Recently my Blower Motor failed in my 2010 Touareg TDI. I noticed it had stopped a while ago, then it was working, then stopped and then sort of worked until it finally failed.
To replace it is really simple and takes about 30 minutes. You only need a work light and one hand tool to replace it, a 5.5 millimeter nut driver. (hard to find at the hardware stores) I have included some helpful notes at the end. Below I have the instructions.
The Blower motor is located behind the glove compartment and is removed from the bottom.
Remove the cover over the right side passenger foot well. This is a three step process. (1)To detach the cover, pull down the panel, say 1 inch, along the seam closest to the bottom of the dashboard. The three clips along the seam will release. Just pull the front down slightly until the clips detach. (2)Pull the cover forward toward the passenger seat to release the two back slide out attachments, move about 2 inches. (3)Drop the panel down and detach the light by unplugging it, remove the panel to a safe place.
Next you will see some plastic duct work. Just pull straight down lightly on the duct and it will unclip and drop down. Remove out of the way to a safe place.
You will see the blower fan motor on the right side.
The motor is held in place with seven (7) 5.5 millimeter screws.
To remove the motor, first unplug the fan. Push in on the plug locking clips and pull out.
Second remove the seven (7) screws using your 5.5 millimeter nut driver. (lefty loosey/righty tighty) Review the locations by first looking at your new fan. Note five (5) screws are very visible and two (2) of the screws are higher up on the fan. Once the screws are removed the fan will pull straight down and out.
Before you install the new fan, note that the edge of the housing has a groove in it. Align the groove to slide into the housing that the fan will reattach to. If done properly all of the screws will immediately line up and be able to be reattached. Replace all seven screws, loose at first and tighten when all seven are in place.
Plug in the fan and test it. It should work great. Shut off the fan and replace the duct and the cover and you are ready to go.
Items to make the job easier:
1. There are two different fans for the 2010 Touareg. Both have similar pricing. There is one for the electronic climate control models and one for the manual fan switch models. I asked the dealer which was right for my car.
2. I first went to the internet to get a price from other VW dealers for the Blower motor with the appropriate model number for my car. My dealer quoted over $400 plus tax for the motor. I found a price of $287 from a VW dealer across the country. Went back to the dealer and he matched the price plus a small amount I would have had to pay for shipping.
3. The trickiest part of the replacement is getting the two higher up screws reattached. Before you install the Blower Fan, put a piece of electrical tape across the top of the two upper fan screw holes and start the screws. Once the Blower fan is in place you will be able to screw them easily into place.
To replace it is really simple and takes about 30 minutes. You only need a work light and one hand tool to replace it, a 5.5 millimeter nut driver. (hard to find at the hardware stores) I have included some helpful notes at the end. Below I have the instructions.
The Blower motor is located behind the glove compartment and is removed from the bottom.
Remove the cover over the right side passenger foot well. This is a three step process. (1)To detach the cover, pull down the panel, say 1 inch, along the seam closest to the bottom of the dashboard. The three clips along the seam will release. Just pull the front down slightly until the clips detach. (2)Pull the cover forward toward the passenger seat to release the two back slide out attachments, move about 2 inches. (3)Drop the panel down and detach the light by unplugging it, remove the panel to a safe place.
Next you will see some plastic duct work. Just pull straight down lightly on the duct and it will unclip and drop down. Remove out of the way to a safe place.
You will see the blower fan motor on the right side.
The motor is held in place with seven (7) 5.5 millimeter screws.
To remove the motor, first unplug the fan. Push in on the plug locking clips and pull out.
Second remove the seven (7) screws using your 5.5 millimeter nut driver. (lefty loosey/righty tighty) Review the locations by first looking at your new fan. Note five (5) screws are very visible and two (2) of the screws are higher up on the fan. Once the screws are removed the fan will pull straight down and out.
Before you install the new fan, note that the edge of the housing has a groove in it. Align the groove to slide into the housing that the fan will reattach to. If done properly all of the screws will immediately line up and be able to be reattached. Replace all seven screws, loose at first and tighten when all seven are in place.
Plug in the fan and test it. It should work great. Shut off the fan and replace the duct and the cover and you are ready to go.
Items to make the job easier:
1. There are two different fans for the 2010 Touareg. Both have similar pricing. There is one for the electronic climate control models and one for the manual fan switch models. I asked the dealer which was right for my car.
2. I first went to the internet to get a price from other VW dealers for the Blower motor with the appropriate model number for my car. My dealer quoted over $400 plus tax for the motor. I found a price of $287 from a VW dealer across the country. Went back to the dealer and he matched the price plus a small amount I would have had to pay for shipping.
3. The trickiest part of the replacement is getting the two higher up screws reattached. Before you install the Blower Fan, put a piece of electrical tape across the top of the two upper fan screw holes and start the screws. Once the Blower fan is in place you will be able to screw them easily into place.
