VW Passat TDI DPF Issues: Sensor Fix Guide

Having some experience with diesel engines, I faced a similar issue with my 2001 VW Golf TDI. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, warning light, smoke, and DPF regeneration problems. The vehicle diagnostics confirmed a faulty exhaust back pressure sensor, which was affecting engine performance and vehicle emissions. My mechanic explained that these sensors commonly fail on these engines, leading to incomplete DPF regeneration cycles. The total repair cost was 245€, which included: New pressure sensor, Installation, System reset, Basic diagnostics check After replacement, the engine performance improved significantly, and the DPF started regenerating properly again. The smoke issues disappeared completely within the first few drives. To provide more specific advice regarding your case, could you share: Current mileage, How long the warning light has been on, Any recent exhaust system repairs, Whether you notice performance issues mainly during cold starts or constant driving This information would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced or if there might be additional factors to consider.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My car has 138070km on the clock, and the warning light started flashing about 2 weeks ago. The emission control system seems particularly problematic during cold starts. I checked my service records, and the last major exhaust system work was done during the annual service 8 months ago. Good to know the repair costs in your case, matches what I was quoted (230€-260€). Think I will proceed with the sensor replacement since the symptoms match perfectly. Just hoping the DPF itself is still in good condition and this fix will resolve the vehicle emissions issues. Will update the thread once I get it sorted.

Thanks for the update. Those mileage numbers are very similar to when I encountered the issue on my Golf. Good call on checking the service records, that kind of documentation helped me track down when the exhaust system components were last serviced. The cold start symptoms definitely point toward the exhaust back pressure sensor issue. In my case, replacing the sensor alone was sufficient to restore proper engine performance and emissions control. The DPF started regenerating normally once the new sensor was providing accurate readings to the engine management system. Quick tip from my experience: after the repair, drive the car at highway speeds for about 15-20 minutes to help initiate a complete regeneration cycle. This helped clear any residual soot buildup in my DPF. Vehicle diagnostics after my repair showed the DPF was indeed undamaged, the problems were solely due to the faulty sensor preventing proper regeneration. Given how similar our symptoms are, I expect you will have the same positive outcome. Looking forward to hearing how the repair works out for you. The price quote you received is right in line with current parts and labor costs for this type of fix.

Based on the input received, think I made the right call booking the sensor replacement. The details about cold starts and highway driving post-repair are particularly helpful for car maintenance planning. The vehicle diagnostics from my workshop match what was described, pointing directly to the pressure sensor as the main culprit. Good to know the DPF itself typically remains unaffected when caught early. Really reassuring that my exhaust system symptoms align so closely with a successfully resolved case. Will definitely follow the advice about highway driving after the repair to help with the regeneration cycle. The quoted repair cost of 250€ feels reasonable now, knowing others paid similar amounts for the same fix. Will update once the vehicle emissions and performance issues are sorted. Expecting to have the car back from the workshop by end of week.