Volkswagen Golf GTI (2015 year). Instruction

Fig. 38 Adjusting the rear head restraints.

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

All seats are equipped with head restraints. The rear center head restraint is designed only for the
center seat on the rear bench. Therefore, only install the center head restraint in the center position.

There are notches in the head restraint guide rods so that the head restraint can lock into place. Only
properly installed head restraints can lock into place at the adjustment range notches. In order to
prevent inadvertent removal of the head restraints after installation, there are stops at the top and
bottom of the adjustment range.

Adjusting the height

Pull the head restraint up in the direction of the arrow, or push it down while pressing the button

⇒

fig. 37

(1)

⇒

fig. 38

(1)

⇒

The head restraint must lock securely in the position selected.

Proper head restraint adjustment

Adjust head restraints so that the upper edge of the head restraint is at least at eye level or higher.
Position the back of the head as close as possible to the head restraint.

Adjusting the head restraint for short people

Push the head restraint down as far as it will go, even if this means the person's head is still below the
top edge of the head restraint. A small gap may remain between the head restraint and the backrest
when the head restraint is all the way down.

Adjusting the head restraint for tall people

Pull the head restraint up as far as it will go.

WARNING

Driving without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head restraints increases the risk
of serious injuries in a collision.

Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly adjusted to help minimize the

risk of neck injury in a crash.

Every person in the vehicle must have a properly adjusted head restraint to minimize the

risk of neck injury in a crash. Each head restraint must be adjusted according to the occu-
pants' size so that the upper edge is even with the top of the person's head, but no lower than
eye level. Always sit so that the back of your head is as close as possible to the head re-
straint.

Never adjust head restraint while driving.

Removing and reinstalling the front head restraints

Fig. 39 Removing the front head restraints.

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

All seats are equipped with head restraints. For instructions on removing and reinstalling the rear head

restraints, see

⇒ Removing and reinstalling the rear head restraints.

Removing the front head restraints

Sit in the back seat behind the head restraint you want to remove. Pull the head restraint all the

way up

⇒

in Adjusting the front and rear head restraints. Recline the backrest with the head

restraint so that there is enough overhead clearance to remove it.

Slide a flat object, such as a plastic credit card, underneath the right side of the cap on the right-

hand seat guide rod

⇒

fig. 39

(1)

to unlock the head restraint.

Push the flat object (plastic card) in against the guide rod to depress a release button located

under the cap (not visible).

Use one hand to hold the release button in with the flat object. With your other hand, lift the same

guide rod slightly to expose a notch in the rod at the bottom (can be seen and felt with fingers). The
right-hand guide rod is now released.

To release the left-hand guide rod, press the flat object in (towards guide rod) and hold.
Pull the head restraint out completely.

Installing the front head restraints

Position head restraint properly over the head restraint guides of the respective seat backrest and

insert the head restraint into the guides.

Push the head restraint down .

Adjust the head restraint according to the occupant's size

⇒ Adjusting the front and rear head

restraints.

WARNING

Driving without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head restraints increases the risk
of serious injuries in a collision.

Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly adjusted to help minimize the

risk of neck injury in a crash.

Always reinstall head restraints as soon as possible so that vehicle occupants are proper-

ly protected.

NOTICE

When removing or reinstalling the head restraint, take care that the head restraint does not
strike the headliner or other parts of the vehicle. The headliner or other parts of the vehicle
could otherwise be damaged.

Removing and reinstalling the rear head restraints

Fig. 40 Removing the rear head restraint (version A).

Fig. 41 Removing the rear head restraint (version B).

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

For instructions on removing and reinstalling the front head restraints, see

⇒ Removing and rein-

stalling the front head restraints

Removing the rear head restraint (Version A)

Unlock the backrest of the rear seat bench and fold it forward

⇒ Luggage compartment.

Pull the head restraint all the way up

⇒

Push button

⇒

fig. 40

(1)

in the direction of the arrow and hold it in this position.

At the same time press button

(2)

while a second person pulls out the head restraint completely.

Fold the backrest of the rear seat bench back so that it locks securely.

Removing the rear head restraint (Version B)

Unlock the backrest of the rear seat bench and fold it forward

⇒ Luggage compartment.

Pull the head restraint all the way up

⇒

If necessary, press the flat blade of the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit into the slit of the trim

cap

⇒

fig. 41

(2)

in the direction of the arrow and hold it in this position.

At the same time press button

(2)

while a second person pulls out the head restraint completely.

Fold the backrest of the rear seat bench back so that it locks securely.

Reinstalling the rear head restraint (both versions)

Unlock the backrest of the rear seat bench and fold it forward

⇒ Luggage compartment.

Position head restraint properly over the head restraint guides of the respective seat backrest and

insert the head restraint into the guides.

Push the head restraint down while pressing button

⇒

fig. 40

(2)

⇒

fig. 41

(2)

Fold the backrest of the rear seat bench back so that it locks securely.

Adjust the head restraint according to the occupant's size

⇒ Adjusting the front and rear head

restraints.

WARNING

Driving without head restraints or with improperly adjusted head restraints increases the risk
of serious injuries in a collision.

Always drive with the head restraints in place and properly adjusted to help minimize the

risk of neck injury in a crash.

Always reinstall head restraints as soon as possible so that vehicle occupants are proper-

ly protected.

NOTICE

Adjusting the steering wheel position

Fig. 42 Manual adjustment for the steering wheel position.

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

Adjust the steering wheel only when the vehicle is not moving.

Push down on the lever

⇒

fig. 42

(1)

Adjust the steering wheel so that it can be held with hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions

on the outside of the steering wheel rim and with the arms slightly bent at the elbow.

Pull the lever up firmly until it is flush with the steering column

⇒

WARNING

Improper use of the steering column adjustment feature can result in serious personal injury
and even death.

Always pull the lever

(1)

firmly upward after adjusting the steering column so that the

steering wheel does not change position suddenly while the vehicle is moving.

Never adjust the steering column while the vehicle is moving. If you find that you need to

adjust the steering wheel while driving, stop the vehicle in a safe place and make the proper
adjustment.

Never adjust the steering wheel so that it points toward your face. Always make sure that

the steering wheel points toward your chest. Otherwise, the airbag system cannot protect
you properly in the event of a crash.

Always hold the steering wheel on the outside of the steering wheel rim with your hands

at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions to help reduce the risk of serious personal injury if the
driver's airbag inflates.

Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or with your hands anywhere

inside the steering wheel or on the steering wheel hub. Holding the steering wheel the wrong
way increases the risk of severe injury to the arms, hands, and head if the driver airbag de-
ploys.

Center armrest

Fig. 43 Front center armrest.

Fig. 44 Folding down the rear center armrest (arrow).

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

Front center armrest

There is a small storage compartment under the front center armrest

⇒ Storage areas.

To raise the center armrest, push the release button, pull the armrest up, and latch upward in the

direction of the arrow

⇒

fig. 43

(1)

To lower the center armrest, first lift it all the way up. Then you can push the center armrest down until
it latches in place.

To move the center armrest forward and backward, pull it forward in the direction of the arrow

(2)

slide it backward until it clicks into place.

Rear center armrest

There may be a fold-down armrest in the backrest of the center rear seat

⇒

fig. 44

To fold down, pull the loop in the direction of the arrow .

To fold up, push the center armrest up as far as it will go.

WARNING

The center armrest can restrict the driver's arm movement and cause crashes and serious
personal injury.

Always keep storage compartments in the center armrest closed while driving.
Never let a passenger, especially a child, ride on the center armrest. Improper seating

position can increase the risk of serious personal injury in a crash.

Never put hot drinks or other liquids in the cup holders. Hot liquids can spill when the

vehicle is moving as well as during braking or other sudden maneuvers.

Seat functions

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Seat heating

More information:

  Adjusting the seating position
  Safety belts
  Airbag system
  Child safety and child restraints
  Climate control

WARNING

Improper use of seat adjustment controls can cause severe personal injuries.

Always sit properly at all times before starting to drive and while the vehicle is moving.

Make sure all passengers, especially children, are properly seated whenever the vehicle is
moving.

Keep hands, fingers, feet and other body parts away from moving parts and adjustment

areas of the seats.

Seat heating

Fig. 45 In the center console: Seat heating buttons for the front seats.

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

When the ignition is switched on, the front seats can be electrically heated by heating elements that
warm the seat backrest and cushion.

Do not use the seat heating if any of the following conditions apply:

  If the seat is not being used.
  If there is a child restraint installed on the front passenger seat.
  If there is a blanket or seat cover on the front passenger seat.
  If the seat is damp or wet.
  If the outside temperature or the temperature inside the passenger compartment is +77 °F (+25 °C)

or more.

Function

Action for seat heating

⇒

fig. 45

Switch on:

Press the or button. Seat heating is switched on to maximum.

Adjust the heating
level:

Press the or button repeatedly until the desired heating level is set.

Switch off:

Press the or button repeatedly until all indicator lights in the button are
off.

Special seat heating features

On the driver and the passenger side, the seat heating will resume at the setting that was set when the
ignition was last switched off. However, this feature only works if the key is not taken out of the ignition
switch, or, for vehicles with Keyless Access, the driver door is not opened or the vehicle is not locked.

People suffering from a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain as from medica-

tion, paralysis, or chronic illness (e.g. diabetes) should NEVER use the seat heating feature

⇒

The use of seat heating by persons with these conditions could result in burns to the back, buttocks,
and legs that may take a long time to heal and may never heal completely. If you have any of these
conditions, you should take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly on long trips. Consult
your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.

WARNING

Certain medical conditions, such as paralysis and diabetes, and certain medications can
increase the risk of serious burns when the seat heating feature is switched on.

Vehicle occupants who have a low level of perceived pain or a lowered awareness of pain

can receive serious burns to the back, buttocks, and legs that take a long time to heal or may
never heal completely.

Never use the seat heating feature if you or your passengers are at risk of being burned

because of a medical condition. Take regular breaks and get out of the vehicle, particularly
on long trips. Consult your doctor for advice regarding your specific condition.

Never let exposed skin remain in contact with the seat upholstery when the seat heating is

being used.

WARNING

A wet seat can cause the seat heating to malfunction and increase the risk of serious burns.

  Always make sure the seats are dry before using the seat heating.
  Never sit on the seat with wet clothes.
  Never put damp or wet things including clothes on the seat.

Never spill liquids on the seats.

NOTICE

To help prevent damage to electrical and other parts in the seat, do not kneel on the front

seats or apply concentrated pressure to a small area of the seat or backrest.

Liquids, sharp objects and things that do not let the heat in the seat escape into the air,

including, for example, a child restraint, a blanket, or seat covers on the seat can damage seat
heating.

If you smell an odor, immediately shut off seat heating and have it checked by an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Never install leather upholstery on a vehicle with seat heating that originally had cloth

upholstery. The seat heating elements for seats with cloth seats will overheat if the cloth up-
holstery is replaced with leather upholstery.

Switch off seat heating when it is not needed to help reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.

Safety belts

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Warning light

Frontal collisions and laws of physics

What happens to passengers not wearing a safety belt

Safety belts protect

Using safety belts

Fastening and unfastening safety belts

Safety belt position

Safety belt height adjusters

Safety belt extender

Safety belt retractor, pretensioner, load limiter

Service and disposal of belt pretensioners

Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of serious injury
and death in a collision or other accident.

Damage to safety belts reduces their overall effectiveness and increases the risk of serious personal
injury and death whenever the vehicle is being used.

Check the condition of all safety belts regularly.

If a safety belt shows damage to webbing, bindings, retractors or buckles, have the safety belt re-

placed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility

⇒

More information:

  Adjusting the seating position
  Airbag system
  Child safety and child restraints
  Interior care and cleaning
  Parts, accessories, repairs, and modifications

WARNING

Not wearing a safety belt or wearing an improperly positioned safety belt increases the risk of
severe personal injury or death. Safety belts offer optimum protection only when they are
used properly.

Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of

serious injury and death in a collision or other accident. For this reason, always wear your
safety belt properly and make sure all passengers wear their safety belts properly as well
whenever the vehicle is moving.

The driver must always make sure that every person in the vehicle is properly seated on a

seat of his or her own, properly fastens the safety belts belonging to that seat before the
vehicle starts to move, and keeps the belts properly fastened while riding in the vehicle. This
applies even when just driving around town. Therefore, always wear your safety belts and
make sure that everybody in your vehicle is properly restrained.

Always secure children in the vehicle with a restraint system appropriate for their age,

weight and height

⇒ Child safety and child restraints.

Always fasten safety belts correctly before driving off and make sure that all passengers

are properly restrained.

Never attach the safety belt to the buckle of another seat. Attaching the safety belt to the

wrong buckle will reduce safety belt effectiveness and can cause serious personal injury.

Never let any objects or liquids get into the safety belt latch and prevent it from working

properly.

Never remove a safety belt while the vehicle is moving. Doing so will increase your risk of

being injured or killed.

Never strap more than one person, including small children, into any single safety belt.
Never let children or babies ride sitting on your lap, and never place a safety belt over a

child sitting on your lap.

Never wear belts over rigid or breakable objects in or on your clothing, such as eyeglass-

es, pens, keys, etc., as these may cause injury.

Several layers of heavy clothing (such as a coat worn over top of a sports jacket) may

interfere with proper positioning of the safety belt and reduce the overall effectiveness of the
system.

Never use comfort clips or devices that create slack in the shoulder belt. However, special

clips may be required for the correct use of some child restraint systems.

Safety belts offer optimum protection only when the seat backrest is upright and belts are

correctly positioned on the body.

WARNING

Damage to safety belts reduces their overall effectiveness and increases the risk of serious
personal injury and death whenever the vehicle is being used.

Never let safety belts become damaged by being caught in the door or seat hardware.
Torn or frayed safety belts can tear, and damaged safety belt hardware can break in an

accident.

Inspect belts regularly for damage. If webbing, bindings, buckles, or retractors are dam-

aged, have the belts replaced immediately with the correct replacement belts approved by
Volkswagen for your vehicle, model, and model year.

Safety belts that were subject to stress in an accident and stretched must be replaced with

a correct, new safety belt, preferably by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized
Volkswagen Service Facility.

Replacement after a crash may be necessary even if a safety belt shows no visible dam-

age. Anchorages that have been loaded must also be inspected.

Damaged safety belts must be replaced; they cannot be repaired.
Never try to repair a damaged safety belt yourself. Never remove or modify the safety belts

in any way.

Have safety belts, bindings, retractors and buckles replaced by an authorized Volkswagen

dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Always keep the belts clean. Dirty belts may not work correctly and can impair the func-

tion of the inertia reel.

Warning light

Fig. 46 Warning light in the instrument cluster.

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

Lights

up or

flashes

Possible cause

Proper response

Driver and front passenger have not
fastened their safety belts, if front pas-
senger seat is occupied.

Fasten safety belts.

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.

A warning chime also sounds.

The safety belt warning light comes on for 6 seconds when the ignition is switched on. A warning
chime also sounds for up to 6 seconds if the driver's safety belt is not buckled. The chime stops soon-
er if the driver buckles his or her safety belt. The warning light and the chime go out when both driver
and front passenger have buckled their safety belts.

If the driver and front seat passenger do not both fasten their safety belts within about 24 seconds
after the chime stops and the vehicle is moving at a speed of more than about 15 mph (25 km/h), the
chime will again sound for about 6 seconds, then go off for about 24 seconds, then sound again for
about another 6 seconds. The same thing happens if one of the safety belts is fastened and then
unfastened while the vehicle is moving. The safety belt warning light also flashes. The warning
chime continues to sound at 24 second intervals for up to 2 minutes. No chime sounds at speeds of
less than about 5 mph (8 km/h).

If the ignition is switched on, the safety belt warning light stays on until the driver and front passen-
ger have both buckled their safety belts.

WARNING

Not wearing a safety belt or wearing an improperly positioned safety belt increases the risk of
severe personal injury or death. Safety belts offer optimum protection only when used cor-
rectly.

Frontal collisions and laws of physics

Fig. 47 A vehicle with passengers not wearing safety belts approaches a wall.

Fig. 48 A vehicle with passengers not wearing safety belts hits a wall.

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

The physical principles of a frontal collision are simple. Both the moving vehicle and the passenger

possess energy

⇒

fig. 47

, which varies with vehicle speed and body weight. Engineers call this energy

“kinetic energy.”

The higher the speed of the vehicle and the greater the vehicle's weight, the more energy has to be
“absorbed” in a crash.

Vehicle speed is the most significant factor. If your speed doubles (for example, from 15 mph to
30 mph – 25 km/h to 50 km/h), the energy increases 4 times!

Because the occupants of the vehicle in the above example are not using safety belts, they are not
“attached” to the vehicle. In a frontal collision, they will keep moving at the same speed the vehicle
was moving just before the crash, until something stops them - here, the inside of the passenger
compartment. Because the occupants of the vehicle in the example are not wearing safety belts, their

entire kinetic energy will be absorbed by impact with the wall

⇒

fig. 48

The same principles apply to people in a vehicle that is in a frontal collision on the highway. Even at
city speeds of 20–30 mph (30–50 km/h), the forces acting on the body can reach one ton (2,000 lbs or
1,000 kg) or more. At greater speeds, these forces are even higher.

Of course, the laws of physics don't apply just to frontal collisions; they determine what happens in all
kinds of accidents and collisions.

What happens to passengers not wearing a safety belt

Fig. 49 The unbelted driver is thrown forward.

Fig. 50 Unbelted passengers in the rear seats are thrown forward on top of the belted driver.

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

Many people believe that it is possible to resist the forces of an impact by holding tight or bracing
themselves. That is simply not true!

Even at low collision speeds, the forces acting on the body are too much for the body to be held in the
seat with the arms and hands. In a frontal collision, unrestrained occupants will slam violently into the

steering wheel, instrument panel, windshield or anything else in the way

⇒

fig. 49

Never rely on airbags alone for protection. Even when they deploy, airbags provide only additional
protection. Airbags are not supposed to deploy in all kinds of accidents. Even if your vehicle is
equipped with airbags, all vehicle occupants, including the driver, must wear safety belts correctly in
order to minimize the risk of severe injury or death in a crash, regardless of whether a seating position
has an airbag or not.

An airbag will deploy only once. Safety belts are always there to offer protection in those accidents in
which airbags are not supposed to deploy or when they have already deployed. Unbelted occupants
can also be thrown out of the vehicle, causing even more severe injuries or death.

It is also important for occupants in the rear seats to wear their safety belts properly since they can be
thrown violently forward through the vehicle in the event of an accident. Unbelted passengers in the
rear seats endanger not only themselves but also the driver and other passengers in the vehicle
⇒

fig. 50

Safety belts protect

Fig. 51 Belted driver secured by the correctly worn safety belt in the event of a sudden braking maneuver.

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

Used properly, safety belts can make a big difference. Safety belts help to keep passengers in their
seats, gradually reduce energy levels applied to the body in a collision, and help prevent the uncon-
trolled movement that can cause serious injuries. In addition, safety belts reduce the danger of being

thrown out of the vehicle

⇒

fig. 51

Safety belts attach passengers to the car and give them the benefit of being slowed down more gently
or “softly” through the “give” in the safety belts, crumple zones, and other safety features (such as
airbags) engineered into today's vehicles. The front crumple zones and other passive safety features
(such as the airbag system) are also designed to absorb kinetic energy. By “absorbing” the kinetic
energy over a longer period of time, the forces on the body become more “tolerable” and less likely to
cause injury.

Although these examples are based on a frontal collision, safety belts can also substantially reduce
the risk of injury in other kinds of crashes. So, whether you're on a long trip or “just going to the corner
store,” always buckle up and make sure that others do, too.

Volkswagen Golf GTI (2015 year). Instruction - part 6