Jump-starting -> Introduction for Your 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.