How To Replace A Volkswagen Air Filter
A Volkswagen engine air filter or cabin air filter is one of the parts you can replace by yourself without needing to bring your vehicle to a shop. An air filter replacement is quick and easy, and doesn’t require any special tools.
It takes 10 or 15 minutes to replace an air filter in your vehicle. Even though the job takes much less than an hour, most shops charge for a full hour’s worth of labor. So it doesn’t sense to pay over $100 for such an easy job.
If you need some guidance, we’re here to show you how to replace an engine air filter and a cabin air filter.
The Difference Between An Engine Air Filter And A Cabin Air Filter
Did you know that there are two different types of air filters: engine air filter and cabin air filter? These are not interchangeable. They’re located in different areas of the vehicle, and they serve different purposes.
You would find an engine air filter in the cold air intake box. Its purpose is to keep harmful elements out of the engine. There are many harmful elements like dust, dirt, and debris in the air. Your engine needs clean air to function right. Yet, the harmful elements in the air will slowly ruin the engine. That’s why your VW comes with an engine air filter. It traps the harmful elements in the air before the air enters the engine. This post has a more thorough explanation of what an engine air filter is and why it’s important.
A cabin air filter sits within the vehicle’s HVAC system. It’s between the vehicle's fresh air intake and the air vents in the cabin. Its purpose is to trap the dirt, dust, and debris in the air that goes into the cabin. With a cabin air filter present, it keeps the air in the cabin as clean as possible. This post has a more thorough explanation of what a cabin air filter is and why it’s important.
How To Find OEM Air Filters At Rock Bottom Prices
If you're in the market for a new Volkswagen air filter, you may be looking to save as much money as possible. That's why a lot of people settle on aftermarket air filters. OEM air filters offer so much more value, but they're usually more expensive. That doesn't necessarily have to be the case, though. You can get genuine OEM air filters from us at low prices. We even offer a price match guarantee.
Check out our inventory of:
Please contact us if you need help finding the right air filter for your VW model.
How To Replace A Volkswagen Engine Air Filter
In most cases, a Volkswagen air filter can last up to 15K miles. If you live in a dusty area, you will need to replace your air filter sooner rather than later.
Replacing a Volkswagen engine air filter is a beginner project for DIYers. It takes only a few minutes, and you don’t need any special tools. The engine air filter replacement process varies slightly between VW models and generation. Yet, the general idea is still the same. Here's a general overview of how to replace a VW engine air filter:
- Make sure that your vehicle is off and the engine is cool.
- Find the cold air intake box under the hood.
- Remove the top of the cold air intake box. Usually these are held on with spring clips.
- Pull out the old air filter.
- Put in the new air filter.
- Put the cold air intake box back in place.
How To Replace A Volkswagen Cabin Air Filter
The cabin air filter is just a little harder to get at than the engine air filter. The hardest part is removing the glove box. Yet, it’s still a job most beginners can do. When your cabin air filter gets too dirty, you'll know. You'll notice some symptoms like:
- Reduced airflow through the HVAC vents
- Increased cabin temperatures
- Musty scent
- Poor window fog clearing
The location of the cabin air filter is not the same across all VW models. On some models like the VW Beetle, the cabin air filter is near the bottom of the windshield, right above the glove box. On other models like the VW Jetta, you would find the cabin air filter under the glove box. In some models like the VW Atlas, the cabin air filter is behind the glove box. This guide has a tutorial for replacing the cabin air filter in each location.