Waking up the R36

[Greggles]

Hi all,
Will be returning back to Oz after 3.5 months abroad. I asked a housesitter friend to turn the R36 over while I was away but he left it until after 2 months upon which time the battery was dead-flat. Any advice on starting the R36 up after such a long sleep? My previous car (manual) warned about the potential danger to a vehicles electronics when using jumper leads from another vehicle (in this case a Landcruiser). Am I being overly cautious?
Cheers,
Greg

[Steve]

I can't give any useful advice here - sorry.

I just returned home from two months overseas, and my mother drove it occasionally. It started first time. Pity about the spider webs and dust...

... but wow! It's like driving it for the first time - the noise, the acceleration, the grip. Makes me grin all over again

[h100vw]

Personally, I'd pull the battery out and charge it.

Unless you have no option but to jump it. If jumping is the only option, connect the cables and leave the Cruiser ticking over over while connected, for 15 minutes.

That will put some life into the R36 and be less of an impact on the jump leads.

Gavin

[Transporter]

How old is the battery? If it is +3 years, get the new one, the old one would be unreliable and you get stranded.

[DNA Tuning]

I'd double check that the landcruiser runs a 12V battery; some 4WD's run 24V ones iirc.

[kleung]

the battery was dead-flat

How 'dead flat'?

'tries to crank but won't turn over', or
'as a dodo'?

If it's 'as a dodo', just get a new battery. The old one will never be as good again - lead acid batteries do not like being deep discharged.

If it's the former, I'd pull it out and charge it. With the number of electronic systems in the Passat, all you need is for one little component to get upset, and you're in for a world of pain.

[Greggles]

Thanks guys - battery is 13mo. I might play it safe and charge the battery out of the car. The electronics and any potential damage do worry me!

Thanks again

[PowerHungry]

Hi Greg
I have had my R36 jump started twice when the battery ran flat due to a wiring issue from fitting a towbar. Once by the local RACT, the other by the VW assist towtruck driver. They used a separate battery to do the jump starting. They just used the jump start point in the engine bay to do it. No issues with electronics.
Cheers

[passatpout]

Thanks guys - battery is 13mo. I might play it safe and charge the battery out of the car. The electronics and any potential damage do worry me!

Thanks again

Hook up the jumper leads correctly, earth it to the engine block or somewhere other than the battery negative terminal, and follow the instructions, you won't have any problems. I had to do that with my Dad's VE Calais a few days ago, using a ride-on mower to jump from. All worked fine, once there was enough charge in the battery.