oilhammer
Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
I am starting this thread as a way for anyone needing their BEW, BHW, or BKW engine's glow plugs replaced and the ECU reflashed at a dealership. DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY OTHER TDI ENGINES SOLD IN NORTH AMERICA EXCEPT THOSE THREE LISTED!!!!
It would seem many of the dealer service departments are clueless about the issue, and I want anyone who has successfully had a dealer do this for them to let us know here.
Here is the TSB, in case anyone needs a refresher this is the latest one(courtesy MOGolf):
http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/3419/U995VPT2700.pdf
And here is the previous thread with some details and discussion if you wish to learn more (this is in the B5 section, but applies to the BEW and BKW as well):
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=230287
Some of you have had luck having dealers do this, no questions asked, but many have gotten the "deer in headlights" look from your dealer service department when asked, and others have even gotten the downright refusal of the dealer to carry out the reflash per TSB.
If you are going in for this, I would suggest printing and bringing the TSB in color preferably so the red highlighted print about the reflash importance stands out. While it would seem anyone with a 6th grade reading level could grasp the wording and such of this TSB, people with such skills seem to be elusive at VW dealers across North America, and often need some guidance.
In a nutshell, the ceramic glow plugs provided by Bosch as original equipment in the BEW, BHW, and BKW engines is no longer available. The replacements are of a different voltage, and this voltage change means that the software needed to control them via duty-cycling of the relay is different. Volkswagen calls this "palpitation". The original plugs were 7v, which means on a 14v system the duty cycle or palpitation is about 50%. The new plugs are 5v, which means the duty cycle MUST be reduced to around 32% in order to achieve the same desired heat range in the plug. Failure to update the software with the plugs will of course lead to damage to the system as the ECU software has no idea you just changed the plugs to a new voltage.
Since software reflashing is a must, you also must replaced all four (or all ten in the case of the BKW) plugs at one time, even if you only have one faulty plug.
On a side note, as is with all manufacturers, when you get a reflash done your ECU will not only be updated for this portion of its programming but will also receive any other updated bits...things like hard starts, extended crank times, hesitation, etc. will also be addressed.
If you have an aftermarket tune, this reflash will overwrite it! Not to worry, however. The better aftermarket tuners can either A: redo their software for you with the newer glow plug palpitation parameters in place, OR, B: can retune your car again once you have gotten the newest reflash and simply leave the new palpitation parameters in place.
Before you ask any questions in this thread, PLEASE read the TSB, read the other thread that I linked above, as I do not think there are any questions that have not already been answered. I mainly want this thread as a list of dealerships who can and will do this TSB as Volkswagen intended (in other words, do their job) . If you have a specific contact name at a dealer, such as a specific service writer, technician, etc. please provide that as well (first name(s) only please).
Thank you to everyone who can provide information on these dealerships:
Autobahn Volkswagen
Fort Worth, TX
Service Advisor: Kerry
Motorville of Sheboygan, Wisconsin
University Volkswagen
Seattle, WA
Service Advisor: Beckey
Gurley Leep Volkswagen
Mishawaka, IN
Technician: Jeff
Ganley Volkswagen
Bedford, OH
Service Advisor: Mike
Atamian VW-Honda
Tewksbury, MA
Pete Moore Imports
Pensacola, FL
Service Advisor: Rich
UPDATE: VOA has issued a recall for this!
It would seem many of the dealer service departments are clueless about the issue, and I want anyone who has successfully had a dealer do this for them to let us know here.
Here is the TSB, in case anyone needs a refresher this is the latest one(courtesy MOGolf):
http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/3419/U995VPT2700.pdf
And here is the previous thread with some details and discussion if you wish to learn more (this is in the B5 section, but applies to the BEW and BKW as well):
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=230287
Some of you have had luck having dealers do this, no questions asked, but many have gotten the "deer in headlights" look from your dealer service department when asked, and others have even gotten the downright refusal of the dealer to carry out the reflash per TSB.
If you are going in for this, I would suggest printing and bringing the TSB in color preferably so the red highlighted print about the reflash importance stands out. While it would seem anyone with a 6th grade reading level could grasp the wording and such of this TSB, people with such skills seem to be elusive at VW dealers across North America, and often need some guidance.
In a nutshell, the ceramic glow plugs provided by Bosch as original equipment in the BEW, BHW, and BKW engines is no longer available. The replacements are of a different voltage, and this voltage change means that the software needed to control them via duty-cycling of the relay is different. Volkswagen calls this "palpitation". The original plugs were 7v, which means on a 14v system the duty cycle or palpitation is about 50%. The new plugs are 5v, which means the duty cycle MUST be reduced to around 32% in order to achieve the same desired heat range in the plug. Failure to update the software with the plugs will of course lead to damage to the system as the ECU software has no idea you just changed the plugs to a new voltage.
Since software reflashing is a must, you also must replaced all four (or all ten in the case of the BKW) plugs at one time, even if you only have one faulty plug.
On a side note, as is with all manufacturers, when you get a reflash done your ECU will not only be updated for this portion of its programming but will also receive any other updated bits...things like hard starts, extended crank times, hesitation, etc. will also be addressed.
If you have an aftermarket tune, this reflash will overwrite it! Not to worry, however. The better aftermarket tuners can either A: redo their software for you with the newer glow plug palpitation parameters in place, OR, B: can retune your car again once you have gotten the newest reflash and simply leave the new palpitation parameters in place.
Before you ask any questions in this thread, PLEASE read the TSB, read the other thread that I linked above, as I do not think there are any questions that have not already been answered. I mainly want this thread as a list of dealerships who can and will do this TSB as Volkswagen intended (in other words, do their job) . If you have a specific contact name at a dealer, such as a specific service writer, technician, etc. please provide that as well (first name(s) only please).
Thank you to everyone who can provide information on these dealerships:
Autobahn Volkswagen
Fort Worth, TX
Service Advisor: Kerry
Motorville of Sheboygan, Wisconsin
University Volkswagen
Seattle, WA
Service Advisor: Beckey
Gurley Leep Volkswagen
Mishawaka, IN
Technician: Jeff
Ganley Volkswagen
Bedford, OH
Service Advisor: Mike
Atamian VW-Honda
Tewksbury, MA
Pete Moore Imports
Pensacola, FL
Service Advisor: Rich
UPDATE: VOA has issued a recall for this!
Last edited: