2013 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Owners Manual

Changing light bulbs

WARNING
Improper replacement of burned out headlights and other light bulbs can cause serious
personal injury.
x Stop! Always read and heed the WARNINGS before doing any work in the engine
compartment . The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially dangerous area,
and work in this area can lead to serious personal injury.
x HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights get power from a high voltage source
that can cause severe personal injury and even death if handled improperly.
x H7 bulbs and HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon) headlights are under high pressure
and can explode if handled improperly.
x Always let a burned out light bulb cool down before replacing it.
x Never replace a light bulb unless you are familiar with all of the necessary procedures. In
particular, never remove a headlight unless you know exactly how to carry out the job and
have the correct tools and light bulbs.
x If you are uncertain about what to do, have the work performed by an authorized
Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified
workshop. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work.
x We strongly recommend that you always have HID – High Intensity Discharge (Xenon)
headlights and H7 bulbs replaced by a qualified technician.
x Do not touch the glass of light bulbs with your bare hands. Fingerprints left on the bulb
evaporate due to the heat when the bulb is switched on and cause the reflector to “cloud.”
x There are sharp edges on and around the headlight housing in the engine compartment
and the rear light housing. Wear hand protection if you replace bulbs.

NOTICE
After replacing a headlight bulb or other light bulb, always make sure that the rubber covers or
plastic caps have been properly and securely reinstalled to help prevent water from getting
into the electrical connections and headlight housing and damaging the electrical system.
Indicator light

WARNING
Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to
break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury.
x Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.
x Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

NOTICE
Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in vehicle damage.
Failure of a single LED within a taillight is not indicated. However, the indicator light will come
on if all LEDs fail.

Information on light bulb replacement

Changing taillight bulbs in the luggage compartment lid

Fig. 175 In the luggage compartment lid. A: Removing the taillight cover. B: Removing the taillight assembly.

Fig. 176 Taillight assembly. A: Removing the bulb holder. B: Removing the light bulb.

Please carry out each step only in the order specified:
5. Press together the release tabs for the connector plug B (2) in the direction of the
arrow and pull the connector plug off.
6. Unlock the bulb holder by pressing the locking tabs in direction of the arrow ⇒fig. 176
A and remove the bulb holder from the taillight assembly.
7. Replace the burned out light bulb with a new bulb of the same type B.
8. Reinsert the bulb holder in the taillight assembly. The locking tabs must latch with an
audible “click”.
9. Attach the connector plug ⇒fig. 175 B (2) to the bulb holder.
10.
Carefully reinsert the taillight assembly into the opening in the luggage compartment
lid. Hold the rear light assembly with one hand in the installation position and with the
other hand, tighten the fastening screws B (3).
11. Check the taillight assembly for proper installation and secure fit.
12. Attach the cover. The cover must latch tightly and securely into place.
13. Close the luggage compartment lid

LEDs in the taillights in the luggage compartment lid
Changing LEDs is not possible without dismantling vehicle components. Contact an authorized
Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Different models may have different lights, and the location and design of covers, bulb holders,
and bulbs may be in a different location than shown in the illustrations.

Jump-starting

WARNING
Improper use of jumper cables when jump-starting a vehicle with a dead battery can cause
the battery to explode, leading to serious personal injury. To help reduce the risk of battery
explosion:
x All work on the batteries or the electrical system in your vehicle can cause serious acid
burns, fires, or electrical shocks. Always read and heed the following WARNINGS and safety
precautions before working on the batteries or the electrical system , Vehicle battery.
x Always make sure that the battery providing starting assistance (the booster battery) has
the same voltage as the dead battery (12 V) and about the same amperage capacity (see
battery label).
x Never jump-start a vehicle with a thawed or frozen vehicle battery. The battery can
explode. A dead battery can freeze at temperatures around +32 °F (0 °C).
x A battery that is frozen or was frozen, but has since thawed, must be replaced.
x When the vehicle battery is jump-started, it gives off hydrogen gas, which is highly
explosive! Always keep fire, sparks, open flame, and smoking materials far away from vehicle
batteries. Never use a cellular telephone while connecting or disconnecting jumper cables.
x Jump-start batteries only in well-ventilated areas. Batteries give off highly explosive
hydrogen gas during jump-starting.
x Always route the jumper cables so that they cannot get caught in any moving parts in the
engine compartment.
x Never short out the battery terminals by connecting the positive (+) and negative (-)
terminals with each other.
x Never connect the negative cable from the other vehicle directly to the negative terminal
of the dead battery, as this may cause the hydrogen gas given off by the dead battery to
explode.
x Never attach the negative cable from the vehicle providing starting assistance to any part
of the fuel system or to the brake hoses or brake lines.
x Never allow the non-insulated parts of the battery clamps to touch.
x Never allow the jumper cable attached to the positive battery terminal to contact metal
parts of the vehicle.
x Always follow the instructions of the jumper cable manufacturer.

NOTICE
To help prevent extensive damage to the vehicle electrical system, read and heed the
following:
x Connecting jumper cables improperly can cause a short circuit and do expensive damage
to the vehicle's electrical system.
x Do not let the vehicles touch each other while the jumper cables are connected. If they do,
electrical current may flow between the vehicles when the positive (+) terminals are connected,
causing electrical system damage.