System fault

[chiad01]

Guys just checking if any of you have experienced this. I've a 2015 A6 2.0tdi sline ultra. Car has come up with a message now and has done it 5 times. It says. Particle filter system fault and then the symbol shows. Now I know how it cleans itself and how the cleaning process works and why it cleans itself. This is my 3rd with dpf. The car did go through the cleaning process the day before. Then the next morning being in the car for about an hour this message came up for the 5th time in say about 2 months time. I have called the dealer and they say it's normal. But I wasn't happy with that and managed to get them to book it in and check the system. You guys think I'm right in doing that. Thanks.

[Scott K]

Worth getting checked if you have had a message that often. Mine has never given me a message although you are aware when it is doing a regen cycle.

[A6S]

In 3 c7s I haven't seen that message so it's not normal. My first was used a lot in town driving so wouldn't have had a good chance in doing a regen and even then I didn't get that message.
Not trying to put the dealers down but all they would do is force a dpf regen and hope it fixes it.
Dpf is one of those things that may or may not be covered under warranty.

[chiad01]

Thanks for replying. I've booked it in at the dealer. They tried to say it was normal but I'm sure when something comes up system fault. That tends so show there is a fault and it's not just a case that the car needs to go through a cleaning process. Which like I said before the car cleaned itself the day before and then the message came up the very next morning. Thanks again

[A6S]

It might be that the regen process didn't complete and now it senses a blockage.
The process takes about 20min and the car must be within a certain rev range. The fact that you noticed it meant it didn't finish as you probably heard the fans running when you got out the car.

[GrolschUK]

I've had it appear a couple of times, and it seems to be on the occasions that it's not been doing much more than lots of short trips and the regen doesn't seem to be able to finish...

Even with the fans running after you stop, I'm sure that does not always finish the job, and the cycle starts again on the next (short) journey, fails to finish, etc, until it has tried too many times, or for too long, and the warning appears.

A long run while the light is on, cleared it for me the times that it's appeared.

[A6S]

The fans running when you stop means it didn't finish and all the fans are doing is cooling the system.
The regen process in its simplicity is start a high temp fire in your exhaust and turn the carbon it's captured to harmless dust. So when the fans run it means it didn't finish as it should have cooled on completion.
I'm doing only 2-3 miles a day now and noticed this happens a lot more than when I used to do 100+ a day