The Dreaded DPF Light

[Wev]

Bought a Fairly high Mileage 1.4 TDI Mk5 Ibiza from a Main Dealer about a month and a Half ago. Quite happy with it, Bought to provide a cheap commute from Home to work, 18 Miles mostly Country road and a little town Driving.

Took it down to the the Essex coast over the Weekend 400 Miles round trip, Mainly motorway, as I thought it needed a bit of a proper run.

Driving home last night the dreaded DPF light came on.
Drove it to work this Morning light still on.
Decided to use my Lunch hour to take it for a Spin up and down a dual carriage way, Gave it some Welly for about 20 minuets,
Stopped for Fule, got the Flashing glo plugs and EML.
Phoned dealer who have of course diagnosed a regen. Apparently once the light come on I only have four hours to do the Regen thing, Realy it doesn't say that in the manual.

Bit P!553d off. £96 on a car I have had 6 Weeks. Surly it would have Regened over the weekend.

 

[nightflight]

You've made the traditional newbie error of interpreting the regen as a need to "give it some welly"
It needs to be driven in a very particular way to activate the active regeneration, ie 2-2500rpm constantly, no clutch/braking. Once the active regen requiremetns have been met it will start one, if it gets interupted it makes a note and has another go next time,

That 4 hours thing is nonsense, the light says "I've tried to do an active regen twice and both times it has been interupted, the next time you'd better let me finish"

The next two times you did a regen you didn't let it finish, hence it throws up the glowplugs and EML light.



For future reference, it is quite easy to clear a dpf light driving round town, as soon as it comes on, drop down to a lower gear to maintain 2-2500rpm you will probably have to hold second and drive a bit slower than you'd like to do this, sod the drivers behind though.
If you have to stop at lights, do so at the last minute or so you can keep the revs up for as long as possible. Alternatively, clutch down early, coast up to the lights with some revs on still to avoid having to stop at all. Whilst stopped, keep your foot on the gas keeping the revs between 2-2500rpm, yes you look like a ****, but it's better than being a limp mode loser. Accelerate away gently.


What you're doing by doing the above is faciliating passive regeneration by raising the exhaust gas temps to burn out the crap in the DPF whilst minimising new crap production by accelerating gently.

 

[Wev]

Thanks for that Nightflight. Need to find a Long road with no lights round me, I have a candidate.

Still P!553d off though.

 

[jaybro187]

where in derbyshire are you, i know a few country lanes that could be near by that would sort you out (and i dont mean by dogging hehe)

 

[Wev]

Moved to Deepest Darkest Leicestershirebut not updated my profile. Thanks anyway.

 

[nightflight]

*edited*
I generally head out towards Snakes Pass though using the keeping the rev's up thing I mentioned, my DPF light is usually off before I get close these days.

 

[Wev]

I take it once the 3 Lights are on no amount of keeping revs up will reset the system.

 

[nightflight]

Nope, straight to the dealership or some someone with vcds who can activate a forced regen.

 

[Wev]

What I expected

Rhymes with Clucking Bell.

 

[Deleted member 67732]

on my previous Ibiza which was diesel and did very short journeys indeed, triggering the warning light, I put a can of wynns diesel particulate filter cleaner into the fuel tank, this product raises the tempreture of the fuel being burnt, reducing the warning light comiing on so often.

 

[nightflight]

But also raises the temp of the exhaust gases permanantly, rather than just as required, which can't be good for the engine and exhaust system long term?

 

[Deleted member 67732]

my apologies, I should have put lowered the tempreture at which the filter is cleansed

you can find this product on wynns web site

 

[Wev]

Just had a call from the Dealer I dropped it off with this Morning.
They have forced a Regen but it is still showing as "Sooted up"

It may be the Sensor so they are replacing that (Quoted me a cost)
If that does not work then "It's a new DPF" Quote of £1500

My response. I bought this car off you 6 weeks ago. If the car needs a new DPF, take it back and give me something else. I am also unhappy to be paying for a new Sensor.

 

[DEAN0]

Just had a call from the Dealer I dropped it off with this Morning.
They have forced a Regen but it is still showing as "Sooted up"

It may be the Sensor so they are replacing that (Quoted me a cost)
If that does not work then "It's a new DPF" Quote of £1500

My response. I bought this car off you 6 weeks ago. If the car needs a new DPF, take it back and give me something else. I am also unhappy to be paying for a new Sensor.

Unfortunately - even the SEAT factory warranty does not cover the DPF.

They will cover the housing of the DPF corroding within warranty but they will not cover any DPF issues.

Sensors are a different matter - they should be covered under warranty - did you not get at least a three month warranty with the car ?

 

[Wev]

It was the sensor. Replaced under warranty (Sorry sir your car was not registers on our system)