In the engine compartment
Introduction to the subject
In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:
Always position the vehicle on a firm and level surface before doing any work in the engine compartment.
The engine compartment of a vehicle is a hazardous area. Never do any work on the engine or in the engine compartment unless you
- know exactly how to carry out the job,
- have the correct technical information and the proper tools and supplies, and
- are familiar with the necessary safety precautions .
If you are uncertain in any way, have the work done by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work.
WARNING
Unintended vehicle movement during maintenance work can cause serious personal injuries.
- Never work under the vehicle unless you have safely secured the vehicle from moving. If you must work under the vehicle with the wheels on the ground, always make sure that the vehicle is on level ground, that all 4 wheels are chocked to keep them from moving, and that the key is not in the ignition.
- If you must work under a vehicle raised on a floor jack, always make sure that the vehicle is safely supported on safety stands intended for that purpose that are strong enough to support the weight of the vehicle. The jack supplied with the vehicle is not strong enough for this purpose and can collapse causing serious personal injury.
- The Start-stop system must be deactivated.
WARNING
The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially dangerous area and can cause serious personal injury.
- Always use extreme caution when doing any work in the engine compartment. Always follow commonly accepted safety practices and use common sense. Never risk personal injury.
- Never perform any work in the engine compartment unless you know exactly how to carry out the job and have the correct technical information and the correct tools.
- If you are uncertain about what to do, have the work performed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified workshop. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work.
- We strongly recommend that you always have headlights and H7 bulbs replaced by a qualified technician. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work.
- Never open or close the engine hood if steam or coolant is escaping. Hot steam or coolant can cause serious burns. Always wait until you no longer see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine.
- Always let the engine cool down completely before carefully opening the hood.
- Hot parts of the engine and the exhaust system will burn skin on contact.
- When the engine has cooled down and you are ready to open the hood:
- Set the parking brake and shift the transmission to Park (P) (automatic or DSG) or Neutral (manual only).
- Take the vehicle key out of the ignition.
- On vehicles with Keyless Access, make sure that the remote control vehicle key is out of range of the vehicle and that the vehicle cannot be started by depressing the starter button .
- Always keep children and others away from the engine compartment and never leave them unsupervised.
- The engine coolant system is under pressure when the engine is hot. Never unscrew the coolant expansion tank cap when the engine is hot. Hot coolant can spray out and cause severe burns and other serious injuries.
- Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counterclockwise direction while applying light downward pressure on the top of the cap.
- Always protect your face, hands, and arms from hot escaping coolant or steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
- Never spill fluids on the engine or exhaust system when refilling. Spilling fluids onto hot parts of the engine or exhaust system can cause a fire.
WARNING
High voltage systems in the engine compartment can cause electrical shocks or even electrocution, severe burns, other serious injuries, and even death!
- Never short-circuit the electrical system. Be especially careful when using jumper cables. The vehicle's battery could explode!
- To reduce the risk of electrical shock and personal injury while the engine is running or being started:
- Never touch ignition cables. Never touch other components of the high voltage electronic ignition system.
- Read and heed the important information and warnings on cleaning the engine compartment .
WARNING
Moving parts in the engine compartment can cause serious personal injury on contact.
- Never reach into the area around or touch the radiator fan. Contact with the blades can cause serious personal injury. Always remember that the radiator fan is temperature-controlled and can come on suddenly even when the engine has been switched off for a while and the key has been removed from the ignition.
- If you have to perform a check or repair when the engine is running, there are more risks from the rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., and from the high-voltage ignition system. Always use extreme care.
- Always make sure that jewelry, loose clothing and long hair do not get caught in rotating engine parts. Before starting any work remove your jewelry, take off your necktie, tie back and cover your hair, and do not wear clothing that can hang down and get caught in moving engine parts.
- Always use extreme caution if the accelerator pedal has to be depressed to perform a check. The vehicle will start to move if the transmission is in gear, even if the parking brake is on.
- Never leave any objects in the engine compartment, for example cleaning rags and tools. Objects left behind can cause malfunctions, engine damage, and even fires.
WARNING
Additional materials in the engine compartment such as blankets can interfere with the operation of the engine and can cause fires, which can lead to serious injuries.
- Never cover the engine with blankets or other materials.
WARNING
Operating fluids and some materials in the engine compartment can catch fire easily, causing burns and other serious personal injuries!
- Never smoke near the engine compartment.
- Never work next to open flames or sparks.
- Never pour or spill operating fluids or other flammable liquids on the engine. These fluids can ignite on hot engine parts and cause injuries.
- Before working on the vehicle's fuel system or 12 Volt electrical system:
- Always disconnect the 12 Volt vehicle battery. Note that if the vehicle is locked when the 12 Volt vehicle battery is disconnected, the anti-theft alarm system will sound .
- Never work near a furnace, water heater, or other open flame.
- Always have a functional, approved fire extinguisher nearby.
NOTE
When changing or topping off fluids, make sure that you pour the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Adding the wrong type of operating fluids will cause serious malfunctions and engine damage.
Fluid leaks and spills are harmful to the environment. Regularly check the ground underneath your vehicle for this reason. If you find spots of oil or other fluids, have your vehicle checked by your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Dispose of leaked operating fluids properly.
Preparing to work in the engine compartment
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Checklist
Before any work in the engine compartment, carry out the following steps in the order in which they are listed :
Park the vehicle in a safe place on a firm, level surface.
-
Hold the brake pedal down until the engine is switched off.
-
Shift the transmission to Park (P) (automatic or DSG) or Neutral (manual only) Automatic and DSG® transmission.
-
Set the parking brake to help prevent the vehicle from moving Using the parking brake (Golf, Golf GTI) or Using the electronic parking brake (Golf R) (depending on equipment).
-
Stop the engine and remove the key from the ignition switch or turn off the ignition with the starter button and remove the key from the vehicle Starting and stopping the engine.
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Let the engine cool down sufficiently.
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Keep children and others away from the vehicle.
-
Make sure the vehicle cannot move unexpectedly.
WARNING
Disregarding the safety-related checklist may result in serious injuries.
- Always review and follow the checklist. Follow accepted safety practices and use common sense.
Opening or closing the engine compartment
Fig. 172 In the footwell on the driver side: Inside engine hood release lever.
Fig. 173 Above the radiator grille: Outside engine hood release.
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Opening the engine hood
- Before you open the hood, make sure that the windshield wiper arms are resting on the windshield .
- Open the driver door and pull the inside hood release lever in the direction of the arrow . The engine hood is released from its latch by a spring .
- Push the outside hood release lever (arrow) and lift the hood all the way up. A gas-pressure strut will hold the hood up.
Closing the engine hood
- Pull the hood down to overcome the resistance of the gas-pressure strut .
- Lower the engine hood by hand until it is about 8 in. (20 cm) above its latch and then let it drop into place to latch it. Do not push down on it afterwards!
If the hood does not close completely, open it again and close it properly.
When the hood is properly closed, you can see that it fits flush with the other body parts. The display in the instrument cluster no longer indicates that the engine hood is open .
WARNING
If the hood is not closed properly, it could fly up and block your view while you are driving. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.
- After closing the engine hood, check that the hood release lever is properly latched into the hood latch. The engine hood must be flush with the surrounding auto body parts.
- If you ever notice that the hood latch is not properly secured when the vehicle is moving, stop at once and close it.
- Never let anyone get in the way of the hood when closing it.
NOTE
- Make sure the windshield wipers are switched off and the windshield wiper arms are resting on the windshield before you open the hood. Otherwise, the windshield wipers and the hood may be damaged.
- Always put the windshield wiper arms down against the windshield before driving the vehicle.
NOTE
Before opening or closing the engine hood, make sure there is enough room to do so, for example when the vehicle is in a garage.
Display
Fig. 174 In the instrument cluster display: Engine hood open or not properly closed.
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
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.
If the engine hood is not closed properly, the vehicle icon appears in the instrument cluster display indicating the engine hood is open . Stop! Open and close the engine hood again.
The icon may still be displayed even after the ignition is switched off. The instrument cluster display goes out a short time after the vehicle has been locked.
WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights or other warnings can 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.
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