Get Checking and refilling -> Vehicle battery Guide for Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

Hard braking with old brake fluid may cause va-

por lock. Vapor lock reduces braking perform-

ance, increases stopping distances and can even

cause total brake failure.

To reduce the risk of poisoning, never use food,

beverage, or other non-original containers to

store brake fluid. Someone might be misled by

the original label on the container, or by the

shape of the container, and drink the brake flu-

id. This could occur even if you relabel the con-

tainer as “brake fluid.”

Only use brake fluid that expressly conforms to

VW Standard 501 14.

If a brake fluid that conforms to VW Standard

501 14 is not available, only use a high-quality

brake fluid that conforms to U.S. Standard

FMVSS 116 DOT 4 Class 6 requirements.

Store brake fluid out of the reach of children.

NOTICE

Brake fluid will damage vehicle paint, plastic parts,

and tires. Wipe any brake fluid off vehicle paint and

other vehicle parts immediately.

Brake fluid in an opened container can quickly

become unusable. Refill your brake fluid reser-

voir only with new brake fluid from an unop-

ened container.

Brake fluid can pollute the environment. Brake

fluid that has leaked out must be collected

and disposed of properly, following all applicable en-

vironmental regulations.

WARNING

Brake fluid is poisonous.

Always read and follow the information and

WARNINGS in this Owner's Manual!

Vehicle battery

Introduction

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 precau-

tions before working on the batteries or the elec-

trical system.

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,

Before working on the electrical system, always

— have the correct technical information and the

proper tools, and

switch off the ignition and all electrical con-

sumers and disconnect the negative (-) cable

from the standard 12 Volt battery.

— are familiar with the necessary safety precautions

→

When you change a light bulb, always switch off

the light first.

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.

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.

Location of the vehicle battery

The 12 Volt vehicle battery is in the engine compart-

ment.

Sulfuric battery acid is very corrosive. It can

burn unprotected skin and cause blindness. Al-

ways wear protective gloves and eye protection.

To reduce your risk of injury, never tilt the bat-

teries, as this could spill acid through the vents

and burn you.

Explanation of the warnings on the vehicle battery

Always wear eye protection!

Battery acid is highly corrosive. Always wear

protective gloves and eye protection!

If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your

skin, immediately rinse with cold water for sev-

eral minutes and then get immediate medical

attention. If you swallow any battery acid, get

medical attention immediately.

Fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking are

prohibited!

When a battery is charged, it produces hydro-

gen gas which is highly explosive!

When disconnecting the batteries from the ve-

hicle electrical system, always disconnect the

Always keep children away from battery acid

and vehicle batteries!

256

Checking and refilling

negative cable (-) first and then the positive ca-

ble (+).

Checking the vehicle battery elec-

trolyte level

Always switch off all electrical consumers be-

fore reconnecting 12 Volt batteries. Reconnect

the plus cable (+) first and then the negative ca-

ble (-). Never reverse the polarity of the connec-

tions. This could cause a fire.

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

256.

and on page

A highly explosive mixture of gases is given off

when the battery is being charged.

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.

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.

Preparations

— Prepare the vehicle for work in the engine com-

partment → page 241, In the engine compart-

ment.

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 bat-

tery could cause explosions and chemical burns!

Replace damaged or frozen vehicle batteries

immediately. A dead battery can freeze at tem-

peratures around +32 °F (0 °C).

— Open the engine hood →

page 241.

in Introduction on

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.

If the battery has a vent line or tube, make sure

that it is properly connected to the battery.

WARNING

— The round battery window (“acid level indicator”)

on the top of the battery changes color, depend-

ing on the battery's electrolyte level.

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.

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 Volkswa-

gen Service Facility.

NOTICE

Black Battery electrolyte level is satisfactory.

Do not expose the vehicle battery to direct sun-

light for an extended period of time as ultraviolet

rays may damage the battery housing.

WARNING

Working on the batteries can cause serious acid

burns, explosion, or electrical shock.

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 freez-

ing.

Always wear eye protection and protective

gloves.

Sulfuric battery acid is very corrosive. It can

burn unprotected skin and cause blindness. Al-

ways wear protective gloves and eye protection.

Emergency starting and starting the engine

with a very weak vehicle battery or after the

Never tilt the vehicle battery. Acid could spill

out of the battery vents and burn you.

vehicle battery has been replaced may change or de-

lete system settings (including time, date, driver

personalization, and programming). Check the set-

tings and correct as necessary once the vehicle bat-

tery has built up a sufficient charge.

Never open a vehicle battery.

If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your

skin, immediately rinse with cold water for sev-

eral minutes and then get immediate medical

attention.

If you swallow any battery acid, get medical at-

tention immediately.

Vehicle battery

257

do not go out, contact an authorized Volkswagen

dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility

and have the vehicle checked.

Charging, replacing, disconnecting,

and connecting the vehicle battery

If the battery was disconnected for a long time, the

next scheduled service may not be correctly calcu-

lated and displayed → page 15, Instrument cluster.

The maximum permissible service and maintenance

intervals are shown in the → Warranty and Mainte-

nance.

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

256.

and on page

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

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 → page 89, 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 author-

ized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified

workshop for assistance.

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 fea-

tures. Before buying a new battery, ask an author-

ized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen

Service Facility what batteries are suitable with re-

gard to electro-magnetic compatibility, dimensions,

required maintenance, performance, and safety

specifications.

Automatic electrical load deactivation

If the vehicle battery drain is high, the intelligent on-

board electrical system management automatically

takes steps to help prevent battery drain.

Only use maintenance-free vehicle batteries meet-

ing standards TL 825 06 and VW 7 50 73. These

standards must date from October 2014 or later.

— The idle speed is increased so that the alternator

provides more power.

Particularly in vehicles with a special vehicle battery,

for example, vehicles with the Start-stop system

→ page 146, Start-stop system, always replace the

vehicle battery with a battery with the same specifi-

cations.

— The power to devices that consume a lot of elec-

tricity 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 ex-

ample, the battery will drain if the engine is not run-

ning, but the ignition is switched on or the parking

lights are left on for a long time when parked.

Have the battery replaced by an authorized Volkswa-

gen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Fa-

cility.

Disconnecting the vehicle battery

If the battery must be disconnected from the vehi-

cle's electrical system, note the following:

What drains the vehicle battery?

— Long periods when the engine is not running, es-

pecially when the ignition is on.

— Switch off all electrical systems and devices and

the ignition.

— Using electrical systems or devices when the en-

gine is switched off.

— Unlock the vehicle before disconnecting the bat-

tery; otherwise the alarm system will go off.

— Leaving the vehicle unlocked for several days

when not in use.

— First disconnect the negative cable (-) and then

the positive cable (+) →

— Leaving the selector lever for a long period of

time in any position other than Park (P) when the

ignition is switched off → page 149, Automatic or

DSG® transmission selector lever.

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

WARNING

negative cable (-) →

Failure to use the proper battery with proper

mounting and connections may cause short cir-

cuits, fires, and serious personal injuries.

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

Always use only maintenance-free or cycle-free,

leak-proof batteries with the same specifica-

258

Checking and refilling

tions and dimensions as the original equipment

battery. Specifications are listed on the battery

housing.

Alternator malfunction

— Switch off unnecessary electrical loads. The vehi-

cle battery will not be charged by the alternator

as you drive.

WARNING

When the vehicle battery is charged, it produces

highly explosive hydrogen gas.

— See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an au-

thorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Have the

electrical system checked.

Charge vehicle batteries only in well-ventilated

areas.

WARNING

Never charge a frozen or thawed battery.

A dead battery can freeze at temperatures

around +32 °F (0 °C).

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.

You must replace the vehicle battery if it was

frozen.

Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.

Incorrectly connected cables can cause a short-

circuit. First connect the positive cable (+) and

then the negative cable (-).

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.

Never disconnect the vehicle battery or connect

2 vehicle batteries to each other when the igni-

tion is switched on or the engine is running. Doing

this may damage the electrical system or elec-

tronic 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 poison-

ous substances such as sulfuric acid and lead.

Battery acid can pollute the environment.

Catch leaking operating fluids and dispose of

them properly.

Tips and troubleshooting

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

256.

and on page

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.

Vehicle battery

259

Checking and refilling -> Vehicle battery for Your Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

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