Get Vehicle battery Guide for Volkswagen Jetta 4 Door Sixth Generation (2011-2018)

Vehicle battery

ꢀ Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Warning light

Checking the vehicle battery electrolyte level

Charging, replacing, disconnecting, and connecting the vehicle battery

The standard 12 Volt vehicle battery is part of the vehicle electrical system.

Never do any work on the vehicle electrical system unless you

ꢀ

know exactly how to carry out the job,

have the correct technical information and the proper tools, and

ꢀ

are familiar with the necessary safety precautions ⇒ꢀ

If you are uncertain in any way, have the work done by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or

!

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed

work.

Location of the vehicle battery

The 12 Volt vehicle battery is located in the engine compartment.

Explanation of the warnings on the vehicle battery

Symbol

ꢀ

Meaning

Always wear eye protection!

Battery acid is highly corrosive. Always wear protective

gloves and eye protection!

ꢁ

Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are prohibited!

ꢂ

When a battery is charged, it produces hydrogen gas

which is highly explosive!

ꢃ

Always keep children away from battery acid and

vehicle batteries!

ꢄ

More information:

ꢀ

⇒ꢀbooklet Warranty and Maintenance

Working in the engine compartment

Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications

269

WARNING

Working on the batteries or the electrical system in your vehicle can cause serious acid

burns, fires, explosions, or electrical shocks. Always read and heed the following WARNINGS

and safety precautions before working on the batteries or the electrical system.

ꢀ Before working on the electrical system, always switch off the ignition and all electrical

consumers and disconnect the negative (-) cable from the standard 12 Volt battery.

ꢀ

When you change a light bulb, always switch off the light first.

Always keep children away from battery acid and vehicle batteries in general.

Always wear eye protection. Never let battery acid or lead particles come into contact with

your eyes, skin, or clothing.

ꢀ

Sulfuric battery acid is very corrosive. It can burn unprotected skin and cause blindness.

Always wear protective gloves and eye protection. To reduce your risk of injury, never tilt the

batteries, as this could spill acid through the vents and burn you.

ꢀ If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with cold water for

several minutes and then get immediate medical attention. If you swallow any battery acid,

get medical attention immediately.

ꢀ

When disconnecting the batteries from the vehicle electrical system, always disconnect

the negative cable (-) first and then the positive cable (+).

Always switch off all electrical consumers before reconnecting 12 Volt batteries.

ꢀ

Reconnect the plus cable (+) first and then the negative cable (-). Never reverse the polarity of

the connections. This could cause a fire.

ꢀ

A highly explosive mixture of gases is given off when the battery is being charged.

Do not smoke and avoid fires, sparks, and open flames when working. 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.

ꢀ

Never use or attempt to charge a damaged or frozen battery, or a battery that was frozen

but has thawed. Charging a frozen or thawed battery could cause explosions and chemical

burns! Replace damaged or frozen vehicle batteries immediately. A dead battery can freeze at

temperatures around +32 °F (0 °C).

ꢀ

If the battery has a vent line or tube, make sure that it is properly connected to the battery.

WARNING

California Proposition 65 Warning

ꢀ

Battery posts, terminals, and related accessories contain lead and lead components,

chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash

your hands after handling.

NOTICE

ꢀ Do not expose the vehicle battery to direct sunlight for an extended period of time as

ultraviolet rays may damage the battery housing.

ꢀ If the vehicle is left standing in the cold for a long time, protect the vehicle battery from

freezing. A battery will be permanently damaged by freezing.

Emergency starting and starting the engine with a very weak vehicle battery or after the vehicle

battery has been replaced may change or delete system settings (including time, date, personal

convenience settings, and programming). Check the settings and correct as necessary once the

vehicle battery has built up a sufficient charge.

Warning light

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Lights

up

Possible cause

Proper response

See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Have

the electrical system checked.

Switch off unnecessary electrical loads. The

vehicle battery will not be charged by the

alternator as you drive.

Alternator malfunction.

ꢅ

When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights come on briefly for a function

check. They go out after a few seconds.

WARNING

Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to

break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.

ꢀ

Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.

Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

NOTICE

Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.

Checking the vehicle battery electrolyte level

Fig. 143 In the engine compartment: Remove the cover from the vehicle battery.

271

Fig. 144 In the engine compartment: Open the sleeve covering of the vehicle battery.

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Check the electrolyte level of the battery regularly if the vehicle has high mileage (km), in places with a

warm climate, and if the vehicle has an old battery. Otherwise the vehicle battery does not require

maintenance.

Preparations

ꢀ

Prepare the vehicle for work in the engine compartment, Working in the engine compartment

Open the engine hood ⇒ꢀ

Opening the battery cover

Depending on the engine type, there are different kinds of battery covers:

ꢀ With a hard cover ⇒ꢀfig. 143: Press on the clip (1) in the direction of the arrow and remove the

cover upward.

ꢀ

With a soft cover ⇒ꢀfig. 144: Open the cover to the side in the direction of the arrow.

Checking the vehicle battery acid level

If the lighting conditions are poor, use a flashlight so that you can clearly see the battery acid level

ꢀ

indicator and tell what color it is. Never use an open flame or an unprotected light source.

ꢀ The round battery window (“acid level indicator”) on the top of the battery changes color,

depending on the battery's electrolyte level.

Color

Action

Light yellow or

colorless

Battery electrolyte level is too low. The vehicle battery

may need to be replaced. Have it checked by an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility.

Black

Battery electrolyte level is satisfactory.

WARNING

Working on the batteries can cause serious acid burns, explosion, or electrical shock.

ꢀ

Always wear eye protection and protective gloves.

Sulfuric battery acid is very corrosive. It can burn unprotected skin and cause blindness.

Always wear protective gloves and eye protection.

ꢀ

Never tilt the vehicle battery. Acid could spill out of the battery vents and burn you.

Never open a vehicle battery.

If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with cold water for

several minutes and then get immediate medical attention.

ꢀ

If you swallow any battery acid, get medical attention immediately.

Charging, replacing, disconnecting, and connecting the vehicle battery

ꢀ Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Charging the vehicle battery

Vehicle batteries should be charged by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility because the factory-installed battery requires a charger with overload

protection ⇒ꢀ

.

Replacing the vehicle battery

The battery in your vehicle is specially developed for its location, with special dimensions and safety

features. Before buying a new battery, ask an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility what batteries are suitable with regard to electro-magnetic compatibility,

dimensions, required maintenance, performance, and safety specifications. Have the battery replaced

by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Only use maintenance-free vehicle batteries meeting standards TL 825 06 and VW 7 50 73. These

standards must date from August 2008 or later.

Disconnecting the vehicle battery

If the battery must be disconnected from the vehicle's electrical system, note the following:

ꢀ

Switch off all electrical systems and devices and the ignition.

Unlock the vehicle before disconnecting the battery; otherwise the alarm system will go off.

ꢀ

First disconnect the negative cable (-) and then the positive cable (+) ⇒ꢀ

.

Connecting the vehicle battery

ꢀ

Prior to reconnecting the battery, switch off all electrical systems and devices and the ignition.

Connect the positive cable (+) first and then the negative cable (-) ⇒ꢀ

.

After the battery is connected and the ignition is switched on, different indicator lights may come on.

They should go out after you drive a short distance at 10–12 mph (15–20 km/h). If the indicator lights

do not go out, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility

and have the vehicle checked.

If the battery was disconnected for a long time, the next scheduled service may not be correctly

calculated and displayed, Instrument cluster. The maximum permissible service and maintenance

intervals are shown in the ⇒ꢀbooklet Warranty and Maintenance.

273

Vehicles with Keyless Access

If the ignition will not start after reconnecting the vehicle battery, lock the vehicle from the outside and

unlock it again, Unlocking or locking the vehicle with Keyless Access. Then try to start the ignition

again. If the ignition cannot be switched on, contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer, an authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified workshop for assistance.

Automatic electrical load deactivation

If the vehicle battery drain is high, the intelligent onboard electrical system management automatically

takes steps to help prevent battery drain.

ꢀ

The idle speed is increased so that the alternator provides more power.

The power to devices that consume a lot of electricity is cut back or switched off completely.

When the engine is started, the power supply to the 12 Volt sockets is temporarily interrupted.

The onboard electrical system management cannot always keep the battery from being drained. For

example, the battery will drain if the engine is not running, but the ignition is switched on or the parking

lights are left on for a long time when parked.

What drains the vehicle battery?

ꢀ

Long periods when the engine is not running, especially when the ignition is on.

Using electrical systems or devices when the engine is switched off.

Leaving the vehicle unlocked for several days when not in use.

The selector lever is left for a long period of time in any position other than P when the ignition is

switched off, Automatic transmission: Selector lever.

WARNING

Failure to use the proper battery with proper mounting and connections may cause short

circuits, fires, and serious personal injuries.

ꢀ

Always use only maintenance-free or cycle-free, leak-proof batteries with the same

specifications and dimensions as the original equipment battery. Specifications are listed on

the battery housing.

WARNING

When the vehicle battery is charged, it produces highly explosive hydrogen gas.

ꢀ

Charge vehicle batteries only in well-ventilated areas.

Never charge a frozen or thawed battery. A dead battery can freeze at temperatures

around +32 °F (0 °C).

ꢀ

You must replace the vehicle battery if it was frozen.

Incorrectly connected cables can cause a short-circuit. First connect the positive cable (+)

and then the negative cable (-).

NOTICE

ꢀ

Never disconnect the vehicle battery or connect 2 vehicle batteries to each other when the

ignition is switched on or the engine is running. Doing this may damage the electrical system

or electronic components.

ꢀ

Never use a vehicle battery that does not meet the specifications for the vehicle battery for

your vehicle. Using the wrong battery can damage the electrical system or electronic

components and cause electrical malfunctions.

ꢀ Never connect power generating equipment, such as a solar panel or battery charger, to the

12 Volt socket in order to charge the vehicle battery. This can damage the vehicle's electrical

system.

Dispose of the vehicle battery according to regulations. Vehicle batteries contain poisonous

substances such as sulfuric acid and lead.

Battery acid can pollute the environment. Catch leaking operating fluids and dispose of them

properly.

275

Vehicle battery for Your Volkswagen Jetta 4 Door Sixth Generation (2011-2018)

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