General 2021 Fiat Ducato DPF issue

[dizzyfish]

Hi, its my first post, so be gentle! I'm hoping for some advice...

I have a 2021 Fiat Ducato MH2 2.3L 140 9 speed diesel auto - its a factory campervan conversion performed by a German company called Vantourer. I purchased the van from new in December 2021 from a camper van dealer based on the South coast of England (the van was transported from Germany to the dealer and registered in the UK).

The van has only done 2000 miles, but recently, an engine status light came on the dash, together with "Check engine" and "start stop unavailable" text being displayed. I was also unable to change the drive mode. I contacted Fiat Camper Assistance, and eventually they sent out a (RAC) mechanic who connected his diagnostics tool and explained that there was an error code P24D1 which was associated with Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) issue. The mechanic cleared the fault code, and suggested that I book it into a Fiat dealer, as he thought it was a known problem with Fiat Ducatos of this age. (defective matter sensor?).

I contacted my closest Fiat dealer (50 miles away), and explained the problem. The dealer seemed to be aware of the issue, but stated that in order to be able to fix the issue under warranty, they would need to connect their diagnosis tool and see the error code. I explained that the Fiat Assistance mechanic had cleared the fault code, and the Fiat dealer told me that in that case they would not be able to fix the issue under warranty. As luck (!!!) would have it, a few weeks later, I was taking the van out for a drive, and exactly the same fault re-appeared. I contacted the Fiat dealership, and this week I am planning on driving the van to them so they can plug their diagnostics tool in and hopefully confirm that they will make a warranty fix.

However, the Fiat dealer explained to me that there is a global shortage of the parts needed to fix the problem, and there would be a long wait involved. I did a bit of searching, and it sounds like this is a known issue. The dealer also mentioned that there was a recall list, but stated that he couldn't see my van on this list.

My question is... given the van is less than a year old, and this is a known problem, is there any way to prioritze the fix?

Also (not sure if this is relevent), but the AdBlue light has just come on, which surprised me, as I filled it up when I bought the van, and I've only done 2000 miles. The fuel economy also seems pretty poor, even if I drive very carefully, I only get 29 mpg max on a long journey, which seems odd for a relatively small van (5.4m long) with a very new engine.

Really hoping someone can help me out

Many thanks - Ian

 

[Anthony489]

Hi Ian

I can't add much to what your Fiat dealer has told you. The particulate matter sensor on these vehicles seems to be a rather delicate component and some have failed at a low mileage. Some vehicles were recalled with problems with this sensor, which might account for the shortage. I suggest you ignore other fault codes until you can get it replaced, as they may be being triggered by the same defect. Start-Stop is quite "fussy" and will only be available when everything is running OK.

Regarding MPG, I would expect this to improve a little as the engine beds in, but it does seem a little poor. The main factors are the frontal area on clear level roads and the weight in hillier terrain or in traffic. Maybe factory figures are for an unladen van ?

I believe the Adblue light comes on when there is a fair bit left in the 19 litre tank. Let's say you have 5 litres left, then you have used 14 litres in 3200 km which is 4.4 litres per 1000 km. That's broadly in line with Fiats indicative figures.

 

[dizzyfish]

Hi Ian

I can't add much to what your Fiat dealer has told you. The particulate matter sensor on these vehicles seems to be a rather delicate component and some have failed at a low mileage. Some vehicles were recalled with problems with this sensor, which might account for the shortage. I suggest you ignore other fault codes until you can get it replaced, as they may be being triggered by the same defect. Start-Stop is quite "fussy" and will only be available when everything is running OK.

Regarding MPG, I would expect this to improve a little as the engine beds in, but it does seem a little poor. The main factors are the frontal area on clear level roads and the weight in hillier terrain or in traffic. Maybe factory figures are for an unladen van ?

I believe the Adblue light comes on when there is a fair bit left in the 19 litre tank. Let's say you have 5 litres left, then you have used 14 litres in 3200 km which is 4.4 litres per 1000 km. That's broadly in line with Fiats indicative figures.

Many thanks for the reply @Anthony489 - I filled up the AdBlue today and it took 10 litres before it was full... that means its used 9 litres in 3500km since new. Seems like alot?

As for the (suspected) Deisel Particulate Filter issues (P24D1 error code), I have read alot on here with various issues with the DPF, in particular @theoneandonly and others offering advice. I suspect tomorrow, they will just plug a diagnostics computer in, but do you think there is anything else I should be asking them to do/check for (normally you would expect a Fiat Dealer to know all of this, but so far, my experience with Fiat dealers has been dreadful!).

ps. I went on the fiatcamper.com site and entered my VIN, it looked like there was a "Service campaign" associated with my van (but no recalls) - Any idea what a service campaign is?

Thanks again - Ian

 

[dizzyfish]

Took the van to the Fiat dealership, the verdict was new Particlulate Matter sensor required - 3 month waiting list :-(

 

[Anthony489]

Hi

Sorry to hear that you have to wait. I don't know any way of speeding things up as there may be only one or two manufacturers of this part.

I guess "Service Campaign" means what the manufacturer decides, but it would normally be understood to mean that owners of affected vehicles would be contacted (assuming their details are on their records) and asked to arrange with their dealer for a potentially faulty item to be attended to. The snag with this approach is that if a vehicle is sold and no longer serviced within the dealer network, the service campaign may be missed. It also might not always work with motorhome conversions, as they might be serviced by a motorhome dealer who are not part of the base vehicle manufacturer's dealer network and don't get official notification.

A "Recall" would be where the potentially faulty item was safety related, and one would expect the manufacturer to go to much greater lengths to trace all affected owners (e.g. via DVLA records) as a matter of urgency.

 

[dizzyfish]

It's interesting, because I asked the dealer about the "service campaign", and he told me that it was the same as a recall (so why are there separate line entries on the fiatcamper.com site for service campaigns and recalls?). Anyhow, I explained that I entered my VIN on the site and it stated that here was a service campaign associated with my van. I was hoping he could give me more info about it... instead he told me that he could see the Fiat details of my vehicle, and there were no recalls associated with it. Why does this differ from the fiatcamper.com website? Yet more confusion and lack of clarity from Fiat which is really starting to annoy me. Hoping someone on here has an explanation.

 

[theoneandonly]

I can only give my experience of Fiat pro active approach. I bought mine in 2018 a 2017 model motorhome and there were a total of 4 recalls, my mh dealer is also Fiat professional and I visited them once in first year for warranty repair and once for hab service Low mileage oil change. I heard about 1 recall from a mh forum an the 2nd from Fiat, on belling my dealer on both occasions they said we dealt with that last time you were here, as a dealer Simpsons is more professional and proactive than Fiat.

 

[Crossingkeeper]

as a dealer Simpsons is more professional and proactive than Fiat.

Would this be Simpsons in Gt Yarmouth? (If so this is useful to know as I'm only about 35 miles away from them!)

 

[theoneandonly]

Would this be Simpsons in Gt Yarmouth? (If so this is useful to know as I'm only about 35 miles away from them!)

Yes.
The "backroom " boys are superb if you can get to them the front of house are far too protective, we are customer interface you talk to no one else. .Since my warranty protection needs are up I no no longer travel there, 150 miles. I had the odd problem with the "service" dept but went back to my original salesman and he sorted it. Can't remember when or what that was ..

 

[Crossingkeeper]

Thanks for that confirmation; AFAIK they are now the only purely motorhome dealer in Norfolk so good to know that they can also look after the Fiat bit. if aftersales attention is needed.

For non-warranty repairs a good local 'one man band' is DEM Motors & Motorcaravans in Rackheath Norwich

 

[theoneandonly]

Always good to know about the good one man bands, anywhere.(for emergency on travels) Right now recommendations about Northampton would be handy.

 

[rolopolo]

My current 2020 180hp van euro 6d with adblu had the same sensor fault at 100 miles (just before getting home with it from new pick up) was back ordered back then in May 2020, however it was fitted at 1st service under warranty (3 months old) didn’t cause any issues or limp mode

10ltrs adblu is about the norm (or was) on mine from new approx 1500miles, this built up to around 2500miles per 10ltrs (warning light to refill) up until the adblu tank split from huge vacuum due to the tank/neck/cap clagging up and stopping it breath

Thankfully under warranty (happened early this year) a new modified tank neck cap and adblue injector after a couple of months on backorder

The fluid now lasts 3000 miles avg per 10ltrs
But I never get a warning anymore!!!!
So I religiously use trip A mileage to refill between 2000-2500 miles

And now (out of warranty) I religiously open the adblue cap to check for vacuum each time I fill up daily

Your Mpg for a motorhome id say is good but should improve slight but don’t expect great economy (mines a L4 H3 van often full @3-3.5tonnes and driven at 60 lucky to get 33mph

With your Dpf give it regular long motorway runs @3000rpm for 20+ miles to avoid it blocking up