Volkswagen Tiguan Service and Repair Manual: Battery

Battery General Information

WARNING

Risk of injury. Follow all Warnings and Safety Precautions.

Caution

In order to prevent damage to the battery or vehicle, observe battery type descriptions and notes.

To guarantee a long service life, the battery must be checked, serviced and maintained as described in this manual.

In addition to supplying the power to start the engine, the battery acts as a power reserve for the entire vehicle electrical system.

Types of Batteries

General Information

Caution

The following batteries described are maintenance-free batteries. Do not remove any of the labels on the battery and do not add distilled water. Only perform a visual inspection. Note the chapter on battery testing.

Battery with Visual Indicator, Standard

This is a maintenance-free battery with liquid electrolyte (wet battery).

WARNING

Do not check or charge batteries that have a visual indicator that is bright yellow. Jump starting must not be used!

There is a risk of explosion during testing, charging or jump starting.

These batteries must be replaced.

This battery has a visual indicator. The visual indicator shows the state of charge and the battery acid level. Visual indicator, checking.

Battery with Visual Indicator, Enhanced

This is a maintenance-free battery with liquid electrolyte (wet battery).

Caution

Do not remove any of the labels on the battery and do not add distilled water. Only perform a visual inspection. Note the chapter on battery testing.

WARNING

Do not check or charge batteries that have a visual indicator that is bright yellow. Jump starting must not be used!

There is a risk of explosion during testing, charging or jump starting.

These batteries must be replaced.

The battery is installed in certain Stop/Start vehicles due to special requirements. "EFB" is written on the battery cover to identify this battery. "EFB" stands for "enhanced flooded battery" (enhanced wet battery).

An "EFB" battery may only be replaced with another "EFB" battery.

An "EFB" battery has a visual indicator for checking the battery electrolyte level.

Visual indicator, checking.

Note

"EFB" batteries are being installed in smaller gasoline engines with the Stop/Start system and a manual transmission from 05/2011.

AGM Battery

Maintenance-Free Battery with Specific Electrolyte without a Visual Indicator

Lead-acid battery, where the electrolyte is fixed in an absorbent glass mat (AGM). The battery is closed and equipped with breather valves.

AGM is the English abbreviation for Absorbent Glass Mat.

These batteries do not have a visual indicator because the electrolyte level is predetermined. AGM is on the battery to identify it.

Note

Always replace an AGM battery with another AGM battery.

Warnings and Safety Precautions

Battery Safety Precautions

Recognizing and Preventing Risks

Batteries present risks. Read the warnings on the battery label, in the owner's manual and in ELSA to prevent these risks.

WARNING

• Personnel instructed in protection, such as a trainee or apprentice, may only perform work on vehicle batteries under the supervision of technical personnel such as a master automotive mechanic or a master automotive electrician.
• Acid has strong corrosive properties. If batteries are handled inappropriately, there is a risk that personal injury may result from exposure to harmful electrolyte influences. Therefore, suitable remedies for acid damage must be kept readily available. For example, soap solution is a suitable material.
• If electrolyte drips out from the battery, skin can be burned by acid or the vehicle may be affected by acid erosion and corrosion. It is a possibility that safety-related vehicle components can be damaged.
• When charging and when resting after charging, explosive gas is present. In extreme cases, if the battery is handled inappropriately, the emitted gases may cause the battery to explode.
• Batteries whose visual indicators are bright yellow must be replaced. They may not be tested or charged and jump starting may not be used. There is a risk of explosion during testing, charging or jump starting.
• Generating sparks by sanding, welding, separating work and open flame, for example, smoking in vicinity of the battery, is prohibited. Producing sparks through electrostatic discharge must also be avoided. Always touch the vehicle body before touching the battery.
• Only perform battery procedures in suitable and well-ventilated locations.

Battery Safety Label

1. When working in the area of batteries, fire, sparks, open flame and smoking are prohibited. Avoid sparks when working with cables and electrical devices, and from electrostatic discharge. Avoid short circuits. For this reason, tools should not be rested on the battery.
2. Wear protective eyewear when working on the battery.
3. Always keep acid and batteries out of the reach of children.
4. Disposal: old batteries require special disposal. They may only be disposed of at a suitable collection facility and only in consideration of legal regulations.
5. Do not dispose of old batteries in household waste.
6. When handling batteries, there is a risk of explosion. Battery charging produces a highly explosive gas mixture.
7. Always observe notes on battery in ELSA "Electrical Equipment - General Information" and in the Owner's Manual.
8. Danger of burns: battery acid is severely corrosive, therefore protective gloves and eyewear must be worn when working on the battery. The battery must not be tipped because acid may spill from the ventilation openings.

Working on Airbag System

WARNING

When working on the airbag system (pyrotechnic components, Airbag Control Module -J234-, wiring), the ground cable must be disconnected with the ignition switched on.

Exceptions: On vehicles with a battery in the passenger compartment, the ignition must be switched off.

• Then cover the negative terminal.
• After disconnecting the battery, a wait time of 10 seconds is required.
• The battery must be connected with the ignition switched on.
• There must be no one inside the vehicle when connecting the battery.

Make sure in this case to keep oneself away from the airbag deployment and belt tensioner zones.

If the ignition is not switched on after reconnecting the battery (the indicator lamps in the instrument cluster do not illuminate), the ignition (key/button) may only be switched on while sitting in the driver's seat in the rearmost position.

Battery Post/Terminal

WARNING

Risk of injury. Follow all Warnings and Safety Precautions.

Caution

In order to prevent damage to the battery terminals and battery posts, observe the following

• Never use force to attach the battery terminals by hand.
• Do not apply grease to battery posts.
• The battery terminal clamps should be mounted so that the battery terminal sits flush with the clamp or protrudes out of it.
• After tightening the battery terminal clamps to the specified torque, the threaded connections must not be tightened again.