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VW Passat 12V Automotive Battery Replacement Guide
How to change a dead 12 volt car battery in the engine bay of a 2012 to 2015 Volkswagen Passat including the part numbers.

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2015 Passat 12V Battery
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Open Fabric Flap
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Loosen Negative Terminal
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the NMS (new midsize sedan) 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and the refreshed 2016 Volkswagen Passat sedan in changing a dead 12 volt car battery in the engine bay.

Owners of other VW Group vehicles such as the Beetle, CC, Tiguan, Golf, Touareg, Jetta, GTI, SportWagen, Eos, Rabbit, Bora, Vento, Lavida, Coccinelle, Maggiolino, Fusca, Audi A3, A4, S4, A6, S6, A7, A8, Q5, Q7, A5, S5, and TT may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The OEM battery in this 2015 Volkswagen Passat TSI was an Enertec 5K0 915 105 D (A.K.A. # 5K0915105D or 5K0-915-105-D).

Other compatible replacement "Group Size" H5, H6 or H8 batteries with their part #'s include the folloiwng: Exide Edge FP-AGML4/94R, ACDelco 48AGM, Bosch S6585B S6, Bosch # H6-760B, AutoCraft 48H6 or 47H5, Exide EA640 and ACDelco 49AGM.

To remove and replace the battery, you'll need a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet, a 13mm socket, a 6" extension bar and a 3/8" drive ratcheting wrench.

Attention: Many modern Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Porsche, Seat, Skoda, etc.) vehicles may be equipped with a battery management control module as part of the ECU (electronic control unit). The use of a VCDS, VAGCOM or another VW specific OBDII scanner (also known as an OBD2 scan tool) will be needed to "recode", "reprogram", "register" or perform the "adaptations" for the new battery including inputting the new serial number into the ECU. The coding procedure will reset the battery monitoring and management control module so that the system will charge it at the proper specifications (voltage and amperage).

Two Volkswagen / Audi specific OBDII scanners that may work are the Ancel VD500 and the Foxwell NT510. Please be sure to check the list of supported vehicles and model years before purchasing a scan tool. I'd recommend the more advanced Foxwell unit since it specifically mentions "register a new battery after replacing" as one of the features.



 
Some of the symptoms of a weak or "dead" 12 volt battery include slow starting, a slow cranking starter motor, your headlights dim or flicker when stopped or become brighter when accelerating or you just hearing a "clicking" noise when you try to start the car.

Most car batteries tend to last three to five years depending on your local climate and driving conditions. If your battery is over 3 years old, I would recommend replacing it as well having your alternator and starter tested at an auto parts store.

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Pull Off Negative Terminal
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Cover & Tuck Away
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Loosen Positive Terminal
The 12V battery is located at the right rear of the engine bay next to the the air intake tube and to the left of the fuse box.

Flip open the top flap of the fabric battery cover (A.K.A. "heat shield") to access the top of the battery.

First loosen the negative "-" terminal by turning the nut counter clockwise with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

Pull the negative terminal off the battery post, cover it with a small towel and tuck it away on the side of the battery to help prevent accidental electrical contact.

Then loosen the nut on the positive "+" battery terminal by turning it counter clockwise with the 10mm socket and ratcheting wrench.

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Pull Off Positive Terminal
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Remove Battery Cover
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Old Battery Exposed

Pull the positive terminal off the "+" battery post and tuck it away on the left side of the battery.

Lift the fabric battery cover out of the engine bay and set it aside in a safe place.

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Left Side - Hold Down Bar
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Hold Down Clamp Bolt
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13mm Socket & Extension
Locate the battery hold down bar or "clamp" on the lower left edge of the battery which is below the air intake hose.

Attach the 13mm socket and a 6" extension bar to a 3/8" drive ratchet.



 

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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Lift Out Old Battery
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Clean Off Battery Tray

Loosen the bolt by turning it counterclockwise.

You do not need to entirely remove the 13mm bolt in order to lift out the old battery.

It may be easier to leave the battery hold down bar attached to the battery tray.

Just loosen it enough until you can slide the old battery out from underneath it.

Carefully lift the old battery out of the engine bay and gently set it on the ground.

Try to avoid tipping over or dropping the old battery to prevent from having battery acid leak out.

If you can wait a few days for delivery, the ACDelco 48AGM and the ACDelco 49AGM both have excellent reviews on Amazon.

Be sure to bring the old battery with you to Walmart or the auto parts store to avoid having to pay a "core" charge and also since the retailer will have the old battery properly recycled.

Clean off any debris from the plastic battery tray so that the new battery will rest evenly on it.

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Lower In New 12V Battery
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Slide Under Battery Clamp
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Tighten 13mm Clockwise
Push the battery hold down bar as far to the left as possible to make room for the new battery.

Gently lower the new 12 volt battery in to the engine bay with the "+" positive post at the front and the "-" negative battery post closer to the rear of the engine bay.

Tighten the 13mm bolt on the battery hold down bar in the clockwise direction until it is snug.

Check that the new battery is secure and can't be moved.

If the new battery can be moved, wiggled, rocked or slid around, tighten the hold down clamp bolt another turn or two.

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Replace Heat Shield Cover
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Replace Positive Terminal
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Push On Negative Terminal
Lower the fabric cover over the new battery.

Push the positive terminal on to the "+" battery post.

Tighten the 10mm positive terminal nut in the clockwise direction until it is snug.

Try to avoid over tightening the terminal nut to prevent from damaging the battery post which could lead to an acid leak.

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Tighten 10mm Clockwise
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12V Battery Replaced
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Close Fabric Flap
Then push the negative terminal on to the "-" battery post.

Tighten the 10mm "-" terminal nut in the clockwise direction until it is snug.

Close the flap over the top of the battery.

Test the new battery by starting the engine, turning on the headlights and flashing the high beams.

Please remember to adjust the time on the clock and program your favorite radio station presets before you start driving.

For more, check out all of my Volkswagen Passat DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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