Owners of 2004 VolkswagenTouareg SUVs may complain of a whining sound from the rear locking differential when making turns.
According to Volkswagen, the noise is most prevalent on vehicles with VIN breakpoints between 7L-4D000039 and 7L-4D059806, and is due to excess friction between the differential clutch plates.
Draining the rear differential and filling it with a newly formulated final drive oil, part No. G052196A2, should help eliminate the noise.
"Factory Fixes" is written by Jim DePalma, a 30-year veteran of the auto repair business who has served stints as a service manager, parts manager and ASE-certified technician. His column provides vehicle manufacturers' authentic factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have been condensed for easier reading. Mr. DePalma advises that techs always check with a dealer or repair information system for the latest revisions before starting to work on a vehicle. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].