Particle Filter Additive Level too low

ricadao · Post by **ricadao** » 21 Jun 2016, 09:31

Hi,

I just got this baby on my screen after refilling the tank this morning. I did a quick search over the net and I found that I must prepare around €150 for 5lts of PatFluid, 3 hours of my time and a Lexia to reset the checks. Since I don't have this precious software, the little thing will cost me almost €300 (unless, of course, that the dealer where I bought the car last month includes it under the warranty contract which I have doubts they will do).

From your experience, does it worth to make it myself or you advise me to choose a professional to do it?

Btw, the car is a Citroen C5 2009 2.0 HDi 160BHP VTR+

Stickyfinger · Post by **Stickyfinger** » 21 Jun 2016, 10:04

I would think the dealer (was it a Citron Dealer or a car "Trader") should at least pay for the Lexia reset if not the fluid.
I would ask why this had not been checked and the levels read prior to selling the car.

Post by **GiveMeABreak** » 21 Jun 2016, 11:52

Yes, this is a tricky one, as technically, like engine oil or brake fluid, it would be classed as 'maintenance' or a service item. As at present it is just the warning light - it is reminding you to take action and hasn't as yet started to degrade engine performance - which is likely if the system has no additive to regenerate the Particulate Filter. I guess it's down to what your warranty will and won't cover - in other words in the small print.

I doubt whether the the dealer (if non-Citroen) will have a Lexia or the expertise to use it to perform the additive top up operation anyway - but it may be worth getting a quote from a Citroen Dealer and then taking the quote to the trader with a view to getting themn to foot the bill? Maybe worth a shot.

I can't be certain, but am sure there is a log of fault clearning maintained by the BSI (main computer) that may indicate what faults were cleared. If it could be seen that this warning had appeared previously and was cleared down to prior to selling the vehicle, then you may have a case - but you would need to access the log history to determine this.

Post by **RichardW** » 21 Jun 2016, 12:06

I doubt you'll get anywhere with the trader, but you can only ask - worst that will happen is he says no!

I'll check later - it might be a pouch which makes changing it a lot easier - it still needs to have a chat with the diag computer though to tell it it's been refilled.

Post by **Paul-R** » 21 Jun 2016, 12:19

As a matter of interest, how many miles has it done? Is it due for a service or had one done recently by any chance?

ricadao · Post by **ricadao** » 21 Jun 2016, 14:54

Hi Paul-R, the computer shows that a maintenance is due in 25.000 kms so I assume a service has been done before I bought the car, 2500 kms ago. They came back to me saying this is part of "wear and tear" and the warranty does not cover. They called me to bring the car next Monday to their garage so they can take a look, hopefully it's Christmas and they do it free of charge (despite I don't believe in Santa since I was 5 )

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 21 Jun 2016, 17:18

FWIW, topping up the fluid only takes a few minutes, and it's not *essential* to reset the counter - it will keep nagging you, but the fluid will still be dispensed correctly.

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 21 Jun 2016, 20:38

GiveMeABreak wrote: I doubt whether the the dealer (if non-Citroen) will have a Lexia or the expertise to use it to perform the additive top up operation anyway - but it may be worth getting a quote from a Citroen Dealer and then taking the quote to the trader with a view to getting them to foot the bill? Maybe worth a shot.

I don't know why you'd think it needs a Citroen dealer, I've just had mine done at my local, non specialist, independent including resetting.

When I had the same job done by a Peugeot dealer (on an 807) they had to replace two ECUs as well as top up the fluid so I was preparing myself for the worst.

Post by **GiveMeABreak** » 21 Jun 2016, 20:50

Homer wrote:
GiveMeABreak wrote: I doubt whether the the dealer (if non-Citroen) will have a Lexia or the expertise to use it to perform the additive top up operation anyway - but it may be worth getting a quote from a Citroen Dealer and then taking the quote to the trader with a view to getting them to foot the bill? Maybe worth a shot.
I don't know why you'd think it needs a Citroen dealer, I've just had mine done at my local, non specialist, independent including resetting.
When I had the same job done by a Peugeot dealer (on an 807) they had to replace two ECUs as well as top up the fluid so I was preparing myself for the worst.

My point was I was referring to the Trader (dealer) where he bought the car - not a garage as such. They may well be competent to do the job, but I have seen so many bodge jobs from second-hand dealers when cars have been taken back - they often don't have enough knowledge to do everything - usually quick fixes to get shot of the customer!

ricadao · Post by **ricadao** » 22 Jun 2016, 08:35

dnsey wrote:FWIW, topping up the fluid only takes a few minutes, and it's not *essential* to reset the counter - it will keep nagging you, but the fluid will still be dispensed correctly.

That's what I thought and that's exactly what I'm going to do and maybe in the near future I'll either buy the Lexia software or meet any Lexia-owner here in Dublin or close enough.

Just in respect to the dealer, in fact selling cars is their main business but as it happens when they are big as this one, they have "connections" with local garages and a in-house mechanic to deal with it, mainly because they give warranty over every car they sell. Do I trust them? Not really, In fact I don't trust mechanics. I've met a few brilliant ones as well as I've met ones that should be put into jail.

I'll handle this one as soon as I get to buy the fluid.

Apart from Amazon and eBay (I assume no dealer will ship it to Ireland), any Irish fellow here to help me?

ricadao · Post by **ricadao** » 23 Jun 2016, 11:34

Here's another question regarding this topic. I've tried to compile from different sources the perfect method not to mess up with the right product to buy. Is there any flawless document to determine the additive to buy?

Post by **RichardW** » 23 Jun 2016, 12:33

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... 95&start=5

ricadao · Post by **ricadao** » 24 Jun 2016, 08:52

Thanks, Richard.

Apart from all the colors and numbers, this
Patfluid 5Ltr Additive For Dpf ( http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-a ... &0&cc5_871 ) should be perfect, am I right?
I want to take some short term advantage of the Brexit vote, I "saved" €11 for not buying it yesterday. Insane.

Post by **Paul-R** » 24 Jun 2016, 09:56

ricadao wrote:I want to take some short term advantage of the Brexit vote, I "saved" €11 for not buying it yesterday. Insane.

You'll have to explain that to me as I can't see how that works.

ricadao · Post by **ricadao** » 24 Jun 2016, 10:14

Paul-R wrote:
ricadao wrote:I want to take some short term advantage of the Brexit vote, I "saved" €11 for not buying it yesterday. Insane.
You'll have to explain that to me as I can't see how that works.

So, my bank account is in EUR but I payed in GBP, my bank applies the conversion rate accroding to the market. The british pound collapsed more than 6% overnight

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Particle Filter Additive Level too low

Particle Filter Additive Level too low

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