NMS/B7 - Passat '12+ FAQ & Maintenance HOW-TO

domano 68

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2012
Location
Alabama
TDI
2012 Passat TDI SE 6spd manual
You definitely don't want to 'crank it up' empty.... There is a thread already going somewhere here about that exact question. Depending on the year, the fuel pump will cycle with the key (13s, I believe - not your 12). The issue was whether the fuel/PS/etc. poured into the housing gets filtered or not. If I read the threads correctly, the PS would get run through the engine unfiltered.
Of course - VCDS will cycle the pumps for you to purge the air, but it can be done with a jumper in the fuel pump relay instead. There is a how-to posted somewhere if you search for it.
Right, don't want to crank it up empty. Just need to know if PS is "ok" to top off canister.

I don't want to have to fill a small bottle or fuel can with a few ounces of Diesel to use as the fluid to top off the canister with. I have PS already, so I would like to know if this is ok to use. TIA!
 

titleist1

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2013
Location
Baltimore
TDI
2013 Passat SE TDI
I just did the 40k service last weekend and i used power service to top off the canister. I didn't empty it of diesel so it didn't take much to fill it up when I placed the new filter in place.
 

dieselbill

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2004
Location
Maine
TDI
2015 Passat SE TDI 6 speed sedan Titanium Beige and 06 Jetta Sedan TDI 5 speed Wheat Beige
Passat15 Thank You! Nice job, great pictures! Took delivery recently of a 2015 SE 6 speed manual and expect to do most servicing myself (as I have since our 1st 1984 Rabbit diesel).
 

isukennedy

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 19, 2005
Location
Racine, WI
TDI
none... for now. '11 JSW in the future???
Has anyone seen a timing belt procedure? I've looked just about everywhere with no luck. Diesel Geek mentions a method w/o removing the motor mounts, but there's no link: timing belt kit
 

Rico567

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 13, 2003
Location
Central IL
TDI
2013 Passat TDI SEL Premium (Turned in 7/7/18)
Did my 40K CKRA engine O&F change for the first time today. I did the DSG last Saturday, but I posted that as a separate thread, since there has been so much commentary on the DSG service and I determined to do the top fill, which I did and all went well.
The engine O&F change didn't turn out to be the bugbear that some have made it out to be. Yes, it's a really tight squeeze to work the filter cap and old filter up out of there, but it just took me a couple of minutes and a little patience and out it came.
Some advice I read somewhere turned out to be good. When the filter cap is completely unscrewed but BEFORE trying to life it out of the housing, wait a few minutes for things to drain. Amazing how much more easily it handles when oil isn't draining off of it.
Replacing the filter and the 3 "O" rings is pretty routine, the smallest "O" ring being the biggest bear to remove. Lubed 'em all and put the new filter back in. At some point when screwing it down, things get tighter when the new "O" ring goes down into the housing, but it takes a couple more turns (it gets a bit easier from there) to get it down flush. It's easy to reach down and feel the gap between the cap and the housing, but in any case it's easy to feel when the cap bottoms out.
The interesting part emerged when I could only change out about 3.2 liters of the oil (nominal 4.5 in the CKRA). I decided to do top fill, and borrowed a friend's Mityvac oil extractor. It worked fine, but with the tube (I used the middle-sized tube, it comes with 3) in as far as I thought it prudent to try to push, it would only take out enough to allow 3.2 liters of new oil (total, including start & drive, re-measure, and top up). I have read about other people having issues extracting all the oil, but the stories seem to vary.
I decided not to put the car up on ramps and do a bottom change at this point, and may decide to do a "short change" at 5K. As long as this oil lasts in Europe, though, with 30K km changes, etc., it may not matter.
So— apart from only getting about 75% of the oil changed that is specified, everything went very smoothly.
 

Rico567

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 13, 2003
Location
Central IL
TDI
2013 Passat TDI SEL Premium (Turned in 7/7/18)
Performed (what is evidently the first) compartment dust / pollen filter change today. The thing was really full of crap compared to other cars for which I have serviced the compartment filter. Our second car, an '04 SAAB, shows NO change between old & new filters. The change itself is easy, there is an illustrated thread somewhere showing how.
What annoyed me is that the thing was pretty much full of dirt, which tells me that the dealer didn't bother changing it out during the complimentary service appointments— and on the 30K, it was well over the two year change-out interval for the filter.
 

NYTDIBoy

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2003
Location
Rhinebeck, NY
TDI
2000 Jetta GLS; 2013 Passat SE 6SP
Also looking for a timing belt replacement procedure. My water pump just started leaking coolant all over the timing belt area. Only 74k on it.
 

r11

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2012
Location
NJ
TDI
2012 Passat TDI SE 6MT (BB'd), 2015 Passat TDI SE 6MT
A very relevant piece of info needed for those that want to do DIY TB is whether or not you need to elevate the engine to get to the idling pulley (which needs to be replaced as part of the job).

In some cars, you can remote the idler shaft (possibly damaging it in process) so then you can remove the pulley w/o having to elevate the engine - major savings in time and complexity of the job. You'd then install new idler shaft, a few $ item.

But yeah, we dont have a nice youtube vid yet on the whole process :(
 

Justinw303

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2014
Location
Silver Spring, MD
TDI
2013 Passat TDI SE DSG w/ Sunroof
Fuel Filter job was easy as can be on my '13. VCDS was not needed, and she cranked up without even the slightest delay. Did not empty the diesel from the canister, and didn't top it off with anything after putting in new filter. Just cycled the fuel pump several times by turning the key to the 'On' position, then cranked it after the 5th time or so (just being extra careful)
 
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mkeller82

New member
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Location
Kansas
TDI
2012 Passat TDI SE
Replacing Glow Plug Control Relay Module

I took my 2012 Passat TDI into the dealer and they said I need to have the glow plug module replaced. I did notice it struggling a bit to start when it was cold out. Can someone tell me where the relay is located and is this the correct part? Part # 038907281A

Thanks,
Mike
 

Audi78

New member
Joined
Jun 25, 2017
Location
Texas
TDI
2015 PASSAT SE
Passat15 Thank You! Nice job, great pictures! Took delivery recently of a 2015 SE 6 speed manual and expect to do most servicing myself (as I have since our 1st 1984 Rabbit diesel).
Yes, thank you indeed. I just purchased a 2015 Passat SE as well. Enjoy and thanks for the neat pics.
 

rastolis

New member
Joined
Oct 11, 2022
Location
Florida
TDI
2013 Passat TDI se
Please PM me for updates and suggestions. Please provide documentation or a link for a quick cross reference.

How to search the forums - http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=133579

FAQ:
Timing Belt Change Interval - 130,000 mile intervals for timing belt and water pump stated in the owners manual
Break-in Period by Drivbiwire - http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=252501&highlight=drivbiwire+breakin
Engine Fan running after shutoff - http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=344500
Light Bulb information - http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthre...-Bulb-List&p=77997050&viewfull=1#post77997050
RNS510 Firmware & Maps Info Thread

Turbo Failure Discussion:

General Discussion Thread: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=360617
Failure Reports Thread: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=375789
Data Collection Thread: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=381481

DIY Service: (If you do something, and document it, please let me know so I can post it for the masses...)
Oil Change/ 10k service video -
Cabin filter change -
and http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=403318
Fuel Filter Change -
Urea/Adblue Exhaust Fluid -
Coolant flush
DSG oil change -
Reset TPMS - http://my.vw.com/2012-passat/performance/tire-pressure-monitor
10,000 mile service video - http://www.crdsite.com/3.html [no-blue-screen]
A/C condenser cleaning video
[no-blue-screen]
Remove ECU bracket http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=410144 [AARodriguez]
AdBlue Fill procedure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5rXEWIeGCU
Replacing the Adblue Heater: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=438458 by docmanny
Heater core replacement: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=450667 by 767wrench

DIY Mods: (if there are lots of modifications I will subdivide to make it easier to find. ie: body, electrical, etc.)
Fog Lights - http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthre...y-do-i-need-a-harness&p=75403809#post75403809
VAG-COM Tweaks - http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...S/A3)_Tweaks
More VCDS Tweaks - http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=4059022&postcount=141
Rain Closing Windows - http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/b...ctivation.html
Trunk Hinge Cover (for Right Hinge) http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5557252-Trunk-Hinge-Cover part #561-971-821-82V
Diesel Geek Shortshifter - by EatPasta - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATy7ZIhIrEY
Reverse Camera for RNS-510 - http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...Camera-Install
Custom front tag holder. No holes or drills - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foaZ_ADFECQ
Install Dash Cam http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=474333

VWVortex B7 FAQ/DIY: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5199106-The-Official-B7-Passat-DIY-and-FAQ-Thread

As with most Internet forums, the people with the most problems speak the loudest. Rarely do people come on to sing the praises of something that's working well on a regular basis. If you have questions, please search for an answer and ask questions. Your experience may differ greatly from those posted on this forum.
is there any info about putting the NMS/b7 on jack stands? this info has been so hard to find! also is it true that this models pinch welds can bend easily?
 

740GLE

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
TDI
2015 Passat SEL, 2017 Alltrack SE; BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat,
2015 isn't bad at all, two bolts, hardest part is maybe pulling the fender liner if you really want clean access to it.

I take it you have 2012-2014?
 

Passat'n Adventure

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Location
Augusta, GA area
TDI
05 Passat GLS Wagon - Deleted and 5 speeded '15 Passat SEL P
is there any info about putting the NMS/b7 on jack stands? this info has been so hard to find! also is it true that this models pinch welds can bend easily?
I just had my '15 on (4) jack stands to do the transmission drain / filter / fill. I used a floor jack for the first set of wheels (I chose the front of the car), then a bottle jack for the second set. The floor jack was low enough to get clearance beneath the lifting tab. To fit the jack stand under the lifting tab with the floor jack in the way was a bit awkward. For that reason, I switched to a bottle jack for the rear of the car since there was clearance to fit it under the car with the front already in the air.

I don't know about the pinch welds.
 

robertsean350

Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2024
Location
San Antonio
TDI
14 Passat
At kromicacid's request, I'm starting a sticky FAQ thread for the 2012+ Passat (NMS/B7).

kromicacid will be responsible for updating Post #2, so keep your eyes on it for updates. :)

-Lawson

FAQ #1:

Q: What is the difference between the NMS and a B7?

A:
NMS stands for New Midsize Sedan, which is the project code name for the North American, Saudi Arabian and Chinese 2012+ Passats. B7 is a bit of a misnomer (it's really more like a B6.5), but refers to the European Passat, which is a completely different vehicle from the NMS. The B7 and NMS share practically nothing between them. While VWvortex and other sites commonly (and incorrectly) refer to all new Passats as B7s, it is technically incorrect.

Because TDIClub has a number of international members and prides itself on correct model identification, please use the proper terminology to refer to your Passat while posting here.

Summary: B7 = European Passat. NMS = North American, Saudi Arabian and Chinese Passat.
If you live in North America, you do not have a B7.
Thanks "new owner" and noticed my searches for B7 failed to yield what I am looking at in my car. Clueless, you just save me hours and hours of trying to figure out what I didn't know
 
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