Tip #1: Service Position of Wipers
The service position is very helpful when cleaning your windshield after a snow fall or freezing rain and helps your wipers last longer. Since the wipers normally rest at the bottom of the windshield they can get frozen to the glass. It is difficult to dig them out with a snow brush and you might end up bending or damaging the blades. To fix this problem VW has come up with a great solution and it could be something you did not know your car had. When you arrive at your destination and turn your car off, just tap the windshield wiper stalk down (the same way you would do it for a single wipe) and the wipers will complete a half wipe. The wipers are now at the service position. This allows the snow and/or rain, to run down wipers so they do not ice up as easily. The wipers can also be removed from the windshield by pulling them away from the glass. This could be used if you know freezing rain is in the forecast, or you are scraping off your windshield. When you get into your car to drive away, start the car up and simply tap the wiper stalk down again. The wipers will then go back down. (Available on 2006-2009 Jetta, Rabbit, 2007-2009 GTI, 2006-2009 Passat, Touareg, & Tiguan)

Tip #2: ESP

If your car is equipped with Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) it is engaged every time you start the car. If you happen to see an icon flashing in your dashboard that looks similar to the “slippery road” sign, that is ESP being activated and it is just letting you know that it is working. If this is happening you may want to consider reducing the amount of power you are giving the car. If you have ESP, there is a button on the middle of the dash/console that you can press and hold which deactivates ESP. We highly recommend that you leave it on while you are driving. By pressing the ESP button it will disengage and you may notice the ESP light turn on solid in the instrument cluster. The only time you may feel that it is necessary to turn ESP off is if you happen to get stuck in deep snow. With ESP off, it will allow you to spin the tires by deactivating the engine management control. When the car is slipping and ESP is on, it will automatically reduce the amount of power if necessary in order to gain more traction. If you are stuck in snow, you may need to spin the tires to produce the rocking motion to get out. Once you are out of the problem area, it is recommended that you turn ESP back on by pressing the same button. The light on the dash will then turn off. (Optional feature on vehicles 2002 and newer)

Tip #3: Heated Mirrors

The heated mirror feature is great in our climate. It helps to reduce the amount of time you need to spend scraping your car. As well, if your mirrors ever get foggy you are able to defrost them very quickly from inside your warm car. To operate your heated mirrors, all you need to do is turn the mirror adjustment knob to the defrost mode. It is located between the L and R. Just look for the defrost icon on your mirror switch. It is highly recommended that after your mirrors have defrosted that you then turn the knob to the ‘0’ the off spot. If your car does not have that, then you can turn the defrost off by turning it to ‘L’ or ‘R’. This helps to preserve the heated mirror element so it does not burn out. (Standard feature on most models) For those of you without power mirrors, you’re not left out in the cold either. When you activate your rear defrost, the mirrors will also be heated.

Tip #4: Nitrogen in your Tires

We recommend inflating your tires with nitrogen. The molecules of nitrogen do not expand and contract like oxygen. This is beneficial because your tires will stay inflated at the proper pressures. As you drive on your tires, your tires will warm up. With oxygen, the pressure will be different than when the tires were cold and the tread of your tires will not be rolling on the road correctly. With too much rubber on the road, your fuel economy may go down since it takes more power for the tire to roll over the road. When your tires are filled with nitrogen and you have the proper tire pressure, you will notice improved fuel economy, extended tire life, enhanced safety, and a reduction of corrosion on the inside of the rim. With correct tire inflation, you will also maximize road grip and handling, which could be the difference in being able grip the slippery surfaces we drive on during the winter months. (available for all models and years at VW Waterloo) To find out more about Nitrogen click here.

Tip #5: Rest Position for Touareg Climate Control Systems

With its climate control systems that are sensitive to within a half a degree, the Touareg is an excellent choice as a summer or winter vehicle. Another little known fact is that it can also help to maintain the temperature of the passenger compartment even when the vehicle isn’t running. This is great for when you are waiting outside to pick someone up or leave the car to go shopping. After you park your Touareg and turn it off, simply push the REST button on the climate control unit and the heating fan will be circulated for up to 30 minutes to maintain whatever temperature is set. This means no idling needed while you wait, and that if you happen to leave your pet out in the car while you make a quick stop at the store, your interior temperature will be maintained. No idling bylaw tickets, good for the environment, and a toasty interior!

We hope this article helped you out. Please let us know if it was and we will put together another list of top tips for the summer. If you have any questions regarding these tips do not hesitate to contact me at jsellner@vwwaterloo.com or (519) 884-7470.