How do you remove battery in all New VW Beetle's?

FIRST!! Make sure you use an alternate power source before ever disconnecting the battery on any VW that has a built in security system. If you don't you will experience lots of grief that is avoidable.

I did learned the hard way and it is not worth it, especially for those people that did not take care in saving their VW's owners manual that has a section about how to reset the security code on the Radio. If you get stuck in this situation you have two options, you can either get the correct tools and pull the radio (the codes are on the top of the unit) or make a trip to the dealer so they can look it up for you based on the VIN for a fee.

HOW TO START OUT RIGHT - Get a alternate power source unit from the dealer (I think Harbor Freight has them too) or make your own using a 9 volt battery or any battery close to 12 volts. Get yourself a cigarette power adapter from radio shack or harbor freight and make two leads off of it with alligator clips on the end following the color codes on the plug. . Red for Positive and Black for negative. Then plug the cigarette adapter into the orifice in your console marked POWER Outlet and connect the clips to the correct sides of your 9 volt battery (or other). Now you can remove the battery without loosing everything. Some forums also say that this will also cause problems with the programming for your injection if an alternate power source is not used. I did not notice a difference in power, however I did get a "running lean" code right after my mishap that did not fire off an idiot light but I truly believe if I had not reset mine I would have caused engine damage resulting from scoring due to the lean condition.

Note - Make sure not to let the positive battery cable touch the inner fender or core support. This grounding will ruin your attempt to do it right. Simply slide an old glove over the positive cable while transfering batteries so it's isolated.

VW 101 aka. BusaBanshee

Marysville Washington

You will need a half inch socket and a10 mm socket, plenty of extensions, and a Phillips screwdriver. Also a channel lock and/or slipjoint pliers.

Remove the air filter. Take notes or pictures to remember where everything goes.

Remove the 10mm screws that hold the battery in place. There are three or four of them. One goes through a small plate in front.

Before I started, I had people at Merchants Automotive tell me that to get the battery out I would need to remove the left front tire, to access a bolt, I suppose. I also had a mechanic at Advance Auto parts tell me I would have to remove the headlight. Both of these guys were wrong. However, you will have to remove the air filter and the battery to get to the driver's side headlight.

But you asked about the battery. Make sure you have the exact right size replacement battery, or you will have a nightmare if the new battery is too big.

Took two of us about two hours on my driveway. My experience was obsolete and Jerome had experience. But I could have probably done it myself in about two hours if my grand-daughter was there to hold the flashlight.

You will have to reset the radio and a couple other things after you reconnect the battery. Your battery supplier will give you money back if you return the old battery.

Steve Coerper

'stevekerp' in Raleigh, North-Carolina