Fault: AdBlue

[goodmonkey]

Having "fixed" TDIs is proving to be something else. My Touareg on a drive Christmas day went into limp mode about 35 miles into a trip. We turned home and switched to the Passat for the day. I later took it into the local VW dealership and they replaced a NoX sensor, which looking through the VCDS logs it could have been Bank 1 sensor 1.

Not long after I drove the 2011 Touareg down to a port for shipment to Alaska. On the way I got a big warning message "Fault: AdBlue Engine will not start in 200 miles." The resulting codes were "9954 - NOx Reductant Consumption too Low P20F4 00 [174]" and "9953 - Reductant Quality Performance P207F 00 [175]." I cleared them and kept driving, another 30 miles or so to the port. Dropped off and away I went.

Fast forward a few weeks and I'm in Alaska with the Touareg and the message pops up again, this time with the same P20F4 and P207F, along with "31036 - NOx Sensor 2 Bank 1 P22A1 00 [096]" and "9690 - Sensor for NOx (G295) P1032 00 [237]." I cleared them and immediately P20F4 and P207F came back, along with a continuing countdown of miles until I could not start.

Today I drove to the VW dealership in Anchorage and they have diagnosed it needs a new NoX sensor, or sensors. They are on order and I may have it back by the end of the week. Once I know more I'll update.

What is more fun is the Passat in SC is throwing a code for a NoX sensor as well. VW of South Charlotte say they have those in stock for the Passat.

 

[buguyed]

Potentially not related but I kept getting P0229 which is faulty NOX sensor, like you had. Dealer kept replacing them and nothing was working. They had the car over a month and a half and finally realized the DPF pressure sensor was faulty. It was sending bad information to or from the NOX sensor or something. Was causing the car to use a ton of AdBlue and bad mpg.


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[oilhammer]

Doesn't take long before you see why deletes are so popular. Sad that they cannot seem to make this stuff as reliable as it should be.

 

[goodmonkey]

Doesn't take long before you see why deletes are so popular. Sad that they cannot seem to make this stuff as reliable as it should be.

Agreed. I do like what the system is supposed to do, make the exhaust cleaner. It would seem though things could hold up better. In other news I got a loaner today, an Audi SQ5. The dealership said it was paid for by the warranty. Glad I have that.

 

[Fourdiesel]

The manufacturers didn't have enough time to properly research and develop the use of DEF as a NOx reducing 'feature'. They really needed several more years and a lot of research on the various modules and pieces and parts and how they work together and last (or not).
The regulations were such that they just didn't have the time.

 

[Mike in Anchorage]

Nice loaner. Have fun with it. A bad sensor isn't so unusual, I'm thinking, but it sux to have such an effect.

 

[oilhammer]

The manufacturers didn't have enough time to properly research and develop the use of DEF as a NOx reducing 'feature'. They really needed several more years and a lot of research on the various modules and pieces and parts and how they work together and last (or not).
The regulations were such that they just didn't have the time.

That's exactly right. The standards ramped up FAR too much too fast, and the technology didn't get a chance to mature. And sadly, VAG's butt hurt attitude of "well I'm gonna take my ball and go home" has left us with no diesels at all. I bet by now the current tech has improved immensely, and of course does meet the standards under ALL operational conditions with no subterfuge in operation and testing.

Other industries are dealing with this too, only they do not have a lesser efficient [gasoline] technology to fall back on, as train locomotives cannot begin to carry enough fuel with them that it would take to power them with gasoline. Same for big agricultural equipment, earth moving and construction equipment, etc. We see it creeping into smaller local trucks, though. Lots of step vans have been sporting 8 MPG gasoline V8s now, because the 15 MPG diesels got too expensive and too fragile, despite the obvious superiority in fuel consumption. GM released a new 6.6L gas monster a couple years ago, and Ford did the 'hold my beer' thing, and came out with a 7.3L gas behemoth.

 

[goodmonkey]

I meant to get a picture of the loaner, but forgot. Oh well. I got the call this afternoon that my vehicle was ready, so away I went. They had to replace both NoX sensors (there are only two, right?) and it says they drained and refilled the AdBlue. I'm glad to have it back too, it doesn't slide around on the ice nearly as much as the SQ5 did. All covered under warranty, not bad for a 9 year old VW.

 

[Nelsonk93]

Do you use VW specific DEF? I had the same P20F4 and P207F codes come up but the dealer is telling me it wont be covered by the warranty because I used non VW DEF. Any suggestions?

 

[redbarron55]

Sue them since they cannot require you to use only their products to service your car.
The Magunson-Moss act signed into law by President Gerald Ford on January 4, 1975.
They have specifications that must be met such as ISO 22241-1 which is the same as the ISO 22241 except for handling specifications.

 

[showdown 42]

Tell to go pound sand. This ad blue stuff a commodity,truckers buy it at their diesel fuel stops by the ton. There is no magic here, if there was they would have to disclose it in their literature.

 

[Savageman69]

better yet just never use it

 

[Mike in Anchorage]

Any further info?

 

[Litemup]

Doesn't take long before you see why deletes are so popular. Sad that they cannot seem to make this stuff as reliable as it should be.

Anyone recommend a company that will sell parts for AdBlue delete and a flash?

 

[bobbiemartin]

Anyone recommend a company that will sell parts for AdBlue delete and a flash?

You can get them here: https://www.tunemyeuro.com/