VW Sharan Diesel Stalls After Fill-up, Fuel Alert

Running a VW Touran TDI from 2003, I encountered nearly identical symptoms. The stalling at idle combined with the check engine light strongly points to fuel system issues, particularly after a fill-up. The symptoms suggest contaminated fuel or a clogged fuel filter. When this happened to my Touran, the diagnosis revealed water contamination in the fuel system. The repair required: Complete fuel system drainage, Fuel filter replacement, Fuel tank cleaning, Injection system inspection This is considered a serious issue that needs immediate attention, as contaminated fuel can damage expensive components like injectors and the high-pressure pump. The problem gets worse if you keep driving with contaminated fuel. Key warning signs that confirm fuel contamination: Rough idle, Sudden power loss, Engine cutting out, White or black exhaust smoke, Difficulty starting Recommend stopping driving and having it towed to prevent further damage to the fuel system. A proper fuel system cleaning and new filter installation should resolve these symptoms.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds exactly like what Im dealing with on my Sharan. Going to have it checked this week. The engine knock and poor combustion symptoms match perfectly with my situation. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much the fuel system service cost you? Also wondering if youve had any fuel quality issues since getting it fixed? Trying to figure out what to expect at the garage.

Just wanted to update on my previous Touran experience, turns out my case was simpler than expected. The mechanic found the main issue was incorrect fuel mixture causing those engine knock symptoms. The fuel composition problem got sorted right away, and they found a loose connection to the fuel pressure sensor that was throwing off the combustion chamber readings. Total repair came to 95€ for fixing the cable connection. Much better than the full system flush I initially went through. Since getting it fixed, fuel economy has been great and no more issues with fuel quality. Just make sure to use good quality diesel and maybe consider fuel additives if you notice any rough running in the future. The proper fuel mixture makes a huge difference in how these engines run. Your Sharan symptoms do sound identical to what I experienced, so hopefully yours will be a straightforward fix too. Let us know what they find when you get it checked out.

Had my mechanic check it out today and wanted to update everyone. The diagnosis confirmed what was discussed, it was indeed a fuel system problem but fortunately not as severe as initially feared. Turned out there was contaminated fuel in the tank, likely from that last fill-up. The mechanic found water traces in the fuel filter and some debris buildup. They performed a thorough fuel system cleaning, replaced the fuel filter, and added some quality fuel additives to help prevent future issues. Total cost came to 220€ including parts and labor. While not cheap, it was better than potentially damaging the injection system. The engine now runs smoothly with no more stalling or warning lights. Really glad I caught this early. The mechanic mentioned that continuing to drive with contaminated fuel could have led to much costlier repairs. Going to be more selective about where I fuel up from now on.