Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) VW Tiguan Fault: How to Diagnose and Fix
The Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) in your VW is essential for keeping your engine running smoothly while cutting down on emissions, significantly reducing your vehicle’s environmental impact.
But what if your VW’s DPF starts to fail?
Recently, a VW Tiguan owner noticed the engine warning light was illuminated on their dashboard – a sure sign of potential trouble. Even if your vehicle doesn’t have any other symptoms, this early warning sign alerts you before an issue worsens.
Despite the lack of visible issues, they wisely decided not to ignore the warning and brought their car to our team of VW experts at South Coast Garage for a check-up.
Ignoring such alerts can exacerbate the problem, leading to more severe damage and expensive repairs.
Thankfully, at South Coast Garage, our specialists are well-versed in diagnosing and fixing problems specific to VW vehicles, including DPF issues. There isn’t a problem we haven’t seen and we can solve them all.
What We Found
Upon examining the VW Tiguan, our VW specialists immediately confirmed the engine management light activated when the vehicle started. To accurately pinpoint this pressing issue, our specialist technicians carried out a comprehensive diagnostic test. The results highlighted a specific error code:
P154B 00 – indicating a malfunction with the Diesel Particulate Filter’s pressure sensor.
To many people, diagnostic error codes might seem like a random bunch of numbers and letters, but for our experts, the codes guide them directly to the source of your vehicle’s issues.
Our experts knew that the detected fault with the VW DPF was critical and required immediate attention to prevent any further problems.
A defective DPF can cause a range of issues, including:
- Exhaust smoke turning black
- Your vehicle failing its MOT
- Higher risk of mechanical failure
- The car switching to “limp mode” to prevent further engine damage
- And many other issues…
If your vehicle has any of the above, it’s crucial not to overlook these warning signs to ensure your VW remains in peak health.
To accurately diagnose the problem, our VW specialists used the same level of technical data that the main dealerships have access to. This ensures you get dealership-level servicing at better than dealer value.
What better deal could there be?
How We Diagnosed the Problem
During a detailed analysis involving live data assessments, our VW specialist noticed that the DPF’s pressure sensor was producing “implausible readings.”
At South Coast Garage, we adhere to a 15-step diagnostic procedure designed to allow us to identify and solve any issues your vehicle has, during the first visit. This method saves you time, money and stress while preventing the need for annoying repeat visits.
Combining our 15-step diagnostic process with the VW technical information and encompassing up-to-date technical bulletins, our experts detected a common VW problem affecting the DPF sensor.
As your dedicated local VW specialists, we pride ourselves on our exhaustive approach to diagnostics. We always go above and beyond, ensuring exceptional accuracy in our assessments.
Part of our approach includes performing advanced voltage checks on the Tiguan’s wiring using an Oscilloscope, a step often overlooked by main VW dealerships.
Our thorough testing confirmed the wiring was in perfect working order, pinpointing the DPF sensor itself as the source of the fault.
How We Fixed the VW Tiguan
After determining the root cause of the illuminated engine management light on the Tiguan, our VW specialist at South Coast Garage called the client to discuss our findings and the proposed solutions.
At South Coast Garage, you’re always kept in the know from the moment you enter our garage. We only begin working on your VW when you say so and we only perform the agreed work.
With the client’s approval, we sourced a genuine VW replacement DPF sensor to address the issue at hand. Our commitment to excellence means that we only use genuine Volkswagen parts or their high-quality alternatives for all repairs and maintenance, ensuring your VW receives nothing less than the best.
To ensure the repair’s success, our expert conducted a road test under real-life conditions with the new sensor in place. This evaluation confirmed that the Tiguan’s DPF system was fully operational and the warning light was no more.
Our client was thrilled to have their vehicle returned in excellent working order and was particularly pleased with the cost of repairs, which was less than the main VW dealership.
In Summary
When a client’s VW Tiguan displayed the engine management fault light, they immediately brought it to us at South Coast Garage for a detailed evaluation.
Our VW specialists used our 15-step diagnostic process and advanced dealership-level VW technical information to swiftly pinpoint the cause of the issue, a malfunctioning DPF sensor.
Luckily, the early detection meant the Tiguan hadn’t suffered any performance-related problems, preventing any further damage.
Our team of experienced VW experts wasted no time in replacing the defective sensor with a VW-grade alternative, ensuring their vehicle was restored to optimal condition.
Following a comprehensive road test to validate the effectiveness of the repair, we were pleased to return the Tiguan to its owner, who drove away with a vehicle performing as well as the day it left the showroom.
Experiencing an illuminated engine management light on your VW?
Don’t overlook it. Doing so could result in more severe issues, such as complete engine failure.
Contact South Coast Garage today for all your VW repair and maintenance needs.
