2015 Volkswagen GTI Owners Manual - Vehicle battery

Vehicle battery

 Introduction to the subject

In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:

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!
	When a battery is charged, it produces hydrogen gas which is highly explosive!
	Always keep children away from battery acid and vehicle batteries!

More information:

• ⇒BookletWarranty and Maintenance,

• Working in the engine compartment  

• Parts, accessories, repairs, and modifications  

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.

NOTE

• 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

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first 

Lights up	Possible cause	Proper response
	Alternator malfunction.	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.

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.

NOTE

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

Checking the vehicle battery electrolyte level

Fig. 158 In the engine compartment: Open the sleeve covering of the vehicle battery.

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first 

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  .

• Open the engine hood  .

Opening and closing the battery cover

To open, fold the cover to the side in the direction of the arrow  .

To close, fold the cover against 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.

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

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first 

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 July 2012 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 light up. 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  . The maximum permissible service and maintenance intervals are shown in the ⇒BookletWarranty and Maintenance,.

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  . 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 Park (P) when the ignition is switched off  .

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 (-).

NOTE

• 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.