Volkswagen Beetle Convertible (2015 year). Instruction — part 8

Using a safety belt extender

Adjust both the seat and the head restraint properly

⇒ Adjusting the seating position.

Insert the buckle tongue on the safety belt extender

⇒

fig. 62

(2)

into the vehicle belt buckle for the

seat where the safety belt extender is being used

(1)

.

Fastening or unfastening the vehicle safety belt

⇒ Fastening and unfastening safety belts.

Pull the belt to make sure that the tongues are securely locked in the buckles.

Make sure that the safety belt is positioned properly

⇒ Safety belt position.

Properly using safety belt extenders:

Use a safety belt extender only when the factory installed safety belt is too short when worn

properly by a person in proper seating position.

Only use 1 safety belt extender per seat and vehicle safety belt.
Always remove the safety belt extender when it is not needed.
Never leave a safety belt extender attached to the vehicle safety belt buckle when the extender is

not needed and being used with the safety belt. Otherwise, the airbag control module will receive an
incorrect signal from the safety belt buckle and this will prevent the airbag from working properly for a
person who is not using the safety belt. Leaving the extender attached to the safety belt buckle when
the front seat is occupied and the safety belt is not being used will signal the airbag control unit during
a collision that the front passenger seat is occupied and that the safety belt is being used. The elec-
tronic control unit for the airbag system will then receive incorrect information that will cause the safety
belt pretensioner to deploy unnecessarily and the front passenger airbag to deploy later in collisions
that would normally trigger the front airbag earlier in the collision to help protect an unrestrained front
seat occupant. The airbag will not be able to provide enough protection for an occupant not wearing a
safety belt.

Only use the safety belt extender approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle.

WARNING

Improper use or positioning of a safety belt extender increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death.

A driver or passenger who is not properly restrained can be seriously injured by striking

the interior of the passenger compartment or by the safety belt itself, which can be displaced
from stronger parts of the body into sensitive areas like the abdomen.

Safety belt extenders offer optimum protection only when they are properly used.
Only use the extender when the belt is not long enough to be worn low and snug and the

person is in the correct seating position. Remove and stow extender safely when not needed.

Always make sure the safety belt tongue of the safety belt extender is securely inserted

into the buckle for the seating position that belongs to the seat where the safety belt extender
is being used. Attaching the safety belt to the wrong buckle will reduce safety belt effective-
ness and can cause serious personal injury.

Never use the safety belt extender if you can properly attach the safety belt without it.

Using a safety belt extender when not needed can increase the risk of injury, especially in a
collision.

Never use a safety belt extender if the distance (B) between the front edge of the safety

belt extender buckle (A) and the centerline of the person using the safety belt extender
⇒

fig. 63

(C)

is less than 6 inches (15 cm).

Never leave a safety belt extender attached to the vehicle safety belt buckle when the

extender is not needed and being used with the safety belt. Otherwise, the airbag control
module will receive an incorrect signal from the safety belt buckle and this will prevent the
airbag from working properly for a person who is not using the safety belt.

Never use more than 1 extender with a safety belt. Using more than 1 extender can change

the way the safety belt passes over the body and can cause serious injury.

Never use the safety belt extender to secure a child restraint.
Never use a safety belt extender on your Volkswagen that you got from another automo-

bile manufacturer or from an automotive parts store.

Never use the safety belt extender you got for your vehicle for any other vehicle, regard-

less of make, model, or model year.

NOTICE

Leaving the extender attached to the safety belt buckle when the front seat is occupied and the

safety belt is not being used will signal to the airbag control unit that the front passenger seat is occu-
pied and that the safety belt is being used. The electronic control unit for the airbag system will then
receive incorrect information that will

– cause the safety belt pretensioner to deploy unnecessarily in collisions.
– cause the front passenger airbag to deploy later in collisions in which the front airbag
would otherwise be triggered earlier to help protect an unrestrained front seat passenger.

A pretensioner that has deployed cannot be repaired. The entire safety belt must be re-

placed.

NOTICE

If the safety belt extender is left attached to the safety belt buckle, the safety belt warning
system will sense that the safety belt for that seat is being used. The warning light will not
come on and the warning chime will not sound even though the seat is occupied and the safety
belt is not being used.

Safety belt retractor, pretensioner, load limiter

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The safety belts in the vehicle are part of the vehicle's safety concept

⇒ Airbags and how they work

and consist of the following important features:

Automatic safety belt retractors

Every safety belt is equipped with an automatic safety belt retractor on the shoulder belt. As long as
the safety belt is pulled out slowly, the shoulder belt will extend to let you move freely under normal
driving conditions. The automatic safety belt retractor locks the belt when the belt is pulled out fast,
during hard braking and in a collision. The belt may also lock when you drive up or down a steep hill or
through a sharp curve.

Safety belt pretensioner

The safety belt retractors for the driver and front seat passenger have a pretensioner that helps take
the slack out of the safety belt and tighten it when the pretensioner is activated.

The pretensioners are activated by the electronic control unit for the airbag system in front, side, and
rear collisions as well as in rollover accidents. By tightening the safety belt, the pretensioner helps to
reduce the occupant's forward movement. The belt pretensioner works together with the airbag sys-
tem; its function is monitored by the airbag system indicator light.

A fine dust may be released upon activation. This is normal and is not caused by a fire in the vehicle.

Safety belt load limiter

The front safety belts also have load limiters to help reduce the forces applied to the body in a crash.

Heed all safety regulations if the vehicle or individual components of the system have to be

scrapped. Your authorized Volkswagen dealer and authorized Volkswagen Service Facility are familiar

with these regulations

⇒ Service and disposal of belt pretensioners.

Service and disposal of belt pretensioners

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The pretensioners are part of the safety belts installed at the front seats in your vehicle. Installing,
removing, servicing, or repairing of safety belt pretensioners can damage the safety belt system and
prevent it from working correctly in a collision. The pretensioners themselves may then also not work
in the event of an accident, or not work properly.

There are some important things you have to know to make sure that the effectiveness of the system
will not be impaired and that discarded components do not cause injury or pollute the environment.
Undeployed safety belt pretensioners and airbag modules contain explosive materials that can cause
serious injuries to the general public and to people who work at dealerships and workshops, scrap
yards, and recycling facilities. For this reason, the systems must be properly handled when they or the
vehicles they are installed in are scrapped.

Undeployed safety belt pretensioners and airbag modules can also pollute the environment. Never
abandon vehicles or vehicle parts. If your vehicle must be scrapped, please make sure that it is done
safely, responsibly, and in compliance with all applicable environmental regulations. Take it to a li-
censed facility that has the knowledge and experience to properly dispose of the vehicle and its safety
belt system. Your authorized Volkswagen dealer and authorized Volkswagen Service Facility are
familiar with these regulations.

WARNING

Improper handling, care, servicing, and repair procedures can increase the risk of personal
injury and death by preventing a belt pretensioner from activating when needed or by caus-
ing it to activate unexpectedly.

The pretensioner can be activated only once. If a pretensioner has been activated, the

safety belt must be replaced.

Safety belt systems including the pretensioners cannot be repaired. Special procedures

are required to remove, install, and dispose of this system.

Never repair, adjust, or change pretensioners or any other part of the safety belt system

yourself. We strongly recommend that you have any work on the safety belt system per-
formed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. They

have the necessary technical information, training, and special equipment

⇒ Parts, accesso-

ries, repairs, and modifications.

WARNING

Undeployed safety belt pretensioners and airbag modules contain explosive materials that
can cause serious personal injuries if they are not properly handled when they or the vehi-
cles they are installed in are scrapped.

Never abandon vehicles or vehicle parts.
Always scrap vehicles and vehicle parts, especially those containing undeployed airbag

modules and undeployed safety belt pretensioners, at a licensed facility that has the
knowledge and experience to properly dispose of the vehicle and its safety belt and airbag
systems.

Undeployed airbag modules and safety belt pretensioners are classified as Perchlorate Materi-

al. Special handling may apply – see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate. Obey all
applicable legal requirements regarding handling and disposal of the vehicle or parts of its restraint
system, including airbag modules and safety belts with pretensioners. Authorized Volkswagen dealers
and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities are familiar with the requirements, and we recommend
that you have them perform this service for you.

Lights

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Indicator lights

Turn signal lever and high beam switch

Switching lights on and off

Lights and vision features

Lights and vision features

Coming Home/Leaving Home features (orientation lighting)

Instrument panel lighting and headlight range adjustment

Interior and reading lights

Always obey local vehicle lighting laws.

The driver is always responsible for the correct headlight settings.

More information:

Exterior views
Volkswagen Information System
Replacing light bulbs

WARNING

Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.

Always switch on the low beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark and whenever the

weather is bad or visibility is poor.

WARNING

Headlights that are aimed too high and improper use of the headlight flasher or high beams
can blind and distract other drivers. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.

Always make sure that headlights are properly adjusted.
Never use the headlight flasher or high beams when they can blind or distract other driv-

ers.

Indicator lights

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Indicator lights in the instrument cluster

Lights

up

Possible cause

Proper response

One or more driving lights not working.

Replace the burned out bulb

Cornering light malfunction.

If all light bulbs are OK, see an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.

Left or right turn signal.
The indicator light blinks twice as fast if a
turn signal is not working on the vehicle.

Check the turn signals on the vehicle.

High beams switched on or headlight
flashers in use.

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.

Indicator lights in the light switch

Lights

up

Possible cause

The fog lights are switched on

The automatic headlights and, if applicable, the daytime headlights or daytime running
lights are switched on

WARNING

Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to
break down in traffic and 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.
Whenever stalled or stopped for repair, move the vehicle a safe distance off the road, stop

the engine, turn on the emergency flashers, and use other warning devices to warn approach-
ing traffic.

Never park the vehicle in areas where the hot catalytic converter and exhaust system can

come into contact with dry grass, brush, spilled fuel, oil, or other material that can catch fire.

A broken down vehicle presents a high accident risk for itself and others. Switch on

emergency flashers and set up a warning triangle to warn oncoming traffic.

NOTICE

Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.

High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights provide bright, uniform lighting to help you see and be

seen. The light comes from an electric arc between two electrodes in the gas-filled bulb. Over time, the

electrodes can wear down and the gap between them will get wider. The HID lamp’s control unit then
increases the voltage to keep the arc’s brightness constant. However, the commonly called “Xenon”
bulbs will also ultimately burn out. Before they burn out, HID lamps can flicker. A message will then
appear in the MFI. This is your reminder to see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service facility to check the headlights.

Turn signal lever and high beam switch

Fig. 77 On the left side of the steering column: Turn signal lever and high beam switch.

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Move the lever to the desired position.

(A)

Right turn signal.

(B)

Left turn signal.

(C)

Switching high beams on

⇒ . An indicator light lights up in the instrument cluster when the

high beams are switched on.

(D)

Switching the high beams off and operating the headlight flasher. The headlight flasher turns on
the high beams as long as the lever is pulled and manually held in the pulled position. The indi-
cator light

lights up. When released, the lever moves back to the home position and turns off

the high beams. The indicator light

goes out.

Move the lever back to the home position to turn the selected feature off.

Convenience turn signal (lane change feature)

To use the convenience turn signal, move the lever up or down slightly, just to the point of resistance
and then release it. If you have the convenience turn signal switched on, the turn signals and the turn
signal indicator flash 3 times. If it is switched off, they flash as long as you hold the lever up or down,
and go out when you release the lever.

The convenience turn signal feature can be deactivated by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or au-
thorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

WARNING

Improper use of high beams can distract and blind others, causing accidents and serious
injuries.

The turn signal light works only when the ignition is switched on. The emergency flasher works

even when the ignition is switched off

⇒ In an emergency.

The indicator light flashes twice as fast if a turn signal bulb is burned out.

High beams can only be switched on when the low beams are on.

Switching lights on and off

Fig. 78 Headlight switch next to the steering wheel.

Fig. 79 Headlight switch next to the steering wheel (with fog lights and automatic headlights, if equipped).

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Adjust the light switch to the desired position

⇒

fig. 78

or

⇒

fig. 79

:

Symbol When the ignition is switched off

When the ignition is switched on

Fog lights and low beams switched off.

Headlights off, daytime running lights (DRL)
on.

Orientation lighting may be switched on.

Automatic headlights active; DRL on.

Adjust the light switch to the desired position

⇒

fig. 78

or

⇒

fig. 79

:

Symbol When the ignition is switched off

When the ignition is switched on

Low beams switched off. The DRL may
stay on. The length of time they stay on
depends on the vehicle battery charge.

Low beams switched on.

Fog lights switched off. The DRL may
stay on for some time.

Headlights and fog lights switched on.

Fog lights

The indicator light in the headlight switch shows that the fog lights are switched on.

To switch on the fog lights : first turn the light switch to position

, then pull the light switch out

to the first detent.

To switch off the fog lights, push the switch back in from the first detent. To then turn off the head-

lights, turn the switch to position .

Acoustic warning when lights are not switched off

In the following situation, a warning chime will sound if you take the key out of the ignition and open
the driver door. This is to remind you that lights are still on.

Light switch in position

if the vehicle has no orientation lighting

⇒ Coming Home/Leaving Home

features (orientation lighting).

WARNING

Daytime running lights are not bright enough to let you see ahead or be seen by others when
it is dark.

Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark and whenever the

weather is bad or visibility is poor.

Never use the daytime running lights to see where you are going. They are not bright

enough and will not let you see far enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is
dark. Always switch on the low-beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark.

The taillights do not come on with the daytime running lights. Unless the taillights are on,

a vehicle cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.

Even if automatic headlights (

) are switched on, the low-beam headlights may still not

come on by themselves in fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam headlights
manually.

In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the rear lights, and turn signals can tem-

porarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.

Lights and vision features

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Daytime running lights (DRL)

Separate lamps are installed in the headlights or in the front bumper for the daytime running lights
(DRL).

The daytime running lights are switched on whenever the ignition is switched on and the light switch is
in position or

.

When the daytime running lights are switched on, only these separate lamps come on

⇒ .

If the light switch is in position

, a low-light sensor switches the low beams as well as the instru-

ment and switch lighting on and off automatically.

Daytime running lights (DRL) parking feature

Some models are equipped with a daytime running lights (DRL) parking feature that switches the
daytime running lights off when the parking brake is engaged and the ignition is switched on.

Function

Action

Switching the DRL off:

– Switch the ignition on.
– Turn the light switch to the
position.
– Set the parking brake.

Switching the DRL back on:

– Release the parking brake.

Static cornering lights

Your vehicle may have fog lights under the front bumper, which on some models are also static cor-
nering lights. On some models the static cornering lights may be integrated in the headlights. At
speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h), the light on one side of the vehicle will come on automatically
when you turn a corner. If you turn to the right, the right fog light comes on; turn left and the left fog
light comes on. The light dims and goes out when the steering wheel is straightened out again.

When you move the selector lever to Reverse (R), the static cornering lights on both sides of the
vehicle may come on so that you can see the area around the vehicle better when backing up.

The static cornering lights work only when the headlights are on. If you are using automatic headlights

(headlight switch in the

position

⇒

fig. 79

), they work only when the headlights have been auto-

matically switched on. The static cornering lights do not come on when the headlight switch is in the

position or when the fog lights themselves have been switched on

⇒Switching lights on and off.

Automatic headlights (

)

Your vehicle may be equipped with automatic headlights (

), which are a convenience feature only

and cannot always recognize all lighting and driving situations.

If the light switch is in the

position, both vehicle lighting and instrument and switch lighting are

automatically switched on and off in the following situations

⇒ :

Automatic activation:

Automatic deactivation:

If the low-light sensor registers darkness, for
example when driving through a tunnel.

If sufficient brightness is registered.

If the rain sensor recognizes rain and switches
the windshield wipers on.

If the windshield wipers have not moved for
several minutes.

WARNING

Crashes and other accidents can happen when you cannot see the road ahead and when you
cannot be seen by other motorists.

Never use daytime running lights (DRL) to see where you are going. DRL are not bright

enough to light up the roadway and be seen by other motorists. You will not be able to see far
enough ahead for safety, especially at dusk or when it is dark. Always switch on the low-
beam headlights at dusk or when it is dark.

The taillights do not come on when the daytime running lights are switched on. A vehicle

without taillights on cannot be seen by others in bad weather, at dusk, or when it is dark.

If automatic headlights (

) are switched on, the low-beam headlights still may not be

switched on in fog or heavy rain. You have to switch on the low-beam headlights yourself.

In cool or humid weather, the insides of the headlights, the rear lights, and turn signals can tem-

porarily fog up. This is normal and does not affect the service life of the vehicle's lighting system.

Coming Home/Leaving Home features (orientation lighting)

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Your vehicle may be equipped with Coming Home/Leaving Home features, which are controlled auto-
matically by a low-light sensor.

Coming Home

Action

Switch on:

– Switch off the ignition
The Coming Home feature is switched on when the headlight switch is in the

position and the low-light sensor registers darkness

The delay period starts once the last vehicle door or the luggage compartment
lid is closed.

Switch off:

– Automatically after delay period is over.
– Automatically, if a vehicle door or the luggage compartment lid is still open
about 30 seconds after activation.
– Turn light switch to the position.
– Switch the ignition on.

Leaving Home

Action

Switch on:

– Unlock the vehicle if the light switch is in the

position and the low-light

sensor registers darkness.

Switch off:

– Automatically after preset delay period is over.
– Lock the vehicle.
– Turn the light switch to the position.
– Switch the ignition on.

The delay period can be adjusted in 10 second intervals and the function can be switched on and

off in the Lights & Vision menu

⇒ Volkswagen Information System.

If the Coming Home feature is switched on and the driver door is opened, no warning chime will

sound to alert you that the lights are still on.

Instrument panel lighting and headlight range adjustment

Fig. 80 To the left of the steering wheel: Thumbwheel to adjust instrument panel lighting (vehicles without
manual headlight range adjustment).

Fig. 81 To the left of the steering wheel: Thumbwheel to adjust instrument panel lighting 1 and headlight
range adjustment 2 (if equipped).

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Instrument panel lighting

When the lights are on, the brightness of the instrument panel lighting is adjusted by turning the

thumbwheel

⇒

fig. 80

,

⇒

fig. 81

(1)

.

Instrument cluster and switch brightness

When the lights are on, the brightness of the instrument cluster lighting is adjusted by turning the

thumbwheel

⇒

fig. 80

,

⇒

fig. 81

(1)

.

In some vehicles with daytime running lights (DRL), the instrument cluster lighting switches off auto-
matically when it is dark outside or when driving through tunnels, for example. You will need to switch

the headlights on manually when this happens, so that the vehicle's taillights will turn on

⇒ Lights and

vision features,

⇒ Lights and vision features.

Headlight range adjustment for vehicles with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights

For vehicles with HID headlights, the headlight range can be manually adjusted to the vehicle loading
condition once the low beams are switched on. This feature helps ensure good visibility for the driver

and helps prevent oncoming traffic from being blinded

⇒ .

Turn the thumbwheel to the desired position

(2)

:

Position

Vehicle loading condition

5

–

Front seats occupied and an empty luggage compartment.

1

All seats occupied and an empty luggage compartment.

1.5

All seats occupied and a fully loaded luggage compartment

2

Only the driver seat occupied and a fully loaded luggage compartment.

3

–

WARNING

Headlights that are aimed too high because of the way the vehicle is loaded can blind and
distract other drivers. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.

Always make sure the headlights are adjusted to loading conditions so that they do not

blind others.

Interior and reading lights

Fig. 82 Thumbwheel next to the steering wheel.

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Button

Function

5

You can also select intermediate positions on the thumbwheel depending on the loading condition.

Button

Function

Interior lights off.

Interior lights on.

Switch in

the center

position

Door contact switch on.
Interior lights go on automatically when the vehicle is unlocked, a door is opened, or
the vehicle key is removed from the ignition.
The lights go out about 20 seconds after you close the doors. They also go out when
you lock the vehicle or switch on the ignition.

Reading light on or off.

Glove and luggage compartment lights

The glove and luggage compartments may have lights that come on automatically when they are
opened and go off when they are closed.

Ambient (background) lighting

When the ignition and the headlights are switched on, ambient lights in the roof console light up.

There may also be footwell lighting.

Ambient (background) lighting in the doors

Some vehicles are equipped with ambient lighting in the doors that comes on when the ignition or
headlights are switched on.

Turn the thumbwheel to the desired position

⇒

fig. 82

:

Position

Ambient lighting color

R

Red

B

Blue

W

White

–

Ambient lighting in the doors switched off

The interior and reading lights go out when you lock the vehicle or a few minutes after you re-

move the vehicle key from the ignition. This helps to prevent unnecessary drain on the vehicle battery.

Sun protection

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Sun visors

Windshield made of heat-insulating glass

WARNING

Sun visors can reduce visibility.

Always stow sun visors when not needed to block sun glare.

Sun visors

Fig. 83 Sun visor.

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Sun visor adjustment

Flip the sun visor down toward the windshield.

Lift it out of the retaining clip

⇒

fig. 83

(1)

and swivel it over toward the door.

Additional sun visor positions

On some vehicles, you can slide the driver side sun visor towards the rear of the vehicle after swivel-
ing it over to the door.

Vanity mirror

A vanity mirror is behind a cover in the sun visor. To open, slide the cover in direction of the arrow

(2)

.

Windshield made of heat-insulating glass

Fig. 84 Heat-reflective windshield with communications window (blue shaded area).

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Windshields made of insulating glass have a transparent metallic infrared-reflecting coating. There is

an uncoated area (communications window) just above the inside rearview mirror

⇒

fig. 84

. This

serves as a communications window for transmitting signals to and from electronic components and
accessories.

The uncoated area must not be blocked on the inside or outside or covered with stickers because this
can cause the electronic components to malfunction.