2015 Volkswagen GTI Owners Manual - Emergency closing and opening

Emergency closing and opening

 Introduction to the subject

In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:

The doors and the rear hatch can be manually locked and, in some cases, unlocked if necessary, for instance because the power locking system or the remote control vehicle key malfunctions.

More information:

• Vehicle key set  

• Power locking system  

• Doors  

• Rear hatch  

• In an emergency  

WARNING

Serious injuries can result if the emergency closing and opening procedures are used carelessly.

• 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. This could result in people being trapped in the vehicle in an emergency.

• 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.

WARNING

Careless opening and closing of the doors, the rear hatch, and the power sunroof is dangerous and can cause serious personal injury.

• Open or close the doors, the rear hatch, and the power sunroof only when no one is in the way.

NOTE

To help prevent vehicle damage, carefully remove and properly reinstall parts after emergency locking or unlocking.

Manually unlocking and locking the driver door

Fig. 163 Door handle on driver door: Concealed lock cylinder (if applicable).

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first 

When locking the vehicle manually, all doors are locked. Keep the key turned in the locking position to close the windows and the power sunroof (convenience closing). When the vehicle is unlocked manually, only the driver door is unlocked. Keep the key turned in the unlocking position to open the windows and tilt the power sunroof. Note the instructions for the anti-theft alarm system  .

• Unfold the key bit from the remote control vehicle key  .

• If the vehicle has a concealed lock cylinder, insert the key bit from below into the opening of the cover cap on the driver door   (arrow) and lift the cover cap off. Grasping the door handle and pulling slightly makes it easier to remove the cap.

• Insert the key bit into the lock cylinder of the driver door and unlock or lock the door.

• Reinsert the cover cap from top to bottom and press until it clicks into place. Grasping the door handle and pulling slightly makes it easier to reinstall the cap.

Special considerations when unlocking:

• If the vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft alarm system, the system remains activated for the unlocked vehicle. But the alarm is not triggered at first  .

• Open the driver door. The alarm will sound.

• Switch on the ignition. The electronic immobilizer recognizes a valid remote control vehicle key when the ignition is switched on and deactivates the anti-theft alarm system.

The driver door can be unlocked separately from the inside the vehicle by pulling the door handle to open the door  .

The anti-theft alarm system, when installed, is not activated when the vehicle is locked manually with the key bit  .

Manually locking the passenger doors

Fig. 164 On the front side of the right rear door: Manual lock, covered by a rubber seal.

Fig. 165 On the front side of the right rear door: Locking the vehicle with the key bit in the vehicle key.

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first 

The passenger door and rear doors can each be locked manually. This will not activate the anti-theft alarm system, when installed.

• Open the door.

• Remove the rubber seal on the front side of the door. The seal is marked with a lock  .

• Unfold the key bit from the remote control vehicle key  .

• Insert the key bit into the slot  . On the passenger side doors, turn the key clockwise. On the driver side rear door, turn the key counterclockwise.

• Reinsert the rubber seal and completely close the door.

• Make sure that the door is locked.

• Repeat the procedure for other doors if necessary.

• Have the vehicle checked immediately by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

The vehicle doors can be unlocked and opened separately from inside the vehicle by pulling the door handle to open the door  .

Opening the rear hatch from inside the luggage compartment

Fig. 166 Inside the luggage compartment: Cover for the rear hatch release.

Fig. 167 Inside the luggage compartment: Opening the rear hatch.

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first 

• If necessary, fold the rear seat backrest forward  .

• Remove luggage in order to reach the rear hatch from the inside.

• Open the cover   by turning the release in the direction of the arrow.

• Unfold the key bit from the vehicle key fob  .

• Insert the key into the slot on the rear hatch   and press the release lever in the direction of the arrow to unlock the rear hatch. At the same time, push the rear hatch out until it opens.

Emergency release for the fuel filler flap

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first 

There is no emergency release for the fuel filler flap. Contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.

Emergency release for the selector lever lock

Fig. 168 Removing the selector gate cover.

Fig. 169 Releasing the selector lever lock (versions A and B).

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first 

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). Depending on the selector lever in your vehicle, you may 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

• Open the storage compartment in front of the selector lever  .

• Pull upward on the front of the selector lever cover to release it, then pull the selector lever sleeve upward  .

• Slip the cover up and over the selector lever  .

Emergency release for the selector lever (version A)

• With the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit, carefully push the release lever   A 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.

Emergency release for the selector lever (version B)

• Push the colored release lever   B 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.