2.0cdti ECU update for DPF causing poor fuel & loss of performace

[Rusty2009]

So when my car had Turbo issue's the dealership did a software update to the ECU.

This update is related to the DPF 

It adjusts the parameters for the dpf temperature sensors to improve dpf performance and avoid overloading dpf, eml lights and in worst cases engine stalling.

it's a software weakness that only effects astra j, cascada and zafira tourers up to model year MY13.5. The update will just adjust the software weakness that is present.

At first I didn't notice anything when I got the car back as the turbo was still faulty and car was going into limp mode.
After the turbo was replaced I noticed the drop in performance, but then I had a faulty DPF sensor.
Since getting the car back from that being replaced I've had poor fuel economy too, I put his down to the fuel filter and the car was due a service, after a service still no improvement so I've been trying all different fuels all to no avail.
I've spoken to Vauxhall customer services, and they said I need to book it in at a dealership and have it checked out and they can read any fault codes, I explained to them there are no fault codes so my 2 local dealerships (Edan's) will just say no fault found.
I have thought about re-calibrating the fuel injectors and DPF sensors but I now other people are also starting to notice the same issue it can't be them @ fault.
Is there anyone else on here that has also noticed this?

[Starie]

I and a few other people have had issues with the engine stalling and running badly with a warning saying stop engine now engine overheating, once fault codes are cleared it runs fine and told it was a sensor in the exhaust and I could need an update to fix this, as far as I was aware I was all up to date


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[Rusty2009]

I and a few other people have had issues with the engine stalling and running badly with a warning saying stop engine now engine overheating, once fault codes are cleared it runs fine and told it was a sensor in the exhaust and I could need an update to fix this, as far as I was aware I was all up to date


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Well If the car has been running fine up until this point I would see no software issue. 

When my Turbo went they claimed it was a software issue after almost 4yrs there was no chance it was software related & that would of led to me and anyone else who had any common sense to look much deeper I had to tell the dealership what the fault was in the end & they are meant to know my car better than anyone.

[Starie]

You would think anyway, I give up with Vauxhall dealers as they guys/girls on the front desk know as much as it has four wheels and a Vauxhall badge and the technicians are only allowed to do as much as they can or have the time to do if the diagnostics say the cars fine then it's fine even if all four wheels are jammed and the top of the car is missing they'll just say we can't find the problem


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[Rusty2009]

You would think anyway, I give up with Vauxhall dealers as they guys/girls on the front desk know as much as it has four wheels and a Vauxhall badge and the technicians are only allowed to do as much as they can or have the time to do if the diagnostics say the cars fine then it's fine even if all four wheels are jammed and the top of the car is missing they'll just say we can't find the problem


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You are spot on there, hence my concern taking it vauxhall as there are no fault codes present.

[stigeye]

The problem is that the people at the top make a decision to tinker with a cars parameters for reasons unbeknown to everyone else. They get coders to write software that is somehow meant to benefit the owner whereas I believe it is to do with their own emissions declarations and not the owner. The upshot is the guys in the garages don't have a clue what the update actually does other than what they are told. So even when they do plug the car into a diagnostic machine they only know what the pc is telling them, and of course everything looks hunky dory because the new software is telling them it is.

The facts are that dealerships should not be allowed to put anything on your car, including software, that cannot be removed if the owner does not like what has been done.

[Boroboy]

So when my car had Turbo issue's the dealership did a software update to the ECU.

This update is related to the DPF 

It adjusts the parameters for the dpf temperature sensors to improve dpf performance and avoid overloading dpf, eml lights and in worst cases engine stalling.

it's a software weakness that only effects astra j, cascada and zafira tourers up to model year MY13.5. The update will just adjust the software weakness that is present.

At first I didn't notice anything when I got the car back as the turbo was still faulty and car was going into limp mode.
After the turbo was replaced I noticed the drop in performance, but then I had a faulty DPF sensor.
Since getting the car back from that being replaced I've had poor fuel economy too, I put his down to the fuel filter and the car was due a service, after a service still no improvement so I've been trying all different fuels all to no avail.
I've spoken to Vauxhall customer services, and they said I need to book it in at a dealership and have it checked out and they can read any fault codes, I explained to them there are no fault codes so my 2 local dealerships (Edan's) will just say no fault found.
I have thought about re-calibrating the fuel injectors and DPF sensors but I now other people are also starting to notice the same issue it can't be them @ fault.
Is there anyone else on here that has also noticed this?

I have the same engine as yours, this is my second 2.0cdti. I've had a few issues with it, as I bought my current Astra as a project. Had no turbo or dpf related issues so far. It's covered 53k on a 63 plate, mine being an auto. Averaged 44mpg mixed driving. So happy with that.
Is your car out of manufacturers warranty yet? If it is out of warranty I'd take it to a good Indy diesel specialist. If it's still in warranty you could ring customer services up again explain that your car is now running worse since the repairs. You would like the situation rectifying to a satisfactory conclusion. Without any cost to yourself.
What sort of trips are you doing & your mpg?

[Rusty2009]

I have the lifetime warranty so I'm still covered for somethings.

I've only done 25000 in just over 4yrs. Before the turbo issue (which was the wastegate sticking) I had no issue's with engine DPF on MPG.

It's all started since the turbo.

Most of driving is town work & as I said I've no DPF issue's until the turbo issue came along. The car is allowed to tick over every morning and start warming up before driven once up to temp I drive her hard, I take her on good runs along the dual carriageways above 2000RPM etc.

My MPG is now 28-32 around town and only 38 mpg on a long motorway run.

All Vauxhall customer service say it we have to find the fault before we can fix anything & diag has to be done via vauxhall dealership.

[Boroboy]

I have the lifetime warranty so I'm still covered for somethings.

I've only done 25000 in just over 4yrs. Before the turbo issue (which was the wastegate sticking) I had no issue's with engine DPF on MPG.

It's all started since the turbo.

Most of driving is town work & as I said I've no DPF issue's until the turbo issue came along. The car is allowed to tick over every morning and start warming up before driven once up to temp I drive her hard, I take her on good runs along the dual carriageways above 2000RPM etc.

My MPG is now 28-32 around town and only 38 mpg on a long motorway run.

All Vauxhall customer service say it we have to find the fault before we can fix anything & diag has to be done via vauxhall dealership.

I get 50 plus on long runs. Low to mid 30's around town. My last 2.0cdti manual s/s was the same. My auto seems no worse on fuel than the manual version.
Bit of a difficult situation your in. I'd take it back again to where the turbo work was done. Speak to the service manager, explain the issues. Let him know there were no other issues present until after you fitted the turbo. Something's wrong, your car is drinking the fuel. You want it sorted. Also inform customer we services again.
I've had the dpf software update whilst my car was in for a new auto box replacement under warranty. I've also had a new heater control module, heated seat pad, seat harness/wiring under warranty over the last 5 months of ownership.
You could ask them to keep it for a few days, whilst they monitor the fuel consumption, supply you with a courtesy car.
I drive my car from cold every morning. Don't push it too hard until it has fully warmed up. Being a big diesel lump. Takes a good while, especially over winter.

[Rusty2009]

Well yesterday the car wanted to do a regen and it went into limp mode (despite it's done loads in the past with no issues).

I checked the error code and it was pointing back to the temp sensor vauxhall only replaced in August.

I rang the manger of my local dealer directly, he got me to come in as soon as I got there my keys were taken and the car was took in.

They ran a diag test and found that Vauxhall had just issued a TSB with a software update due to a software weakness in the ECU.

They did a static regen then applied the update error gone for now but we will see All in it took 1:30hrs.

On getting the car back it seemed to have it's power restored back to normal.

Time will tell if the MPG picks up.

[stigeye]

This is their way of saying that the previous ecu update doesn't work.

[Boroboy]

Well yesterday the car wanted to do a regen and it went into limp mode (despite it's done loads in the past with no issues).

I checked the error code and it was pointing back to the temp sensor vauxhall only replaced in August.

I rang the manger of my local dealer directly, he got me to come in as soon as I got there my keys were taken and the car was took in.

They ran a diag test and found that Vauxhall had just issued a TSB with a software update due to a software weakness in the ECU.

They did a static regen then applied the update error gone for now but we will see All in it took 1:30hrs.

On getting the car back it seemed to have it's power restored back to normal.

Time will tell if the MPG picks up.

From what I've read it's usually a faulty sensor that causes the dpf blockages, due to over fueling. They may have cured the symptom, rather than the cause.

[AshleyC]

Been having the same problems you did (minus the failed regen).

Called my local Vauxhall stealers and explained what was happening and the problems other people have had that i've heard of and I'm going to have to pay £108 for diagnostics before they even know what they're doing!

Apparently they haven't heard of any other software updates being released.

[Boroboy]

I had this update done at the dealers around 6 months ago to my 63 plate 2.0cdti elite (auto), now covered 57k. up to now I've had no dpf running issues. If I notice the car doing a dpf regen, I just continue driving the car until it finishes. I have also tried a static regen, which worked with no issues. Other than the fan coming on occasionally, due to me not noticing the car is in a middle of a regen. Had no running problems with it at all. Neither did I, prior to the update. my car seems to do a regen around once every two weeks. Pure luck when it decides to regen, rather than whether I'm on a long run or not.

[tucpal]

rusty have they done a compression test on your injectors mate
if there fault leaking or stuck open it can bomb the dpf regain
have you done a static regain
and did they or did you replace the dpf pressure and temp sensor

[Rusty2009]

Well MPG hasn't improved.

No no compression test has been done mate.

The did a static regen when the error came back on.
They did a replace a temp sensor.

[tucpal]

You may want one done
after the temp and pressure sensor and forced regen has been done
and the car has been checked for dpf back pressure and it is clear ether unblocked mechanically or chemically
if the problem keeps happening the injectors are most likely at fault
over fueling during and after a regen not operating correctly crashing the regen
maybe worth getting them to check it out or get it done independently mate.

i am strongly debating removing the EGR and the DPF now its one crap system.

[Rusty2009]

Since they did the last software update the DPF has been fine no issues at all.

However it's long had a new SCV and within a month the over-boost high input error P0234-11 is back.

Having been banned from my local dealerships I had to go to a new dealership on Saturday (50 mile round trip). They seem so much better we are just waiting on a response from Vauxhall.