Help - DPF Problem Fiat 2.3 euro5 2012

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Help - DPF Problem Fiat 2.3 euro5 2012

dottyju

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Hi, Hope someone can give me advice with this.

We are touring Germany & France.
For about 400 miles now the engine warning light has been on, no loss of power but I have noticed a very slight occasional juddering around 1800 1900 rpm under load uphill - been doing this for a long time before ) - this has got slightly worse so I called in at a Fiat main dealer for them to have a look.

We are at Annecy and heading home to UK next week about 1000 mile journey I would think.

The technician connected a computer and gave me a printout of the codes:-
p1205 - present
p2454 - present
p2002 - intermittent
p1206 - intermittent
p078a - intermittent

Other information:-
Oil Degredation = 37%
Pressure gasoil = 4bar

They said it was a problem with the DFP, the DPF sensor they thought which is preventing the DPF regenerating... although it could be 'complicated'.
They said that they could not do the work in near future as they were so busy at this time.
There was no charge for the diagnostics and the printout !

I asked what the charge would have been if they could have replaced the DPF sensor and was told maybe 200 euro but it could be more complicated.
I asked if it would be ok to drive it back to the UK and he said maybe, if I used the 'highway' as it was better if the engine was warm ?

I asked what happens if the DPF stops working as it's not being regenerated ?
He made a gesture of it getting bigger ( filling /blocking ) and exploding ??

Of course shortly after leaving the dealer and heading the last 20 miles to Annecy a slight loss of power and definately the judder was far more noticeable !

Don't know what to do now. any advice would be greatly welcome.
 
Call out recovery, you may need to be repatriated.

If the regens fail the DPF will become blocked and the vehicle I believe will ultimately slow to the point its undrivable.

If you do completely block the DPF it will either need replacing (Into four figures I've been told) or professional cleaning if you can find a company to do it.

You could potentially clean it out yourself however, iirc Dave Has done it on his Croma with Acid Brick Cleaner or something similar.
 
Hi Again, Does anyone know what ' oil degradation = 37%' as reported in the diagnostics check along with the fault codes really means. ?

Thought I would check before giving it a long extended blast at over 3000rpm for an hour or more to try and clear the DPF problem.

The oil was only changed ( +filter ) 2000 miles ago and the level has not changed at all since then.

How does the engine management system know what state the oil is in ??? and is 37% degraded to be expected in only 2000 miles ???
 
Hi Again, Does anyone know what ' oil degradation = 37%' as reported in the diagnostics check along with the fault codes really means. ?

Thought I would check before giving it a long extended blast at over 3000rpm for an hour or more to try and clear the DPF problem.

The oil was only changed ( +filter ) 2000 miles ago and the level has not changed at all since then.

How does the engine management system know what state the oil is in ??? and is 37% degraded to be expected in only 2000 miles ???

37% depleted, nearly fully degraded, it's backwards, 100% degraded is new oil. As you have had the oli changed recently, it's probable that the garage just reset the service counter/light and did not reset the ECU oil change counter. The oils change counter is often missed, you need Fiat specific diagnostic equipment/software to reset it. Who changed the oil? A high level of oil degredation will stop DPF regeneration. Check the oil level get the oil change counter reset, and a forced DPF regeneration carried out.

Robert G8RPI.
 
Hi Robert G8RPI,

Thanks for that info.
The oil and filer was obtained my me and a local garage agreed to change the oil so I could get a stamp and receipt as I was about to claim for a faulty awning and electric step on a 3rd year insurance warranty with my motorhome. Sure enough they would not payout unless I provided proof of a service.
Having said that, the first oil change is not due untill 28000 miles, however they overlooked the change of pollen filter and brake fluid change due at 24months.

I did not think to ask whether they had reset the service indicators etc.( probably not ).

If a long hard burnout does the trick, will it reset the fault light and resume/continue automatic regenerations ?. or does it have to be done manually by a Fiat agent.
Also if it does not go out how will I know if its cleared the DPF problem ?.
 
Hi,
The oil counter reset must be done via the OBD port using either Fiats "Inspector" equipment or third party equipment that specfically covers Fiat car. Multiecuscan and AlfaOBD will do it as may some of the other professional systems. A typical handheld code reader won't do it even it does reset the service light. The ECU will inhibit regeneration until the oil counter is reset. Along run won't help before then, so it is just as good to get the grage to do a forced regen while you are there. You need to find either a Fiat independent garage or a main dealer (or someone with Multiecuscan).

Robert G8RPI.
 
:yeahthat:

the degration index MUST be reset ASAP, failure will result in the car not completing DPF regens at a later stage.

Resetting it too late after oil change will also result in potential engine damage at a later date if oil isn't changed before the degradtion index advises as the two will be out.

If you've done 2,000 miles ideally oil needs to be changed again when degration index is reset imo as the two will be too far out from each other unless you plan on changing it in the next 5-8k miles / 12 months again anyway.
 
Hi All,
Some more feedback

Went the first 80miles from Annecy towards Luxembourg using the toll motorway in 5th gear and the cruise control holding it at 3500 rpm. After a couple of miles there was a smell of burning which soon cleared.
The engine appeared to run a bit smoother after this but the engine fault light remained on.
Stopped at a another Fiat agent just outside Luxembourg and asked if they could have a look at the fault light.
They said yes if we left it with them for an hour so we left it and went for a walk for an hour. On returning a mechanic who could speak some english explained it was a faulty DPF sensor and when I asked if they could change it he said we stock the part and we have done it !
I asked what could have caused the sensor to fail and he said it was likely due to not giving it a fast run regularly.
The cost was 340 euro's ( 190-sensor, 63-labour, 15 - diagnostics + taxes ).

Its put the eml light out and its stayed out so far ( 250miles now ).
The good news is that it now runs smoother, the juddering which its done occasionally for a long time and more so recently has gone and it has more power.

Also I contacted the 'extended warranty' insurance company ( the one that;s not worth the paper its written on ), on the off-chance it might be covered and they agreed to consider a claim for the cost if I send the invoice in to them.
Beginning to wish I'd took up the option to extend the warranty to 4th or 5th year now as it expires at the end of this month !

Thanks again for all the advice.
 
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