Batteries and battery servicing

Long downtimes, lots of short distances: The question of when it’s time for a change depends on a range of factors. You can read the condition of the battery from the acid level indicator (“magic eye”) directly on the battery. Here, the colour black means good; light yellow means you should visit your workshop. As a general principle, you should have your battery checked annually. This service is already included in the regular inspection. These signs may also indicate defects:

• Battery warning display is illuminated
• Impeded start behaviour
• Damage to housing
• Voltage that decreases under load
• Pole corrosion
• Loss of battery liquid through the poles

Different types of starter batteries are installed in vehicles: EFB/EFB+ (Enhanced Flooded Batteries) or AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries in vehicles with automatic start/stop technology and lead-calcium starter batteries in vehicles with no automatic start/stop technology. Since the authorised battery types vary depending on model, model year and equipment, please ask your local Volkswagen retailer about the suitable battery for your car. They can determine this using the vehicle identification number, or VIN for short.

Volkswagen grants the standard statutory warranty for brand-new vehicles with regard to all defects in materials and workmanship – of course, this also applies for a starter battery installed as standard.

A battery’s capacity reduces over its life cycle. The reason: Each time the battery is discharged, lead sulphate crystals form on the lead plates, which permanently reduce the current flow. The more lead sulphate crystals that have built up on the plates, the lower the battery’s capacity.

Even if you’ve found a guide to changing the battery online, you should still have it changed by a professional, as there is a lot to watch out for: Battery acid is highly acidic, escaping gases may explode and an incorrectly installed battery can damage your Volkswagen.

Many Volkswagen have a battery management system. Among other things, it recognises the battery’s condition and regulates the vehicle’s energy balance. This only works if the battery is designed to fit the vehicle and the system recognises it via a 2D code. Otherwise, the battery might be placed under unnecessary loads or discharged too much. This may result in problems during vehicle operation.

Are you unsure about how old your starter battery is? Not a problem. You can usually read this information on the negative terminal, where the calendar week and year are embossed.

The time it takes for your battery to charge depends on the model and the battery’s charge level. It’s therefore not possible to give a precise time, but it does take several hours. Your battery has to be charged when the charging voltage is too low. Your Volkswagen retailer will be happy to help.

Find your local Volkswagen retailer

 Partner, they’ll also take care of its disposal. Otherwise you can take your used battery to an official return point. More information on this topic is available on our recycling page.

Tips for achieving the longest possible service life for your electric vehicle battery can be found here.

More about electric vehicle battery

Checking the electric vehicle battery is part of the inspection performed on electric vehicles. All high-voltage components are checked for damage and contaminants. The correct routing of the high-voltage cables and the state of charge are also inspected.

No, if individual battery cells or modules are defect or if they have a significant impact on the capacity and performance of the electric vehicle battery, they can be replaced separately.

Car batteries vary in cost depending on their type. One thing all our batteries have in common is a warranty that covers them for 3 years.

We recommend visiting your local retailer when your car key battery is empty. Getting your battery replaced by an expert will save you from potentially losing the data stored in your key, which means it may no longer recognise your vehicle.

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Do you want to find out more about the device batteries in your Volkswagen? Here you will find the complete labelling according to Art. 38–41 EU BattReg and the EU declarations of conformity for device batteries.

Go to Battery Regulation (BattReg)