Help!! X-Trail Diesel Particulate Filter problems

[Beverly]

Please please can someone out there help me with the nightmare I'm having with my X-Trail 2.2 DCi Aventura??

It was manufactured late 2006, purchased brand new last April 2007 from Trade Sales in Slough. I really love the car, except that after I'd had it a couple of months, the Diesel Particulate Filter warning light would suddenly start flashing at me. I do mainly town driving - only about 5000 miles a year - and when the light first started to appear, I'd just have to take it for a 40 mile round trip along the motorway until the light disappeared. The problem got worse though and the light would appear on a weekly basis, so that ultimately I would only get 20 miles out of it before I had to do a 40 mile burn. It has been to Nissan so many times, but they seem to be at a complete loss as to what to do. They replaced the catalytic converter (although it took Nissan literally 4 months to send the right one!) but it made no difference - the light kept coming on. The final straw was when I went for a 250 mile return trip over Easter, and the warning light came on permanently (ie. no longer simply flashing) and for the whole journey I didn't manage to get the revs higher then about 1800!! After that, Nissan replaced the oil and oil filter, and reset the computer, and told me the problem was sorted. But here I am, 2 weeks and 100 miles later, and the flashing light is now back!!!

Please does anyone have any suggestions as to what this could be caused by, or how it can be sorted????? I'm just desperate to get rid of the light forever!!

Beverly

 

[JonathanM]

From the problem of not being able to get ober 1800rpm it sounds like the vehicle went into a "limp" or get home mode. I wonder if the warning light you describe has more than one function, and whether perhaps it indicates a problem with the electrnics as well. Perhaps X-trails have a MAF type problem sometimes?

 

[Toolbox]

Beverly,

Could you tell me what the warning lamp looks like or do you have a picture of it?

 

[Deleted Member S]

I'm prob wrong with this :roll: but has the fuel filter been changed, just i'm wondering if it could partly blocked :?

 

[Beverly]

Further info

Hi All!

Yes, I agree with Jonathan when he says it went into a "limp" or protective mode. It always did this to a certain extent when the light would start to flash, but was never as bad as when it went permanently like that and wouldn't clear. Since it started flashing last Thursday evening, I could feel that the engine had sort of seized up and that something was holding the car back from driving properly. So I took it for a 40 mile round trip along the motorway yesterday, and eventually the engine cleared so it feels fine again now - but probably only for maybe 50 or 100 miles.

I will check on Sweety's suggestion, but Nissan told me that when they had it in 2 weeks ago, they changed the fuel filter. I've booked it in for a further visit next week, but their technical expert's latest advice is to use only superdiesel (which I normally use anyway) and not to buy diesel at Tesco (which I never have)! So I'd be really surprised if it has anything to do with that.

Difficult to describe what the light looks like. It's looks sort of like a spray of water coming out of a rose of a watering can? To start with, it flashes, but if I don't clear it via a motorway trip, then it goes on permanently.

 

[rossco]

Sounds like water in the fuel for a better term, can you see a small tap under your fuel filter ?
Should be coming out of the base of the fuel filter under it .

 

[Beverly]

I'm afraid I wouldn't know where to look for the fuel filter! Is it normal to have water in the fuel? Sorry, but what's under the bonnet is a complete mystery to me, so I'll need to pass on any suggestions as to what this could be to the Nissan garage!

The warning light is definitely listed in the manual as a Diesel Particulate Filter, and the instructions given for when it appears is that the car must be taken over 50mph for however long it takes for the light to clear. It also says that if this is not done, and the light comes on permanently for an extended period of time, then the car will have to be taken to a Nissan garage to be sorted. Interestingly, Nissan appear to have sent a workshop instruction recently to all garages about the warning light (which I think must be quite new on that model) telling them that when the DPF light goes on permanently and the engine goes into protective mode, they must replace the fuel/oil filter and all the oil, and to reset the computer. Having done this on my car, they'd assumed that was that, but it hasn't worked as the flashing light was back after only 100 miles.

Nissan admit there is something wrong, but having done everything that their technical people have suggested, they are really struggling.

 

[Toolbox]

The particulate filter is not the fuel filter it is a type of CAT that is self regenerating meaning it cleans its self out when full of soot etc, the engine runs a regeneration cycle, performing a secondary injection to the engine deliberately overheat the exhaust gas that then burns (for the want of a better word) out all the soot.

So I imagine when the light is flashing it is running the regenerating cycle.
Perhaps the engine isn’t running correctly being to rich and producing to much soot, either an injector isn’t atomising correctly or there is a lack of air to burn the fuel, or the timing is incorrect or may even be the rest of the exhaust is partially blocked.

 

[JonathanM]

Wifey has had an 06 Xtrail since January, and done about 6k in it since, not seen the warninglight you mention, but then maybe 50% of her driving in the week is motorway,plus a bit of towing at weekends.

Interestingly she feels her fuel economy is no different between supermarket & branded fuels.

I can't see the advice of running the "super" fuels would be of benefit, as particulates wouldn;t really be much different. Assuming the car is under warranty I'd be pushing for the particulate filter itself, plus any associated gubbins to be replaced.

As xtrails are still in the minority on this forum , it might be worth trying the X-trails owners forum for more type specific advice

 

[Timbo_1975]

From all of what you have said, I feel you do have some form of problem with the car, which you should insist Nissan get to the bottom of- as you are still well within warranty. - especially suggest they check the EGR valve is not stuck open, as excessive egr always results in more soot- which the FAP has to deal with.

As others have said, the warning light (flashing or lit) is indicating the DPF is partially obstructed- which will cause the engine to feel sluggish.

As you are aware the normal procedure for town bound cars is basically a trip on the motorway (there are several parameters that must be met for the ECU to instigate the burnoff) which your car seems to be having trouble doing.

I am not sure of your particular driving style, but even 50mph in 6th would hardly be 1800rpm, so can I suggest you give it afew miles in 4th gear.

Also dont be afraid to push the motor hard in the lower gears say once a week or so.

Hope this helps. Tim..

 

[Beverly]

I must admit that I've only ever had at best 29mpg out of the car and that was for just motorway driving - no town mileage at all. In fact, I still had only 29mpg during the time when the car went into limp mode and I was restricted to doing only 1800rpm. In town, I struggle to get 27mpg. I have mentioned that to Nissan as I was worried that maybe the engine has been running too rich and I'll definitely remind them to check on that next week when it's back in for 2 more days.

 

[Timbo_1975]

Something very much wrong with it then! My 2.5 sport (petrol) will do 30-32mpg on varied A road thrashes!

The DCi is meant to be around 38-40mpg, especially on the m'way.

Tim..