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This are instructions on how to change the engine air filter on Volkswagen Models from 99 until late 2005-2006 and up have a different air box design. Removing an air filter on 1.8T Jetta, Beetle ,Golf ,Passat, 2.0L Golf, Jetta, Beetle, 1.9TDI Beetle, Jetta, Golf, 2.8L Passat, VR6 Jetta or Golf it is not as hard as you may think many of us this days want to save a trip to the dealership if we can, so you'll like this one because you can do this yourself, first pop the hood open, pull out on the release handle and lift the hood, your next step would be to locate the air box in the engine compartment which is pretty easy to find, it is a big black box located on the right hand side, with the exception that on the 2.8L and 1.8T Engine on Passat Models it is located on the left hand side of the vehicle. On 1.8T,2.0L,1.9 TDI and VR6 engines, first disconnect the mass air flow sensor which it is screw on the left side of the air box, then unscrew the(2)screws on the back of the air box towards the rear of the car,once you unscrew the upper part of the air box, carefully lift the cover and set it to the side without disconnecting the engine air tube, remove the engine air filter element,if you see dirt in the bottom of this engine air box you need to clean the air box, and How do I do that you may ask? simple! if you don't have an air hose with a blow gun, you could use a vacuum cleaner to vacuum out the dust or dirt, if you don't have a vacuum cleaner, I still have another solution for you, get a piece of an old cotton fabric and moist it, then clean the air box, the dirt will stick to the piece of fabric, repeat this 2 or 3 times or until you get all the dirt out, then you are ready to install your new air filter element, re-install everything reverse of removal, and make sure that your mass air flow sensor is connected before you start the engine, otherwise The Check Engine Light will come on if you start the engine with the mass air flow sensor disconnected, also make sure that the air box cover seats even on the bottom part of the air box, otherwise you won't be able to screw down the cover. On 1.8T and 2.8 V6 Passat first disconnect the mass air flow sensor connector, the mass air flow sensor electrical connector on the 1.8T Passat is protected by rubber, carefully remove this rubber using a screw driver and don't pull hard on the rubber once it's release you could brake the wires, at this point you need to pay attention to the following, to remove the electrical connector first you need to push in the electrical connector and at the same time pull back on the little plastic piece on the connector's head, again, push in, pull back, and pull out, the connector is out. Then release the plastic clips around the air box using a screw driver, repeat the same procedure described above to clean the air box, replace your air filter element and re-install everything reverse of removal. The same procedure will apply to 2.8L V6 engines. Don't try this if you are not sure that you could do it. Save time and money.

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