Volkswagen Golf Variant / Jetta. Manual - part 609

Note

The temperature of the battery -A- must be at least 10 °C.

Carry out following procedures:
– Switch off ignition and all electrical loads.
– Connect battery charger -VAS 5900- to mains. The last selec‐

ted operating mode will appear on display 

⇒ page 32

 .

– Set battery type with 

INFO

 button.

In the display, the symbol -1- for “standard charge for wet batter‐

ies” or symbol -2- for “standard charge for gel/absorbent glass

mat batteries” will appear.
– Set battery capacity (Ah) of battery -A- for charging using re‐

spective 

↑

 button or 

↓

 button.

– Connect red terminal clamp (+) to positive terminal of battery

-A- .

Note

In vehicles with start/stop function and battery monitor control unit

-J367- fitted, black terminal clamp (-) must be connected to body

earth. Connecting it to negative terminal of battery -A- will cause

start/stop system to malfunction.

– Connect black terminal clamp (-) to negative terminal of bat‐

tery -A- /negative connection point.

The battery charger -VAS 5900- recognises the voltage required

for the connected battery -A- (6 V/12 V/24 V) and initiates the

charging sequence automatically.

When the charge reaches about 80 - 85% the battery charger -

VAS 5900- starts the “final charging”. The fourth bar appears in

display -1-. The battery -A- is now ready for operation.

3. Charging battery A     

33

Note

♦

In the “standard charge” the parallel use of loads while charg‐

ing is possible. The charging period will be longer.

♦

Depending on battery type, battery charger -VAS 5900-

switches over to trickle charging mode after approx. 1 to 7

hours. To fully charge battery, battery -A- should be connected

to battery charger -VAS 5900- for this length of time.

Possible faults and fault rectification
1 - Displayed battery voltage is not as per nominal voltage:
– Press respective 

↑

 button or 

↓

 button until charging sequence

starts.

2 - Displayed battery voltage is not as per nominal voltage –

charging sequence already started:

– Press 

START / STOP

 button twice.

– Press respective 

↑

 button or 

↓

 button until charging sequence

starts again.

3 - Battery charger -VAS 5900- does not detect a battery -A- ,

when battery voltage is less than 2 V:

Display remains unchanged.
The battery type and ampere hours (Ah) as set is displayed.
Ending battery -A- charging process
– Press 

START / STOP

 button.

– Remove charger unit terminals from battery terminals.
– Disconnect battery charger -VAS 5900- from mains.

3.2.3

Service charging

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

Caution

The “service charging” mode is not permitted for VW vehicles

as the voltage peaks will damage the onboard electronics.
If you nevertheless use “service charging”, battery -A- must be

disconnected from the onboard supply.

34

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.

Caution

When charging, always set battery charger to the correct type

of battery -A- ⇒  Operating instructions for battery charger -VAS

5900- !
The “service charging mode” is suitable for:

♦ Wet batteries where the magic eye allows charging (magic

eye black or green)

The “service charging (SERV)” mode is only used for sulphated

batteries -A- . The battery -A- is charged at voltages higher than

14.4 V. This can result in a partial reduction of the sulphated layer.

After charging, always check the colour of the magic eye before

using the battery -A- 

⇒ page 7

 .

Special tools and workshop equipment required
♦ Battery charger -VAS 5900-

Note

The temperature of the battery -A- must be at least 10 °C.

Carry out following procedures:
– Switch off ignition and all electrical loads.
– Connect battery charger -VAS 5900- to mains. The last selec‐

ted operating mode will appear on display 

⇒ page 32

 .

3. Charging battery A     

35

INFO

 button.

In the display, the symbol -1- for “service charging of wet batter‐

ies” or symbol -2- for “service charging of gel/absorbent glass mat

batteries” will appear.
– Set battery capacity (Ah) of battery -A- for charging using re‐

spective 

↑

 button or 

↓

 button.

– Connect red terminal clamp (+) to positive terminal of battery

-A- .

Note

In vehicles with start/stop function and battery monitor control unit

-J367- fitted, black terminal clamp (-) must be connected to body

earth. Connecting it to negative terminal of battery -A- will cause

start/stop system to malfunction.

– Connect black terminal clamp (-) to negative terminal of bat‐

tery -A- /negative connection point.

The battery charger -VAS 5900- recognises the voltage required

for the connected battery -A- (6 V/12 V/24 V) and initiates the

charging sequence automatically.

When the charge reaches about 80 to 85% of the battery voltage,

the battery charger -VAS 5900- starts the “final charging”. The

fourth bar appears in display -1-. The battery -A- is now ready for

operation.

Note

The success of the “service charge” depends on the severity of

the sulphation of the battery -A- .

Possible faults and fault rectification
1 - Displayed battery voltage is not as per nominal voltage:
– Press respective 

↑

 button or 

↓

 button until charging sequence

starts.

2 - Displayed battery voltage is not as per nominal voltage –

charging sequence already started:

– Press 

START / STOP

 button twice.

– Press respective 

↑

 button or 

↓

 button until charging sequence

starts.

3 - Battery charger does not detect a battery -A- if battery volt‐

age is less than 2 V:

Display remains unchanged.
The operating mode and ampere hours (Ah) as set are displayed.
Ending battery -A- charging process
– Press 

START / STOP

 button.

– Remove charger unit terminals from battery terminals.
– Disconnect battery charger -VAS 5900- from mains.

36