How to change out the Touareg V10 TDI engine air filters

[nlorntson]

It's once again time to change the engine air filters in our 2004 V10 Touareg.

Tools needed: T30 six-pointed torx bit, small screwdriver, regular screwdriver.

Part# 7L0-129-620 (need 2)

Total time for changing both filters is about 20 minutes.

The V10 has two air filters. the left side filter housing does not have the extra tube entering the side of the housing so if you want to do the easy one first, do the left side first. I will show the right side removal.

1. On the right side air filter housing, locate the tube inlet that enters the filter on the back side. It will look like all the other black tubes and hoses but it will have a green collar next to the housing.

This is a locking collar that must be slid back using the small screwdriver. It's a little like one of those Chinese finger traps in that the harder you pull the joint apart, the harder the teeth bite in. PUSH the joint together when you pull the cap back.

You may have to rotate the collar until you see the notch to put the screwdriver in. Place the small screwdriver in the notch and pry back towards the housing.

2. Once the green collar is off, the end will come off of the housing tube by releasing the inner teeth. This requires you to push the black ring away from the housing in the direction that the end will come off.

Pushing this ring back will release the teeth and allow the end to slide back off of the housing tube.

3. In this picture you can see the end has been slid back from the housing

4. The end is off of the housing tube. You can see where the teeth bite into the tube just above the green locking clip. Now that the tube is completely off the housing, remove the green locking ring so it does not pop off the end and disappear into the depths of the engine while you remove the housing.

5. Next is the removal of the air inlet. This is held on with two locking pins. Locate these pins and rotate them using the torx bit 180 degrees until the dot on the pin lines up with the dot on the
housing. The marks must be lined up exactly! Once they are rotated properly, the pins will slide up and out. Pushing the air inlet tube in towards the housing while I turned them helped to get mine out. Note that there is a rubber collar on the top of each pin that acts as a seal. Pushing gently down on the pin as you rotate them also helps.

6. Next, retract the air inlet tube from the housing. Using the large screwdriver, unclip the two silver metal clips on the top of the housing that hold the halves together.

7. Tip housing forward towards center of the motor

8. Lift out housing. Clean out any dust or debris from housing. Replace and drop in a new filter.

9. Reassembly is just the opposite. Don't forget the green locking cap!

If you have a bunch of miles on your engine like I do (214K) I'm also going to take a whack at cleaning the Mass Airflow sensor (MAF) on each side while I have things apart. I've been getting the occasional intermittent sensor warning on bank 1 (G70) right side and I've never done a thing to the MAF previously.

Good luck to the other vintage Touareg owners!