I Hate The Dpf Filter!!!

[ktron]

I have just got off the phone to my local dealer and they wont even allow me to book the car in as currently the light isn't on and there is nothing they can look at. This is my exact point I was trying to make earlier about trying to explain and get the dealer to help about it without it costing the money by making it go into limp mode. I just dont know what to do, all they said was you have to follow the book when the light comes on which I do and it always goes out but I have to go out of my way everytime it comes on to clear the damm thing!!

GRRRR I am so annoyed!

Si

Thats crap - there computer can see if there has been an error even if the light has gone out. Sounds to be like the stealer isn't interested in giving you any service. I had loads of problems with my DPF (see the sticky thread above) - and it was eventually tracked to a faulty sensor. The DPF light should never come on unless there is a fault - if your day to day driving style doesn't suit the DPF then it should automatically switch to a cleaning cycle, thats when you may notice the engine sounding a lot rougher than normal and also the car may rock slightly when stationary. Sounds to me theres definitely some kind of fault.

 

[Simon_Peters]

Thanks Ktron,

I thought that too but when I called they just didn't seem that bothered. I am going to take it up with work to see what they can do between the lease company and my company to get this sorted out.

Cheers

 

[OLDOILER]

I have just got off the phone to my local dealer and they wont even allow me to book the car in as currently the light isn't on and there is nothing they can look at. This is my exact point I was trying to make earlier about trying to explain and get the dealer to help about it without it costing the money by making it go into limp mode. I just dont know what to do, all they said was you have to follow the book when the light comes on which I do and it always goes out but I have to go out of my way everytime it comes on to clear the damm thing!!

GRRRR I am so annoyed!
I do think that the SEAT stealers s/w is of a poorer searching standard than what is used by VW and Audi - because they seem to find faults and batch problems quicker than SEAT, which is why I have often advised my stealer of a problem using this sites threads and VW and Audi. This has often helped the stealer to extract/ prove the problems with SEAT at their monthley meetings!!??!

 

[foxy367]

I think the problem is that the stealers don't understand the problem, they sit in their ivory tower and are not the ones who have to bear the brunt of driving in a slightly odd way to get rid of the light and prevent the limp mode.

Case in point I had a light come on for the exhaust emissions control. Took it in the stealer they tried to bill me for a technician to follow the procedure for removing the DPF light. I nearly strangled the little bas**** for being so patronising. When I calmed down a bit and explained that it wasn't the DPF light which had come on and if it had I would have followed the procedure myself they then backed down and didn't bill me. Needless to say the exhaust emission control valve light came back on and I had to take it in again. Talk about frustration.

My advice is don't back down give them hell and make them sort it.

 

[Sooty torques]

As I've got a FR TDI on order, I'm reading all the DPF threads avidly.

Just noticed an article in "What Car" where a guy with a VW Toureg TDI is having big problems with the DPF on that. "What Car"'s advice is don't buy a diesel until the DPF problems are sorted out - Bugger!!! But with the Euro V limits kicking in and Euro VI on the way, won't all TDI's need some form of DPF to meet emission requirements?

 

[RCS2K4]

I don't mean to sound a bit dense here, but whats the DPF supposed to do to the vehicle? And, why is it causing so many problems?

Looking over the specs for the Leon, the one with the DPF has more power - Is that all? I've had a Diesel Beezer and still have my TDCi Mondeo (Company Car), and I dont believe those have a DPF thingie...

 

[CandyCupra]

It's just there to lower the emissions, it equals a lower company car tax as a result also.

 

[ktron]

I don't mean to sound a bit dense here, but whats the DPF supposed to do to the vehicle? And, why is it causing so many problems?

Looking over the specs for the Leon, the one with the DPF has more power - Is that all? I've had a Diesel Beezer and still have my TDCi Mondeo (Company Car), and I dont believe those have a DPF thingie...

The DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) collects the small particles of soot etc to give a cleaner emission from the exhaust. As stated by ZenithCupra this means a lower company car tax but it is also being forced onto car manufacturers (rightly IMO) to meet new EU regulations.

As the DPF collects the soot it needs to burn it to keep clear otherwise it will become blocked resulting in the problems widely reported in various threads - this should be done under normal driving conditions but sometime if you only do short journeys (for instance) the filter doesn't get hot enough, it should then go through an automatic cleaning cycle. It seems in a lot of circumstances this isn't happening.

The problem is the DPF is a 'bolt on' afterthought and really hasn't been tested properly, and it looks like we are the guinea pigs.

 

[Sooty torques]

What get's my goat is that petrol cars within a few thousand miles also kick out soot as well as many other particulates - within the lifetime of a typical car, the wear rate inside the petrol engine is much greater leading to all sorts of sh1te coming out the zorst, but the dervs have to play guinea pig with filters... According to some research spouted in the motoring press, dervs are an easy target because the particulates are bigger and easier to see (ie. soot) whereas petrol engine particulate matter is smaller and less easy to spot (ie blue haze / smoke) BUT much more damaging health-wise being less than PM10 which is apparently the particulate size that starts to cause health problems.

 

[phil3012]

The problem is the DPF is a 'bolt on' afterthought and really hasn't been tested properly, and it looks like we are the guinea pigs.

DPF isn't that new. I know somebody with a 54 reg SAAB that has one fitted (and given no end of trouble) but doing a quick search on Wikipedia has actually been in use since 1996 on automobiles.

It sounds as if VAG hasn't really invested in developing their DPF properly, which isn't very good as it's such a crucial part of the car.

 

[Simon_Peters]

Just a quick update, it has been on again about 4-5 times and seems to be getting worse. I have now offered the keys to our company car person at work and said I have had enough of it. I love the car but this isn't right and I have had it with it. It came on after a three hundred mile trip around 90mph where possible so the car is well over 2k so there has to be an issue.

Si

 

[JonTelfer]

Being a company car I guess your situation is a little different, but when I had recurrent faults on my car I bought a VAG COM cable to be able to run my own diagnostics. The dealers can't deny the problem if you read out the fault codes and offer to fax the logs through to them. On some of the sensors you even get a fault frequency which is handy ammunition for being taken seriously.

Good luck,

Jon
PS There's a requests section in the vag com board on this forum that could be handy for you.

 

[Simon_Peters]

Thanks Jon, I may post in there to see if anyone near me with it.

I really want to get this sorted, as I have said the car is amazing but this is wrong and it shouldn't be doing this as much as it is.

Cheers
Si

 

[Simon_Peters]

Another small update people!

The car is now in the dealers and is staying there until it is fixed or collected by hsbc. I have to say the lease company has been fantastic about it as the guy said to me on the phone it isn't just VAG who are having issues with it. Ford and Vauxhall are having big issues along with sabb. I am pleased it is being looked at but I hope it comes out fixed. I did say to the guy what happens if it comes out and its not better etc and he said they will just reject the car from Seat.....

I will keep you posted!

Thanks,
Si

 

[mister.c.]

Good to hear - certainly helps to lighten the load if your lease company is doing the battling on your behalf.

 

[mister.c.]

Two weeks on; am I expecting a miracle for the issue to have been sorted in that time?!!

 

[OLDOILER]

Two weeks on; am I expecting a miracle for the issue to have been sorted in that time?!!

There have been batch sensor problems with Audi and the DPF's, but it affects all of the VAG marque's - check out the web sites. ......................

 

[Simon_Peters]

Right then people.

I have had the car back for one week now and not seen the light as yet..... The dealer told me that they had taken the filter right back to zero using the machine. I thought to myself that the car would have came with nothing in it but hey, so far so good. I have been doing a lot of miles though on the motorway at decent speeds so this weekend should be a good test for it.

Lets hope its fixed!

Cheers,
Simon

 

[mansell]

Hello all,

I am so so so annoyed with my car now, the light has come on again to make this the 9th time now! The car is only just two months old with 4k on the clock, the driving is a lot of motorway and a/b roads but I am trying to drive on the motorway in fifth a bit so its above 2.5k to try and prevent the light coming on but it still does.

Am I doing something wrong here? Every time the light comes on it clears with a good blast up the motorway in forth for about 6-8 miles. I really can't be doing with this every couple of weeks. I love the car to bits but I have had enough now. I haven't take it to the dealers yet but I don't hold much faith with them on this issue so haven't rushed it but it really is starting to pee me off big time.

I really am starting to wish I stuck with petrol now as the little mpg more I am getting over my old cupra I don't think is really worth it. I will see what the dealer says about it but I am also going to talk to my work to see if I can possibly change the car for a petrol one.

I will post up what the dealer says.

Rant over!
Si

Sorry I know it's not much help. but that is the reason I went for petrol.
I did a lot of research and also asked on this forum about the diesel
and because of the DPF. and that one thing alone to me justified me going for petrol

 

[Igor23]

As Jeremy Clarkson sayeth to Lewis Hamilton: "Diesel, that's the fuel of Satan!"