TorqFix

Removing and installing starter, 2.0 l TDI engine, manual gearbox — VW

Removing and installing starter, 2.0 l TDI engine, manual gearbox on VW: 17 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.

On the Passat CC (2008–2012) and the later VW CC (2012–2017) with a 2.0-litre TDI and manual gearbox, the starter is reached partly from above and partly from below. With the battery disconnected, the engine cover is pulled off, the vacuum hoses and connector are freed and the air filter housing is unbolted, its cover and hose removed and the housing lifted out of its brackets. That exposes the solenoid: its cap slides off, the positive cable and terminal 50 connector come off, the earth wire is unscrewed from a starter bolt and the upper bolt removed. From below, with the noise insulation off, the nut and wiring retainer on the lower bolt come off and the starter is withdrawn. Keeping track of which bolt carries the earth wire saves trouble on refit.

17 steps

🧭 Before you start

Disconnect the battery, remove the engine cover and the air filter housing with its hoses. Unplug the solenoid wiring, remove the earth wire and the upper starter bolt. From underneath, remove the noise insulation, the nut and wiring retainer on the lower bolt, then the bolt itself, and take out the starter. Refit in reverse and tighten all threaded connections to the specified torques.

Fits: VW Passat CC (357, 2008–2012), VW CC (358, 2012–2017)

Don't miss

  • Disconnect the battery before touching the solenoid terminals.
  • Release the vacuum hose spring clips with proper spring-clip pliers to avoid damaging the hoses.
  • Refit the earth wire under its starter securing bolt.
  • Tighten all starter connections to specification; there is no torque figure on this page.

Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.

📋 Procedure

  1. Disconnect battery .
  2. Pull engine cover panel upwards (arrows).
  3. Separate connector (1), release spring-type clip (2) with spring-type clip pliersVAS 5024A and pull off vacuum hoses (3).
  4. Remove securing bolt of air filter housing (arrow).
  5. Release locking lugs (arrows) and take off cover.
VW? Steps differ between engine variants — check this job against your exact car before you commit to it. Check my car — free →
  1. Pull hose (arrow) off air filter housing and remove.
  2. Pull air filter housing upwards out of brackets and remove.
  3. Slide protective cap in direction of (arrow) off solenoid switch.
  4. Unscrew positive wire (1) and disconnect connector from terminal 50 (2).
  5. Unscrew earth wire from securing bolt of starter (arrow).
  6. Remove securing bolt of starter (arrow).
  7. Remove noise insulation Exterior equipment66Noise insulation; Removing and installing noise insulation.
  8. Remove securing nut (1) from lower securing bolt of starter.
  9. Remove wiring retainer (2).
  10. Remove securing bolt of starter (arrow).
  11. Remove starter.
  12. Tighten threaded connections to specified torques .

Other VW procedures

Who makes these pages, and how

TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.

The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.

Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.

Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com

The story behind TorqFix →

Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.