Get Jump-starting Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

Jump-starting

¤ Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Positive jump start terminal, 3.6 liter engine

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 indica-

tor on the vehicle battery before jump-starting ⇒ꢀpage 460, Vehicle

battery.

You must use jumper cables that meet recognized industrial stand-

ards (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).

More information:

Starting assistance systems

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 bat-

teries in general.

Sulfuric battery acid is very corrosive and can cause blind-

ness 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 bat-

tery is being charged.

Always avoid fires, sparks, open flame, and smoking. Never

create sparks or electrostatic charges when handling cables

and electrical equipment. Never short-circuit the battery termi-

nals. High-energy sparks can cause serious personal injury.

If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immedi-

ately rinse with cold water for several minutes and get medical

attention immediately. If you swallow any battery acid, get med-

ical 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 ex-

plosion:

All work on the batteries or the electrical system in your ve-

hicle can cause serious acid burns, fires, or electrical shocks.

Always read and heed the following WARNINGS and safety pre-

cautions before working on the batteries or the electrical sys-

tem ⇒ꢀ Vehicle battery.

Always make sure that the battery providing starting assis-

tance (the booster battery) has the same voltage as the dead

battery (12 V) and about the same amperage capacity (see bat-

tery 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 hydro-

gen gas, which is highly explosive! Always keep fire, sparks,

open flame, and smoking materials far away from vehicle bat-

teries. Never use a mobile telephone while connecting or dis-

connecting 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 posi-

tive (+) and negative (-) terminals with each other.

Never connect the negative cable from the other vehicle di-

rectly to the negative terminal of the dead battery, as this may

cause the hydrogen gas given off by the dead battery to ex-

plode.

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 manufac-

turer.

NOTICE

To help prevent extensive damage to the vehicle electrical sys-

tem, read and heed the following:

Connecting jumper cables improperly can cause a short cir-

cuit and do expensive damage to the vehicle's electrical system.

Do not let the vehicles touch each other while the jumper ca-

bles are connected. If they do, electrical current may flow be-

tween the vehicles when the positive (+) terminals are connect-

ed, causing electrical system damage.

Positive jump start terminal, 3.6 liter engine

Fig. 210 In the engine compartment: Positive jump start terminal +.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

Some vehicles have a jump start terminal (a positive (+) terminal) in

the engine compartment under a colored cover.

Using jumper cables

Fig. 211 Diagram for attaching the jumper cables: Dead battery 1 and

booster battery 2.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

The dead battery must be properly connected to the vehicle's electri-

cal system.

Make certain that the vehicles are not touching each other. Other-

wise, electric current could flow as soon as the positive terminals (+)

are connected. Use longer jumper cables if necessary.

The clamps on the jumper cables must have good contact to bare

metal on the battery terminals.

If the engine does not start, stop the process after 10 seconds and

repeat after about 1 minute.

The procedure for attaching and for removing the jumper cables is

described below. Perform each of the following steps only in the order

described, which follow the letters shown in the illustration ⇒ꢀfig. 211

A – B – C – D.

Attaching jumper cables

1. Switch off the ignition in both vehicles ⇒ꢀStarting and stopping the

engine.

2. Open the battery cover in the engine compartment if the battery

has a cover ⇒ꢀVehicle battery or flip open the cap on the positive

jump-start terminal⁶⇒ꢀPositive jump start terminal, 3.6 liter engine,

⇒ꢀfig. 210 (+).

3. Attach one end of the red jumper cable to the positive terminal (+)

of the dead battery: (1) ⇒ꢀ

.

4. Attach the other end of the red jumper cable to the positive termi-

nal (+) of the good battery (booster battery): (2).

5. Attach one end of the black jumper cable to the negative terminal

(-) of the booster battery: (2) ⇒ꢀfig. 211.

6. Attach the other end of the black jumper cable (3) to a bare metal

part of the vehicle with the dead battery. This part should be

connected directly to the engine block. You may also attach the

cable to the engine block itself. Attach the clamp to a point that is

as far away as possible from the dead battery (1) ⇒ꢀ

.

7. Route the jumper cables so that they cannot get caught in any

moving parts in the engine compartment of either vehicle.

Starting the engine

Start the engine of the vehicle with the good battery that is provid-

ing help and let it run at idle speed.

Turn on the ignition of the vehicle with the dead battery. If the en-

gine starts, wait 2 to 3 minutes until it “runs smoothly” before remov-

ing the jumper cables as described below ⇒ꢀ . If the engine does not

start within about 10 seconds, turn off the ignition and wait at least

1 minute; then try again.

Before removing the jumper cables

Switch off the headlights (if they are on).

In the vehicle with the dead battery, switch on the heater fan and

the rear window defroster. This helps to minimize voltage spikes

when the cables are disconnected.

Removing jumper cables

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 with the dead bat-

tery.

6

For vehicles without a battery in the engine compartment, see ⇒ꢀpage 587, Positive jump start terminal,

3.6 liter engine

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

the good battery).

3. Disconnect the red (+) cable from the other vehicle (vehicle with the

good battery).

4. Disconnect the red (+) cable from the vehicle with the dead battery.

5. Close the battery cover or snap shut the cap on the positive jump-

start terminal⁶, as the case may be.

6. If necessary, unscrew the towing eye on the front of the vehicle ⇒ꢀ

Installing the front towing eye.

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 ex-

plosion:

All work on the batteries or the electrical system in your ve-

hicle can cause serious acid burns, fires, or electrical shocks.

Always read and heed the following WARNINGS and safety pre-

cautions before working on the batteries or the electrical sys-

tem ⇒ꢀ Vehicle battery.

Always wear proper eye protection. Never lean over the vehi-

cle battery.

Attach the jumper cables in the correct order: first the posi-

tive cable, then the negative cable.

Never connect the negative cable from the vehicle providing

starting assistance to parts 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.

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

clearly, or if it is light yellow or colorless, do not jump-start the

vehicle. Get expert assistance.

Avoid electrostatic discharge in the vicinity of the vehicle

battery. Sparks may cause the hydrogen 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 ex-

plode. Replace the battery instead.

Always follow the instructions of the jumper cable manufac-

turer.

Always make sure that the battery providing starting assis-

tance has the same voltage as the dead battery (12 V) and

about the same capacity (see battery label).

Batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas. Always keep fire,

sparks, open flame and smoking materials away from batteries.

Never connect the negative cable from the other vehicle di-

rectly to the negative terminal of the dead battery. The hydro-

gen gas from the battery is explosive.

Never short out the battery terminals by connecting the posi-

tive (+) and negative (-) terminals with each other.

Jump-starting for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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