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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NIL/6bsc/vZcvxcxa9EbV7mxL122oLkzhg/zfqGrBlSELOtJNseYzY/l3HMTWHLR
 nHMWiZdtjErdy+UAZsGrqw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-004266.txt : 20040122
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-004266.hdr.sgml : 20040122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040122212322
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-004266
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PLASTOW DAVID A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239785

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12387
		FILM NUMBER:		04539008

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE
		STREET 2:		500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001024725
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS & ACCESSORIES [3714]
		IRS NUMBER:				760515284
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-482-50

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 N FIELD DR
		STREET 2:		ROOM T 2560B
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NEW TENNECO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>boc82261_01sdp.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-20</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001024725</issuerCik><issuerName>TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>TEN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001239785</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>PLASTOW DAVID A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>DANES GARDEN HOUSE, AWBRIDGE-ROMSEY</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>HAMPSHIRE S051, UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><no
nDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1314</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>8.68</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3542</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Director Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value
>8.68</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-07-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></dire
ctOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reflects shares acquired by the Reporting Person from the Issuer under a performance-based share award issued in accordance with Rule 16b-3.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Stock Options were granted to the Reporting Person pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Timothy R. Donovan, Attorney-in-fact for Sir David Plastow</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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