Can a GTI be bumped started

[DorsetDC]

My son picked up his manual GTI at the weekend and he is extremely happy but asked me what happens if the battery goes flat, can the auto handbrake be released so the car can be bump started? I know it's a hypothetical question but does anyone know the answer?

[Jimble]

I think it mentions this in the manual, haven't got mine with me atm though to check.

[p3asa]

I've not tried it but don't see why not if you put the ignition on then put your foot on the brake while pushing down the handbrake button, this releases the handbrake allowing it to free wheel.

[Gnasher]

But do the motors that release the handbrake not need power from the (flat) battery to release?

[Mark V GTD]

I would think not - starting a dead battery will need jump leads/auxiliary power pack on the Golf 7.

[corgi]

I guess it depends on how dead the battery is...

Often they're not completely dead and will have enough power to release the handbrake etc. but not enough to crank the engine... in this situation I don't see why you couldn't bump start a manual GTI.

If the battery is properly dead then you'd need jump leads etc.

Three further points:
Why not call VW Assist?

If the battery's gone flat on a car less than 2 years old there's something wrong and bump starting it may get you out of the initial situation but if you stop and leave it for the same length of time... you'll likely need to go through the same procedure...

On these modern cars, with complex electrical systems you may find when the battery is low they behave somewhat strangely... odd warning lights, electric windows not operating as expected, alarm issues etc...

[Exonian]

Having had flat battery issues for a few weeks now I'm a dab hand at starting a dead GTI.

Yes, so far the parking brake has been able to be released but I don't like to bump start modern cars because of the catalyst etc.

The starting system has been designed to work well (when the car is newish at least) due to the stop start system so it fires up quickly with a jump start.

If you have a rear camera that causes untold issues if the car is dead with the camera active (car left in reverse gear as I don't trust handbrakes) as it becomes impossible to open the boot from the outside so you have to use the ski hatch to retrieve the jump leads. I've had a few particularly amusing variations on this which raised my blood pressure somewhat!

[Ivor Mk4 Turbo]

Having had flat battery issues for a few weeks now I'm a dab hand at starting a dead GTI.

Yes, so far the parking brake has been able to be released but I don't like to bump start modern cars because of the catalyst etc.

The starting system has been designed to work well (when the car is newish at least) due to the stop start system so it fires up quickly with a jump start.

If you have a rear camera that causes untold issues if the car is dead with the camera active (car left in reverse gear as I don't trust handbrakes) as it becomes impossible to open the boot from the outside so you have to use the ski hatch to retrieve the jump leads. I've had a few particularly amusing variations on this which raised my blood pressure somewhat!

Up or downhill, just leave it in 1st or 2nd.   The car won't move either way!

[Exonian]

Lol, ever since having a handbrake cable snap on me on my first car (mk1 Scirocco) a million years ago I've always left my cars in gear when I park. This catches loads of people out that jump in my car and go to start it as if it was in neutral!!!