Hey legends, raff here from Australia, so back in October I bought a 2011 VW multivan with 168,000km, full service history which seemed like a nice car, 4 hours into my drive home it over heated and long story short I had to do the head gasket, new egr, timing belt kit and all the other stuff you’d replaced with the cost of labour to make it cheaper in the long run, $6500 aud for that.. got it back and within 24 hrs idling noticed smoke.. a few weeks goes by and I finally have time to get it checked! Apparently a ****e turbo unit.. pre owned turbo fitted (car had warranty so they wanted this) prior to the turbo going on I went and put fuel in and 2mins later glow plug light came on flashing and went into limp mode.. anyways I parked it up.. was waiting for the new turbo etc.. a few days later started it and engine light and coil light on… a week later no lights, then came the day to drive it to the workshop and was fine no issues… picked it up after new turbo and 500m up the road coil light came on, car has a shudder when this happens.. I turned it off, re started and no coil light car runs fine.. today coil light again, turned off no lights then idling on way home and coil light! Turned off no coil light drives fine!! Dead set are these cars lemons? It’s my first VW after owning Mercedes vitos and never having issues… it’s the edition 25 which I loved the look and colourway.. what’s the deal with this coil light? All my brake lights work.. could it be issues with fuel? I think I’ll get a scan gauge seems like this car needs it! Literally done 2000km in it since I’ve owned it … starting to think it goes better the less I drive it!! Help needed?!?! Thank you
VW multivan 2011 is it a lemon
- Thread starter ED25multi
- Start date
travelfreak
Active member
Please check your MAF and air filter.
BobnOH
not-a-mechanic
So that's bout $4300 US. Depending on what it cost you that's not terrible. But there's more?
What engine (3 letter code)? Transmission?
Coil light is glow plugs unless it's blinking which could indicate a CEL code. That thing should light up every time it's started, briefly if warm, longer when cold.
What engine (3 letter code)? Transmission?
Coil light is glow plugs unless it's blinking which could indicate a CEL code. That thing should light up every time it's started, briefly if warm, longer when cold.
Will27
Well-known member
Multiple possible causes for this, it needs to be scanned to find out why.
Given the problems you've had, its clearly not the best example of one of these vans. If you have any kind of consumer guarantees in Australia I would make them take it back. (here in NZ we have 3 months by law from a dealer).
If it is the bi-turbo engine, it is could be the famous CFCA engine. (not saying this is your issue, but be aware if this is your engine code)
Engine number starts with CFC
I did ask mechanic to do compression test yet he said when doing head gasket nothing showed that would be an issue with compression.
it’s got a pierburg EGR cooler in it now they replaced the old one.
it was a private sale so no back up other than it had a warranty that was transferable which they chipped in for the head gasket repair and covered the whole new (pre owned) turbo
just bought a scan gauge to see if anything shows up.. the coil light flashing only started when I put 20 liters of fuel in prior to taking to mechanic shop. They are a VW specialist so I’m trusting they know what they are doing.
Fingers crossed it’s just a random gremlin in the electrics.. car is running great.. just want to be able to head Away for Christmas without being worried..
Will report back thanks for all the answers much appreciated
I did ask mechanic to do compression test yet he said when doing head gasket nothing showed that would be an issue with compression.
it’s got a pierburg EGR cooler in it now they replaced the old one.
it was a private sale so no back up other than it had a warranty that was transferable which they chipped in for the head gasket repair and covered the whole new (pre owned) turbo
just bought a scan gauge to see if anything shows up.. the coil light flashing only started when I put 20 liters of fuel in prior to taking to mechanic shop. They are a VW specialist so I’m trusting they know what they are doing.
Fingers crossed it’s just a random gremlin in the electrics.. car is running great.. just want to be able to head Away for Christmas without being worried..
Will report back thanks for all the answers much appreciated
Will27
Well-known member
17035/P0651/001617 - Ross-Tech Wiki
Unfortunately I dont know what sensors are on 5V ref B or 5V A. I can't imagine it being massively different from other EA189 CR engines though.
Given all the work that's been done, I'd probably start looking for anything running 5V sensors that are not plugged in properly, or where the wiring harness is not sitting in its correct location (for example an exhaust temp sensor wire hanging loose touching something hot etc.). But I'd be reluctant to poke and prod too much incase you accidentally 'fix' it temporarily.
Its the sort of thing live data might help track down, see what sensors stop working when the fault occurs to hopefully get a hint where to look
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So I was suspect on the turbo boost pressure sensor,( such a weird way they attach to the car, my scan tool wouldn’t pick it up and didn’t have a multimeter to use, only showed the P0651 code, took it back to mechanic to plug in and that’s what it was, $60 plus the diagnosis and codes are cleared and car is back running properly again.. fingers crossed 
now! Driving on the freeway in limp mode was an experience with the busy holiday traffic!! Thanks again to all who replied, bit different this engine than my old 1HZ diesel.
now! Driving on the freeway in limp mode was an experience with the busy holiday traffic!! Thanks again to all who replied, bit different this engine than my old 1HZ diesel.