch the sensors . One or all doors will be unlocked.
- To unlock the trunk lid: Press the
button on the remote control vehicle key .
Note: Depending on the central remote control settings, it may be necessary to press the button on the remote control vehicle key twice to unlock all doors and the trunk lid. If you would like to have these settings changed, please see your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
The vehicle key unlocks or locks the vehicle only when the battery in the remote control vehicle key has enough power, and the remote control vehicle key is within a few yards/meters of the vehicle.
- All turn signals flash once to confirm that the vehicle has been locked. If you press the
- All turn signals flash twice to confirm that the vehicle has been unlocked.
If the turn signals do not flash to confirm locking, one or more doors or the trunk lid may be open.
If the driver door is open, the vehicle cannot be locked with the remote control vehicle key.
If the vehicle was unlocked with the remote control vehicle key and the door or the trunk lid has not been opened within several seconds, the vehicle is automatically locked again. This feature helps prevent you from leaving the vehicle unlocked unintentionally.
NOTE
Check to make sure that the windows go down slightly when you unlock the vehicle. Otherwise the windows and seals could be damaged when opening the door.
Unlocking or locking the vehicle from the inside
Fig. 49 In the vehicle doors: Power locking button.
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Key to :
- Unlock the vehicle.
- Lock the vehicle.
The power locking button works whether the ignition is switched on or off but only when all doors are closed.
If the vehicle is locked with the vehicle key, the power locking button is deactivated.
If the vehicle is locked with the power locking button:
- The yellow indicator light
- If the vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft alarm, the system is not turned on.
- Opening doors or the trunk lid from the outside is not possible, at a traffic light, for example.
- Doors can be unlocked and opened separately from inside the vehicle by pulling the door handle to open the door. The indicator light
- An open driver door will not be locked. This helps keep the driver from being locked out of the vehicle.
The vehicle is unlocked if you push the button while the vehicle is standing still. It also unlocks when you switch off the ignition or open a door from inside the vehicle (Auto unlock). On vehicles with automatic transmission, the doors will also unlock when the selector lever is in Park (P). Auto unlock works only if the vehicle has been automatically locked with the Auto lock feature.
Unlocking or locking the vehicle with Keyless Access
Fig. 50 Ranges of the Keyless Access system. Outside the vehicle: Unlocking range. Inside the vehicle: Starting range.
Fig. 51 Keyless Access system: Unlocking and locking sensors on the outside door handle.
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Key to :
Unlocking sensor
Locking sensor
Your vehicle may be equipped with Keyless Access with push-button start, a keyless starting and locking system that unlocks and locks the vehicle without active use of a remote control vehicle key. All you have to do is touch a sensor surface on one of the outside door handles or push the Volkswagen emblem on the trunk lid when a valid remote control vehicle key is within range .
General information
When a valid vehicle key comes within range , the Keyless Access system recognizes a valid vehicle entry request as soon as a door handle sensor is touched or the Volkswagen emblem on the trunk lid is pressed. The following functions are then enabled without active use of the remote control vehicle key:
- Keyless Entry: Unlock the vehicle with the sensor surfaces on the outside door handles of the driver or passenger door or by using the Volkswagen emblem on the trunk lid.
- Keyless Go: Start the engine and drive. Press the brake pedal (and clutch pedal, if equipped) and the starter button when a valid remote control vehicle key is inside the vehicle .
- Keyless Exit: Lock the vehicle with the sensor on the door handles on the driver or passenger door .
All turn signals flash twice to confirm that the vehicle has been unlocked and once to confirm that it has been locked.
If the vehicle is unlocked and within the next several seconds no door or the trunk lid has been opened, the vehicle is automatically locked again.
To help prevent you from locking yourself out, the vehicle will not lock immediately in the following situation:
- When you press the lock button on the remote control vehicle key when a passenger door or the trunk lid is still open, and
- You leave the remote control vehicle key you just used inside the vehicle when you close all doors and the trunk lid.
The vehicle does not fully lock. All turn signals flash four times. Take the remote control vehicle key out of the vehicle and lock the vehicle again.
If the vehicle is unlocked, it will lock again after a short time if you do not open one of the doors or the trunk lid.
Unlocking and opening doors (Keyless Entry)
- Grasp the door handle of the driver or front passenger door so that you touch the unlocking sensor surface .
- Open the door.
Closing and locking doors (Keyless Exit)
Always switch off the engine and ignition and take the vehicle key with you.
- Close the driver door.
- Touch the sensor surface in the door handle on the driver or front passenger door one time. The vehicle is locked. The door being locked must be closed.
Unlocking and locking the trunk lid
If the vehicle is locked and a valid remote control vehicle key is within range of the trunk lid, it unlocks automatically when opened.
Open and close the trunk lid as you would a standard trunk lid .
The trunk lid locks automatically when it is closed except in the following situations:
- The vehicle is completely unlocked.
- The most recently used vehicle key is inside the vehicle. All turn signals flash four times.
Locking with a second vehicle key
If a remote control vehicle key is inside the passenger compartment, the vehicle can be locked from the outside only if a second valid remote control vehicle key is within range.
When the vehicle is locked from the outside, the keyless go (starting) function of any keys left in the passenger compartment will be deactivated . A key that was inside the vehicle when it was locked from the outside can be reactivated by pressing the button on the deactivated key .
Automatic deactivation of sensors
If the vehicle has not been unlocked or locked for a longer period of time, the sensors in the door handles are automatically switched off.
If a sensor on the door handle of a locked vehicle is touched too often, for instance by a bush or hedge that rubs against the vehicle, that sensor may be switched off for a short time.
The door handle sensors switch on again if one of the following events occurs:
- A short time has passed.
- OR: The vehicle is unlocked using the
- OR: The trunk lid is opened.
- OR: The vehicle is mechanically unlocked with the vehicle key.
Temporarily deactivating Keyless Access
To help prevent the vehicle from being unlocked and started by an unauthorized person, Keyless Access can be temporarily deactivated.
- Lock the vehicle with the
- Within 5 seconds, touch the lock sensor surface on the door handle on the driver or passenger door .
- Keyless Access is now temporarily deactivated.
- To check that Keyless Access is deactivated, wait at least 10 seconds and then pull the door handle. The door should not open.
The vehicle can only be unlocked with the remote control vehicle key. Keyless Access is automatically reactivated after the vehicle has been unlocked.
Convenience features (Beetle Coupe models only)
Your vehicle may be equipped with the convenience closing feature.
To use the convenience closing feature to close all power windows and the sunroof, hold your finger on the lock sensor surface on the outside of the door handle for a few seconds until the windows and sunroof close.
Remove your finger from the lock sensor surface to stop the function. If you touch the unlock sensor surface Ⓐ on the inside of the door handle immediately after releasing the lock sensor surface Ⓑ, the windows and sunroof will open (safety function).
Pinch protection is active during convenience closing of the windows and the power sunroof.
NOTE
The door handle sensor surfaces can be activated by a strong stream of water or steam if a valid vehicle key is within range of the vehicle.
- All windows may open if you turn the spray of water or steam away from and then back onto the door handle sensor surface in quick succession. If at least one power window is opened and the sensor is continuously activated, convenience closing is started (Beetle Coupe models only).
The door may not open if the outside and inside door handles are used at the same time.
If the vehicle battery or the battery in the remote control vehicle key is weak or dead, it might not be possible to unlock and lock the vehicle using Keyless Access. The vehicle can still be manually locked or unlocked with the key bit .
To help make sure that the vehicle stays locked after you press the locking sensor on the door handle, the unlocking function on that door handle switches off for about 2 seconds after locking the vehicle.
A driver information message may appear in the instrument cluster display if there is a Keyless Access system malfunction. See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.
A driver information message appears in the instrument cluster display if there is no remote control vehicle key inside the vehicle or if the system does not recognize the remote control vehicle key. The key may not be recognized, for example, if it is covered by something that interferes with the signal (such as a briefcase), or if the remote control vehicle key battery is weak. Electronic devices such as mobile phones can also interfere with the signal.
Dirt on the door handles that contains a lot of salt (especially in winter) can affect the way the door handle sensors work. Cleaning the door handles can help with this problem .
If the automatic transmission is not in Park (P) position, the electronic steering column lock will not lock and the vehicle will not lock via sensors in the front door handles or the remote control vehicle key.
By touching the unlocking sensor surface twice in a row, the entire vehicle will unlock, even if a single door was already unlocked.
Anti-theft alarm system
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Your vehicle may be equipped with an anti-theft alarm system or pre-equipped for anti-theft alarm system installation. If the vehicle is pre-equipped for installation of the anti-theft alarm system, the alarm system can be retrofitted by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
The anti-theft alarm system makes it more difficult for someone to break into or steal the vehicle.
The anti-theft alarm system is automatically activated when the vehicle is locked by pressing the lock button on the remote control vehicle key.
When is the alarm triggered?
The anti-theft alarm system sounds for about 30 seconds and the turn signals flash for up to 5 minutes if the following occurs with respect to the locked vehicle:
- A door unlocked mechanically with the vehicle key bit is opened.
- Forcibly opening a door.
- Forcibly opening the engine hood.
- Forcibly opening the trunk lid.
- Switching on the ignition with an invalid key (a short alarm may sound).
- Disconnecting the 12 Volt vehicle battery.
Deactivating the alarm
- Unlock the vehicle with the unlock button
- OR: Switch on the ignition with a valid remote control vehicle key.
- For vehicles with Keyless Access: Grasp one of the front door handles when a valid vehicle key is in range.
After the alarm has stopped and the vehicle is opened again in the same or a different area that is protected by the alarm, the alarm is triggered again. For example, the alarm will sound again if the trunk lid is opened after one of the doors has been opened.
The anti-theft alarm system is not activated when the vehicle is locked with the power locking button on the inside of the driver or front passenger doors.
If the driver door is mechanically unlocked using the vehicle key bit, only the driver door is unlocked, not the entire vehicle. Switching on the ignition deactivates the anti-theft alarm system and activates the central locking button. To unlock the doors, use the central locking button or remote control vehicle key.
If the vehicle battery is dead or weak, the anti-theft alarm system will not work properly.
Locking the vehicle after airbag inflation
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If the airbags are activated during a collision, the entire vehicle is unlocked. Depending on the severity of the damage, the vehicle can be locked after a collision when the airbags have deployed as follows:
Locking the vehicle from the inside or with the remote control vehicle key
- Switch the ignition off.
- Open and close a door once.
- Press the
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