Adblue pump failure

J0HNM · Saturday at 10:22 PM

Just sharing my recent experience with a failure of the Adblue pump in my 6.1 Ocean (MY21).
Shortly after driving off the ferry in Santander I got the yellow engine-outline warning light so drove to nearest VW agent (in Torrelavega about 20k from Santander). The garage was very good and diagnosed the problem was failure of the Adblue pump. Within a few days a new pump had been fitted but the garage said they weren't able to 'configure' it and that they were in communication with VW head office for guidance.
Over several days they were told to try certain things but none worked. Eventually the problem was discovered to be a fault with the software garages use for diagnosing and configuration. The work-around solution was to use a 'different channel' to configure the pump. Apparently it is normal to use the same channel to configure a component as well as diagnose issues. But with the Adblue pump scenario a software bug prevents this and it was only when a different channel was used that they could successfully configure the newly fitted pump.
My communication with the garage was via Google translate so some of the terminology above may be inexact but I thought it worth sharing and the gist of the message should be accurate enough.

Hawthorn37 · Saturday at 11:37 PM

Thanks for sharing. Did you manage to get it changed under warranty?

J0HNM · Sunday at 8:33 AM

Yes, no problem (cost to warranty was about EUR 700). I did have to pay for a new fill of Adblue but the level was quite low so that wasn't a problem for me. Although buying Adblue from VW is probably most expensive way to get hold of it.
Also, for information, we had RAC recovery insurance. They put the two of us us up in a hotel. Their limit is £30 per person per night and up to a maximum of £500 (which we nearly hit). If we were a larger group we would have had to start paying for accommodation ourselves. Also discovered that I could have either a hire car or accommodation but not both. Although I could have the nights in a hotel and then get a hire car for up to a max 14 days or until the van was repaired.
Still all's well that ends and we had good weather for our enforced stay near Santander.

Corradobrit · Sunday at 9:50 AM

J0HNM said:
Yes, no problem (cost to warranty was about EUR 700). I did have to pay for a new fill of Adblue but the level was quite low so that wasn't a problem for me. Although buying Adblue from VW is probably most expensive way to get hold of it.
Also, for information, we had RAC recovery insurance. They put the two of us us up in a hotel. Their limit is £30 per person per night and up to a maximum of £500 (which we nearly hit). If we were a larger group we would have had to start paying for accommodation ourselves. Also discovered that I could have either a hire car or accommodation but not both. Although I could have the nights in a hotel and then get a hire car for up to a max 14 days or until the van was repaired.
Still all's well that ends and we had good weather for our enforced stay near Santander.

In could think of worse places to be holed up. Glad it worked out. If you remember how low as the AdBlue level (number of remaining miles)?

J0HNM · Sunday at 11:12 AM

I think about 2,500 miles. I was waiting for the 1,000 mile notification and planned to then add 10 litres which, I think, is what California Chris suggests in one of his excellent YouTube videos. I've never had to add any so far - we had (only) done about 8,500 miles in the van from new.
What did confuse me was that the invoice from the garage said 19 'units' had been added but I'm not sure if that means 19 litres, seems a lot. But we were do delighted to get the van back we didn't question anything.

Hawthorn37 · Monday at 9:46 PM

J0HNM said:
Yes, no problem (cost to warranty was about EUR 700). I did have to pay for a new fill of Adblue but the level was quite low so that wasn't a problem for me. Although buying Adblue from VW is probably most expensive way to get hold of it.
Also, for information, we had RAC recovery insurance. They put the two of us us up in a hotel. Their limit is £30 per person per night and up to a maximum of £500 (which we nearly hit). If we were a larger group we would have had to start paying for accommodation ourselves. Also discovered that I could have either a hire car or accommodation but not both. Although I could have the nights in a hotel and then get a hire car for up to a max 14 days or until the van was repaired.
Still all's well that ends and we had good weather for our enforced stay near Santander.

Good to know the warranty worked out.

J0HNM · Tuesday at 6:43 AM

Slight correction to the above: I had done about 13,000 miles (not 8,000) with about 3,000 still to go (according to the adblue display). This would imply that a full tank of adblue is good for 15-16 K miles (depending how you drive and other factors no doubt). Also van is 4Motion.

andyinluton · Tuesday at 8:52 AM

J0HNM said:
Slight correction to the above: I had done about 13,000 miles (not 8,000) with about 3,000 still to go (according to the adblue display). This would imply that a full tank of adblue is good for 15-16 K miles (depending how you drive and other factors no doubt). Also van is 4Motion.

The biggest factor on how long a tank lasts is which tank you have fitted!

You are showing as owning a T5 which wouldn't have Adblue

A T6 or early T6.1 has about a 12 litre tank, later T6.1 its 25 litres. I'm guessing your 19 units equates to 19 litres.

I'm currently using about 5 litres of Adblue every 1000 miles in a 2023 model 204 but have been driving into central London a lot, I expect our quick jaunt down to Spain over Easter will change the average usage a lot.

Also various remaps over the years have changed the adblue consumption hence the bigger tanks being fitted.

Corradobrit · Tuesday at 9:21 AM

andyinluton said:
The biggest factor on how long a tank lasts is which tank you have fitted!

You are showing as owning a T5 which wouldn't have Adblue

A T6 or early T6.1 has about a 12 litre tank, later T6.1 its 25 litres. I'm guessing your 19 units equates to 19 litres.

I'm currently using about 5 litres of Adblue every 1000 miles in a 2023 model 204 but have been driving into central London a lot, I expect our quick jaunt down to Spain over Easter will change the average usage a lot.

Also various remaps over the years have changed the adblue consumption hence the bigger tanks being fitted.

He says in the OP that the pump failed on a MY21 T6.1

andyinluton · Tuesday at 9:49 AM

Corradobrit said:
He says in the OP that the pump failed on a MY21 T6.1

I realise that.

It was more a subtle prompt that perhaps he ought to change his details to show the correct vehicle, its a pain having to re-read every post in a thread to try and work out what van is being talked about. It takes seconds to do as a one off operation.

He's not the only one, there are loads showing "looking to buy" months after they have taken delivery & I cant decide if thats worse than showing the wrong vehicle details.......heres another offender:

Corradobrit
Messages
1,484
Location
Europe
Vehicle
Looking to buy

Perfectos · Tuesday at 9:49 AM

Corradobrit said:
He says in the OP that the pump failed on a MY21 T6.1

But the OPs profile say T5, as stated,
that’s the point I think was being made.

a full explanation by Andy to help others understand the differences between models , whilst highlighting the Profile being incorrect.

edit: Haha simultaneous posts Andy !