Jump-starting -> Introduction for Your Volkswagen Beetle 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2019)

Jump-starting  
Introduction  
In this section you’ll find information about:  
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..  
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.2 (25 mm2), or about 3 ga. (AWG). For vehicles with diesel  
engines, the cross-section must be at least 0.054 in2 (35 mm2), or about 2 ga. (AWG).  
More information:  
Starting assistance systems.  
Preparations for 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 smꢀꢁing. 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 smꢀꢁing materials far away from vehicle  
batteries. Never use a cellular 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.