I voted "No problems" originally! Obviously didn't have fingers crossed....!
Please forgive length of following, but I've been keeping a log (still ongoing!) & just copied & pasted FYI.
SEAT Leon 2.0 TDi FR. + Xenon Lights, 18” Wheels & Bluetooth. Bought early November 2006 from SEAT main dealer in Derby.
All OK until 13 April 2008. c. 17k miles.
Saturday, 12 April 2008 – Drove from Oban to Perth (c. 100 miles). Parked at hotel for night. No problems.
Sunday, 13 April 2008 – Partner had hurt her back previous day. Drove to Retail Park, Did about 3 short, stop/ starts as she couldn’t walk far. After third stop DPF light came on. Read manual & went about remedying
problem by driving to Stirling (c. 40 miles) on motorway at constant speed & c. 2000rpm. Halfway on motorway Engine Management (EM) light came on. Got to Stirling & both lights still on. Stopped for coffee & to reassess. Half an hour later got back in car, started up & both lights out. Decided to carry on journey to Tillicoultry, as planned (c. 10 miles). Halfway there DPF light came on again, followed shortly by EM light. Arrived in Tillicoultry & made first call to SEAT Assistance (SA). AA arrived an hour later & plugged diagnostics in. After assessing situation AA man reset engine management light, but said he couldn’t put DPF light out. He said to follow instructions in manual (as I’d already done!) & the DPF light should reset. Set off back for Oban & sure enough after about 10 miles the DPF light went out. Continued journey back to Oban (c. 80miles) and no further problems.
Monday – Wednesday, 14 – 16th April 2008, Drove in & out of Oban from my home about 4 times (10 mile round trip each time). No problems.
Thursday, 17th April 2008 – Set off to Glasgow to pick up parents who had come up from Wales previous day by bus. About 50 miles into journey DPF light reappeared, once again shortly followed by EM light. A further 20 or so miles into the journey car went into “limp home” mode. I stopped & ‘phoned SA to find nearest dealer. Drove directly to Arnold Clark, Deniston, Glasgow & arrived around 10am. Explained situation + that it had happened the previous weekend. They said to leave it with them & they would sort. Around 4.45pm they called to say car was ready for collection. I went to pick it up, arriving just after 5pm. Girl behind desk couldn’t give me an explanation as to what had been done, but said that the lights had been reset, and the car test driven & all was OK. She also pointed me in the direction of the instructions in the handbook once again, despite me already telling her twice that I had followed these instructions already to no avail. I left Arnold Clark & within 10 miles both DPF & EM lights had come on again. It was too late to turn around & go back (they were closing up whilst I was collecting my car), so I decided to carry on home to Oban. A further 20 or so miles into the journey the car went into “limp home” mode once again. I completed the last 70 miles in this “mode” and made it home.
Friday, 18th April 2008 – ‘phoned SA & AA came around & assessed. After listening to my story they decided that I needed “recovering” to a SEAT dealership. I wasn’t happy with Arnold Clark’s treatment of me the previous day (they did wash the car however!), so I said to take it to Morrison’s in Stirling (again c. 100 miles away from my home). AA collected the car & took it there for me on a low-loader. Meanwhile I spoke to Richard of Morrisons, telling him my story so far, and he promised me their best attentions. Car arrived late on Friday, & I assume nothing more was done until Monday, 21st April.
Saturday – Monday, 19th – 21st April – Car at Morrisons. I ‘phoned a couple of times on Monday. In morning car was “on the ramp” & in the pm (late) the car was “being test driven”
Tuesday, 22nd April 2008 – Got ‘phone call from Richard, Morrisons, in the morning to say car was ready. I asked what they had done & he said they had reset the warning lights, test driven the car, and all appeared OK. I expressed my reservations & disappointment that they hadn’t investigated further, but I was more or less told that there was little more could be done, and I should come & collect it. I could then speak with the mechanic who would answer any questions & reassure me. Unfortunately I was unable to collect in person, so I arranged for Munro’s to collect (@£50 + VAT), with the understanding that the mechanic who dealt with the car would give a full explanation as to what had been done to the driver of the recovery vehicle (low-loader). Car was delivered back to my home in Oban, late on Tuesday pm, but driver said no one had spoken with him. He had just been pointed in the direction of the vehicle & sent on his way. Once again I was not very happy with my treatment by this dealer, who on reflection must have just reset the lights, test driven the car a short distance & decided that was that. No attempt was made to investigate the
problem fully, despite my explanation that this was a recurring fault and I felt that something required replacing, rather than just resetting & “making the
problem go away”. Anyway, car came back all lights extinguished and running smoothly.
Wednesday – Saturday, 23rd – 27th April 2008 – Local trips in & out of Oban. No problems.
Sunday, 28th April 2008 – Set off for regular monthly trip to Orkney (work). Car fine to Inverness (c. 110 miles). Stopped to do some shopping for c. 2 hours. Set off for Orkney again. 5 miles up the road, EM light came on. No DPF light, strangely, this time? Didn’t want to risk further warnings so decided to head for Bannermans SEAT dealership in Inverness. Arrived around 12 noon. Garage shut & Sales only open between 1pm & 5pm (being Sunday). Called SA yet again. AA man came within 40 minutes. I explained situation, briefly outlining above and he began diagnosis. Sure enough, it came up with
problem with the exhaust emissions. He reset the warning light, but I was loath to set off for Orkney (a further 130 miles up the road, and no SEAT dealerships further north than Inverness). He agreed that in the light of the recent history it would be folly to go on, so a hire car was arranged (under SA Warranty), the car remained at Bannermans & I headed for Orkney.
Monday, 29th April 2008 – Got in touch with David, Service Manager, Bannermans, through the day. They couldn’t reproduce the “fault” so said there was little they could do (all lights were off thanks to AA man). Wasted day, but I agreed that a mechanic could take it home with him to Forres (c. 20 miles?) for the evening, so he could hopefully get a warning light to come on! I explained (once again) that I had driven 100 miles or so without this occurring, but if they thought that was the only way, then to go for it.
Tuesday, 30th April 2008 – ‘phoned David early on & discovered that despite the mechanics’ efforts (!) no lights had reappeared. I was then asked if I would allow them to drive the car more extensively through the day in order to try & get a fault to show. Reluctantly I agreed, repeating that there was a fault somewhere & surely SEAT must have a solution for this? By this time I had been on the internet & discovered that this DPF fault appears common amongst VAG cars that have this 2 litre, 170hp, diesel engine. I gather a new DPF costs in the region of £1,500, so understandably SEAT are not willing to replace it. I ‘phoned back at c. 4pm & was told that the car was still out being “road-tested”. Bannermans have therefore had it for 2 days now, found no solution, and I am no doubt half a tank of diesel in arrears!
Wednesday, 30th April 2008 – ‘phoned David c. 09:30. Mechanic took it home last night & he was “driving around Inverness” yesterday. Fault can’t be repeated, therefore they can’t do anything! I said that as I understand it, I will pick up the car tomorrow, head home for Oban (100+ miles) & as sure as anything the warning lights will come on again. He said, “yes, probably, but this time when you call SA, make sure that the patrolman doesn’t put the warning lights out, we can then trace the
problem and attempt to repair” Phoned SEAT Customer Service (Rebecca). Explained all above. She said she wasn’t technically trained to answer questions, but would ‘phone Bannermans & get back. This she did, with the same story from David. So,“Very sorry, but it is showing no fault & there is nothing more we can do”
I find this whole situation very bizarre and most frustrating? My driving does not normally involve short trips & since the first episode, the warning lights have all come on after long drives. I do not consider myself a "gentle" driver (why buy this car if you're not going to use it?!). Surely the
problem should have been fixed the first time (Arnold Clark), or even the second time (Morrisons) had it? If Bannermans are so sure they can fix if the lights are on? – All three DPF, EM & flashing coil (limp home) lights were on when the first two garages had the vehicle. I have now lost all confidence in what has been (& still is when it's working!) my ideal car. From reading this thread it would appear to be a major fault with these engines. I hope VAG are working on a solution & hopefully we can all get "recalled" & sorted in the very near future?
Dealer didnt make me aware of any issue with the car??
