DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER - Problems...

[Dr Zoidberg]

Good luck.

Fiat do seem to have problems with DPFs - I never had my Bravo go into limp mode but every 100 miles it would misfire and lose power as it regenerated.

Fortunately they did eventually come up with a fix , but I doubt I'd buy another Fiat any time soon.

 

[Davidireland]

My backround is Peugeot which are the kings of DPF's. I have never had much problems with the filters as such but its when some other fault occurs then the engine ecu will not do a normal regeneration. Usually heater plugs or someting. Note that DPFs are a serviceable item and they will eventually need to be replaced.

 

[T14086]

My backround is Peugeot which are the kings of DPF's.

what!

 

[volvo_saint]

As expected the FIAT dealer rejected our application for a refund under the Sales of Goods act.

The reply that the dealer wrote was interesting but I cannot reveal any facts now.

We are drafting a reply with our lawyer.

Last Saturday the engine warning light came on again. So I was going to take it back to the dealer for another regeneration. But I was advised not to bother and put the car into storage.

The FIAT dealer said there was an 'OPERATION 1060 1 821 RA' which could improve the situation. So it appears that FIAT are aware of REGEN problems with the 1.9 Multi-jet...

Anybody knows what this does?

 

[Dr Zoidberg]

I've not heard of anything for the 1.9 , but there is a fix for the DPF Regeneration causing misfires on the 1.6. It's a software update for the EGR valve and new exhaust valves in the cylinder head!

 

[D4nny8oy]

The FIAT dealer said there was an 'OPERATION 1060 1 821 RA' which could improve the situation. Anybody knows what this does?

That Op code is from a Service bulletin released in November for diagnosing DPF faults- an update of the very same bulletin which I mentioned they should have performed back in August!-

If your Sedici failed a forced regen, then I'd expect the Tech's to follow Fiat's tried and tested DPF diagnostic procedure to the letter and check everything.

So it appears that FIAT are aware of REGEN problems with the 1.9 Multi-jet...

The Bulletin applies to all Fiat's, Alfa's and Lancia's across all DPF equipped engines (1.3, 1.9 and 2.4). It is a in-depth diagnostic procedure which must be followed before requesting Technical help as it traces 99% of the faults.

 

[kenjo]

I had the same problem at 12000 miles. I've just had this problem fixed under warranty.

 

[sedici san]

hello all.
i,ve been reading your comments on the d.p.f on various fiat/g.m diesel engines.
if you are only drivng short distances it should,nt cause problems with regeneration of the filter as in the handbook it states that this will be done automatically by altering the fuel/iar mixture to produce more heat in the exhaust to clean the filter hence the warning light coming on and the advice to follow the driving instruction,s.
ihave the sedici 19.mjet on an 07 plate which i bought with 7500k on it
i have never had one of these modern diesels beforehand.as i have always had the older landy 200/300 series td,s and the pajero 4m40 unit
my car does a round trip of 75miles a day on mixed road,s & some motorway and always gets tho oil changed at 5000miles and airfilter
because of all the cack that country road chuck up.
i have always run it on bp. ultimate or similar which doesent add performance but i think it does help with cleaning of the exhaust system
and thence the d.p.f. filter...
if your only doing short drives may be this could help???
i know its more expensive but your not going to need alot if you dont do the miles!!
comment,s please...........................

 

[volvo_saint]

I have had some correspondence with the dealer who sold me that car.

They are denying all liability with respect to the DPF unit - which is what I expected.

There was however this interesting comment in one of their letters:

"FIAT recommend...for short low speed trips automatic regeneration nees to be iniated by driving your vehicle preferably on a main road at 40mph or more, until the engine temperature reaches its normal operating temperature. The vehicle should then be driven for approx a further 20 minutes or more, preferably at a speed of 40mph or above....."

Naturally this information is NOT forthcoming either in the sales broschure or by the sales people in the showroom.

Neither is this information available from the FIAT website.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

They are denying all liability with respect to the DPF unit - which is what I expected.

They're denying liability in what respect/aspect

 

[volvo_saint]

Here is FIAT answer to my problem:

"FIAT recommend that if you are using your vehicle for short low speed trips automatic regeneration needs to be initiated by driving the vehicle preferably on a main road at 40mph or more, until the engine temperature reaches its normal operating temperature. The vehicle should then be driven for approx 20 minutes or more at a speed of 40mph or above...etc....."

You dont get this advice in the show room.

Or from their website.....

 

[volvo_saint]

as to the liability part:

" ...I believe that your vehicle is doing what is has been designed to do by FIAT, which is to meet current pollution regulations around the world by filtering out the diesel particulates the engine is producing. I therefore believe that your problem is due to the particular circumstances the vehicle is being used for and is not the result of a fault or any problems with it that we can be held responsible for under your purchase rights."

Thanks FIAT - Will they now advise this on their website that this engine option is not suitable for city traffic?

 

[T14086]

Naturally this information is NOT forthcoming either in the sales broschure or by the sales people in the showroom.

yes it is, I found it easily

 

[volvo_saint]

Of course you were next to me when the salesmen sold me the car??

and on what page of the sale broschure ed.08/06 did you see the information?

 

[T14086]

Of course you were next to me when the salesmen sold me the car??

was I

 

[billybiker66]

Hi everyone. Just thought I'd share my experience with you all.
I bought an '06 Multipla JTD Multijet from a (small time) dealer a week or two ago with the DPF light on. Everything ran as it should and the turbo boosted fine and the EGR valve was working as normal. I took it for a late night run up the M6 for 45mins each way at 3000rpm in 4th gear but it didn't appear to start a passive regen so I took it to a garage (not a Fiat specialist) to see if he could initiate a Forced Regen. After he attached his Snap On scanner he reported there was no option to do a Forced Regen and that as everything else seemed ok then probably a previous owner had emptied the DPF filter unit and the sensors were lighting up the DPF light to warn of a flow issue. His advise, keep using it as there's probably nothing in there to block and the warning is probably due to the ECU software not having the DPF removal written out. My OBD2 scanner was reporting a 'sensor readings outside of peramiters' fault. Once cleared the fault didn't show up again for a few days.
I checked the oil level and it was a bit high so drained 1/2 litre out and prepared for a long journey to France!!
Anyhow, all was well on the journey. Not a murmor from the engine but after about 400 miles virtually non stop from Calais the light went out and now everything appears fine. When I turn on the ignition the DPF light comes on for a second or two then extinguishes itself during self test and up to now, (touch wood), the fault code hasn't come back again.
So there's your answer. Drive at approx 85 mph for 4 1/2 hours non stop and that'll be it, regened.
Hope this helps someone

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi everyone. Just thought I'd share my experience with you all.
I bought an '06 Multipla JTD Multijet from a (small time) dealer a week or two ago with the DPF light on. Everything ran as it should and the turbo boosted fine and the EGR valve was working as normal. I took it for a late night run up the M6 for 45mins each way at 3000rpm in 4th gear but it didn't appear to start a passive regen so I took it to a garage (not a Fiat specialist) to see if he could initiate a Forced Regen. After he attached his Snap On scanner he reported there was no option to do a Forced Regen
I checked the oil level and it was a bit high so drained 1/2 litre out and prepared for a long journey to France!!
Anyhow, all was well on the journey. Not a murmor from the engine but after about 400 miles virtually non stop from Calais the light went out and now everything appears fine. When I turn on the ignition the DPF light comes on for a second or two then extinguishes itself during self test and up to now, (touch wood), the fault code hasn't come back again.
So there's your answer. Drive at approx 85 mph for 4 1/2 hours non stop and that'll be it, regened.
Hope this helps someone

Hi, and welcome to FF,

the oil level is a result of failed re-gen's = where it feeds extra fuel for the process - you'd be well advised to do an oil + filter change

are the dash lights behaving "differently now"?

Charlie - Oxford

 

[Red Van Man]

I had the same problem at 12000 miles. I've just had this problem fixed under warranty.

If it helps at all, on my new Fiorino (June 12) I did approx 4-500 miles per week with a 45 mile journey twice a day for 18 months from the day I got it. My local indie garage did a diagnostic on it at some point and said there was an uneven pressure issue with the DPF, this could indicate a non-regen if it was blocked. I never ever saw the DPF light on during the 18 months I owned it but I imagine on the journeys I did that was enough to keep it hot and burn off the soot etc.

The pressure errors continued so I took it into Autoworld at Chesterfield. They found that on the pipes from the DPF pressure sensor (mounted on the firewall under the bonnet seal, quite easy to see on the RH side) where they reached the engine (they are clipped to it and turn across the front of the engine) one had split with engine flexing and so it was breathing air. They replaced the pipes under warranty (a pair) with more substantial ones and all was good. 2 hour job.

Notwithstanding all this, it seems a bit odd that what has become a EU directive, is something that is likely to cause a user of the vehicle (whatever make) to have to drive a certain way or do ridiculous things like take the car for a costly high rev burn on a motorway every so often, just so the car will keep working and failure to do so will render the owner liable for all repair expenses when the filter was not his choice in the first place.

See many quotes from owners being pleased they bought their car before the DPF became compulsory. Also that garages previously advertising DPF and EGR removal, have had to take out their offer for DPF removal under pain of law enforcement. EGRs can still be blanked off or deleted in remaps apparently but that would no doubt be a whole other thread and probably is already. Certainly is in Fiorino/Qubo land.

R-V-M

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

EGRs can still be blanked off or deleted in remaps apparently

R-V-M

Best thing one can do to any (diesel) engine equipped with this rude device...

 

[billybiker66]

Hi, and welcome to FF,

the oil level is a result of failed re-gen's = where it feeds extra fuel for the process - you'd be well advised to do an oil + filter change

are the dash lights behaving "differently now"?

Charlie - Oxford

No, I never had the DPF Regen light do anything but stay on before but now it goes out after ignition.
Oil and Filter being changed next time I go to France which is where I've left the car.