Hi all, 

I am new here and hope I can learn more about my Audi A4 Avant Diesel 2019.

An amber engine light came which AA cleared it and suggested DPF filter issue. I have not experienced any performance issues, infact the mpg has improved from 55mpg to 65mpg on certain days. I guess it could be due to school holidays. I do 100miles commute daily on motorways and use cruise control where possible.

I have taken it to the local garage and they couldn't find the fault and were unable to access what the fault was. They suggested that I may need to take it to Audi as probably they have locked access to their codes. A mechanic friend also had a look and thought it was probably due to EGR and not DPF. An option for me before I take it to Audi is to get a chemical clean.

What is your suggestion?

 

 

I suggest you get a proper diagnosis on a professional grade reader, before spending money at random on fixes that may or may not solve the problem.

For what it's worth my guess is the DPF, but guesswork can waste an awful lot of money.

Thanks Clifford, I have gone to two garages (including a friend of mine) and both carried out diagnostics. I suppose they would have professional scanners.

Could be either or indeed oxygen  sensor. If engine managment light comes on again, then code will be logged. VCDS scan will record DTC error. If car is performing regeneration and no issues, that might point to clogged EGR valve. I'd be tempted to drop in a bottle of Forte diesel conditioner to quarter tank and drive hard. That won't do any harm.

1 hour ago, Aiman said:

 I suppose they would have professional scanners.

You need to be sure. Were they VCDS equivalent or just cheap Ebay purchases?

2 hours ago, spartacus 68 said:

Could be either or indeed oxygen  sensor. If engine managment light comes on again, then code will be logged. VCDS scan will record DTC error. If car is performing regeneration and no issues, that might point to clogged EGR valve. I'd be tempted to drop in a bottle of Forte diesel conditioner to quarter tank and drive hard. That won't do any harm.

My garage was unable to read those codes and said it looks like Audi have locked it. 

I have tried Wynn's dpf cleaner making sure the revs have been between 2000-3000 revs for 15-20 minutes despite using cruise control. If its different from the dpf cleaner then I will try that.

41 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

You need to be sure. Were they VCDS equivalent or just cheap Ebay purchases?

I am not sure but at least one of them is a proper garage with MOT services and clean chemical clean facility.  

Update: I phoned Audi dealership and they were happy to have it booked but they said there is a recall on this model due to ECU. I checked the government website which suggests there is no recall on it.  Could it be possible that dealership know about the recall and not the government website?

43 minutes ago, Aiman said:

Update: I phoned Audi dealership and they were happy to have it booked but they said there is a recall on this model due to ECU. I checked the government website which suggests there is no recall on it.  Could it be possible that dealership know about the recall and not the government website?

Hi no the manufacturer is legally obliged to inform the government of any recalls which are then posted on the gov.com website to warn of any potential safety issues as for the lock out any proactive garage should have a diagnostic platform to read the car apart from which the fire wall only exists to prevent people from activating things that are dormant but fitted to the car also remaps and what is known as tuning, it should still read DTCs, shame you did not manage to get the code that would have told you what it was straight away, AA didn't give you a printout with the code on it?.

Steve.

1 hour ago, Aiman said:

Update: I phoned Audi dealership and they were happy to have it booked but they said there is a recall on this model due to ECU.

Does that mean no cost to you?

1 hour ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi no the manufacturer is legally obliged to inform the government of any recalls which are then posted on the gov.com website to warn of any potential safety issues as for the lock out any proactive garage should have a diagnostic platform to read the car apart from which the fire wall only exists to prevent people from activating things that are dormant but fitted to the car also remaps and what is known as tuning, it should still read DTCs, shame you did not manage to get the code that would have told you what it was straight away, AA didn't give you a printout with the code on it?.

Steve.

I was sceptical too so phoned the dealership where I bought the car. They confirmed that there is a recall of software on ECU but it doesn't show on government website.

Code Type: P200200 - Particulate Trap Bank 1 - Efficiency Below Threshold but he confirmed that there wasn't much difference.

1 hour ago, cliffcoggin said:

Does that mean no cost to you?

Good question but I think they need to do ECU software update anyway so will see how it goes as I am hoping it should clear the engine light.

2 hours ago, Aiman said:

Good question but I think they need to do ECU software update anyway so will see how it goes as I am hoping it should clear the engine light.

Wrong no amount of software updates will clear P2002 its the low pressure EGR cooler that is blocked with gunge and depending on how many miles you have done will need cleaning or in most cases replacing, the adblue crystals in the exhaust stream mix with the water vapour from the PCV and form a glutinous white syrup that rots the cooler tubes out, if you want realtime views and pictures I posted loads on the C7 forum, they basically want to charge you for the update if it exists then charge you again when It doesn't work somewhere in the region of £3000 for parts and labour, P2002 is a static failure that can only be rectified by having new parts I had this job done three times in 270k on my A6 [same engine] and its truly horrible job.

Steve.

Do you have any recourse will selling garage in terms of warranty? Audi will happily take the car, so VCDS diagnostics, probably around £180 while you’re drinking their flat white in Audi crockery! That’s just the scan fee. Audi won’t clean the EGR, they’ll simply swap out plus their labour rate. A good independent is your best bet. Regards ECU update, go ahead. That should be FOC.