The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta has definite youth appeal; possessing a sporty look, great handling and more-than adequate power. Of course, in order to enjoy the car, it must be able to come to life when you turn the ignition switch. This simply isn’t possible if the battery is constantly dead or drained. Therefore, you may need to replace your Jetta’s battery; if not now, at some point in the future. Thankfully, the installation of a new battery is a fairly simple task.
Open your Jetta’s hood and remove the plastic battery cover on top of the battery. Simply lift the front of the plastic cover and unhook it from the hinge in back. Place the cover to the side.
Remove the plastic headlight cover directly in front of the battery. This will give you more room to operate. Use your Philips screwdriver to remove the two screws that hold the headlight cover in place and slide it out. Set it to the side as well.
Use the 10 mm socket and ratchet to remove the negative battery cable first. Just loosen the nut enough to release the pressure on the clamp and pull the terminal free of the post. Tuck the cable to the side and remove the positive cable in the same fashion.
Remove the plastic guard at the front of the battery. You will have to use your 10 mm socket, ratchet and extension in order to reach the bolt at the bottom, left-hand corner of the plastic box/guard. After you’ve loosened the bolt, the guard will still be held in place by plastic tabs, located at the bottom corners. Slide the tabs free by pulling the guard forward. You should then be able to lift the plastic piece out of the way.
Loosen the bracket at the front of the battery, at the bottom. Use your 13 mm socket, ratchet and extension to loosen the bolt holding the bracket in place. After the bracket is loose, you will be able to lift the battery out of its compartment.
Clean the terminals on the battery cables if they are corroded or dirty. Use a battery post and terminal cleaning tool if you have one. If not, a wire brush will suffice.
Situate the new battery in the compartment and simply reverse the removal process to complete the installation. Remember to hook up the positive cable before the negative in order to avoid any sparks or damage.
