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Volkswagen Golf GTI (2015 year). Instruction - part 25

Depending on the type of fuse, slide the tweezers

⇒

fig. 185

(1)

or B

(1)

onto the fuse from the

side.

Pull out the fuse.
If the fuse is blown, replace the fuse with a new fuse of the same amperage (same color and same

imprint) and same size

⇒

Clip the plastic tweezers back into the holder inside the fuse box cover.
Replace the fuse box cover.

NOTICE

If a fuse is replaced with a fuse with higher amperage, then damage can occur at various
places in the electrical system.

Replacing light bulbs

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Indicator light

Changing a light bulb requires a certain amount of skill. Therefore, Volkswagen recommends having
the light bulb changed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service
Facility. Special training and knowledge are generally required when other vehicle parts must be
disassembled to replace a bulb, or when HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights must be
replaced.

You should always keep a box in the vehicle with all the replacement bulbs required for traffic safety.
Replacement bulbs are available from your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility. The laws of some countries explicitly require you to have replacement bulbs in the
vehicle.

Driving with outside lights that do not work may be against the law.

To obtain the Volkswagen service information necessary to change light bulbs yourself, see
⇒ Volkswagen service information.

Additional light bulb specifications

Some factory-installed light bulbs in the headlights or the rear lights may have different specifications
than conventional light bulbs. Specifications are on the glass bulb or on the metal base.

WARNING

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

WARNING

Improper replacement of burned out headlights and other light bulbs can cause serious
personal injury.

Stop! Always read and heed the WARNINGS before doing any work in the engine

compartment

⇒ Working in the engine compartment. The engine compartment of any motor

vehicle is a potentially dangerous area, and work in this area can lead to serious personal
injury.

HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights get power from a high voltage source

that can cause severe personal injury and even death if handled improperly.

H7 bulbs and HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights are under high pressure

and can explode if handled improperly.

Always let a burned out light bulb cool down before replacing it.
Never replace a light bulb unless you are familiar with all of the necessary procedures. In

particular, never remove a headlight unless you know exactly how to carry out the job and
have the correct tools and light bulbs.

If you are uncertain about what to do, have the work performed by an authorized

Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified
workshop. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work.

We strongly recommend that you always have HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon)

headlights and H7 bulbs replaced by a qualified technician.

Do not touch the glass of light bulbs with your bare hands. Fingerprints left on the bulb

evaporate due to the heat when the bulb is switched on and cause the reflector to “cloud.”

There are sharp edges on and around the headlight housing in the engine compartment

and the rear light housing. Wear hand protection if you replace bulbs.

NOTICE

After replacing a headlight bulb or other light bulb, always make sure that the rubber covers or
plastic caps have been properly and securely reinstalled to help prevent water from getting
into the electrical connections and the headlight housing and damaging the electrical system.

LEDs cannot be replaced. Contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility for assistance.

Indicator light

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

Lights

Possible cause

Proper response

Light bulb of the exterior vehicle lighting
not working.

See an authorized Volkswagen dealer, an
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or
other qualified workshop to replace the light
bulb that isn't working.

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.

NOTICE

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

Failure of a single LED within a taillight is not indicated. However, the indicator light will light

up if all LEDs fail.

Jump-starting

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Jump-start terminal

Using jumper cables

If your engine does not start because the vehicle battery is dead, your vehicle's battery can be
connected to the battery of another vehicle to start your engine (jump-starting). Check the battery acid

level indicator on the vehicle battery before jump-starting

⇒ Vehicle battery.

You must use jumper cables that meet recognized industrial standards (check information provided by
the jumper cable manufacturer). For vehicles with gasoline engines, the cross-section of the jumper
cable wire must be at least 0.038 in.

(25 mm

), or about 3 ga. (AWG).

More information:

  Starting assistance systems
  Working in the engine compartment
  Vehicle battery

WARNING

Working on the batteries or the electrical system in your vehicle can cause serious acid
burns, fires, or electrical shock.

Always keep children away from battery acid and vehicle batteries in general.
Sulfuric battery acid is very corrosive and can cause blindness and damage to

unprotected skin. Never let battery acid or lead particles contact your eyes, skin, and
clothing.

Never lean over a vehicle battery. Always wear protective gloves and eye protection. To

reduce your risk of injury, never tilt the batteries; acid could spill out through the vents and
burn you.

A highly explosive mixture of gases is given off when the battery is being charged.
Always avoid fires, sparks, open flame, and smoking. Never create sparks or electrostatic

charges when handling cables and electrical equipment. Never short-circuit the battery
terminals. High-energy sparks can cause serious personal injury.

If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with cold water for

several minutes and get medical attention immediately. If you swallow any battery acid, get
medical attention immediately.

WARNING

Improper use of jumper cables when jump-starting a vehicle with a dead battery can cause
the battery to explode, leading to serious personal injury. To help reduce the risk of battery
explosion:

All work on the batteries or the electrical system in your vehicle can cause serious acid

burns, fires, or electrical shocks. Always read and heed the following WARNINGS and safety

precautions before working on the batteries or the electrical system

⇒ Vehicle battery.

Always make sure that the battery providing starting assistance (the booster battery) has

the same voltage as the dead battery (12 V) and about the same amperage capacity (see
battery label).

Never jump-start a vehicle with a thawed or frozen vehicle battery. The battery can

explode. A dead battery can freeze at temperatures around +32 °F (0 °C).

A battery that is frozen or was frozen, but has since thawed, must be replaced.
When the vehicle battery is jump-started, it gives off hydrogen gas, which is highly

explosive! Always keep fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking materials far away from vehicle
batteries. Never use a mobile telephone while connecting or disconnecting jumper cables.

Jump-start batteries only in well-ventilated areas. Batteries give off highly explosive

hydrogen gas during jump-starting.

Always route the jumper cables so that they cannot get caught in any moving parts in the

engine compartment.

Never short out the battery terminals by connecting the positive (+) and negative (-)

terminals with each other.

Never connect the negative cable from the other vehicle directly to the negative terminal

of the dead battery, as this may cause the hydrogen gas given off by the dead battery to
explode.

Never attach the negative cable from the vehicle providing starting assistance to any part

of the fuel system or to the brake hoses or brake lines.

Never allow the non-insulated parts of the battery clamps to touch.
Never allow the jumper cable attached to the positive battery terminal to contact metal

parts of the vehicle.

Always follow the instructions of the jumper cable manufacturer.

NOTICE

To help prevent extensive damage to the vehicle electrical system, read and heed the
following:

Connecting jumper cables improperly can cause a short circuit and do expensive damage

to the vehicle's electrical system.

Do not let the vehicles touch each other while the jumper cables are connected. If they do,

electrical current may flow between the vehicles when the positive (+) terminals are connected,
causing electrical system damage.

Jump-start terminal

Fig. 186 In the engine compartment: Negative jump-start terminal -

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

The jump-start terminal for connecting the black jump-start cable is in the engine compartment
⇒

fig. 186

(–)

The vehicle can only be jump-started or be used to jump-start another vehicle via this jump-start
terminal.

Using jumper cables

Fig. 187 Diagram for attaching the jumper cables: Dead battery 1 and booster battery 2.

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

The dead battery must be properly connected to the vehicle's electrical system.

Make certain that the vehicles are not touching each other. Otherwise, electric current could flow as
soon as the positive terminals (+) are connected. Use longer jumper cables if necessary.

The clamps on the jumper cables must have good contact to bare metal on the battery terminals.

If the engine does not start, stop the process after 10 seconds and repeat after about 1 minute.

The procedure for attaching and for removing the jumper cables is described below. Perform each of
the following steps only in the order described, which follow the letters shown in the illustration
⇒

fig. 187

A – B – C – D.

Attaching jumper cables

1. Switch off the ignition in both vehicles

⇒ Starting and stopping the engine.

2. Open the battery cover in the engine compartment if the battery has a cover

⇒ Vehicle battery.

3. Attach one end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal

(+)

of the dead battery:

(1)

⇒

4. Attach the other end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal

(+)

of the good battery

(booster battery):

(2)

5. Attach one end of the black jumper cable to the negative jump-start terminal

⇒ Jump-start

terminal, or if that is not available, to the negative terminal

(-)

of the battery in the vehicle

providing assistance

(2)

6. Attach the other end of the black jumper cable

(3)

to the negative jump-start terminal

⇒ Jump-start

terminal, or if that is not available, a bare metal part of the vehicle with the dead battery. This
part should be connected directly to the engine block. You may also attach the cable to the engine

block itself or to the towing eye installed on the front of the vehicle

⇒ Towing. Attach the clamp to a

point that is as far away as possible from the dead battery

(1)

⇒

7. Route the jumper cables so that they cannot get caught in any moving parts in the engine

compartment of either vehicle.

Starting the engine

Start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery that is providing help and let it run at idle

speed.

Turn on the ignition of the vehicle with the dead battery. If the engine starts, wait 2 to 3 minutes

until it “runs smoothly” before removing the jumper cables as described below

⇒

. If the engine

does not start within about 10 seconds, turn off the ignition and wait at least 1 minute; then try again.

Before removing the jumper cables

Switch off the headlights (if they are on).
In the vehicle with the dead battery, switch on the heater fan and the rear window defroster. This

helps to minimize voltage spikes when the cables are disconnected.

Removing jumper cables

With the engine running, remove the jumper cables in reverse order to the way they were connected.

1. Disconnect the black (-) cable from the vehicle with the dead battery.

2. Disconnect the black (-) cable from the other vehicle (vehicle with the good battery).

3. Disconnect the red (+) cable from the other vehicle (vehicle with the good battery).

4. Disconnect the red (+) cable from the vehicle with the dead battery.

5. Close the battery cover.

6. If necessary, unscrew the towing eye on the front of the vehicle

⇒ Installing the front towing eye.

WARNING

Improper use of jumper cables when jump-starting a vehicle with a dead battery can cause
the battery to explode, leading to serious personal injury. To help reduce the risk of battery
explosion:

All work on the batteries or the electrical system in your vehicle can cause serious acid

burns, fires, or electrical shocks. Always read and heed the following WARNINGS and safety

precautions before working on the batteries or the electrical system

⇒ Vehicle battery.

Always wear proper eye protection. Never lean over the vehicle battery.
Attach the jumper cables in the correct order: first the positive cable, then the negative

cable.

Never connect the negative cable from the vehicle providing starting assistance to parts

of the fuel system or to the brake hoses or brake lines.

Never allow the non-insulated parts of the battery clamps to touch.
Never allow the jumper cable attached to the positive battery terminal to contact metal

parts of the vehicle.

Check the battery acid level indicator window on the vehicle battery. Use a flashlight,

never a match, cigarette lighter, or other open flame. If you cannot see the color of the
window clearly, or if it is light yellow or colorless, do not jump-start the vehicle. Get expert
assistance.

Avoid electrostatic discharge in the vicinity of the vehicle battery. Sparks may cause the

hydrogen gas escaping from the vehicle battery to ignite.

Never jump-start a vehicle with a battery that is damaged or frozen or that was frozen and

has thawed. The battery can explode. Replace the battery instead.

Always follow the instructions of the jumper cable manufacturer.
Always make sure that the battery providing starting assistance has the same voltage as

the dead battery (12 V) and about the same capacity (see battery label).

Batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas. Always keep fire, sparks, open flame and

smoking materials away from batteries.

Never connect the negative cable from the other vehicle directly to the negative terminal

of the dead battery. The hydrogen gas from the battery is explosive.

Never short out the battery terminals by connecting the positive (+) and negative (-)

terminals with each other.

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.

For technical reasons:

A vehicle with a dead battery must never be towed. Jump-start the vehicle instead.
It is not possible to tow-start or push-start your vehicle. Jump-start the vehicle instead.

Vehicles with Keyless Access may only be towed with the ignition on.

Towing the vehicle when the engine is turned off and the ignition is turned on drains the 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
  Shifting
  Engine control and emission control system
  Jump-starting

WARNING

Never tow a vehicle without any electrical power.

Never remove the remote control vehicle key from the ignition switch or turn off the

ignition with the starter button while the vehicle is moving. The electronic steering column
lock could suddenly engage, and you would not be able to steer or control the vehicle. You
can lose control of the vehicle, crash, and seriously injure yourself and others.

If the vehicle loses power while it is being towed, stop towing 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 and brakes. 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 rear-
end the towing vehicle.

– Will have to use considerably 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.

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 converter during towing and damage it.

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 above 30 mph (50 km/h).

Never let the vehicle be towed for more than 30 miles (50 km).

Towing manual transmission vehicles

  Release the parking brake.
  Shift the transmission into Neutral (N).
  If possible, have the vehicle towed with the front wheels off the ground.

If necessary, the vehicle can also be towed with the rear wheels off the ground

⇒

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

⇒

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 switched on and its
electrical system is operating. In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towed at all and must
be transported on a flatbed truck or trailer:

If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.
If the vehicle battery is dead (because the electronic steering column lock engages and cannot be

released).

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.
Tow manual transmission vehicles with the rear wheels off the ground only if it is certain

that no transmission fluid can leak out.

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 inserted in a threaded 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 protect 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 vehicle 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

⇒ Shifting.

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.

When not to tow your vehicle

In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be towed and must be transported on a flatbed truck 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, because the steering may remain disabled and it may not be

possible to release the electronic steering column lock.

If you have to tow an automatic transmission vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).
If the steering or the wheel clearance might be impaired, for example, after an accident.

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 electronic steering column lock is released. In case of a power

loss or malfunctions of the electrical system, the engine may have to be jump-started in order to
release the electronic steering column lock.

Installing the front towing eye

Fig. 188 In the right front bumper: Removing the cover.

Fig. 189 In the right front bumper: Screwing in the towing eye.

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

There is a threaded hole for the towing eye in the right front bumper

⇒

fig. 189

Always keep the towing eye in the vehicle and stow it securely.

Read and follow the notes about towing

⇒ Tips on towing.

Installing the front towing eye

Take the towing eye, the lug wrench, and the screwdriver out of the vehicle tool kit in the luggage

compartment

⇒ Vehicle tool kit.

Push on the left side of the cover

⇒

fig. 188

(arrow) so that it pops out.

Remove the cover and let it hang from the bumper.

Screw the towing eye clockwise into the threaded hole as far as it will go (arrow)

⇒

fig. 189

⇒

. Use the lug wrench to turn and tighten the towing eye.

When towing is complete, unscrew the towing eye counterclockwise to remove it.

Position the left side of the cover in the opening in the bumper and carefully push the right side into

the opening.

Push on the right part of the cover until it has locked into place.

NOTICE

Always make sure the towing eye is screwed all the way into threaded hole so that it is secure.
If not, it could be pulled out while your vehicle is being towed.

Installing the rear towing eye

Fig. 190 In the right rear bumper: Removing the cover.

Fig. 191 On the right rear bumper: Screwing in the towing eye.

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

There is a threaded hole for the towing eye in the right rear bumper

⇒

fig. 191

Always keep the towing eye in the vehicle and stow it securely.

Read and follow the notes about towing

⇒ Tips on towing.

Installing the rear towing eye

Take the towing eye, the lug wrench, and the screwdriver out of the vehicle tool kit in the luggage

compartment

⇒ Vehicle tool kit.

Push on the cover at the bottom marking

⇒

fig. 190

(arrow) so that it pops out.

Remove the cover and let it hang from the bumper.

Screw the towing eye clockwise into the threaded hole as far as it will go (arrow)

⇒

fig. 191

⇒

. Use the lug wrench to turn and tighten the towing eye.

When towing is complete, unscrew the towing eye counterclockwise to remove it.
Position the lower lip of the cover in the opening in the bumper and carefully push the upper lip

over the edge of the opening until the cover has locked in place.

NOTICE

Always make sure the towing eye is screwed all the way into threaded hole so that it is secure.
If not, it could be pulled out while your vehicle is being towed.

Driving tips while towing

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

Towing requires some experience, especially when using a tow rope. Both drivers 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 flashers go
off as long as the turn signal is blinking. As soon as the turn signal lever returns to its neutral position,
the emergency flashers are automatically activated again.

As the driver of the vehicle being towed:

If your vehicle is the one being towed, the ignition switch must be switched on to keep the steering

wheel from locking. Also make sure that the turn signals, horn, windshield wipers, and windshield
washers work properly.

Since power steering does not work when the engine is switched off, more effort is needed 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 the driver of the towing vehicle:

  Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently. Avoid sudden driving maneuvers.
  Brake earlier and more gently than usual and with light pedal pressure.
  Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in the owner's manual of the vehicle being towed.

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