Volkswagen Golf Variant / Jetta. Manual - part 610

Charging a totally discharged battery -A-

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

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.

Caution

♦ The terminal polarity protection in operating mode “charg‐

ing totally discharged batteries/support mode” is not ac‐

tive. Connect battery charger terminal clamps correctly to

battery terminals.

♦ When charging, always set battery charger to the correct

type of battery -A- ⇒  Operating instructions for battery

charger -VAS 5900- !

♦ Totally discharged battery -A- is not recognised by battery

charger -VAS 5900- 

⇒ page 63

 .

♦ Do not press 

START / STOP

 button when charger unit

cables are connected incorrectly. This may damage the

battery charger -VAS 5900- .

Batteries -A- with a voltage of less than 2 V will not be recognised

automatically by battery charger -VAS 5900- .
Special tools and workshop equipment required
♦ Battery charger -VAS 5900-

3. Charging battery A     

37

♦

Observe notes in chapter 

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 .

♦

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

♦

Totally discharged batteries in vehicles before registration

must be exchanged prior to delivery. Preliminary damage can‐

not be excluded.

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

 .

38

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.

– Press 

START / STOP

 button for about 5 seconds. The menu

“charging totally discharged batteries/support mode” will be

activated.

– Press respective 

↑

 button or 

↓

 button to set corresponding

battery voltage (6 V/12 V/24 V).

Note

If a button is not pressed within 5 seconds the battery charger -

VAS 5900- will return to the main menu (select operating mode).

– Confirm selected battery voltage with 

START / STOP

 button.

Then follows the enquiry for "is charger cable terminal polarity

correct".
– Check polarity of charger unit cables.
– Confirm polarity of charger unit cables with 

START / STOP

button.

Battery charger -VAS 5900- will start charging sequence for totally

discharged battery -A- .
Ending battery -A- charging process
– Press 

START / STOP

 button.

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

3.2.5

Support mode

General notes
The support mode provides the onboard supply with power when

the battery -A- is removed or disconnected.
For additional information refer to ⇒  Operating instructions for

battery charger -VAS 5900- .
The support mode is suitable in the following situations:
♦ Support mode of onboard supplies without installed battery -

A-

3. Charging battery A     

39

WARNING

Danger of injury! Observe warning notices and safety regula‐

tions 

⇒ page 2

 !

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.

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

Carry out following procedures:
– Switch off ignition and all electrical loads.

Caution

♦ The terminal polarity protection in operating mode “charg‐

ing totally discharged batteries/support mode” is not ac‐

tive. Connect battery charger terminal clamps correctly to

battery terminals.

♦ It can cause sparks through a short-circuit.
♦ Danger of explosion
♦ Do not press 

START / STOP

 button when charger unit

cables are connected incorrectly. This may damage the

battery charger -VAS 5900- .

– Remove battery -A- ⇒  Electrical system; Rep. Gr.  27 .
– Connect battery charger -VAS 5900- to mains. The last selec‐

ted operating mode will appear on display 

⇒ page 32

 .

40