How to Jump Start a New Volkswagen Beetle
by Genevieve AdamsIt is important to understand how to jump start your vehicle so that in the event that the engine or battery dies, you will not be stranded in a potentially unfamiliar place. The new Volkswagen Beetle has unique mechanisms that can make this process more difficult than it would be on other cars, especially if you are not familiar with them. But if you know the tricks, you can jump start your new Beetle without confusion.
Step 1
Park the live car so that its battery is easily within reach of the Beetle's battery, which is located on the driver's side of the engine.
Step 2
Pop both hoods. On your Beetle, the lever to pop the hood is located low on the wall of the vehicle underneath the driver's side dash, near the footrest. After pulling this lever, a small black tab will pop out from underneath the hood. Pull on this tab to unlock the hood, then lift it all the way open.
Step 3
With both cars turned off--including all systems such as air conditioning, stereos, etc.--attach the jumper cables. Automotive website Edmunds.com warns that attaching the cables in the wrong order increases the risk of an explosion, so it is important to complete this step in the following order: positive cable--usually red--to positive terminal of dead battery; other end of positive cable to positive terminal of live battery; corresponding negative cable--usually black--to negative terminal of live battery; and the other end of negative cable to a shiny, metal, non-moving part of the dead Beetle's engine. Most parts of the engine in your Beetle are encased in plastic, so as a last resort, connect the negative cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery.
Step 4
Start the live car, and let it idle for a few minutes. This will charge the battery of your Beetle. Attempt to start the Beetle. When it starts, allow it to idle for another few minutes while connected to the other car. If it does not start, wait a few more minutes and try again. If it still refuses to start, it may be best to call a tow truck because there are likely other problems.
Step 5
Carefully disconnect the cables in the reverse order that they were connected in, making sure not to let the ends touch one another or fall into any moving parts of either engine. Immediately take your Beetle to have the battery fully charged at your mechanic or dealership to avoid a repeat of the situation the next time you start the car.
References
Things You'll Need
- Car with live battery
- Jumper cables
Warnings
- Double check the battery terminals to ensure that you are connecting the correct cable to the correct terminal to avoid risk of electric shock. Never let the clamps on the cables touch while any end is connected to a battery.
Writer Bio
Genevieve Adams has been a freelance writer since 2007 and is also regulatory compliance analyst for a community bank in the Pacific Northwest. Her work, covering primarily finance, crafting and fashion, appears on various websites. She has a Bachelor of Arts in theater from Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon.
