MOT emissions failure and DPF issues :(

[Fasty-123]

Hi All,

Just after a little help again if I may please.

My Transporter has recently had a new Egr, Head Gasket, injector and last week failed its MOT on emissions.
Garage said the dpf was knackered at was quoted £2500-£3000 for a new one. Given the amount I’ve spent on it recently, I decided to fit a used one. I managed to source and fit a new dpf from a crashed Transporter with 28,000 on the clock for £500. I ran some cleaner through it and I fitted it and it passed the MOT emissions test.

My issue is I think the DPF is not regenerating. I think the dealer I got it from may of done a DPF delete on it, to get rid of the lights on the dash without removing the filter. In the whole time I’ve had it I’ve never noticed it regenerating. Hence it getting so blocked up it imploded and possibly caused the head gasket issue.

How can I tell if it’s had a remap to remove The DPF? I have Carista and the DPF app and both show ‘soot mass calculated’ and ‘soot mass measured’ as ‘0’. I’ve been driving for a week since fitting the new one and this value hasn’t changed. Could it just be the particle sensor is knackered?

Would appreciate some help on how to diagnose the particulate sensor or confirmation that it has been mapped out.

Thank you
Dan

 

[Dav-Tec]

You need to look at the dpf differential pressure to see if it has the internals in

 

[Fasty-123]

Thanks Dave, sorry might of confused things with too much waffle.

I’m confident the new DPF I fitted is fine and has the internals intact. It’s more that I’m sure it’s not regenerating.

Either because the map it’s running is preventing it, by keeping the soot values at 0 or it’s the particulate sensor that’s broken and not supplying a reading.

The attached image is what I’m getting on the new DPF, In the DPF app.

 

[Fasty-123]

Also the time since regen, would definitely indicate regens aren’t functioning.

 

[mmi]

both show ‘soot mass calculated’ and ‘soot mass measured’ as ‘0’. I’ve been driving for a week since fitting the new one and this value hasn’t changed.

Calculated is as it says just a calculated value and should climb about 0.05...0.1 grams/mile. Also the soot mass measured should be climbing - not as fast as calculated but noticeable by every mile.

Have you tried other engine group options in VAG DPF - if any of them shows more meaningful (non-zero) values.

or it’s the particulate sensor that’s broken and not supplying a reading.

No, it's not related to soot mass calculated/measured .

The attached image is what I’m getting on the new DPF, In the DPF app.

I would say the differential pressure starts to get on high side - 9.5 hPa at COLD DPF is a bit high at 28000 miles. Assuming that the EGR is operating as it should be.

Anyways, 2000 miles without regenerating will kill the DPF.

 

[Fasty-123]

Thanks mmi,

Yes, so have tried all the different engine types and all read 0. Also ‘live data’ in Carista is also showing 0 for soot mass.

I must of driven about over a 150 miles in the last week. So would of thought it should start showing something.

Where does it take the reading for ‘soot mass’ measured from?

I really don’t want to knacker this new DPF, so need to try and get this sorted. What do you think is the best way to try and sort it out?

 

[Dellmassive]

Have you thought about taking it to VW for a engine ECU flash... To set it back to standard?

Assuming it's been messed with and had a aftermarket map flashed?

 

[Fasty-123]

Thanks Dell, I think that might be the way forward. I’m a bit worried the dashboard will light up like a Christmas tree. But I guess I’ll know what the errors are and I can work through them.

 

[Dellmassive]

Thanks Dell, I think that might be the way forward. I’m a bit worried the dashboard will light up like a Christmas tree. But I guess I’ll know what the errors are and I can work through them.

It might be cheaper in the long run.

 

[Scruffy]

I'm sure there's a few on here who may be sweating their next MOT.

 

[mmi]

Where does it take the reading for ‘soot mass’ measured from?

I believe it's a calculation of air mass, exhaust temperatures, egr flow, DPF differential pressure, etc.

What do you think is the best way to try and sort it out?

As above - at VW restore back to factory load.

 

[Fasty-123]

I'm sure there's a few on here who may be sweating their next MOT.

Not really sure, how people who have mapped out the dpf and removed the filter are getting it through the MOT emissions test to be honest

 

[Fasty-123]

So just spoken to VW, the guy on the phone said they will not reset ECU to factory settings. It’s not something VW would do under policy apparently. All they will do is a software update. Which would leave the map in place. If I wanted a factory reset ECU I would have to buy the complete unit from VW costing £2000 - £3500 + and wouldn’t fit it without a brand new dpf at around £5000. They are absolutely having a laugh.

Has anyone had any success in getting a VW dealer to do this? If so what dealership?

Or could anyone recommend a tuning company near Hampshire that would be able to restore the original map?

Thanks
Dan

 

[Dellmassive]

AFAIK - a Engine ECU update from VW main dealer - would wipe out any pervious map (including the one that had had the DPF delete on)

"
So just spoken to VW, the guy on the phone said they will not reset ECU to factory settings. It’s not something VW would do under policy apparently. All they will do is a software update. Which would leave the map in place. If I wanted a factory reset ECU I would have to buy the complete unit from VW costing £2000 - £3500 + and wouldn’t fit it without a brand new dpf at around £5000. They are absolutely having a laugh.
Has anyone had any success in getting a VW dealer to do this? If so what dealership?"

but,

lets ask our Trade members that deal with Engine maps etc .

@BognorMotors
@Dav-Tec
@AutotechVagspecialist

 

[Neil Nicholls]

Not really sure, how people who have mapped out the dpf and removed the filter are getting it through the MOT emissions test to be honest

I have. Was no issue at the Mot

 

[BognorMotors]

We can flash back to factory standard no problem at all @Fasty-123

 

[Fasty-123]

We can flash back to factory standard no problem at all @Fasty-123

Great, will be in touch.

 

[BognorMotors]

Ask for me. Oli