2017 VW Alltrack – Operation Guide

My latest ride is the top-of-line 2017 Alltrack SEL, equipped with every available option.

(** At the end, see Acronym explanations, and my tips for buying a new car).

The operation manual for my first new car (1967) was a short pamphlet. The full slate of options on the Alltrack takes a bit of explaining, so no surprise, the car comes with a fat  Owner’s Manual (over 500 pages in 2 volumes, but no quick start guide).

I’m an information junkie, so I usually RTFM, if available. But this one is a total turnoff. Wolfsburg, we have a problem. No normal person would read this legal prose; it’s 60% dense CYA Naderese; finding pertinent how-to info is a PITA. How does a safety manual no one will read benefit user safety?

Hence I write this Guide to help me learn the car. It is organized with short introduction to the user control interfaces, to establish terminology and the locations of the various controls, followed by a ‘how to’ answer for each user-available function/interface. Much of this guide is applicable across the Golf line.

After absorbing such how-to advice, we can go forth and drive to train muscle memory, including that between our ears. Until fully competent with the vehicle, let’s use extra care and practice on low-traffic routes. There is great risk in looking away from the road to figure out the right button to push.

And let’s push ourselves to use all the available functions; we pay for them and perhaps they can be useful. Once we become comfortable calling on them, our complete mastery of the machine will infuse the soul with a can-do positivism that benefits many areas of one’s life, including the spirited driving experience provided by the Alltrack.

User Interface Overview

User Interface Summary (- left side + right side)

There are the usual distributed dedicated controls, such as window and door operations, as well as four multi-function interface areas in the cockpit. There is also Voice Activation for certain Media Center functions.

Function-specific Interface Areas (similar across many car manufacturers)

  • Door locking and window movement,
    • driver’s door – lock all doors, operate all windows, windows safety lock
    • passenger doors – individual window/lock switches
  • Steering Column Stalks: (- cruise control and turn indicators; + wipers operation F/R)
  • Lighting
    • switch and thumb wheel (interior brightness), lower left dash (to left of steering wheel)
    • switches overhead front and rear (interior reading lights)
    • switches overhead front (power sunroof, power sunshade)
    • door buttons (auto interior and ambient lighting when door opens in dark)
  • Climate Control – CLIMATRONIC panel, center console under touchscreen

Multi-function Interface Areas (designs somewhat unique to this manufacturer)

ICD
Instrument Cluster Display (between tach and speedo)
DMC
Media Console (touchscreen and function buttons)
displays and controls for most functions explained herein
function buttons:
- BAND, MEDIA, PHONE, VOICE
+ NAV, INFO, CAR, MENU
MFSW
Multi-Function Steering Wheel
function selection and stepwise adjustments to parameters
- adaptive cruise control
+ DMC remote control and telephony interface
DF
Drive Functions (buttons on either side of shifter)
- drive Mode, ASR/ESC (anti-skid regulation; electronic stability control)
+ parking assist activation modes

Voice Control

Use voice to control Media Center operations displayed on DMC screen.

  • Press voice button to activate Voice Assistant, MFSW+
  • wait for the chime
  • Say what you want in normal voice e.g. “help”
  • help screen appears on DMC
  • Say “Line X” where X is the number from the help menu, displayed on the DMC next to the desired function button.

How To Do Stuff

How to Break In a New VW Golf?

Modern engines require no special break-in precautions. But being of a certain age, this owner plans an old-school engine break-in. For at least 800 km, no wide-open throttle, no cruise control, varying engine speeds throughout the 2k-4k RPM band, using paddles to shift (since engine management tries to keep engine revs under 2K RPM in interest of fuel economy). There is no point in checking fuel economy during this break-in phase; it will be less than expected.

How to Access Vehicle Feedback Messages? (ICD, between tach and speedo)

  • Priority 1 (red) and 2 (yellow) warnings appear on ICD when activated
    • must acknowledge red warnings to regain normal use of ICD display
  • displays fixed parameters:
    • current time, outside temp, compass heading, gear selection, trip odometer, data period (trip, refuel, continuous 20 hr)
  • displays a selectable parameter; use CAR button (DMC+) to choose from:
    • average fuel economy, range on current fuel, oil temp, current or average speed
  • use MFSW+ up/down arrow keys to switch between displays

How To Get Underway; to Exit Car; to Use Ancillaries with Engine Off?

  • key proximity (in pocket) is sufficient for all functions
    • on my car, unlock button must be pushed on physical key to unlock doors after car has sat unused for a few days.?
  • pull driver door handle to enter (optionally, this will unlock all doors)
  • with car in park and foot on brake, press Start button all the way; after the engine starts, release hand brake, fasten seat belt, drive away.
  • at destination, put transmission in Park, set the hand brake, and press start button all the way to turn off engine and ancillaries
  • after exit, press outside cover of driver door handle to lock all doors
  • for window and media center operations only, press Start button part way to energize ancillaries without engaging engine starter

How to Control Driving Lights and Interior Lighting Brightness?

  • select Auto lighting on light switch for ‘set it and forget it’ lighting control
    • lights automatically come on and go off, brighten and dim, when they are supposed to
  • use dimmer scroll wheel next to light switch to control interior lighting brightness
  • pull out light switch to turn on fog lights

How to Use Wipers/Washers? How to Place Wipers in Service Position?

  • stalk has five detented up/down positions and four detented toward/away positions
  • 0-off; Up1-intermittent (rain sensor); Up2-slow; Up3-high; Down1-single swipe
  • Away1-front washer; Away2-rear washer; Toward-rear wiper
  • slider on top of stalk – adjust sensitivity of rain sensor (+ higher)
  • cycle engine power switch, then Down1 - wipers move to service position

How to Operate Windows (One-touch and Continuous)?

  • briefly press switch down all the way for one touch open
  • briefly pull switch up for one touch close
  • continuous switch contact moves window as long as switch is being activated

How to Enable and Disable Adaptive Cruise Control?

  • press ACC activate button on MFSW-
  • press Set button on MFSW- when target speed is reached
  • press OK or CNL button on MFSW- to temporarily defeat ACC
  • press RES on MFSW- to resume prior speed
  • use + or – buttons on MFSW- to increase or lower set speed
  • press/hold activate button (or press brake pedal) to cancel ACC

How to Set Distance From Vehicle in Front?

  • speed-relative distance setting:
  • very close, close, medium, far, very far
  • these control how close to the car in front the ACC will allow
  • set ACC distance by pressing the MFSW- distance button (center button)
  • this brings up the ACC displays on the DMC
  • repeatedly push the distance button to cycle through the five choices

How to Override Selected Vehicle Drive Program While Cruise Control Active?

  • when ACC active, a Cruise Mode can be selected by the CAR button on DMC+, to override the overall Drive Mode
  • cruise options: Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, accessed via vehicle settings
  • sport seems best for Drive Mode zest; while cruising, we go Eco.

How to Use the Rear View Camera?

  • switches on automatically when select Reverse gear
  • green lines show where vehicle will be
    red line shows where rear of vehicle is - stop before it aligns with post, curb, or wall
    adjust color, brightness, contrast via DMC functions
  • switches off automatically, or manually via DMC

How to Adjust Interior Temperature/Humidity via the Dual-Control Climatronic System?

  • push button bar for L/R seat heating, air distribution options
  • three dials: left/right – driver/passenger temp; center – fan speed
  • SYNC function button will adjust passenger climate control to match that of driver
  • push buttons in center of dials for control of A/C, defrosters, and selection of MENU/AUTO functions
  • MENU function button opens Climatronic information menu on DMC
  • AUTO function button enters a ‘set it and forget it’ climate control
  • pollen and dust filter (40K mile replacement)

How to Set the Driving Mode and Selectable Driving Parameters for Display?

  • Mode: Normal, Sport, Custom, Offroad; ASR/ESC (anti-slip/e-stability controls) On/Off
  • DF- Mode button cycles through modes on the DMC; stop cycling on desired option
  • Note: Adaptive Cruise Control has its own set of driving modes:
    eco, comfort, normal, sport
  • DF- ASR/ESC button turns ASR on/off
  • press 1 sec to turn ASR off
    press 3 sec to turn ESC Sport on (ASR remains off)
    press again to turn ASR and ESC on
  • DMC can display three offroad digital instruments in any driving mode
  • To choose which instruments display, press DMC+ CAR button repeatedly until:
  • three instruments are shown; change their function by swiping up or down on each
    oil temp, altimeter, compass, coolant temp, steering angle
    change temperature and altitude units in System Settings on DMC
  • A feedback screen is selectable to analyze driving mode effectiveness
  • Cycle the CAR button on DMC+ until the ‘Think Blue’ option can be selected

How to Navigate to a Destination?

  • Press NAV button on DMC+
  • nav ‘learns’ by keeping track of past routes you travel
  • Select Enter Destination from DMC menu, to select destination options
  • Option 1 Enter address, with quick search help
  • optionally specify ‘downtown’, or an intersection, or prior destination
  • Option 2 POI – specify area and type of location
  • Option 3 On Map – touch spot on map to select it as destination
  • Press Start to receive selected route guidance
  • up to 3 alternative routes will be offered: fastest, shortest, most economical
  • While enroute, press INFO button on DMC+ to view traffic advisories

How to Setup and Use iPhone Functions?

  • Basic telephony: iPhone/car are automatically paired via bluetooth; leave phone in pocket or purse
  • Media functions: plug iphone into DMC via lightning cable to USB data port
  • behind center console door
  • Press PHONE button on DMC-
  • Interact with IOS display of iPhone apps on DMC to play tunes, etc

How to Answer a Call?

  • Press phone icon on MFSW+
  • Speak normally

How to Call a Contact?

  • Push/hold voice button, MFSW+, to engage iPhone Siri
  • Say “Call XXXX Mobile” where XXX is a name in iPhone contacts list
  • When call answered, speak normally

How to Play iTunes Playlist from iTunes Library?

  • Press MUSIC button on DMC-
  • Select music app from DMC
  • Select album or playlist.
  • Press play (with shuffle option)
  • Use volume arrows on MFSW+ to play louder/softer

How to Activate/Use Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert?

  • Not available in 2017 Alltrack, fitted on 2017 Sportwagon
  • Indicator warning lights in external rear view mirrors if blind spot obstruction
  • Rear Traffic Alert sounds warning tone if a moving vehicle approaches the rear
  • If driver does not brake, the car automatically brakes
  • If car has Park Distance Control, it must be on for Rear Traffic Alert to function
  • Blind Spot and Rear Traffic Assist can be turned off via MFSW+ / DMC

How to Activate/Use Park Distance Control (PDC)?

  • Ultrasonic sensors warn of closeness to objects behind or in front
  • PDC menu enables control of volume and pitch at front or rear, auto activation
  • PDC can be activated/deactivated manually via PDC button to right of gear shift
  • PDC activated/deactivated automatically by parking maneuvering
  • Warning tones can be muted via function button on PDC display on the DMC
  • Works with Rear View Camera via split screen

How to Use Park Assist (use with PDC)?

  • Turn on PA with its button to right of shifter
  • Turn on turn signal to signal which side of car faces parking space
  • Slowly drive past parking space and stop
  • If ICD message indicates the space is suitable
  • Place shifter in R. take hands off wheel,
  • Gently accelerate, then brake when audible tone and/or ICD message
  • Switch shifter to (D or R)
  • Repeat as necessary until signaled vehicle is correctly parked
  • Place shifter in P and turn off engine
  • To un-park, turn on engine and engage PA via button to left of shifter
  • Engage turn signal to side of car
  • Place shifter in R position and leave hands off steering wheel
  • Gently accelerate until warning tone/msg, brake, change shifter (D or R)
  • Repeat until signaled that its ok to drive on
  • Check for oncoming traffic
  • When safe, drive away from parking space using final PA steering wheel angle
  • PA can be used to enter a perpendicular space
  • Press PA mode button twice
  • Proceed as above for parallel park

How to Configure Front Assist – Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Braking

  • Front Assist is automatic unless manually turned off
  • turn off via MFSW+ / ICD
  • Driving Distance (ICD warning) – dangerously short distance in front for current speed
  • Advance Collision (ICD warning + chime ) – immediate collision avoidance required
  • warning is selectable in DMC: early, medium, or late
  • Imminent Collision – if no timely response to chime, autonomous braking initiated

How Activate/Deactivate Lane Assist – Lane Keeping System?

  • Turn on and off via MFSW+ / ICD
  • ICD indicator light shows when system active
  • If lane departure with no turn signal, autonomous steering correction will be initiated

How to Use Hill Start Assist?

  • when stopped on a grade in P or R gear with foot on the brake pedal
  • Move foot from brake and gently press the throttle pedal
  • the brake will remain on automatically for up to 2 sec. or until the throttle pedal is depressed.

How to Engage and Operate Under Hill Descent Control (HDC)?

  • Active when all following conditions simultaneously occur
  • vehicle in offroad mode; descending a grade of at least 10%; under 18 mph
  • HDC indicator lights in ICD; vehicle autonomously accelerates and brakes as necessary
  • Driver only steers
  • HDC turns off when any of the three conditions no longer pertains

How to Operate Radio?

  • 15 FM presets presented on screen as three sets of five
  • swipe screen to side to reveal each grouping
  • Enter SCAN mode by pressing right knob or SCAN function button on screen
  • Using scan mode, press and hold preset number to remember current station
  • Press right knob to continue scanning from current tuning position

How to Maintain USA Engine Health?

Beyond recommended maintenance, the EA888 1.8T engines (Atkinson cycle) imported to the USA may benefit from a special procedure. These USA engines utilize a single-rail direct injection to save the expense of the 2-rail injection on Euro models, needed for their stricter emissions standards. Ultimately, the single-rail injection we get will cause carbon buildup around the intake valves, requiring an early top-end maintenance expense.

One can likely extend the period before such buildup becomes problematic  by occasional, old-school ‘Italian tune-ups’, running the engine above 3K RPM for a few minutes under load. Find a route with some hills (flatlanders will need to improvise) and run wide open throttle to redline on the uphill bits.

Stock Performance (Car and Driver)

  • Skid Pad (300ft dia.): 0.84G [0.95G in Golf R; Adaptive Chassis Control]
  • Braking: from 70 mph in 170 ft [157 feet in Golf R; much larger brakes]
  • EPA combined/city/hwy: 25/22/30 mpg
  • Turning Circle: 35.8′ dia.
  • Wheelbase: 103.5″
  • Curb Weight: 3360 lbs.

Tips, Tricks, Comments

Useful Mods to Standard Configuration

Remove Luggage Compartment Cover

  • Never use this, it’s in the way, and it weighs a lot. Over-engineered. Here’s how to cut it loose.
  • Push inward on the retaining caps and then lift the cover out.
  • Hide it in deep storage.
  • Put it back when selling car.
  • Throw an old blanket over anything you don’t want people to see.

Re-Tuning the Engine to Unlock Available Performance (USD 550)

  • Revised engine control software can be downloaded to the ECU via the OBD-II port, to restore performance VW took away under the guise of economy of operation (but actually gaming the customer to choose a more expensive model for more performance).
  • The 91 AKI tune (245hp, 280ft-lbs torque est., using my normal 91/92 AKI pump gas) is sufficient to change the car’s character, from fun ride to beast in class: 0-100 kph, 6.2 sec est.
  • 50-80 mph will be ~1.4 sec faster, a measurably safer margin for error. The 1/4 mile times decrease from 15.6 sec @ 90 mph to 14.4 sec @ 96 mph.
  • The tune increases turbo boost, and changes valve and ignition timing, and other engine parameters accordingly.
  • Emissions and fuel economy are not appreciably changed; no functions are disabled.
  • Potential additional costs if engine ever malfunctions and warranty service is denied.
  • Recommended to wait until car is broken in and sorted, before laying on a tune.
  • The Stage 1 Alltrack retains all its practicality: long roof interior space, mild off-road creds, dual clutch manumatic, AWD, with added driving excitement on par with a 2017 GTI (+15% HP and +10% ft/lbs. from an engine with 10% less displacement).

More performance, still appropriate for a daily driver, is available by swapping out the IS12 turbo for an IS20 with higher flow downpipe, and then adding a stage 2 tune to both the EA888 ECU and Mechatronics control unit in the D250 DSG. This will get close to Golf R performance.

But that’s excess for me; a simple software upgrade makes the Alltrack the fastest car I have ever owned, in a great sleeper disguise, utilizing a Golf R suspension minus the adaptive bits.

Potential Hidden Maintenance Requirements to Keep In Mind

  • All the following problems are $$$$ repairs
  • All are likely, if they occur, to happen after standard warranty expires
  • If they occur during warranty period, may need to involve VW Customer Service to get timely action from dealer
  • Likely, other than these items, a well-maintained engine should only require oil changes through warranty period

Rear Main Seal Leaks

  • Poor engineering of plastic oil pan and gasket assemblies?
  • Made worse by PCV failure
  • Possibly also worsened by overfilling oil – 6 quarts maximum with filter – dipstick inaccurate

Intake Damper Flap Stuck

  • Electric actuator motor may fail

Problems My Car has Encountered

  • Car was parked outside during its first winter and began to accumulate increasing condensation on the inside of windows, making it difficult to drive without removing the condensation first. The dealer diagnosed a water leak that was creating wet carpeting on the passenger compartment floor. The rubber winter mats disguised the problem. The reported cause was a plugged water drain that caused water to pool under the windshield cowling until it found its way inside. The actual cause seems to have been faulty installation of pano sliding roof drains on some cars assembled in Puebla (MX) plant. If you are among the very unlucky, VW fixes for free (until Dec 31, 2021 ?). They took a week to fix mine – apparently somewhat of a big deal fix – but if your dealer takes the effort to do the whole fix, you will likely be ok. Mine’s been problem free for the last four years through lots of rain.

Footnotes

Buy Smart

Wait until end of model year to buy, to take advantage of dealer new model shipments causing a squeeze on available space, and to avoid early model year higher failure rates.

Shop around to take advantage of all dealer incentives, which generally requires using VW financing. This is a non-issue; just cancel the financing after a couple of months when you can either cash it out, or refi at your best rate.

Rarely, VW will offer 0% financing for good credit, (usually only when VW management has damaged the VW reputation in the prior year, combined with a depressed marketplace). Can’t do better than 0%, unless your money is invested in a losing proposition, in which case just pay cash for the car.

Don’t accept any distributor or dealer adds (that you wouldn’t rush out and get for yourself after purchase).

If you accept VW financing with the plan to cash it out soon, keep the money invested until cashout; whatever it earns for you reduces the cost of the car.

My example (end of 2017 model year); I wanted red, but the dealer had a reasonable blue SEL on the lot, a small compromise.

    • USD 37.5K sticker
    • USD 32K negotiated purchase price, incl. tax and license and VW fin.
    • USD 26.5K cash-out cost (after applying four month’s investment earnings on the 30K USD; I was luckily on a hot stock at the time. Harder to do in a sideways or down market, of course.)

Acronyms

PITA – pain in the ass

CYA – cover your ass

VAG – VW Auto Group

Naderese – The language promulgated by America’s great safety ‘expert’; Ralph Nader was well-intentioned, very smart, ambitious, seemingly of anal character; he lobbied for the government to require any safety hazard be disclosed to the consumer public. Let’s say 80% of people get it already, and the other 20% are too ignorant to turn off power before diddling with the machine. If you put every conceivable operational error in the user manual, you defeat your purpose; the ignorant ones will never see it (can’t be bothered, or can’t read), and the smart folk will be so annoyed, they probably won’t read it either. For being so smart, Mr. Nader’s hubris frequently seems to work at cross purpose to his long term agenda. Not only do his ‘safety’ warnings make user manuals forbidding and hence likely seldom read, but on a much larger stage, by declaring himself candidate for President of United States, he sufficiently fractured the voting block supporting conservation, peace, and human rights, that we got  the opposite for eight years. He criticized Hilary Clinton, but made similar hubris-enabled mistakes. Spell that Hypocrite. He was honest to a fault about all but his hypocracy.

RTFM – Read the f-ing manual, which is so filled with Naderese that it is a PITA; its only real benefit is to VAG, as a CYA exhibit in court.