Volkswagen Golf Variant / Jetta. Manual - part 602

Checking battery -A-

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

Caution

To prevent damage to battery -A- and vehicle, the following

instructions  relating  to  types  of  battery  must  be  observed

⇒ page 1

 .

2.1

Testing different battery types

2.1.1

Testing battery -A- with magic eye

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

Carry out checks in following sequence as follows:
1.

Visual check 

⇒ page 6

2.

Test of colour display of “3-colour” magic eye 

⇒ page 7

or “2-colour” magic eye 

⇒ page 7

WARNING

Do not test or charge batteries -A- whose magic eye is “col‐

ourless/light yellow”. Do not slave/jump start the vehicle!
Danger  of  explosion  when  checking  and  charging  or  slave/

jump starting
These batteries -A- must be replaced.

3.

Battery load test with

♦ Battery tester with printer -VAS 5097 A- 

⇒ page 9

 .

♦ Battery tester with printer -VAS 6161- 

⇒ page 13

 .

♦ Midtronics -MCR340V- battery tester (only for USA/Canada)

⇒ page 19

 .

4.

Depending on the result of the battery load test, “carry out

current draw test” 

⇒ page 23

 .

2. Checking battery A     

5

Test of absorbent glass mat (AGM bat‐

tery)

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

Carry out checks in following sequence as follows:
1.

Visual check 

⇒ page 6

 .

2.

Battery load test with

♦ Battery tester with printer -VAS 5097 A- 

⇒ page 9

 .

♦ Battery tester with printer -VAS 6161- 

⇒ page 13

 .

♦ Midtronics -MCR340V- battery tester (only for USA/Canada)

⇒ page 19

 .

3.

Depending on the result of the battery load test, “carry out

current draw test” 

⇒ page 23

 .

2.2

Visual check

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

It is essential to first check the external condition of the battery,

the terminals of battery -A- and that battery is seated securely

visually before performing more extensive tests.

Caution

♦ Battery -A- will be damaged if it is not secured correctly.
♦ Vibrations shorten the life of the battery, there is a danger

of an explosion, the cell plates may be damaged and the

clamping bracket may damage the battery housing.

♦ Check battery -A- is securely seated and, if necessary,

tighten securing bolt to specified torque.

Points in the visual check
♦ Damage to housing of battery -A- . Electrolyte can leak out if

the housing is damaged. If battery acid leaks out, serious

damage to the vehicle could be caused. Treat areas of the

vehicle affected by leaked battery acid immediately with acid

neutraliser or a soap solution.

♦ Damage to battery terminals. The necessary contact at the

terminal clamps cannot be guaranteed if the terminals are

damaged. When connecting clamps to terminals, tighten

clamps to torque specified in this workshop manual ⇒  Elec‐

are not correctly seated and tightened, the wiring could burn,

which could result in electrical system malfunctions. Which will

cause malfunctions in the electrical system. Therefore it can

no longer be guaranteed that the vehicle will function correctly.

6

Test of colour display of magic eye

2.3.1

Test of “3-colour” display (up to 03/08)

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

General information on magic eye
The magic eye provides information concerning the electrolyte

level and the charge level of battery -A- .
Before carrying out a visual check, tap the magic eye lightly and

carefully using the handle of a screwdriver. The air bubbles, which

can influence the display, will dissipate when this is done. The

colour display of the magic eye will be more accurate.

Note

♦

Air bubbles can form below the magic eye particularly if the

battery -A- has been recharged, even if the battery -A- was

charged during normal vehicle operation. These falsify the

colour displayed by the magic eye.

♦

Because the magic eye is located in only one cell, the display

applies only to this cell. An exact determination of battery's

condition is only possible through a load test 

⇒ page 9

 .

♦

The magic eye can be located at various positions on the bat‐

tery -A- .

Three different colour displays are possible
♦ “Green”: Battery -A- is charged sufficiently.
♦ “Black”: Battery -A- partly discharged, charge level less than

65 % or completely discharged.

♦ “Colourless/light yellow”: Battery -A- must be renewed.

WARNING

Do not test or charge batteries -A- whose magic eye is “col‐

ourless/light yellow”. Do not slave/jump start the vehicle!
Danger  of  explosion  when  checking  and  charging  or  slave/

jump starting
These batteries -A- must be replaced.

2.3.2

Test of “2-colour” display (from 04/08

onwards)

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

2. Checking battery A     

7

colour display for charge level indication. The only remaining col‐

ours are “black” or “colourless/light yellow”.
The magic eye provides information concerning the electrolyte

level of the battery -A- .
The charge level of the battery -A- can no longer be determined

by means of the magic eye; a battery load test must be carried

out for this 

⇒ page 9

 .

Before carrying out a visual check, tap the magic eye lightly and

carefully using the handle of a screwdriver. The air bubbles, which

can influence the display, will dissipate when this is done. The

colour display of the magic eye will be more accurate.

Note

♦

Air bubbles can form below the magic eye particularly if the

battery -A- has been recharged, even if the battery -A- was

charged during normal vehicle operation. These falsify the

colour displayed by the magic eye.

♦

Because the magic eye is located in only one cell, the display

applies only to this cell. An exact determination of battery's

condition is only possible through a load test 

⇒ page 9

 .

♦

The magic eye can be located at various positions on the bat‐

tery -A- .

Three different colour displays are possible
♦ “Black”: Electrolyte level OK.
♦ “Colourless/light yellow”: Electrolyte level too low. The battery

-A- must be renewed.

WARNING

Do not test or charge batteries -A- whose magic eye is “col‐

ourless/light yellow”. Do not slave/jump start the vehicle!
Danger  of  explosion  when  checking  and  charging  or  slave/

jump starting
These batteries -A- must be replaced.

2.4

Battery tester with printer -VAS 5097 A-

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

It is not necessary to remove or disconnect battery -A- when using

battery tester with printer -VAS 5097 A- .
The battery tester with printer -VAS 5097 A- can be used to test/

check the following batteries -A- :
♦ 80 to 499 A: Low-temperature test current according to DIN

(Deutsche Industrie Norm (German Industrial Standard))

1)

♦ 95 to 574 A: Low-temperature test current according to IEC

(International Engineering Consortium)

8