Reversing a DPF delete?

[pinballdave]

Whilst doing some Vida readings to a P1 Volvo with a 1.6 diesel engine (the peugeot/ford lump) which is running a bit low on power with a ridiculously high DPF pressure sensor reading (100hpa at idle, and 700hpa at 3500rpm!). I was trying to run a forced regeneration, and Vida wasn't having any of it, instantly coming back with 'Operation Failed' whenever it was started,

Crawling under the car to inspect the DPF pressure sensor hoses, I noticed a some tell-tale untidy welding on the bottom of the DPF can, and further investigation found a bolt blanking off the DPF temperature sensor, with the actual sensor tucked away behind the headlight!

The only fault codes found in the car is a CEM-3A00 which translates as an 'ECM, Software faulty signal'. So it appears that someone has also been playing around with the ECM mapping.

Given these observations, it seems highly likely that a previous owner has tampered with this car in a manner that could earn the current owner a £1000 fine under the new regulations.

So the question is, has anyone successfully reversed a DPF delete?

The mechanical side seems fairly simple. The DPF/cat on this car would be due for replacement at the 150k service, so the owner was expecting it to need replacing, and it's not a particularly difficult job with the spanners.

But what about the ECM software changes that have mapped out the DPF (and probably the EGR valve as well, but we haven't got as far as checking that yet). I would assume that the software modifications would prevent the new DPF from regenerating, and it will end up blocked up with soot in a few hundred miles.

Can the DPF be 'mapped' back into the ECM software with third party tools (VDash?), or is this going to be an expensive main dealer visit to reload the original software into the ECM?

[Familyman 90]

Theoretically speaking, a dealer - or someone suitably clever with a laptop - could flash the ECU with an original map. Its not uncommon for dealers to accidentally overwrite Polestar maps during a service, so if it can be done accidentally its probably perfectly feasible to do deliberately.

[SwissXC90]

Indeed:
1. Replace tampered DPF with new one
2. Fit the DPF pressure sensors into their correct places
3. Run an entire vehicle software update, which will update all modules, including ECM
4. Verify ECM now has standard software loaded.
5. Clear and check all fault codes, deal with any new faults that may arrise.

[Black dog]

I vote Refit the engine cover and run it on red!

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Familyman 90

Theoretically speaking, a dealer - or someone suitably clever with a laptop - could flash the ECU with an original map. Its not uncommon for dealers to accidentally overwrite Polestar maps during a service, so if it can be done accidentally its probably perfectly feasible to do deliberately.

It's not common it's impossible for a dealer to overwrite polestar it is an integral part of the official volvo ECU so the factory has a record of it and sends the correct software down if a re load or upgrade ECU software is carried out by a Volvo Authorised repairer..

I doubt a reload would fix a tampered with ECU as it will check the original software before the download starts ...

[rudi dudi]

Originally Posted by Black dog

I vote Refit the engine cover and run it on red!

Ahh cherryade damn fine vintage..

[Familyman 90]

Originally Posted by Clan

It's not common it's impossible for a dealer to overwrite polestar it is an integral part of the official volvo ECU so the factory has a record of it and sends the correct software down if a re load or upgrade ECU software is carried out by a Volvo Authorised repairer..

I doubt a reload would fix a tampered with ECU as it will check the original software before the download starts ...

Polestar was added by the dealer to my car after it had arrived, but before I took delivery because I didn't know it was an option when I first placed my order. That being the case, how can it be part of the official ECU? The factory know nothing about it.

Most Polestar maps of that generation were dealer 'fit', not factory. If I had my ECU flashed with a standard map I would lose the previous software entirely.

You also seem to ignore the fact that on this very forum that are multiple people that have had just this happen, had some work done and lost their Polestar map, and reported their experiences on these hallowed pages.

There are also members who have had 3rd party performance maps and lost them when the car goes in for a service, again reported on this forum. That being the case, there is no technical reason why the 3rd party map on the OPs ECU cannot be supplanted by another - its been done once already in order to receive the altered map, and can be done again to receive a standard one.