Late 2008 T5, 2.5 BNZ diesel engine, high-roof van with a custom conversion by Leisuredrive.
This is my first ‘modern’ vehicle, the previous one being a 1987 T25, before that a 1975 T2 (oh happy, uncomplicated days). The van is running fine, 19k miles on the clock, composed of very few trips of under 30 miles and mostly much longer (I bought it new). At present we are in the Vanoise area of the French Alps, supposedly on a mountaineering trip, but . . .
The first problem arose about 30 miles out of Dunkirk, Engine Management warning light came on. Being virgins in all this computerised ECU stuff, we headed for the nearest VW garage (Auto-Expo in Hazebrouck) where they plugged it in to their lappie and installed a new ‘capteur de pression’ (pressure sensor? My French is of sub-schoolboy standard and my wife’s a bit less), relieving us of €113 and the angst of that warning light.
All was ok for the next 5 days, good weather and some nice days in the mountains, then – and I don’t know if this is relevant but will mention it anyway – we drove up to the Col de l’Iseran (2769m and allegedly the highest road pass in Europe) for a traverse of the Leissiére tops. The van coped fine, but I noticed on the way back that we were more or less down in the valley before the temperature needle moved off the minimum. Hmmmm, but not a problem I assumed.
Next day though – leisurely descent from the Mont Cenis col (2083m) and the DPF warning light came on, followed shortly by the glow plug light, and a bit later by the EM light. We did consider solving the difficulty with bits of gaffer tape over the lights as the van was still running perfectly well, but caution prevailed and we sought out another VW place, Jean Lain in St Jean-de-Maurienne. Long and short of it – they did some sort of ‘update’(?) procedure, DPF is at 90%, taking their advice to thrash the van up and down an autoroute at high revs for 50km or more didn’t clear it, so we’re provisionally booked in for next Friday to get it replaced, at a very ‘ballpark’ cost of €1000.
Now, on some things I can contemplate that sort of expenditure with regret perhaps but with equanimity. However, to fix an engine that has nothing functionally wrong with it – that has me seething.
Advice and comments would be most welcome. In particular, what if any damage is likely to occur to the engine by driving moderately about alpine roads for the rest of this week? Or indeed by driving back to the UK on autoroutes at a steady 60mph?
Thanks in advance.
This is my first ‘modern’ vehicle, the previous one being a 1987 T25, before that a 1975 T2 (oh happy, uncomplicated days). The van is running fine, 19k miles on the clock, composed of very few trips of under 30 miles and mostly much longer (I bought it new). At present we are in the Vanoise area of the French Alps, supposedly on a mountaineering trip, but . . .
The first problem arose about 30 miles out of Dunkirk, Engine Management warning light came on. Being virgins in all this computerised ECU stuff, we headed for the nearest VW garage (Auto-Expo in Hazebrouck) where they plugged it in to their lappie and installed a new ‘capteur de pression’ (pressure sensor? My French is of sub-schoolboy standard and my wife’s a bit less), relieving us of €113 and the angst of that warning light.
All was ok for the next 5 days, good weather and some nice days in the mountains, then – and I don’t know if this is relevant but will mention it anyway – we drove up to the Col de l’Iseran (2769m and allegedly the highest road pass in Europe) for a traverse of the Leissiére tops. The van coped fine, but I noticed on the way back that we were more or less down in the valley before the temperature needle moved off the minimum. Hmmmm, but not a problem I assumed.
Next day though – leisurely descent from the Mont Cenis col (2083m) and the DPF warning light came on, followed shortly by the glow plug light, and a bit later by the EM light. We did consider solving the difficulty with bits of gaffer tape over the lights as the van was still running perfectly well, but caution prevailed and we sought out another VW place, Jean Lain in St Jean-de-Maurienne. Long and short of it – they did some sort of ‘update’(?) procedure, DPF is at 90%, taking their advice to thrash the van up and down an autoroute at high revs for 50km or more didn’t clear it, so we’re provisionally booked in for next Friday to get it replaced, at a very ‘ballpark’ cost of €1000.
Now, on some things I can contemplate that sort of expenditure with regret perhaps but with equanimity. However, to fix an engine that has nothing functionally wrong with it – that has me seething.
Advice and comments would be most welcome. In particular, what if any damage is likely to occur to the engine by driving moderately about alpine roads for the rest of this week? Or indeed by driving back to the UK on autoroutes at a steady 60mph?
Thanks in advance.