Heating and air conditioning
Introduction to the subject
In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:
Your vehicle may have the following equipment:
- Manual air conditioning
- Climatronic
The manual air conditioning and the Climatronic climate control system help to cool and dehumidify the air. The systems are most effective when the windows and sunroof are closed.
On vehicles with Climatronic climate control, Climatronic information appears in the Climatronic display and/or on the screen of the factory-installed Infotainment system. If the box in the function key is checked , the function is switched on.
Air vents
To help ensure sufficient heating, cooling, and ventilation in the passenger compartment, never close the air vents completely .
- To open and close the air vents, turn the respective thumbwheel in the desired direction. When the thumbwheel is turned all the way toward position
, the air vent is closed.
- Use the lever on the vent grille to adjust the airflow direction.
Additional air vents are in the instrument panel, in the footwells, as well as in the rear area of the passenger compartment.
Some models also have an adjustable air vent inside the glove compartment .
Dust and pollen filter
The dust and pollen filter reduces the entry of pollutants into the passenger compartment.
The dust and pollen filter must be replaced at the intervals recommended in ⇒BookletWarranty and Maintenance, so that the air conditioner can work properly.
If the effectiveness of the filter decreases prematurely due to operating the vehicle where the outside air is heavily polluted, the dust and pollen filter should be replaced more frequently than indicated.
WARNING
Poor visibility increases the risk of collisions and other accidents that cause serious personal injuries.
- Always make sure all windows are clear of ice, snow and condensation for good visibility to the front, sides, and rear.
- Always make sure you know how to properly use the climate control system as well as the rear window defroster that you will need for good visibility.
- Wait until you have good visibility before driving off.
- Never use air recirculation for long periods of time. When the air conditioner is off and recirculation mode is on, condensation can quickly form on the windows and greatly reduce visibility.
- Always switch off recirculation mode when it is not needed.
WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces driver alertness, which can cause accidents, collisions and serious personal injury.
- Never switch off the fan for a long period of time and never use air recirculation for a long period of time because no fresh air will enter the passenger compartment.
NOTE
- If you think the air conditioner is not working properly or may be damaged, switch it off to help prevent more damage. Have the air conditioner checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
- Air conditioner repair requires specialized knowledge and special tools. Volkswagen recommends that you see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
- Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on. Smoke drawn into the ventilation system can leave residue on the evaporator and on the dust and pollen filter, resulting in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.
- The heating elements for the rear defroster are on the inside of the rear window. Do not put stickers over the heating elements on the inside of the rear window and never clean the inside of the windows with corrosive, acidic, or abrasive cleaning agents, materials, or chemicals that could damage the heating elements.
NOTE
Do not place food, medications, or other temperature-sensitive things in front of the air vents. Food, medications, and other things that are sensitive to heat or cold can be damaged or made unusable by the air flow from the vents.
The air coming out of the vents flows through the passenger compartment and through the air vents in the luggage compartment. Do not cover these slots with clothing or other things.
If the air conditioner is switched off, the fresh outside air will not be dehumidified. To help keep the windows from fogging over, Volkswagen recommends leaving the air conditioner (compressor) switched on. Press the button. The indicator light in the button must light up.
When it is very hot and humid outside, water condensation can drip from the air conditioner evaporator and form a puddle under the vehicle. This is normal and does not indicate a leak.
Keep the air intake slots in front of the windshield free of ice, snow, and leaves in order to maintain proper functioning of the heating and ventilation systems.
Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not possible until the engine has reached operating temperature.
Emergency starting and starting the engine with a very weak vehicle battery or after the vehicle battery has been replaced may change or delete system settings (including time, date, driver personalization, and programming). Check the settings and correct as necessary once the vehicle battery has built up a sufficient charge.
Certain settings are automatically saved by the driver personalization feature .
Overview of the climate controls
Fig. 91 In the center console: Manual controls.
Fig. 92 In the center console: Climatronic controls.
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
If a function is switched on, an indicator light in or under the button lights up.
– Settings in the Infotainment system (Climatronic only)
Press the button in the Climatronic controls to open the air conditioning settings in the Infotainment system. Tap the corresponding function key to switch a function on or off, or to select a submenu.
The current air conditioning settings are displayed in the upper section of the screen, for example, the temperatures that are currently set for the driver and passenger sides. Blue arrows indicate that cool air is flowing from the vents, while red arrows indicate that warm air is flowing from the vents.
The following menu items may be available, depending on vehicle equipment.
- Tap the
function key to set the air recirculation mode, depending on equipment.
- Tap the
function key to access options for adjusting the fan speed (
), switching the air conditioner on and off (
), adjusting the air distribution (
,
,
), and switching air recirculation mode on or off (
).
- Tap the function key in the upper left corner to access the Presets submenu, which includes options for automatic temperature control (
), maximum air conditioner cooling (
), or for maximum defog/defrost (
).
Switching the system off
- Press the
button.
- Manual air conditioning: Turn the fan knob to
.
- Climatronic: Turn the fan knob as far left as it will go
- OR: Press the
If the system is switched off, the indicator light in or under the button lights up.
– Synchronizing the temperature settings (Climatronic only)
- Press the
- OR: Press the
If the indicator light in the button lights up, the temperature settings for the driver side also apply to the passenger side. Pressing the
button or turning the temperature knob on the passenger side switches the feature off. The indicator light in the button goes out.
Automatic climate control and allergen filter (if equipped)
On appropriately equipped vehicles, the automatic climate control and allergen filter can help reduce the entry of pollutants and allergens into the passenger compartment with an additional filter.
When the feature is active, the climate control system's air recirculation mode switches on to the highest level possible without the windows fogging up, depending on the interior humidity and outside temperature. The air recirculation mode is automatically regulated and features continuous adjustment to help prevent driver and passenger fatigue .
- Press the
- Tap the Air Care function key on the Infotainment system screen.
- Switch the feature on and off by tapping the Active function key.
– Automatic regulation (Climatronic only)
- Press the
Automatic regulation controls temperature, fan speed, and air distribution. If you change the fan speed or air distribution manually, the automatic regulation switches off.
– Air conditioner
- Press the
- ORClimatronic: Press the
The air is dehumidified when the air conditioner is switched on.
– Maximum cooling
- Manual air conditioning: Turn the temperature knob all the way to the left (
- Climatronic: Press the
/ 
– Temperature
- Manual air conditioning: Turn the temperature knob to set the temperature.
- Climatronic: Turn the outside knobs to set different temperatures for the driver and passenger sides. The displays above the knobs ④ show the set temperature.
– Seat heating (if equipped)
- Press the
buttons to switch the seat heating on or off .
- Press the button repeatedly until the desired heating level is set.
...
– Fan speed
- Turn the middle knob or to adjust the fan speed.
- ORClimatronic: Press the
Climatronic: LEDs in the knob light up to indicate the current fan speed. When automatic regulation () is switched on, the fan speed is not indicated in the knob.
– Air recirculation mode
- Press the
- ORClimatronic: Press the
Air distribution
- Manual air conditioning: Turn the knob to direct air flow in the desired direction.
- Climatronic: Press the buttons to direct air flow in the desired direction. When automatic regulation (
: Air distribution to the upper instrument panel outlets.
: Air distribution to the footwells.
: Manual air conditioning: Air distribution to the upper instrument panel outlets and footwells.
: Manual air conditioning: Air distribution to the windshield and footwells.
: Air distribution to the windshield.
– Defog/defrost
- Manual air conditioning: Turn the right knob to position
- Climatronic: Press the
– Rear window defroster
- Press the
Recommended settings for manual air conditioning
- Switch off the air recirculation.
- Set the fan to
or
.
- Turn the temperature knob to the center position.
- Open and adjust all air vents in the instrument panel.
- Turn the air distribution knob to the desired setting.
- Press the
Recommended settings for Climatronic
- Press the
- Set the temperature to +72 °F (+22 °C).
- Open and adjust all air vents in the instrument panel .
WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces alertness, which can cause accidents, collisions, and serious personal injury.
- Never switch off the fan for a long time because no fresh air will enter the passenger compartment.
NOTE
To help prevent damage to the rear window defroster, do not place stickers over the heating lines inside the vehicle.
Air recirculation
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Air recirculation mode helps prevent outside air from entering the vehicle interior.
In very hot outside temperatures, temporarily switch to manual air recirculation in order to cool the vehicle interior faster.
Switching manual air recirculation on and off
- Press the
- OR: Press the
The indicator light under the button comes on when air recirculation mode is switched on.
Switching the automatic air recirculation mode on and off (if equipped)
In automatic air recirculation mode, fresh air enters the passenger compartment. If the system detects an increased concentration of pollutants in the outside air, it automatically switches to air recirculation. As soon as the pollutant level is back in the normal range, air recirculation is switched off. Unpleasant odors cannot be detected by the system.
- Press the
- Tap the general settings
- Switch automatic recirculation mode on or off by tapping the Automatic air recirculation function key.
If the box in the function key is checked , the automatic recirculation mode is switched on.
When does air recirculation mode switch off?
For safety reasons, air recirculation is switched off in the following situations :
- Manually: If the air distribution knob is turned to
- Automatically: If a sensor detects conditions that could cause the windows to fog up.
WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces driver alertness, which can cause accidents, collisions and serious personal injury.
- Never use air recirculation mode over an extended period of time, since no fresh air will enter the passenger compartment.
- When the air conditioner is off and recirculation mode is on, condensation can quickly form on the windows and greatly reduce visibility.
- Always switch off recirculation mode when it is not needed.
NOTE
Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on. Smoke drawn into the ventilation system can leave residue on the evaporator and on the dust and pollen filter, resulting in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.
Climatronic: When backing up and while the automatic wiper/washer is operating, air recirculation is briefly activated to help keep exhaust fumes from getting into the passenger compartment.
In very hot outside temperatures, temporarily switch to manual air recirculation in order to cool the vehicle interior faster.
Seat heating
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Your vehicle may be equipped with a seat heating feature for the front seats.
The seat heating switches off every time the ignition is switched off. If the ignition is switched back on, the seat heating on the driver and passenger seat may switch back on automatically to the previous setting.
Using seat heating
- Switching on: Press the
- Adjusting: Press the
- Switching off: Press the
When should seat heating not be used?
Do not use the seat heating if any of the following conditions apply:
- If you or a passenger suffers from a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain as from medication, paralysis, or chronic illness (e.g., diabetes) .
- If the seat is not being used.
- If there is a child restraint installed on the seat.
- If these is a blanket or seat cover on the seat.
- If the seat is damp or wet.
- If the outside temperature or the temperature inside the passenger compartment is +77 °F (+25 °C) or higher.
WARNING
Certain medical conditions, such as paralysis and diabetes, and certain medications can increase the risk of serious burns when the seat heating feature is switched on.
- Vehicle occupants who have a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain are at risk of serious burns to the back, buttocks, and legs that take a long time to heal or may never heal completely.
- Never use the seat heating feature if you or your passengers are at risk of being burned because of a medical condition. Take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly on long trips. Consult your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.
- Never let exposed skin remain in contact with the seat upholstery when the seat heating is being used.
WARNING
A wet seat can cause the seat heating to malfunction and increase the risk of serious burns.
- Always make sure the seats are dry before using the seat heating.
- Never sit on the seat with wet clothes.
- Never put damp or wet things including clothes on the seat.
- Never spill liquids on the seats.
NOTE
- To help prevent damage to electrical and other parts in the seat, do not kneel on the front seats or apply concentrated pressure to a small area of the seat or backrest.
- Liquids, sharp objects and things that do not let the heat in the seat escape into the air, including, for example, a child restraint, a blanket, or seat covers on the seat can damage seat heating.
- If you smell an odor, immediately shut off seat heating and have it checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
- Never install leather upholstery on a vehicle with seat heating that originally had cloth upholstery. The seat heating elements for seats with cloth seats will overheat if the cloth upholstery is replaced with leather upholstery.
Switch off seat heating when it is not needed to help reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.
Tips and troubleshooting
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
If the cooling system switches off automatically or will not switch on
The air conditioner only works when the engine is running and the outside temperature is above about +38 °F (+3 °C).
The air conditioner compressor switches off automatically when the engine is very warm.
- Switch on the fan.
- Check the fuse for the air conditioning system .
- If there is still cause for concern, have the air conditioner checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
If the heating system does not switch on or does not work as expected
The heating and defrost features are most effective when the engine is warm.
- If there is a cause for concern, have the system checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
If the windows fog up
- Keep the air intake slots in front of the windshield free of ice, snow, and leaves so that the heating and ventilation systems can work properly and to help prevent the windshield from fogging up.
- Do not cover the air vents in the rear of the luggage compartment so that air can flow through the passenger compartment from front to rear.
- Press the
Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not possible until the engine has reached operating temperature.
If the wrong temperature units are set
The inside and outside temperatures can be displayed in either Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C).
- Change the temperature units in the Vehicle settings menu in the Infotainment system .
If there is water under the vehicle
When it is very hot and humid outside, water condensation can drip from the air conditioner evaporator and form a puddle under the vehicle. This is normal and does not indicate a leak.