Towing
Introduction
In this section you’ll find information about:
Towing on a commercial tow truck
Tips on towing
Installing the front towing eye
Installing the rear towing eye
Driving tips while towing
Observe legal requirements when towing.
Your vehicle is equipped with a trailer package.
For technical reasons:
A vehicle with a dead battery must never be towed;
It is not possible to tow-start or push -start your vehicle.
Vehicles with Keyless Access may only be towed with the ignition on.
Towing the vehicle when the engine is turned off and the ignit ion i s turne d on drains th e vehicle
battery. Depending on the charge level of the vehicle battery, it is possible that even after just a few
minutes, electrical devices such as the emergency flashers may not have the power necessary to
function. The steering wheel might lock in vehicles with Keyless Access ⇒
.
More information:
Exterior views Engine control and emission control syste m
WARNING
.
Never tow a vehicle without any electrical power.
Never remove the remote control vehicle key from the ignition sw itch while the vehicle is
moving. The electronic steering column lock could suddenly engage, and you would not b e
able to steer or control the vehicle. You can l os e c ontr ol of the vehicle, crash, and seriously
injure yourself and others.
If the vehicle loses power while it is being towed, stop towi ng the vehicle immediately and
contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for
assistance.
WARNING
.
Towing a vehicle changes the way it handles an d br akes. To help reduce the risk of an
accident and serious personal injury, note the following:
The driver of the vehicle that is being towed:
– Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is stopped, you will need
to press harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Always be alert so as not to rearend towing vehicle.
– Will have to use considerable more force to turn the steering wheel because the power
steering is not working.
The driver of the vehicle that is doing the towing:
– Must accelerate gradually and gently and avoid jerking movements.
– Must not brake hard or steer sharply.
– Must brake earlier and more gently than in normal driving.
WARNING
.
Never let the vehicle be towed unless its electrical syst em is working and the ignition is
switched on. Otherwise, the steering column lock may engage, causing loss of control, a
crash, and serious personal injuries.
NOTICE
.
Be CAReful not to damage the paint when installing and removing the towing eye and the
cover for the threaded hole behind the bumper.
Unburned fuel can get into the catalytic con ver ter d ur i ng towing and damage it.
NOTICE
.
The vehicle may be damaged if it is towed w i th a to w rope or a tow bar.
Never let the vehicle be towed with a tow rope or a tow bar unless it is absolutely
necessary.
If the vehicle breaks down, it can only be towed by a special tow truck.
Towing on a commercial tow truck
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
To help avoid damaging the vehicle, have it towed only by a professional towing company. Read and
heed the following information:
General information
Never let the vehicle be towed at speeds a bove 30 mph (50 km/h).
Never let the vehicle be towed for more than 30 mi (50 km).
Towing automatic transmission vehicles
Release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission into Neutral (N).
Tow the vehicle only with its front wheels off the ground ⇒ .
Special towing instructions for vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)
To help prevent unnecessary damage, vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) must be
transported on a flat-bed truck.
To load the vehicle on the flat bed, use the towing eye found in the vehi cle tool kit and attach it to
the front anchorage.
When not to tow your vehicle
If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to your vehicle, it must be moved with
the drive wheels off the ground. The vehicle can only be towed if its ignition is swi tched on and its
electrical system is operating. In the following situations, the vehicl e can not b e towed at all and must
be transported on a flatbed truck o r trailer:
If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
If the vehicle battery is dead (because the steering is locked and the elect ro nic p arking brake and
the electronic steering column lock cannot be released if engaged).
If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).
WARNING
.
It is not safe for children or other persons to ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
Never let children or anyone else remain in the vehicle while it is being towed.
NOTICE
.
The drive axle rotates while the vehicle is being towed with its rear wheels off the ground. This
can damage the automatic transmission.
Never tow automatic transmission vehicle with the rear wheels off the ground.
Tips on towing
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
Towing eye; tow rope or tow bar
A towing eye is included in your vehicle's tool kit. This can be inse rte d in a threade d hole in the front
bumper and used when your vehicle is being towed by another vehicle. On most vehicles, there is
another threaded hole in the rear bumper, so you can use the towing eye to tow other vehicles as well.
Towing a vehicle with a tow bar is safer and easier on both vehicles than using a tow rope. A tow rope
should be used only if a tow bar is not available.
The tow rope should be flexible enough to help protec t both vehicles from damage. Use a synthetic
fiber rope or similar rope.
Attach the tow rope or tow bar only to the towing eye included in the ve h i cle tool kit for this purpose, or
to a trailer hitch.
Towing manual transmission vehicles
Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below When not to tow your vehicle.
If yes, note the following for the towed vehicle:
Shift the gearshift lever to Neutral .
Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).
Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).
Towing automatic transmission vehicles
Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see below When not to tow your vehicle.
If yes, note the following for the towed vehicle:
Put the transmission in Neutral (N).
Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).
Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).
When a commercial tow truck is being used, the vehicle must only be towed with the front wheels
lifted off the ground.
Follow the special instructions for towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION).
Towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)
Vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) should be towed with a tow bar or a tow rope. If the vehicle is
towed with the front or rear axles lifted off the ground, the engine must be switched off. Otherwise the
powertrai n m ay be damaged.
When not to tow your vehicle
In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towe d and must b e tran sp orte d on a fl atb ed tr uck or
trailer:
If transmission fluid has leaked out of the transmission.
If there is little or no oil in the transmission because of damage to your vehicle, it must be moved
with the drive wheels off the ground.
If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
When the vehicle battery is dead, since the steering may remain disabled, and it may not be
possible to release the electronic steering column lock and the electronic parking brake.
If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).
Towing other vehicles
Obey all legal requirements.
Read and heed all towing information in the owner’s manual for the other vehicle.
A vehicle can be towed only if the electroni c parking brake and the electronic steering column
lock can be released. In case of a power loss or malfunctions of the electrical s ystem, the engine may
have to be jump-started in order to release the electronic parking brake and the electronic steering
column lock.
Driving tips while towing
Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS
Towing requires some experience, especially wh en u s ing a towin g rope . Bot h dri vers must be familiar
with the techniques required for towing. Inexperienced drivers should not try to tow a vehicle or to
drive a vehicle that is being towed.
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle, and avoid jerking the tow rope. When towing on an
unpaved road, there is always a risk of overloading and damaging the attachment points.
If your vehicle is being towed, it can still signal turns even if the emergency flashers are activated, as
long as the ignition is switched on. Use the turn signal in the normal way. The emergency fl ashers go
off as long as the turn signal is blinking. As soon as the turn sig nal leve r returns to its neutral position,
the emergency flashers are automatically a c tivate d a g ai n.
As driver of the towed vehicle:
If your vehicle is the one being towed, the ignition switch must be switch ed on to kee p the stee rin g
wheel from locking. Also make sure that the turn signals, horn, windshield wipers, and wi nd shield
washers work properly.
Since power steering does not work when the engine is switched off, more effo rt is ne eded to steer
the vehicle.
Since the brake booster also does not work when the engine is stopped, you will need to press
harder on the brake pedal to slow down or stop. Do not hit the towing vehicle.
Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the towing vehicle's owner's manual.
As driver of the towing vehicle
Drive especially CARefully and accelerate gently. Av oid sudden driving maneuvers.
Brake earlier than usual and with light pedal pressure.
Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the owner's manual of the vehicle bein g towe d.
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