Heating and air conditioning
Introduction to the subject
In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:
Manual air conditioning and Climatronic
Your vehicle is equipped with either a manual air conditioning climate control system or a Climatronic climate control system.
On vehicles with Climatronic climate control, Climatronic information appears in the Climatronic display and/or on the screen of the factory-installed Infotainment system.
The dust and pollen filter
The dust and pollen filter with an activated carbon insert 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.
More information:
- Exterior views
- Passenger compartment
- Volkswagen Information System
- Infotainment system
- Seat functions
- Windshield wipers and washer
- Starting and stopping the engine
- Exterior care and cleaning
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.
- Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not possible until the engine has reached operating temperature. Wait until you have good visibility before driving off.
- 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.
- 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 active carbon filter, resulting in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.
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, personal convenience settings, and programming). Check the settings and correct as necessary once the vehicle battery has built up a sufficient charge.
Manual controls
Fig. 146 In the center console: Manual air conditioning controls.
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Press the corresponding button to switch a function on or off. If a function is switched on, an indicator light under the button lights up. To switch off a function, press the button again.
| Button/Knob | More information: Manual air conditioning |
|---|---|
| Temperature ① |
Turn knob to set the desired temperature. The |
| Fan ② |
Setting 0: the fan and manual air conditioning are switched off. Setting 6: highest fan speed. |
| Air distribution ③ | Direct airflow by turning knob to any setting (continuously adjustable). |
| Defog/defrost: Airflow is directed to the windshield. Recirculation mode switches off automatically in this position. Increases the fan speed to clear the windshield as quickly as possible. The cooling system switches on automatically to dehumidify the air. | |
| Air distribution to the upper instrument panel outlets. | |
| Air distribution to the upper instrument panel outlets and footwells. | |
| Air distribution to the footwells. | |
| Air distribution to the windshield and footwells. | |
| Rear window defroster: Works only when the engine is running and switches off automatically after 10 minutes or less. | |
| Air recirculation mode . | |
| Buttons for seat heating . | |
| Press the button to switch the air conditioner on or off. | |
| Press the button for maximum air conditioner cooling. The air recirculation and cooling system are switched on automatically and the air distribution is automatically set to position |
|
| Press the |
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.
Climatronic controls
Fig. 147 In the center console: Climatronic controls.
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
Press the corresponding button to switch a function on or off. If a function is switched on, an indicator light in or under the button lights up. To switch off a function, press the button again.
| Button/Knob | More information: Climatronic . |
|---|---|
| Temperature ① |
Left and right sides of the vehicle can be set to different temperatures. Turn the knob to set the temperature. |
| Fan ② |
The fan speed is automatically controlled depending on the vehicle speed in order to help prevent unnecessary noise. The fan can also be adjusted manually. |
| Air distribution ③ | Air flow is automatically adjusted to a comfortable level. It can also be manually adjusted with buttons . |
| Displays ④ | Left-side and right-side digital temperature displays. |
| Defog/defrost button. The incoming outside air is directed to the windshield, and air recirculation automatically switches off. To defrost the windshield as quickly as possible, humidity is removed from the air at temperatures above about +35 °F (+1.5 °C), and the blower is set to a high speed. | |
| Air distribution to the upper instrument panel outlets. | |
| Air distribution to the footwells. | |
| Air is directed upward. | |
| Rear window defroster: Works only when the engine is running and switches off automatically after 10 minutes or less. | |
| Manual and automatic air recirculation . | |
| Buttons for seat heating . | |
| Press the button to switch the air conditioner on or off. | |
| Press the button for maximum air conditioner cooling. The air recirculation and cooling system are switched on automatically and the air distribution is automatically set to position |
|
| Applies the temperature settings for the driver side to the passenger side: If the indicator light in the Press the button or turn the temperature knob for the passenger side to set a different temperature for the passenger side. The indicator light in the button goes out. |
|
| Automatic temperature control, fan speed, and air distribution. Press the |
|
| Press the button to open the air conditioning settings in the Infotainment system . | |
| Press the OR: Turn the blower switch to the left as far as it will go. OR: Switch off using the Infotainment system . |
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.
Operation via the Infotainment system
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
For vehicles equipped with the Climatronic climate control system, various settings can also be adjusted via the Infotainment system.
Opening the Air conditioning menu
- Press the
button.
- OR: Tap the MENU function key on the Infotainment system. Use the right-hand rotary/push knob to select and open the Air conditioning menu.
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. Set temperatures up to +72 °F (+22 °C) are shown with blue arrows, while temperatures above +72 °F (+22 °C) are shown with red arrows.
Tap the corresponding function key to switch a function on or off, or to select a submenu.
| Function key | Effect |
|---|---|
| Switches off the Climatronic. | |
| Switches on the Climatronic. | |
| Setup |
Opens the submenu for air conditioning settings. The following settings can be made: |
| Set the blower output in AUTO mode. You can choose between light, medium, and strong. | |
| Tap the Automatic air recirculation function key to switch automatic air recirculation on and off. | |
| Tap the function key |
Operation
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
The air conditioner works only when the ignition is switched on. The cooling system for the passenger compartment works only when the engine is running and the fan is on.
The air conditioner is most efficient when the windows and the power sunroof are closed. If the vehicle is stationary and the passenger compartment becomes very hot due to sunlight, briefly opening the windows and the power sunroof may speed up the cooling process.
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.
Settings for optimum visibility
When you switch on the cooling system, both the temperature and humidity in the vehicle are reduced. This will help make passengers feel more comfortable and help keep the windows from fogging up.
For manual air conditioning
- Switch off the air recirculation .
- Set the fan to the desired speed.
- 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.
- Push the
button to turn on the air conditioner. The indicator light in the button lights up.
For Climatronic
- Press the
button.
- Set the temperature to +72 °F (+22 °C).
- Open and adjust all air vents in the instrument panel .
Climatronic: Changing the temperature units
The inside and outside temperatures can be displayed in either Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C).
Press and hold the and
buttons to switch the Climatronic temperature display from Celsius to Fahrenheit and vice versa.
On appropriately equipped vehicles, you can also change the units in the Infotainment system by pressing the button followed by the
and Units function keys .
Heating
Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not possible until the engine has reached operating temperature.
Air conditioner does not work
The air conditioner may not switch on for one of the following reasons:
- The engine is not running.
- The fan is switched off.
- The air conditioner fuse has blown.
- The outside air temperature is colder than about +38 °F (+3 °C).
- The air conditioner compressor has been temporarily switched off due to excessive engine coolant temperature.
- There is another malfunction in the vehicle. Have the air conditioner checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Special considerations
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.
The climate control system adjusts the passenger compartment temperature as fast as possible considering the outside temperature.
Due to residual moisture in the air conditioner, the windshield may fog up after the engine is started. Switch on the windshield defroster to help evaporate the condensation as quickly as possible.
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.
Air vents
Fig. 148 In the instrument panel: Air vents.
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
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 (magnified view) 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, non-adjustable air vents are located in the instrument panel , in the footwells, as well as in the rear area of the passenger compartment.
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.
Air recirculation
Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first
General information
There are different types of air recirculation:
| Manual air recirculation. | |
| Automatic air recirculation mode (Climatronic only). | |
The 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.
For safety reasons, air recirculation is switched off if you push the button or the air distribution knob is turned to
.
Switching manual air recirculation on and off
Switching on: Press the button. The indicator light under the button lights up.
Switching off: Press the button. The indicator light under the button goes out.
Switching the automatic air recirculation mode on and off: Climatronic
- Press the
- Touch the
function key.
- Switch automatic recirculation mode on or off by touching the Automatic air recirculation function key.
If the box in the function key is checked , the automatic recirculation mode is switched on.
Features of automatic air recirculation mode
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.
To prevent condensation from forming on the windows, air recirculation does not automatically switch on in certain situations.
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 active carbon 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.
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