VW massaging emission figures

GREEBO22

Daft Old Codger
Dec 27, 2015
42
1
Coventry UK
Yep i got a letter today too, was worried when i saw the envelope, started to try and think if id gone through any speed cameras :whistle: so phoned the local dealership and was told they would need it for a couple of hours, and would i need use of a courtesy vehicle,,, if not the car could be booked in on monday,, but as i wanted a courtesy car its now booked-in in two weeks time,, and i was told that the car would be "thoroughly checked over" free of charge,, i wonder if it will be valeted out too :D
 

jasons76

Active Member
May 9, 2016
45
1
so what is it they are going to do,what effect will it have on performance and economy and do you have to have it done,who does the letter come from as I purchased my exeo 2nd hand so I am not the original owner.
 

hilly81

Active Member
Apr 28, 2014
265
43
Little Sutton
so what is it they are going to do,what effect will it have on performance and economy and do you have to have it done,who does the letter come from as I purchased my exeo 2nd hand so I am not the original owner.

It's a software update

Allegedly nothing

No

It will come from Seat. Doesn't matter how many owners it has had. As long as you are the current owner with the DVLA the letter will go to you.

I wont be taking my Passat until plenty of others have and have reported back on the effects.
 
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Dan FR

Meth addict. Stage 2+ Yo!
Nov 14, 2013
1,795
8
Caerdydd
If you think you will be retaining the same fuel economy, performance and reliability as you have now then you are dreaming. If that were possible, then the car would have left the factory that way (I.E. meeting the emissions limits without cheating)

Now whether they cap peak performance, or adjust timing/AFR etc. to meet emissions targets (whilst sacrificing fuel economy and/or performance) remains to be seen.

I personally think it will be a little of everything whilst feeding the lie that nothing has changed....
 

hilly81

Active Member
Apr 28, 2014
265
43
Little Sutton
If you think you will be retaining the same fuel economy, performance and reliability as you have now then you are dreaming. If that were possible, then the car would have left the factory that way (I.E. meeting the emissions limits without cheating)

Now whether they cap peak performance, or adjust timing/AFR etc. to meet emissions targets (whilst sacrificing fuel economy and/or performance) remains to be seen.

I personally think it will be a little of everything whilst feeding the lie that nothing has changed....

Agreed. I cant see how they can spend years developing an engine and not get it right then come up with a software update in less than 12 months and there be no changes at all. Don't trust them one bit.
 

ajuniper

Active Member
Mar 21, 2012
27
0
Took mine in for an aircon service earlier this week and they did the emissions update at the same time (they did ask me first and told me that it was not a requirement). The letter arrived the day after.

On a sample of a 13 mile each way return trip to work there is basically no difference I can feel from the driving seat.

(it's a 2010 model Sport 170)

Can't remember if it was the letter or the service manager who said that they were now using different timing patterns that hadn't been discovered when the cars first came out.
 
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Big Vinny

Active Member
Oct 14, 2012
213
43
I posed this question by email to the DVSA following receipt of the Service Action letter dated June 2106:

"We have had a letter from SEAT advising us that the 23S1 EA 189 diesel
engine can now have the NOx emissions issue rectified by a software update.

The letter states ' The software update applies these measures without
adverse effects to the service life of the engine and its components'.

As the letter also carries your logo I assume you have been working with
SEAT on these modifications and as such I would be interested in any data
you can release under the Freedom of Information Act relating to the
performance and fuel economy before and after the change."


And got this prompt response:

"The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency does not keep such data as you
request. I therefore suggest you contact the vehicle manufacturer."


Make of this what you will. It looks like they are still happy to take the word of VW/SEAT !
 
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Bison

Active Member
Jul 8, 2016
1
0
I recently had my Seat dealer complete my "Service Action" 23S1 EA 189 diesel engine campaign and I have had a few strange things happening ever since.

I have a 2011 Sport Tech TDi 170 and have had the following:

I keep getting "tyre pressure too low" warning on the dash, even though the pressures are as they should be all round.

I then got the "oil level below min" warning on the dash, even though the oil level is slightly below the mid level point on the dip stick.

I am now getting the change gear display telling me to change down almost all the time. I was doing 20mph in second and it was telling me to change down into first, got the same at 35mph in third gear telling me to change down to second.

Finally, the engine sounds much louder and when I rev the engine stationary, out of gear, as the revs drop off there is a noise coming from the front right of the engine and post engine switch off the engine fan comes on really loud, even if I have done just a small distance.

Has anyone else had any of these issues? Or possibly know what it might be?

My regular dealer say its nothing to do with the recent update but all of these things are happening since they did it!?!
 

cordoba175

Active Member
Sep 15, 2008
82
0
Ok apologies if this is a stupid question, but can they un-map it back to standard?
I have the same car but haven't gone near the dealers for the service action yet....
 

ajf3011

Active Member
Jan 30, 2015
82
0
Burnham
I am now getting the change gear display telling me to change down almost all the time. I was doing 20mph in second and it was telling me to change down into first, got the same at 35mph in third gear telling me to change down to second.

Finally, the engine sounds much louder and when I rev the engine stationary, out of gear, as the revs drop off there is a noise coming from the front right of the engine and post engine switch off the engine fan comes on really loud, even if I have done just a small distance.
!

This sounds to me like the car's attempting a DPF regeneration. Take it for a 30 min motorway run to allow the regen to take place and that should get rid of those symptoms.
 

Millsey

Active Member
Oct 22, 2015
15
0
Whos had the fix done?

Got my letter but have not taken it in yet as waiting for some feed back from owners who have had the 'fix'
Is it mandatory to have this done as I want to have the engine remapped!
 

ajuniper

Active Member
Mar 21, 2012
27
0
It is not mandatory, service reception asked if I wanted to opt out - I was taking the car in for the air con to be regassed at the time.

I have noticed that since that visit there is often a fan running under the bonnet after I switch off - never noticed it before - but I put it down to the air con being regassed. Not noticed any of the other symptoms tho.

(I have previously had TPMS issues that were eventually tracked down to different makes of tyre being too different in size despite being sold as the same spec)
 

hilly81

Active Member
Apr 28, 2014
265
43
Little Sutton
It is not mandatory, service reception asked if I wanted to opt out - I was taking the car in for the air con to be regassed at the time.

I have noticed that since that visit there is often a fan running under the bonnet after I switch off - never noticed it before - but I put it down to the air con being regassed. Not noticed any of the other symptoms tho.

(I have previously had TPMS issues that were eventually tracked down to different makes of tyre being too different in size despite being sold as the same spec)

Sounds like a more frequent DPF regeneration rather than anything aircon related.
 

decadent

Active Member
Apr 1, 2012
421
1
Herts
I'm surprised the motoring press haven't had a car "fixed" yet and done a full write-up with a before and after comparison.

Same here, I've also tried to google this to see if it pops up on other forums and can't find anything.

As it seems to be opt out maybe there isn't the desire to do it. Shame as it would be interesting to see what effect it has emissions, performance, consumption and it would be really interesting to hear what the "fix" does in terms of pressure it puts on emission related accessories such as the EGR and DPF.
 

M7R

Nerd...
Mar 27, 2008
327
2
Nottingjam
It is not mandatory, service reception asked if I wanted to opt out - I was taking the car in for the air con to be regassed at the time.

I have noticed that since that visit there is often a fan running under the bonnet after I switch off - never noticed it before - but I put it down to the air con being regassed. Not noticed any of the other symptoms tho.

(I have previously had TPMS issues that were eventually tracked down to different makes of tyre being too different in size despite being sold as the same spec)

The fans run when ever the AC is on, they should stop as the engine is keyed off, if they keep running for a short while after (anything up to 5 mins) then the car was part way through a DPF regen when you keyed off and really needs to go a for a steady motorway / dual carriage way run - constant throttle and load required, so a steady cruise at 60 mph / 1700rpm for 15 mins or so needed, and trying to do it at a lower speed by holder a higher gear wont always work properly).


My concern is the EGR. My 40k miles 12 plate Exeo had a very coked up EGR when I stripped it out the car to check it, the updated as I under stand it alters the way it injects the fuel, (Think more like EU6 as alot was learnt when going to EU6 emissions with regards to injection timing, quantities and how each cyclinder is treated.. I can't say more).. however EGR is used to lower combustion temps so there will possibly be more EGR cycling, which may lead to faster clogging and failing, but this could take a year or two to show up.
 
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