Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual:  Introduction to the subject

In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:

⇒ Warning and indicator lights 

⇒ Vehicle key positions in the ignition switch 

⇒ Starter button 

⇒ Starting the engine 

⇒ Starting the engine 

⇒ Stopping the engine 

⇒ Stopping the engine 

⇒ Electronic immobilizer 

Immobilizer display

If an unauthorized vehicle key is used or the system malfunctions, or Immobilizer active! may appear on the instrument cluster. The engine cannot be started.

Push-starting and tow-starting

For technical reasons, never try to push-start or tow-start the vehicle. Jump-start the vehicle instead while following proper and safe procedures.

More information:

• Vehicle key set ⇒ Vehicle key set 

• Shifting gears ⇒ Shifting 

• Braking, stopping and parking ⇒ Braking, stopping, and parking 

• Steering ⇒ Steering 

• Refueling ⇒ Refueling 

• Fuel ⇒ Fuel 

• Emergency closing and opening ⇒ Emergency closing and opening 

• Jump-starting ⇒ Jump-starting 

• Towing ⇒ Towing 

Warning

Switching off the engine while the vehicle is moving can make the vehicle harder to stop and result in loss of vehicle control, leading to collisions and severe personal injuries.

• Brake and steering assistance systems, the airbag system, safety belt pretensioners, and other vehicle safety features only work when the engine is running.

• Switch off the engine only when the vehicle is not moving.

Warning

To reduce the risk of serious personal injury when starting and running the vehicle's engine:

• Never start the engine or let it run in a confined or enclosed area. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide, a poisonous, colorless, and odorless gas. Carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness and death.

• Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running. The vehicle could move suddenly or some other unexpected event could occur resulting in property damage or personal injury.

• Never use starting assist fluids. Starting fluids can explode and can cause a run-away vehicle condition.

Warning

The vehicle exhaust system and the catalytic converter or diesel particulate filter get very hot. They can cause fires and serious personal injury.

• 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.

• Never apply additional undercoating or rustproofing on or near the exhaust manifold, exhaust pipes, catalytic converter, diesel particulate filter or heat shields.