VW Sharan 1.9TDI - smoke from under the car

**Jay1** · 07-02-2006,01:27 AM

Hi, I'm new to this forum and hope that someone can help.

I have a new (March 2005) Sharan 130 bhp.

After a month or so, when I turned the ignition off there was a sound from under the car, close to the passenger rear wheel. It sounded like a jet engine and lasted for about 2 mins. With this was the smell of burning diesel and smoke albeit not alot. Over the last few months this has become more regular. I took it to the VW garage who first said it was a loose glow plug. This didn't fix it. They then replaced the glow plugs. Still didn't fix it. They then replaced the auxillary heater. This still didn't fix it. The car is in at the moment and they are now telling me that there is nothing wrong and this is how it should be?

Has anyone else experienced this who could perhaps give some suggestions/guidance.

**zac everett** · 07-02-2006,02:47 PM

Has anyone sorted the smoking Sharan problem yet?

I have an 04 Sharan TDI, a couple of months ago it started smoking from down by the rear passenger door.

The smoke/exhaust was quite a lot and while waiting at traffic lights I couldn't see the line of traffic behind. Also pulling up at the local KFC drive through the smoke billowed into the restaurant and they all started coughing.

I've taken it to the Stratford VW Listers who said it's the auxillary heater which runs on diesel. Something had gone wrong with it, but I wouldn't have noticed it before because it only kicks in at a certain temperature. They replaced something anyhow. All seemed fine for a while. But now i'm back to serious smoke and higher diesel consumption.

I too experience the jet engine sound, you do get some funny looks when parking up.

Anybody had any luck with this?

I think I'll have to take it back to VW. May be Top Gear will be interested as it's probably the only production car with an inbuilt smoke screen device.

Zac

**ndeakin** · 13-02-2006,10:08 AM

My Oct '04 Sharan TDI (130) has exactly the same problem. I first noticed the "Jet Engine" sound coming from the auxillary heater and then a few weeks later the smoke started billowing out. It seems to happen in the first ten minutes of driving.
VW Birmingham have examined it and claim it needs a new glow plug. They say if it burns at too high a temperature it tends to smoke. However, there aren't any Glow Plugs in the country and they are ordering from Germany with a 4 week lead time. I will keep you posted with my progress.

**zac everett** · 15-02-2006,03:38 PM

Sharan, has been into VW Listers and has had a new glow plug in the aux heater.
All seems to be working fine again. No excess smoke. :-)

Didn't have a problem with getting hold of glow plug VW Listers Stratford had got one so was in and out in a day.

Wonder how long it will last.

One other point we've had our rear window handles turn round the other way to stop the back windows from dropping down after a time.

**ndeakin** · 15-02-2006,03:46 PM

VW Birmingham have contacted me to say they now have available glow plugs. I will take it in and get it fitted. I'll keep you posted as to how long this 'fix' lasts for.

**jason** · 20-02-2006,11:46 PM

hi, i have been having the same problems with the excess smoke.....how much does it cost to have one of these "glow plugs" fitted to the auxillary heater

**ndeakin** · 22-03-2006,11:17 AM

Having had the Glow Plug replaced (under warranty) it has solved the smoking problem. However, the car takes 10 - 15 mins to warm up in the morning during winter and the heater doesn't produce any heat until the engine warms up. Is this normal for a diesel Sharan? Shouldn't the auxiliary heater be kicking in for that very reason? Do other Sharan diesel owners have a similar 'problem'?

**guyver** · 08-04-2006,11:57 PM

hi every body this is my first post as i hav joined today to your great forum. and i have a sharan 52 reg tdi

i have read all the post above but a bit different, the "Jet Engine" sound remain even after the car is already wormed up i dont know how long it last but as soon as i stop the car i can still hear it for another 1-2 minutes it very annoying, so i went to the dealer in birmingham i have told them about it and they just simply said it's fine and the car is just trying to warm up in the winter, they did ask me if there is a somke coming out from ander the car and i have told them just a little.

but i feel this is not normal and it would be great if some one here could advice

**Gillie Nicholls** · 14-10-2006,08:18 PM

I had an appalling problem with my smoking Sharan. It got so bad that people thought my car was on fire. It was a great embarrassment to be driving through a busy town and belching copious amounts of white, acrid smoke from a small pipe just in front of the rear kerbside wheel, near the passenger door. Most VW dealers told me that it was normal, which I refused to believe. It got to the point when I just could not live with it and I turned to the VW dealer in Ewhurst Surrey. An inspired mechanic told me that VW knew of the problem (something to do with a diesel powered rear heater) and he fitted something which did the trick for the last 3 winters. It has returned and I get the sinking feeling that if I go to a VW dealer they will tell me that there is nothing that can be done. HELP!

**isti3223** · 15-10-2006,07:17 PM

VW knows is a problem with auxiliary heaters.The system automaticaly turn on with the engine running if the outside temperature below 13 celsius,and the coolant temp.below 45 celsius.The fault is the aux heater fuel supply from the fuel tank,and sometimes air getting to the system.In this condition the glow plugs working extra time,trying to ignite the fuel/air mixture wich is not possible,therefore working extra time-and burns out.The solution for the fault to remove the fuel sender from the tank and re-route the fuel suply pipe for the aux.heater.the fuel sender has an internal swirl compartment,place the fuel supply pipe inside and route down to the bottom.