Passat 125TDI Please Help!

[antone_86]

So - for reference:
2007 MY08 Passat 125TDI, 110,000km, full service history.

I had huge problems with my Passat today and it left me in a very dangerous situation. School holidays, car packed, heading to the Sunshine Coast from Gladstone.

Bruce Highway southbound between Turkey Beach and Bororen, QLD, 105km/h set on cruise control, AC on, lights on, stereo on, wipers on as there was a little rain about.

Out of nowhere the engine warning light illuminated and the MFD read "Engine Fault: Workshop!" The car then disengaged it's cruise control and lost all power, grinding to a halt and stalling on a black spot on the Highway where there is next to no room for the B-Doubles to sneak past and very small areas to pull of in.

So, stuck in the middle of the road over the crest of a hill waiting for a truck to come from behind at 110km/h I cycled the ignition and the car started and drove another 150m or so and again, the light illuminated and whooshka, no power, pull over... this time it decided to konk out close to an area with some grass thankfully.

So I call up VW Roadside Assist, they send someone out. I am waiting in the car and attempt to start it a few times, just turning the engine over for 3 or so seconds to no avail. RACQ man arrives... he does the usual stuff that I had already done, checks oil, this that and then says "well I can't do more for you here, will it start/run?" I explained to him what happened above, and I cranked the engine and it turns over and fires up perfectly!

Next thing you know we've headed back to Gladstone and the car runs the 45 minutes perfectly like nothing had even happened!

A little background: 4 weeks ago, on the odd first start of the day I'd cycle the ignition and the car would not start on the first try and threw a fault code / message. After cycling the ignition the second time it started up straight away. This has happened over the last 4 weeks only a handful of times and for all intensive purposes the car has ran fine throughout this period. We have had a fair amount of rain in the past few days.

So... my list of possibilities?

1. Rail pressure sensor?
2. Crank angle sensor?
3. Injector?
4. Fuel pump?
5. Other sensor?
6. Bad diesel?

Closest VW dealership is Rockhampton, 115km North of Gladstone on a very busy stretch.

Any thoughts, comments or ideas are appreciated.

Anthony.

[passatpout]

Probably injectors. Take out extended warranty or a second mortgage before getting them replaced (cost is in the $1000s). Have a look at some of the other threads about this (sounds very similar to what mine did).

[OilBurna]

I agree same here I had battery light come on then engine fault on the MFD cranked but wouldn't fire. Replaced all 4 at a cost of $3854.

[antone_86]

So... car is at VW in Rockhampton after a rather scary trip up in the rain...

They cant look at it properly till this afternoon but they plugged in the VAG tool to have a peak.

It flashed with 7 faults! They ranged from an injector valve on cylinder 1 to steering angle sensors and speed sensors? I sense I am about to become less wealthy.

So now... back in Gladstone, no car, no word of what's happening with it...

Starting to think I should have bought the petrol model... my Golf GTI's been hassle free and is older...

[ope126]

So... car is at VW in Rockhampton after a rather scary trip up in the rain...

They cant look at it properly till this afternoon but they plugged in the VAG tool to have a peak.

It flashed with 7 faults! They ranged from an injector valve on cylinder 1 to steering angle sensors and speed sensors? I sense I am about to become less wealthy.

So now... back in Gladstone, no car, no word of what's happening with it...

Starting to think I should have bought the petrol model... my Golf GTI's been hassle free and is older...

Hi Tony,

Sorry to hear about all your faults mate...
But in your sig you say it's a 2008 Passat, so would not this work all be covered under VW Warranty?

Or is it a 2007 and out of warranty?

[ope126]

My bad, just read the start of your thread.
2007 VW Passat.
If it is just out of warranty with a full service history, I would be taking this up with VW.

When you say full service history, is that VW service? Or independents?

[OilBurna]

I would take it up with VW especially as it is a known fault with the injectors and the replacement part has been changed. They are also changing the wiring harness as well.

[ope126]

Tony, as per OilBurna's thread...http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/f27/...ked-52361.html

[guthrie]

My old 2007 passat (103kw tdi) did the same thing 3 months out of warranty. A goodwill request to VW took a few weeks to resolve.. but they picked up all the costs in the end

[ope126]

Would I be out of line asking what type / brand of fuel you have used since owning the vehicle?
I am wondering if some of the more "grocery" branded fuels / independents might be causing issues with our Diesels.

I use the same bowser at the same BP Service Station for each and every fill (Diesel Ultimate).