Ad-Blue - 650 mile countdown comes and then goes off

[Ayjay]

Things just keep getting mysteriouser and mysteriouser. We started off this morning with the warning still saying 600 miles but a few miles later that went back up to 4500. All was therefore happy in the Ayjay vanhold until 65 miles later when it went back down to 650. 8 miles later, a message appeared for a short time advising to fill a minimum of 0.75 Gallon and a maximum of 0.75 Gallon WITH NO MILES (call me Mr Thicky but I reckon that's just 0.75 gallon then!) and a couple of miles later the mileage before refill went back up to 4500 followed by 4000 3 miles later again recommending that I add a min and max of 0.75 gallon. And that, dear readers, is where we currently stand and we're now camped in Carcassonne for a couple of days.
Actually, that not exactly correct as I've also had an orange check engine light appear. I've plugged Carista in and it's telling me that there are two faults found:
P20EE00 - SCR NOx Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1 Catalyst 1.
P204F00 - Reductant System Performance Bank 1
I'll post about them separately but my instinct is just to ignore them.

 

[jimc91]

I think the problem with this kind of fault is unless a garage says yep I know what the problem is we’ve fixed loads of them I’d be reluctant to let them anywhere near my van as they will be changing things left right and centre and charging you for the pleasure when it could just be something simple. I suppose the good thing is you know you have 4000 miles of adblue in the tank so no need to add any more. I had this fault also in France, it cleared itself and has never come back since. I’m at vantec in Sussex next week, I’ll ask them if they have ever come across it

 

[Ayjay]

@jimc91 - grateful for any feedback from Vantec. Judging from the amount of stuff about all this here on T6F and elsewhere, VW would be just plain lying to cover their arses if they told me they had never heard the story before. Also, the van was in with them last year for the same stuff when they were supposed to have down a software update to sort it out!. Look forward to to hearing from you next week.

 

[Sasquatch]

I think the problem with this kind of fault is unless a garage says yep I know what the problem is we’ve fixed loads of them

That would worry me - making an assumption as to the fault might preclude a thorough investigation, and if it has to go back again you can guess who gets to pay twice.

Assumptions are the mother of all eff ups.

"We've seen this before and may well be able to sort it, but we'll have a proper look before just blindly wading in," would be a refreshingly pragmatic and honest approach. Sadly common sense and honesty seem to be a rare commodity at many garages, not just authorised dealers.

 

[Stay Frosty]

@Ajay Carcassonne, we'll be in Lourdes in a couple of weeks time, are you following us but two weeks in front?
Last year when we were sorting our route out Carcassonne was where we were going to head back up the middle of the country, this year it's Lourdes then Clermont Ferrand.
Don't get me wrong each time there's been the temptation to head towards Perpignan past the Camargue and on to the Cote D'Azur but while I like France these days I don't want to spend the hours required to complete a lap.

 

[Ayjay]

@Stay Frosty. Our solution is to to retire, split the driving and not worry about how long we’re away for as we can always change our tunnel ticket to an earlier or later date to suit.

 

[PlanB]

We're currently on a road trip down to South of France andpitched at a site just off the autoroute between Bordeaux to Toulouse. Earlier today, I had done 880 miles since adblue 'self corrected' itself as reported in the post above and we were about 60 miles into todays drive when the dreaded 650 mile adblue warning popped up and 20 miles later went down to 600 at the start it had read 4500 which I reckon would be in the right ballpark given the last time it was refilled.
I guess I've now got to play a game of chicken with the van to see if it can self correct itself again. The alternative is to call VW Assist or visit a VW dealer en route and see what they can suggest - if it's been answered before on here, I missed it but does anybody know whether it's simp[y a case of them plugging in and doing a reset?

2 years ago Assist did attend the dreaded 650 light, tried a software update, forced re-gen and a few other things with no joy - But it resorted back to 5500miles 60 miles later.
Last month I was told you now need to breakdown before they will come out.
It has to be a red lamp showing and not an orange.

Mine is no longer a problem ... I only wish all the neurotic, temperamental and unreliable irritations in my life cost £250 to delete.

 

[jimc91]

@jimc91 - grateful for any feedback from Vantec. Judging from the amount of stuff about all this here on T6F and elsewhere, VW would be just plain lying to cover their arses if they told me they had never heard the story before. Also, the van was in with them last year for the same stuff when they were supposed to have down a software update to sort it out!. Look forward to to hearing from you next week.

@Ayjay - I was at Van-Tech today and asked them about the error, they said they see it a lot but unfortunately its not just one thing that triggers it so they would need to see a van to run diagnostics, sorry I cant help more

 

[Ayjay]

Things just keep getting mysteriouser and mysteriouser. We started off this morning with the warning still saying 600 miles but a few miles later that went back up to 4500. All was therefore happy in the Ayjay vanhold until 65 miles later when it went back down to 650. 8 miles later, a message appeared for a short time advising to fill a minimum of 0.75 Gallon and a maximum of 0.75 Gallon WITH NO MILES (call me Mr Thicky but I reckon that's just 0.75 gallon then!) and a couple of miles later the mileage before refill went back up to 4500 followed by 4000 3 miles later again recommending that I add a min and max of 0.75 gallon. And that, dear readers, is where we currently stand and we're now camped in Carcassonne for a couple of days.
Actually, that not exactly correct as I've also had an orange check engine light appear. I've plugged Carista in and it's telling me that there are two faults found:
P20EE00 - SCR NOx Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold Bank 1 Catalyst 1.
P204F00 - Reductant System Performance Bank 1
I'll post about them separately but my instinct is just to ignore them.

@jimc91. Cheers for that - I suspect Van Tech are correct and that my current orange check engine light and associated fault codes are a clue that even VW should be pick up on (see above). They're supposed to be investigating at a service next month and I want the issues at least icknowledged by them before my All In warranty runs out in August. I also intend telling them (very politely, of course) that they're telling porkies / taking ballox whien / if they tell me that they've never come across the issues before.

 

[john1million]

HI,

If this error message doesn't reset itself, does it need an official VW dealer to reset it or can any garage do it?

Thanks

 

[PlanB]

HI,

If this error message doesn't reset itself, does it need an official VW dealer to reset it or can any garage do it?

Thanks

On 2 occasions VW Assist couldn't clear it at the roadside, and on different 2 occasions it cleared itself.
It's not as simple as just turning off a light ... the light came on for a reason!
A tiny crystal on the Ad Blue pump shouldn't pose too much of a problem, but a blown pump or sensor will need a visit to the workshop.
I called in at an independent garage in Scotland, who couldn't clear it as it was showing no code?
That one cleared itself 10 miles from home after all but cancelled my planned trip.

Ad blue is like being married to a woman with PMT, mental issues and a secret drink problem .... You just don' trust it!

 

[Adscan]

Any help would be grateful...

I hade the 650 mile warning light appear and found that the wiring to the Ad Blue injector had been pulled out (this was after i foolishly overfilled with Ad Blue). I replaced the injector and the 650 light disappeared and was replaced with range count of 6500. However i am starting to get concerned as the range has not dropped and i have covered about 500 miles since replacing the injector.

Is the level in the tank still above the sensor or should it have dropped below by now? Or have i caused more issues by overfilling?

 

[Ayjay]

I don't know about any of the technical stuff as such but in my experience seeing no change in predicted adblue range following a refill and after [only!] 500 miles would NOT be unusual. I might be a fool but I would love it if mine got stuck on 6500 which I'd much prefer to the incorrect 650 and counting down.