Get Do it yourself -> Towing Guide for Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

Removing jumper cables

Always follow the instructions of the jumper ca-

ble manufacturer.

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

Always make sure that the battery providing

starting assistance has the same voltage as the

dead battery (12 V) and about the same capaci-

ty (see battery label).

with the dead battery.

2. Disconnect the black (-) cable from the other

Batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas. Al-

ways keep fire, sparks, open flame and smoking

materials away from batteries.

vehicle (vehicle with the good battery).

3. Disconnect the red (+) cable from the other ve-

hicle (vehicle with the good battery).

Never connect the negative cable from the oth-

er vehicle directly to the negative battery termi-

nal on the dead battery. The hydrogen gas from

the battery is explosive.

4. Disconnect the red (+) cable from the vehicle

with the dead battery.

5. Close the battery cover.

Never short out the battery terminals by con-

necting the positive (+) and negative (-) termi-

nals with each other.

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:

Towing

All work on the batteries or the electrical sys-

tem 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 → page 256, Vehicle bat-

tery.

Introduction

Observe legal requirements when towing.

For technical reasons:

Always wear proper eye protection. Never lean

over the vehicle battery.

— A vehicle with a dead battery must never be tow-

ed. Jump-start the vehicle instead.

Attach the jumper cables in the correct order:

first the positive cable, then the negative cable.

— It is not possible to tow-start or push-start your

vehicle → . Jump-start the vehicle instead.

Never connect the negative cable from the ve-

Vehicles with Keyless Access may only be towed

with the ignition on.

hicle providing starting assistance to parts of

the fuel system or to the brake hoses or brake

lines.

Towing the vehicle when the engine is turned off

and the ignition is turned on drains the vehicle bat-

tery. Depending on the charge level of the vehicle

battery, it is possible that even after just a few mi-

nutes, electrical devices such as the emergency

flashers may not have the power necessary to work.

The steering wheel might lock in vehicles with Key-

Never allow the non-insulated parts of the bat-

tery clamps to touch.

Never allow the jumper cable attached to the

positive battery terminal to contact metal parts

of the vehicle.

less Access →

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 clear-

ly, or if it is light yellow or colorless, do not

jump-start the vehicle. Get expert assistance.

WARNING

Never tow a vehicle without any electrical power.

Never remove the key from the ignition switch

or turn off the ignition with the starter button

while the vehicle is moving or rolling to a stop.

The electronic steering column could suddenly

lock, you would not be able to steer, and you

could lose control of the vehicle, crash, and seri-

ously injure yourself and others.

Avoid electrostatic discharge in the vicinity of

the vehicle battery. Sparks may cause the hy-

drogen 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.

If the vehicle loses power while it is being tow-

ed, stop towing the vehicle immediately and

contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or

236

Do it yourself

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for assis-

tance.

Towing manual transmission vehicles

— Release the parking brake.

— Shift the transmission to Neutral (N).

WARNING

— If possible, have the vehicle towed with the front

wheels off the ground.

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:

— If necessary, the vehicle can also be towed with

the rear wheels off the ground →

The driver of the vehicle that is being towed:

Towing automatic or DSG transmission vehicles

— Release the parking brake.

— 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.

— Shift the transmission to Neutral (N).

— Tow the vehicle only with its front wheels off the

ground →

— Will have to use considerably more force to

turn the steering wheel because the power

steering is not working.

Special towing instructions for vehicles with all-

wheel drive (4MOTION)

The driver of the vehicle that is doing the tow-

ing:

— To help prevent unnecessary damage, vehicles

with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) must be trans-

ported on a flatbed truck.

— Must accelerate gradually and gently and

avoid jerking movements.

— To load the vehicle on the flatbed, use the towing

eye found in the vehicle tool kit and attach it to

the front anchorage → page 227, Vehicle tool kit,

→ page 239, Installing the front towing eye.

— Must not brake hard or steer sharply.

— Must brake earlier and more gently than in

normal driving.

When not to tow your vehicle

NOTICE

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 electri-

cal system is operating.

Be careful not to damage the paint when installing

and removing the towing eye and the cover for the

threaded hole in the bumper.

NOTICE

In the following situations, the vehicle cannot be

towed and must be transported on a flatbed truck

or trailer:

Never tow-start or push-start your vehicle; if you do,

unburned fuel can get into the catalytic converter

and damage it. Jump-start the vehicle instead.

— If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.

— If the vehicle battery is dead (because the elec-

tronic steering column lock cannot be released, if

engaged). Vehicles with an electronic parking

brake: If the electronic parking brake was engag-

ed when the battery died, it cannot be released.

Towing with a commercial tow

truck

Please read the introductory information and

— If you have to tow an automatic or DSG transmis-

sion vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).

heed the Warnings and Notice

236.

and on page

— If the steering or the wheel clearance might be

impaired, for example, after an accident.

To help avoid damaging the vehicle, have it towed

only by a professional towing company. Read and

heed the following information:

WARNING

It is not safe for children or anyone else to ride in

a vehicle that is being towed.

General information

Never let the vehicle be towed at speeds above

30 mph (50 km/h).

Never let children or anyone else remain in the

vehicle while it is being towed.

Never let the vehicle be towed for more than

30 miles (50 km).

Towing

237

— When a commercial tow truck is being used, the

vehicle must only be towed with the front wheels

lifted off the ground.

NOTICE

The drive axle turns while the vehicle is being towed

with its rear wheels off the ground. This can damage

the automatic or DSG transmission.

— Follow the special instructions for towing vehicles

with all-wheel drive (4MOTION).

Never tow an automatic or DSG transmission ve-

hicle with the rear wheels off the ground.

Towing vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION)

Vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION) must be

transported on a flatbed truck or trailer. Otherwise

the powertrain may be damaged.

Tow manual transmission vehicles with the rear

wheels off the ground only if it is certain that no

transmission fluid can leak out.

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:

Tips on towing

Please read the introductory information and

— If transmission fluid has leaked out of the trans-

mission.

heed the Warnings and Notice

236.

and on page

— If there is little or no oil in the transmission be-

cause of damage to your vehicle, it must be

moved with the drive wheels off the ground.

Towing eye, tow rope or tow bar

A towing eye is included in your vehicle's tool kit.

This can be installed in a threaded hole in the front

bumper and used when your vehicle is being towed

by another vehicle. On most vehicles, there is anoth-

er 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.

— If the front and rear wheels cannot turn.

— If the vehicle battery is dead (because the elec-

tronic steering column lock cannot be released, if

engaged).

— If you have to tow an automatic or DSG transmis-

sion vehicle more than 30 miles (50 km).

— If the steering or the wheel clearance might be

impaired, for example, after an accident.

The tow rope should be flexible enough to help pro-

tect both vehicles from damage. Use a synthetic fi-

ber rope or similar rope.

Towing other vehicles

— Obey all legal requirements.

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.

— Read and heed all towing information in the own-

er's manual for the other vehicle.

A vehicle can be towed only if the electronic

steering column lock and the electronic park-

ing brake (if equipped) are released. In case of

a power loss or malfunctions of the electrical sys-

tem, the engine may have to be jump-started

→ page 233, Jump-starting in order to release the

electronic steering column lock and the electronic

parking brake (if equipped).

Towing manual transmission vehicles

Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see

below → page 238, When not to tow your vehicle.

If yes, note the following for the towed vehicle:

— Shift the gearshift lever to Neutral → page 147,

Manual transmission.

— Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).

— Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).

Towing automatic or DSG transmission vehicles

Check whether your vehicle can be towed at all; see

below → page 238, When not to tow your vehicle.

If yes, note the following for the towed vehicle:

— Shift the transmission to Neutral (N).

— Do not tow faster than 30 mph (50 km/h).

— Do not tow more than 30 miles (50 km).

238

Do it yourself

Use the lug wrench to turn and tighten the tow-

ing eye.

Installing the rear towing eye

— When towing is finished, unscrew the towing eye

counterclockwise to remove it.

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

236.

and on page

— 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 locks

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 tow-

ed.

Installing the front towing eye

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

236.

and on page

Fig. 162 In the right rear bumper: Removing the cover.

Fig. 163 In the right rear bumper: Installing the towing

eye.

There is a threaded hole for the towing eye in the

right rear bumper behind a cover → fig. 163.

Fig. 164 In the right front bumper: Removing the cov-

er.

Always keep the towing eye in the vehicle and stow

it securely.

Read and follow the notes about towing

→ page 238, 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 lug-

gage compartment → page 227, Vehicle tool kit.

— Push on the cover at the bottom marking

→ fig. 162 (arrow) so that it pops out.

— Remove the cover and let it hang from the bump-

er.

— Screw the towing eye clockwise into the threaded

hole as far as it will go (arrow) → fig. 163 , →

Towing

239

Driving tips while towing

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

236.

and on page

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 un-

paved road, there is always a risk of overloading and

damaging the attachment points.

Fig. 165 In the right front bumper: Installing the tow-

ing eye.

If your vehicle is being towed, it can still signal turns

even if the emergency flashers are switched on, as

long as the ignition is switched on. Use the turn sig-

nal 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 switched

on again.

There is a threaded hole for the towing eye in the

right front bumper behind a cover → fig. 165.

Always keep the towing eye in the vehicle and stow

it securely.

Read and follow the notes about towing

→ page 238, Tips on towing.

As the driver of the vehicle being towed:

Installing the front towing eye

— If your vehicle is the one being towed, the ignition

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.

— Take the towing eye, the lug wrench, and the

screwdriver out of the vehicle tool kit in the lug-

gage compartment → page 227, Vehicle tool kit.

— Push on the left side of the cover → fig. 164 (ar-

row) so that it pops out.

— Since power steering does not work when the en-

gine is switched off, more effort is needed to

steer the vehicle.

— Remove the cover and let it hang from the bump-

er.

— Screw the towing eye clockwise into the threaded

— 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.

hole as far as it will go (arrow) → fig. 165 , →

Use the lug wrench to turn and tighten the tow-

ing eye.

— When towing is complete, unscrew the towing

eye counterclockwise to remove it.

— Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in

the towing vehicle's owner's manual.

— Position the left side of the cover in the opening

in the bumper and carefully push the right side in-

to the opening until the cover locks into place.

As the driver of the towing vehicle:

— Drive especially carefully and accelerate gently.

Avoid sudden driving maneuvers.

NOTICE

— Brake earlier and more gently than usual and with

light pedal pressure.

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 tow-

ed.

— Read and heed the information and WARNINGS in

the owner's manual of the vehicle being towed.

240

Do it yourself

Do it yourself -> Towing for Your Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

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