Engine error - Cylinder 3 Glow plug

[John66]

So things were going well with my B7 125Tdi Passat Wagon until a week or two ago, when I noticed the check engine warning light on on the dash. (the car was delivered in early June and has done about 7000kms).

It's the warning light that looks like the outline of and engine. I referred to the user manual, which reads Fault in catalytic converter (I'm guess that translates to DPF/exhaust on a diesel), drive carefully to nearest service centre.
So to keep in as brief as I can (sorry it's a bit of a saga) here's the story so far:
- first dealer can't look at it for 3 days!
- another dealer in Sydney (not near home) did the diagnosis same day (Wednesday before last), code returned is Cylinder 3 glow plug error, they ask me if it's running ok, I confirm yes, even when cold, so they reset the error and send me on my way to see what happens.
- Error returns on Friday (2 days later) so I take it back and same error (cylinder 3 glow plug) and I book for the following Wednesday.
- Wednesday visit they swap Cylinder 2 and 3 glow plugs (per the test plan) and reset the error and send me on my way to see what happens.
- This morning, Saturday the error is back, so I'm booked in for next Wednesday for them to have another crack at it

4 visits to the dealer in 3 weeks....sensational! The dealer has been very helpful and have a great customer service attitude, but my patients is wearing thin as I'm not really up for weekly visits to the dealers in the longer term!

So here's my questions:
- has anyone else had a similar issue, ie cylinder x glow plug and, if so, how did they fix it
- can any of you more experienced VW owners suggest what I should be asking the dealer to do (if anything), I'd like them to fix it properly this time (or am I being unreasonable?)

[Guest001]

When u say the error is back is it still on 3 or is it now on two which was the original crook glow plug
If its on 2 it could be the plug If its still on 3 its something else Logically thinking

[John66]

When u say the error is back is it still on 3 or is it now on two which was the original crook glow plug
If its on 2 it could be the plug If its still on 3 its something else Logically thinking

Not sure yet as the diagnostics will be done when I take it in on Wednesday. Im guessing that if the issues now shows cylinder 2 it tells them the glow plug and it it's still cylinder 3 it tells them it's the sensor or associated circuit.

Hopefully they find something conclusive and can fix it, rather than running a test plan and handing it back to me to see what happens. I know this is the nature of intermittent fault diagnosis, but it's still a pain having weekly visits to the service centre.

[phaeton]

Good to hear the dealer is gradually on top of things and not messing you around

Good Luck

[Lindsay]

I have had the same warning light on for at least 6 months now. I checked it with VCDS as soon as I saw it and it revealed an error in glow plug number 2. My brother is a diesel mechanic and told me it could wait a while until I got it fixed, so I did. My Passat has been towed to two dealerships for another problem since then and both times they have noted the fault code, but only once did they actually say anything about it. I asked for a price on the part (figuring my brother could probably fit it) and I was quoted something like $150... Bearing in mind I have spent more money on this car keeping it on the road than I have paying it off, I elected to continue ignoring the little engine light on the dash. And the fact it takes a couple of goes to get it going on a cold morning...

Mind you my Passat is four years old and has 137k on the clock. I'd be pretty dissapointed if my car was presenting mechanical problems so early in its life...

[John66]

I'd be pretty dissapointed if my car was presenting mechanical problems so early in its life...

My thoughts exactly. I know the error isn't a going to cause a major failure, but
1. It's a new car so I'd expect better
2. It's a general warning light that can indicate any number of things, so while it's lit for this issue, something else could go wrong and would effectively be masked.

Very disappointing indeed. This is my first Volkswagen and while the Passat is an absolute pleasure to drive compared to the Toyotas and Subarus I've recently owned, if this keeps up there will be a point at which the "cons" out weigh the "pros" and I'll just go back to good old, reliable (boring) Japanese cars.

[martinp]

Hi Mine did just that after 19,000kms it went into limp home mode - I could just sit on 100kms but no overtaking and oh so slow up the gippsland hills. I had about 200 kms to get back to dealer.
I booked it in and said I will pick it up when it is fixed (today tomorrow or when ever), they had it ready the very next day.
they replaced the wiring loom and now it is all good.
All fixed under warranty that is totally no charge.
Mine is a 125 tdi just over a year old now and up to about 32,000kms.
I was happy and still am.