Volkswagen Touareg (2015 year). Instruction — part 26

Shifting

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Warning and indicator lights

Pedals

Automatic transmission: Selector lever

Shifting with Tiptronic

®

Driving with automatic transmission

Automatic transmission malfunction

When the ignition is switched on and the transmission is in Reverse (R):

The backup lights come on.
The rear window wiper switches on when the windshield wipers are switched on.
Parking Distance Control, the optical Park Assist system, and the camera for Rear Assist switch on

(if applicable).

More information:

Instruments
Braking and parking
Reverse driving assistant (Rear Assist)
Park distance control system
Climate control
Engine control and emission control system
Emergency closing and opening

WARNING

Rapid acceleration can cause skidding and loss of traction, especially on slippery roads,
resulting in a loss of vehicle control, collisions, and serious personal injury.

Only use the kick-down feature or fast acceleration if visibility, weather, road, and traffic

conditions permit it and other drivers will not be endangered by your driving and the vehi-
cle's acceleration.

WARNING

Constant braking causes the brakes to overheat and even to fail leading to collisions and
serious personal injury.

Never “ride” the brakes or apply the brake pedal too often or too long.
Riding the brakes will substantially reduce braking performance, increase stopping dis-

tance, and can cause complete brake system failure.

NOTICE

Never “ride” the brakes by keeping your foot on the brake pedal when you do not want to

brake. This will make the brakes wear faster.

Before driving downhill, especially on hills that are long or steep, always reduce speed and

shift into lower gear (manual or automatic transmission). This will let the vehicle use engine
braking and reduce the load on the brakes. Otherwise, the brake system could overheat and
even fail. Only use the brakes when you need them to slow the vehicle down more or to stop.

Warning and indicator lights

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

Lights

up

Possible cause

Proper response

Depress brake pedal!

Depress the brake pedal.

Automatic transmission mal-
function.

Have the system checked imme-
diately by an authorized
Volkswagen dealer, an author-
ized Volkswagen Service Facility,
or another qualified workshop.

Depress brake pedal!

Depress the brake pedal to se-
lect a gear or drive position.

Also refer to electronic parking
brake

Flashes Possible cause

Proper response

The release button in the
selector lever is not engaged.
Vehicle movement is pre-
vented.

Engage selector lever release
button

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.

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, turn

on the emergency flashers, stop the engine, and use other warning devices to warn ap-
proaching traffic.

NOTICE

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

Pedals

Fig. 248 Pedals in vehicles with automatic transmission: 1 Accelerator pedal, 2 brake pedal.

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

All pedals must always be able to move freely in and out without interference from floor mats or other
things.

Only use floor mats that leave the pedal area free and are held securely in place with floor mat fasten-
ers to help prevent sliding.

If a brake circuit malfunctions, more brake pedal travel is needed to bring the vehicle to a full stop, and
it is important that nothing is in the way when you have to depress the brake pedal harder and further
than normal.

WARNING

Objects in the driver footwell can prevent the pedals from moving freely. This can cause loss
of vehicle control and increase the risk of serious personal injuries.

Always make sure that nothing can interfere with the pedals.
Always fasten floor mats securely to the floor.
Never put floor mats or other floor coverings on top of already installed floor mats.
Always make sure that nothing can fall into the driver footwell while the vehicle is moving.

NOTICE

Always make sure that the pedals are able to move freely and that nothing can interfere with
them. If a hydraulic brake circuit fails, more brake pedal travel will be needed to bring the
vehicle to a stop. The brake pedal must be pressed farther and harder than normal.

Automatic transmission: Selector lever

Fig. 249 Automatic transmission selector lever with shift lever release button (arrow).

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

Automatic transmission vehicles have an Automatic Shift Lock (ASL). With ASL, you must depress the
brake pedal and hold it down while pressing the release button on the selector lever handle in the

direction of the arrow

⇒

fig. 249

in order to move the selector lever out of Park (P) and into a drive

gear. When the selector lever is in Neutral (N), you also have to depress the brake pedal before you
can move the selector lever to Drive (D), Sport Drive (S), or Reverse (R).

If the ignition is switched on, either the current selector lever setting or the current gear is shown in the
instrument cluster display.

Selector

lever

position

Designation Meaning ⇒

Park

The drive wheels are mechanically locked.
Select only when the vehicle is not moving, To
change the selector lever position, switch on
the ignition (if it is off) and then press the re-
lease button while holding down the brake
pedal.

Selector

lever

position

Designation Meaning ⇒

Reverse

The reverse gear is engaged.
Shift into Reverse only when the vehicle is not
moving.

Neutral

Transmission is in Neutral position. No power
is transferred to the wheels and no engine
braking effect is available.

Drive (Stand-

ard driving

position)

All forward gears shift up and down automati-
cally. The transmission shifts as needed de-
pending on engine load, individual driving
style, and driving speed.

Sport Drive

(Sport driving

position)

All forward gears automatically upshift later
and downshift earlier than in the Drive (D)
position, to take full advantage of the engine's
power reserves. The transmission shifts as
needed depending on engine load, individual
driving style, and driving speed.

Toggle be-
tween driving
positions

To toggle between Drive (D) and Sport Drive
(S) briefly push the selector lever backward
once from the (D/S) position. The selector
lever always springs back to (D/S).

This feature lets you access Tiptronic mode
from both the Sport driving position (S) and the
standard driving position (D)

Automatic Shift Lock (ASL)

The Automatic Shift Lock (ASL) in Park (P) and Neutral (N) prevents drive positions from being en-
gaged inadvertently, which would cause the vehicle to move.

To release the ASL, depress and hold the brake pedal with the ignition switched on. Press the release
button on the selector lever at the same time.

The ASL is not engaged if the selector lever is moved quickly through Neutral (N) (e.g., when shifting
from Reverse (R) to Drive (D)). This makes it possible to “rock” the vehicle backwards and forwards if
it is stuck in snow or mud. The ASL engages automatically if the brake pedal is not depressed and the
lever is in Neutral (N) for more than about 1 second and the vehicle is traveling no faster than about
3 mph (5 km/h).

WARNING

Moving the selector lever to the wrong position can cause loss of vehicle control, a collision,
and serious personal injury.

Never accelerate when moving the selector lever.
When the engine is running and a drive position is engaged, the vehicle will start to move

as soon as the brake pedal is released.

Never shift into Reverse or Park when the vehicle is moving.

WARNING

Unintended vehicle movement can cause serious personal injury.

Never get out of the driver's seat while the engine is running, especially when the trans-

mission is in a drive gear. If you must leave your vehicle while the engine is running, always
set the electronic parking brake and shift the transmission into Park (P).

Never leave the vehicle in Neutral (N). It will roll down hills, whether the engine is running

or not.

When the engine is running and a drive gear - Drive (D), Sport Drive (S), or Reverse (R) -

has been selected, press and hold the brake pedal to keep the vehicle from moving. The ve-
hicle may “creep” and move forward or backward even if the engine is idling slowly.

Never shift into Reverse (R) or Park (P) when the vehicle is moving.

NOTICE

Even though the transmission is in Park (P), the vehicle may move a couple of inches (a few
centimeters) forwards or backwards if you take your foot off the brake pedal after stopping the
vehicle without first setting the electronic parking brake.

If the selector lever is moved into Neutral (N) by mistake when the vehicle is moving, take your

foot off the accelerator pedal. Wait until the engine speed has dropped to idle speed before moving
the selector lever into a drive gear.

Leaving the selector lever for a long period of time in any position other than Park (P) when the

ignition is switched off can drain the vehicle battery.

Shifting with Tiptronic

®

Fig. 250 Selector lever in Tiptronic position.

Fig. 251 Steering wheel with optional Tiptronic shift paddles.

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

Tiptronic lets you upshift and downshift manually with the automatic transmission. When Tiptronic
mode is used, the transmission stays in the current gear and does not upshift or downshift automati-
cally unless the transmission senses a situation where upshifting or downshifting is necessary to keep
the engine from over- or under-revving.

Using Tiptronic with the selector lever

Push the selector lever sideways to the right from Drive D/S position into the Tiptronic position

⇒ in Automatic transmission: Selector lever

Briefly push the selector lever forward

(+)

to upshift into a higher gear or backward

(–)

to downshift

into a lower gear

⇒

fig. 250

.

Using Tiptronic with the shift paddles behind the steering wheel

The paddles

⇒

fig. 251

(arrows) work when the selector lever is in the Tiptronic position or when

the selector lever is in Drive (D) or Sport Drive (S). You do not have to move the selector lever over to
the right into the Tiptronic position.

To upshift, pull the paddle on the right +

toward you.

To downshift, pull the paddle on the left – toward you.

To switch off Tiptronic mode, pull the paddle on the right +

toward you and hold it there for

about 1 second.

Tiptronic will switch off automatically if the shift paddles have not been used for a while and the selec-
tor lever is not in the Tiptronic position.

NOTICE

During acceleration, the transmission will shift automatically into the next higher gear

before reaching maximum engine speed (rpm).

If you use Tiptronic to shift into a lower gear, the transmission will downshift only when

doing so will not over-rev the engine.

Driving with automatic transmission

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

All forward gears shift up and down automatically.

Driving on hills

The steeper the grade, the lower the gear that must be selected. Lower gears increase the braking
effect of the engine. Never coast downhill in Neutral (N).

Reduce speed.
Switch to Tiptronic mode by moving the selector lever from Drive (D) to the right into the Tiptronic

position

⇒ Shifting with Tiptronic®.

Downshift by pulling the selector lever back briefly (-).
OR: Downshift using the paddles (if equipped) on the steering wheel.

Stopping and starting on hills

If you stop on a hill with the vehicle in gear, you must depress the brake pedal or engage the electron-
ic parking brake to keep the vehicle from rolling. Do not release the brake pedal or the parking brake

until the vehicle has started to move forwards

⇒ .

Kick-down acceleration

The kick-down feature permits maximum acceleration when the selector lever is in the Drive (D), Sport
Drive (S) or Tiptronic mode.

If you push the accelerator all the way down, the vehicle will automatically downshift, depending on
vehicle speed and engine speed (rpm). This feature lets you take advantage of the full acceleration

capacity of the vehicle

⇒ .

With kick-down actuated, the transmission will stay in the current gear longer and not upshift until the
engine reaches maximum rpm.

WARNING

Rapid acceleration can cause skidding and loss of traction, especially on slippery roads,
resulting in a loss of vehicle control, collisions, and serious personal injury.

Only use the kick-down feature or fast acceleration if visibility, weather, road, and traffic

conditions permit and other drivers will not be endangered by your driving and the vehicle's
acceleration.

Always adapt your driving to the traffic flow.
Note that the drive wheels can spin and the vehicle can swerve when ASR is switched off,

especially when the road is slippery.

Once you have accelerated, switch ASR back on again.

NOTICE

When stopping on hills with the transmission in a drive gear, do not use the accelerator to

help prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards. This can cause the automatic transmission to
overheat and be damaged.

Never let the vehicle coast or roll down a hill in Neutral (N), especially when the engine is

not running. The transmission will not be lubricated and will be damaged.

Automatic transmission malfunction

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

Emergency shift program

If the automatic gearbox goes to emergency program, it is indicated with a text message along with a
yellow indicator lamp on the instrument cluster display. Depending on the current system fault, the
selector lever position may continue to be displayed. The text message will go away after a few se-
conds. The yellow indicator lamp remains lit up while the system fault continues to exist.

In any event, have the automatic transmission checked by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or author-
ized Volkswagen Service Facility.

NOTICE

As soon as you get any of these warnings about transmission overheating, you must either

park the vehicle in a safe place or drive faster than 12 mph (20 km/h).

If the text message and acoustic warning repeat themselves every 10 seconds or so, you

must park the vehicle in a safe place as soon as you can safely do so and stop the engine. Let
the transmission cool down.

To help prevent damage to the transmission, do not drive the vehicle again until the acous-

tic warning has stopped. As long as the engine is overheated, avoid stop and start driving and
avoid low speeds (“walking pace”).

Braking and parking

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Warning and indicator lights

Electronic parking brake

Parking

About the brakes

Braking assistance systems

Switching Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) on and off

Brake fluid

The braking assistance systems are the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Brake Assist System
(BAS), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) and Electronic Stability Control
(ESC).

More information:

Trailer towing
Tires and wheels
Starting assistance systems
Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications

WARNING

Driving with bad brakes or worn brake pads can cause a collision and serious personal inju-
ry.

If the symbol

or lights up in the instrument cluster display, whether alone or

together with a text message, immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or au-
thorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the brake pads checked and, if necessary, re-
placed.

WARNING

Parking improperly can cause serious personal injury.

Never remove the key from the ignition switch while the vehicle is moving or rolling to a

stop. The steering wheel will lock and you will not be able to steer or control the vehicle.

Never park the vehicle where the hot exhaust system or catalytic converter could ignite

flammable materials, such as brush, leaves, dry grass, spilled fuel, etc.

Always apply the parking brake when parking your vehicle.
Improper use of the parking brake can seriously injure you and your passengers.
Never use the parking brake to slow down the vehicle when it is moving, except in an

emergency. The stopping distance is much longer because only the rear wheels are braked.
Always use the foot brake to stop the vehicle.

Never activate the throttle manually from the engine compartment when the engine is

running and the automatic transmission is in gear. The vehicle will start to move as soon as
the engine speed increases even if the parking brake is on.

Never leave children or anyone who cannot help themselves behind in the vehicle. They

could release the parking brake and move the gear selector lever or gear shift, which could
cause the vehicle to start moving. This can lead to a crash and serious personal injuries.

Always take the key with you when you leave the vehicle. The engine can be started and

vehicle systems such as the power windows can be operated, leading to serious personal
injury.

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, trapping passengers in
the vehicle in an emergency. For example, depending on the time of year, people trapped in
the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.

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, particularly
in summer. Temperatures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness and
death, particularly to small children.

NOTICE

Always be careful when you park in areas with parking barriers or high curbs. These vary in

height and could damage your bumper and related parts if the front of your vehicle hits a barri-
er or curb that is too high while you are getting into or out of a parking spot. To help prevent
damage, stop before the tires of your vehicle touch a parking barrier or curb.

Always be careful when you enter a driveway or drive up or down steep ramps or over

curbs or other obstacles. Parts of the vehicle close to the ground may be damaged (such as
bumper covers, spoilers, and parts of the engine, suspension, and exhaust systems).

Warning and indicator lights

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

Lights

up

Possible cause or meaning
⇒

Proper response

Lights

up

Possible cause or meaning
⇒

Proper response

Stop!

Electronic parking brake en-
gaged.

In order to drive off, release the
electronic parking brake by de-
pressing the brake pedal

Brake system malfunction.

Stop!

Get professional assistance im-
mediately

Brake fluid level too low.

Stop!

Check the brake fluid level

Together with ABS indicator
light or

: ABS failure.

See an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility. The
vehicle brakes will work without
ABS.

Together with indicator light

: electronic parking brake

malfunction.

See an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility because you may
not be able to park the vehicle
safely.

Depress brake pedal!

Depress the brake pedal.

Brake pads worn.

If you believe it is safe to do so,
immediately take the vehicle to
an authorized Volkswagen dealer
or authorized Volkswagen Ser-
vice Facility. Check, and if nec-
essary replace, all brake pads.

Electronic parking brake mal-
function.

See an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility because you may
not be able to park the vehicle
safely.

Lights

up

Possible cause or meaning
⇒

Proper response

ESC malfunction.

Take the vehicle to an a qualified
workshop.

ESC switched off by the sys-
tem.

Switch ignition off and on again.
You may have to drive a short
distance.

Together with ABS indicator
light or

: ABS malfunc-

tion.

Take the vehicle to an a qualified
workshop. The vehicle brakes will
work without ABS.

Vehicle battery has been re-
connected.

Drive a short distance at a speed
of 10 – 12 mph (15 - 20 km/h. If
the indicator light stays on, see
an authorized Volkswagen dealer
or an authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility

Deactivation of ESC (by the
system).

Switch ignition off and on again.
You may have to drive a short
distance.

Deactivation of ASR (manual-
ly).

Switch on ASR manually. Auto-
matically switch on ASR by turn-
ing the ignition on and off.

Together with ESC indicator
light : ABS malfunction.

See an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or an authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility. The
vehicle brakes will work without
ABS.

Together with warning light

or

: ABS failure.

Depress brake pedal!

Depress the brake pedal to select
a gear or drive position.

Depress the brake pedal to re-
lease electronic parking brake.

Flashes Possible cause

Proper response

Electronic parking brake mal-
function.

Do not continue driving

Contact an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or author-
ized Volkswagen Service Facility
for assistance.

ESC or ASR is working.

Take foot off accelerator pedal.
Adapt driving to road conditions.

The release button in the
selector lever is not engaged.

Engage the Automatic Shift Lock
(ASL).

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.

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.

WARNING

Driving with bad brakes can cause a collision and serious personal injury.

If the brake warning light

or does not go out, or comes on when driving, either the

brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there is a fault in the brake system. Stop the

vehicle as soon as you can do so safely and get expert assistance

⇒ page 423, Brake fluid.

If the brake warning light

or comes on at the same time as the ABS warning

light

or , the ABS may not be working properly. This could cause the rear wheels to lock

up relatively quickly during braking. Rear wheel brake lock-up can cause loss of vehicle con-
trol.

If you believe the vehicle is safe to drive, drive slowly and very carefully to the nearest

authorized Volkswagen dealer, authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or other qualified
workshop and have the brake system inspected. Avoid sudden hard braking and steering.

If the ABS indicator light

or does not go out, or if it comes on while driving, the ABS

system is not working properly. The vehicle can then be stopped only with the standard
brakes (without ABS). You will not have the protection ABS provides. Contact your author-
ized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility as soon as possible.

If the symbol

or lights up in the instrument cluster display, whether alone or

together with a text message, immediately contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or au-
thorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the brake pads checked and, if necessary, re-
placed.

NOTICE

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

Electronic parking brake

Fig. 252 In the lower front center console: Switch for the electronic parking brake.

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

Setting the electronic parking brake

You can engage the electronic parking brake any time the vehicle is not moving - even if the ignition is
switched off. Always engage the parking brake when you leave or park the vehicle.

Pull and hold the switch

⇒

fig. 252

.

The parking brake is engaged when the indicator light in the switch and in the instrument cluster

⇒ Braking and parking comes on.

Releasing the electronic parking brake

Switch the ignition on.

Press the switch

⇒

fig. 252

. At the same time, press the brake pedal firmly or press the accelerator

pedal lightly if the engine is running.

The parking brake is released when the indicator light in the instrument cluster goes out.

Releasing the electronic parking brake automatically when you start driving

The electronic parking brake releases automatically when you start driving if the driver's door is closed
and the driver's safety belt is buckled.

Emergency braking function

Only use the emergency braking function in an emergency, when you cannot stop the vehicle using

the brake pedal

⇒ !

Pull and hold the switch

⇒

fig. 252

to brake the vehicle hard. An audio warning signal will sound at

the same time.

To stop the braking maneuver, release the switch or press the accelerator pedal.

WARNING

Improper use of the electronic parking brake can cause accidents and severe injuries.

Never use the parking brake to slow down the vehicle when it is moving, except in an

emergency. Braking distance is much longer, since only the rear wheels are braked. Always
use the foot brake.

Never press the accelerator pedal when a selector lever position or gear is engaged and

the engine is running. The vehicle could begin moving, even if the electronic parking brake is
set.

Never activate the throttle manually from the engine compartment when the engine is

running and the automatic transmission is in gear. The vehicle will start to move even if the
parking brake is engaged.

NOTICE

Even though the transmission is in Park (P), the vehicle may move a couple of inches (a few
centimeters) forwards or backwards if you take your foot off the brake pedal after stopping the
vehicle without first firmly setting the parking brake.

If the vehicle battery is dead, the electronic parking brake cannot be released. Use a jump-start

You may hear noises when setting or releasing the electronic parking brake.

If the electronic parking brake is not used for a while, an automatic system check will occasionally

run when the vehicle is parked. This system check makes audible noises.

Parking

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

Please note legal regulations when stopping and parking your vehicle.

Parking the vehicle

Please perform these steps only in the order listed.

Stop the vehicle on a suitable surface

⇒ .

Hold the brake pedal down until the engine is switched off.

Apply the electronic parking brake to help prevent the vehicle from moving

⇒ Electronic parking

brake.

Shift the transmission into Park (P).

Switch off the engine and then take your foot off the brake.
Remove the vehicle key from the ignition.
If necessary, turn the steering wheel slightly to engage the steering lock.
Make sure all passengers and especially children leave the vehicle.
Take all vehicle keys with you when leaving your vehicle.
Lock the vehicle.