Tinny noise - exhaust?

[hethmar]

I was driving my 2 months old VW Golf Plus TDI 1600 yesterday and thinking what a noise the old banger in front of me was making when said old banger pulled off the road and eek, the noise is still there.

Its a sort of tinny noise, sounds like its under the car, I thought at first I may have picked up a bit of wire or something underneath. When I parked, I went round the back and there was a strong sort of burning smell and some water on the road, which may have been from my car. Its been raining very hard for two days here, could the noise be from water in the exhaust pipe or something please?

[keithwigley]

Loose exhaust baffle?

[hethmar]

Could that be possible when the car is only 2 months old please?

[keithwigley]

Happened with my Mazda MX5 when it was about 6 months old. Didn't take much notice of it and (I assume) blew itself out a few months later. Still going strong at 9+ years old and passed all its MOT requirements.

[hethmar]

Many thanks, think Ill book it in the VW main agent to have a look under warranty. Theres a bit of a rattle near the door too so they can sort that at the same time.

[tompointer]

I wonder if it was the diesal particle filter(DPF) cleaning itself - regenerating.
It might regen for about 10 minutes every 400 mile or so.
This would cause the hot smell.

[hethmar]

Oh thats interesting Tim as Ive not had it since I posted and I was wondering whether to go to the VW dealer or not. Ill see how it is tomorrow. Many thanks for the reply.

[hethmar]

Well Tom, looks like you may have been right :) This morning OH took the dogs down the park in the car and came back saying warning light on. We got out the hand book and found that it was the diesel particulator filter. Basically it said we must be doing too many short journeys for it to work properly and to take it for a 15 minute run in 3rd gear. We did that and the light went out. So it looks like the noise was as you said the particulator trying to do its job.

[tompointer]

I used to have a vx zafira with a dpf.When it regenerated it sounded rough and smelt hot.
The only advice i would give is that once it starts cleaning itself let the process finish. Mine often used to regenerate when arriving home but I would continue to drive around. Otherwise the filter could clog up and that would mean a visit to the dealer.

[hethmar]

Many thanks Tom, I think its because I do a lot of 1 mile or so journeys. Ive never had a diesel engine before and Im learning slowly.;)