Engine warning light on - less than 2000 miles Cali T6.1

[Scott Barr]

As the title suggests….after spending the thick end of 60K, pretty disappointed. I sold my Range Rover due to years of this type of thing, I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come. Took it to local dealer, diagnostics run, ‘system down’ so couldn’t translate fault to repair but a sensor failed. Awaiting a call back, will update this post once I hear more…

 

[Stu@rt]

As the title suggests….after spending the thick end of 60K, pretty disappointed. I sold my Range Rover due to years of this type of thing, I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come. Took it to local dealer, diagnostics run, ‘system down’ so couldn’t translate fault to repair but a sensor failed. Awaiting a call back, will update this post once I hear more…

Sorry it hear that Scott. Fingers crossed its just a one off and it will be faultless after the sensor is replaced. Keep us updated and keep the faith too

 

[Tricky74]

Got exactly the same issue this week on T6.1 with 2k miles!!! Interesting he light after 2 days has disappeared. Have an appointment but not til 12th Sep….. 2 trips cancelled.

 

[WelshGas]

As the title suggests….after spending the thick end of 60K, pretty disappointed. I sold my Range Rover due to years of this type of thing, I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come. Took it to local dealer, diagnostics run, ‘system down’ so couldn’t translate fault to repair but a sensor failed. Awaiting a call back, will update this post once I hear more…

Got exactly the same issue this week on T6.1 with 2k miles!!! Interesting he light after 2 days has disappeared. Have an appointment but not til 12th Sep….. 2 trips cancelled.

Unfortunate, but these things happen and that's why there is a warranty.
Your best bet would have been to call out VW Assistance. It is run by the AA, but insist on a VW Assistance Technician. They have all the VW diagnostic kit. Can do lots of repairs on the spot or go and get the parts to get things sorted , ALSO they have priority access to VW Dealership resources and much more. Not your usual AA man, but it must be a VW Assistance Technician.

 

[Tricky74]

Unfortunate, but there things happen and that's why there is a warranty.
Your best bet would have been to call out VW Assistance. It is run by the AA, but insist on a VW Assistance Technician. They have all the VW diagnostic kit. Can do lots of repairs on the spot or go and get the parts to get things sorted , ALSO they have priority access to VW Dealership resources and much more. Not your usual AA man, but it must be a VW Assistance Technician.

Thanks we did exactly that…it was diagnosed as a exhaust pressure valve issue but could not be repaired on driveway as the VW systems outage prevented access to technical manuals. So the prioritisation you mention failed. In order for warranty TK take effect VW will have to rediagnose.

Not sure I agree with the comment ‘these things happen and that's why there is a warranty’. Paying premium prices for a product in my mind means premium components used to remove most unreliability issues problems of inconsistent warnings. I also expect less than 2 weeks wait for an appointment…..but maybe I expect too much….

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks we did exactly that…it was diagnosed as a exhaust pressure valve issue but could not be repaired on driveway as the VW systems outage prevented access to technical manuals. So the prioritisation you mention failed. In order for warranty TK take effect VW will have to rediagnose.

Not sure I agree with the comment ‘these things happen and that's why there is a warranty’. Paying premium prices for a product in my mind means premium components used to remove most unreliability issues problems of inconsistent warnings. I also expect less than 2 weeks wait for an appointment…..but maybe I expect too much….

Not going to get into an argument, but if you compare a new California with a pimped up conversion based on a clapped out builders van then it is a " Premium " vehicle at " Premium " prices, However, compared to other 1st Registered new Campervans from VW approved associates then not so " Premium " in price, or compared to Ford or Mercedes.

 

[Stu@rt]

I know where you are coming from, I do. I would be exactly the same.
You paid good money and you want everything to be perfect. It is completely understandable.

There are 100's of sensors on all modern cars and the law of averages suggests that you might just get one sensor that's not all it should be.
The irony is that the sensor that has failed could be the same sensor fitted to diesel super mini from another brand.
Lots of components are shipped under different labeling for several makes, so you premium vehicle (And it is a superb vehicle right?? - You know that - We all know that - That's why we are here ) could well have a few components that are interchangeable with some not so premium ones for sure.

I really hope that is the case for both of you. Hopefully a single trip to the dealer and an hour later it could be the last time it sees the dealer until your next service.

Try not to get into the mindset that the Cali you have is a lemon and will be constant trouble to you. It doesn't necessarily have to be that way. We have the warranty to give you the peace of mind that VW sort these things out either today, or years down the line.

I spent ages on here waiting for the Cali to be delivered. By the time it was here I had convinced myself that I would have a van with just about all the faults that have been discussed on here. I had a list of issues that recent recipients had posted about. The lead time for deliveries does nothing for the paranoia does it?

Sounds like your sensor issues are T6.1 related rather than California related, so its far easier to find a dealer that can sort an exhaust sensor, rather than one that knows Cali's and cant work out why your roof sags or your waste water leaks back into the van.

Fingers crossed for a speedy resolution and many enjoyable trips ahead.

 

[Loz2286]

Just happened to me ....

2021 T6.1 Cali with <6k miles. No loss of power, no noticeable deterioration in performance... contacted VW Assist on the magic button. Go to the dealers, they said. Not really happy about that, but they said as the vehicle is otherwise OK that they don't send out a technician. Am I being unreasonable in thinking that VW Assist should have done more?

Can I still drive my van?

 

[nickb77]

Just happened to me ....

You have my sympathy. A couple of days ago my 2021 6.1 threw up a '12 volt battery not charging' error 2 days into a week long trip round the lake District. When I opened the bonnet, oil all over the engine compartment - looked like it had escaped from the dipstick. Long story short, spent yesterday being transported home by the AA and just a few minutes ago they arrived to transfer it to the dealer. I have to say, the recovery by the AA was done very well. Just got to hope that whatever has gone wrong is easily fixable and I don't get any other problems down the line.

 

[Stu@rt]

Just happened to me ....

2021 T6.1 Cali with <6k miles. No loss of power, no noticeable deterioration in performance... contacted VW Assist on the magic button. Go to the dealers, they said. Not really happy about that, but they said as the vehicle is otherwise OK that they don't send out a technician. Am I being unreasonable in thinking that VW Assist should have done more?

Can I still drive my van?

Past experience with other vehicles has been "Orange EML" seen as a warning that should be investigated by the dealer. (Often a sensor failure or similar). Whereas a Red EML would suggest dont drive it for fear of causing further damage.

In this instance VW assist have told you to take it to the dealership, so assume that you are ok to drive?

You could spend circa £20 on a cheap OBD2 reader if you wanted to investigate the codes yourself for reassurance.

Or you could just press the button again and tell VW that the van refuses to start and when the AA man arrives plead ignorance and he'll read the codes for you.

 

[JGov]

I had exactly the same thing happen to our van 2 weeks after delivery. Dealer charged 350 euro’s for diagnostics which showed ‘sporadic errors’ but no further action was taken.

I have since driven 20.000kms in the last 2,5 years, the orange warning light has popped up several times for various reasons. I stopped giving a f*ck: if it’s not red I keep on driving, albeit whilst very anxiously checking oil temp, power, etc.

I used to follow the ‘I paid all this money’-bandwagon, but it get’s you nowhere.

 

[dspuk]

Just add balance on here we have done 10k miles and zero issues.

It’s easy to come to some of these threads and think that Calis are falling apart but the reality is if everyone with zero issues said “everything is fine” there would be a lot more comments.

From any OEM the failure rates are very carefully monitored and every major incident is investigated. I used to run an OEM warranty team. Some are just plain failures and you can’t preempt them but we would get all the parts back and proactively work with the supplier based on the numbers to fix.

We used to monitor these types of forum and if they are not stupid VW will be too.

Hope all those with issues get them sorted. As WG says. That’s the beauty of a OEM all in Cali. Full warranty from day one.

 

[Loz2286]

I'm booked in for attention in a couple of weeks. The dealer didn't seem unduly concerned because the vehicle was not displaying any "symptoms" and has said that it is safe to drive with care.

While it's great to have all these warnings, they do create a degree of paranoia. When I ran Land Rover Defenders there were no such warnings, things worked until they didn't, or until there was a bang, a crunch and something fell off.

I suppose the lights are there to preempt the falling off stage!

 

[cpjb@btinternet.com]

what I can't get my head around is why nine times out of ten it seems to be a sensor that needs replacing to fix the engine management warning light (according to VW). Isn't it the underlying problem that is causing the sensor to report errors the thing that needs fixing? Or is it really the case that the sensors themselves go faulty after a period of time?

 

[SJD VW Coast Van]

Just done 2600 miles in my 6.1 Coast and its just had its yearly first service and the engine exhaust system warning light comes on and won't go off ..guess I will be ringing the dealer on Monday ..seems to be bit of a theme...only second issue so far I have had with the van so not too stressed by it ?

 

[Californication69]

Had my Adaptive cruise control light go orange 3 times in 3 months.
Switch off ignition and leave off for 1 minute.
Switch on and all is good.
But had an orange light on, on the left as well as the adaptive cruise today.
Think it said EPC. Not much power, available, so as it’s gone really cold outside, I switched off ignition. Waited 1 minute. Then all good.
I always expect brand new vehicles to have a few issues in the first 3 months.
It’s like the old (new) video recorders.
If you had an issue in the first 3 months, the retailer fixes it. Then it should be fine for 5 years.
But want California to be fine for 20 years !