Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual:  Introduction to the subject

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

⇒ 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 indicator window before jump-starting ⇒ Vehicle battery .

You must use jumper cables that meet recognized industrial standards (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 in² (25 mm²), or about 3 ga. (AWG).

More information:

• Preparations for working in the engine compartment ⇒ Preparations for working in the engine compartment 

• Vehicle battery ⇒ 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 batteries in general.

• Sulfuric battery acid is very corrosive and can cause blindness 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 battery 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 terminals. High-energy sparks can cause serious personal injury.

• If you get battery acid in your eyes or on your skin, immediately rinse with cold water for several minutes and get medical attention immediately. If you swallow any battery acid, get medical 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 explosion:

• All work on the batteries or the electrical system in your vehicle can cause serious acid burns, fires, or electrical shocks. Always read and heed the following WARNINGS and safety precautions before working on the batteries or the electrical system ⇒ Vehicle battery .

• Always make sure that the battery providing starting assistance (the booster battery) has the same voltage as the dead battery (12 V) and about the same amperage capacity (see battery 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 hydrogen gas, which is highly explosive! Always keep fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking materials far away from vehicle batteries. Never use a cellular telephone while connecting or disconnecting 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 positive terminal (+) and negative (-) terminals with each other.

• Never connect the negative cable from the other vehicle directly to the negative terminal of the dead battery, as this may cause the hydrogen gas given off by the dead battery to explode.

• 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 manufacturer.

Note

To help prevent extensive damage to the vehicle electrical system, read and heed the following:

• Connecting jumper cables improperly can cause a short circuit and do expensive damage to the vehicle's electrical system.

• Do not let the vehicles touch each other while the jumper cables are connected. If they do, electrical current may flow between the vehicles when the positive (+) terminals are connected, causing electrical system damage.