I have a 2004 V10 with 120,000 miles on it. Recently, it started running roughly, and after a day or so, the CEL came on and it wouldn't hold 30 mph on flat ground. The oil and coolant levels/temps were fine, so I limped home. A vagcom scan showed a misfire in cylinder 6. The dealership ordered up 10 glow plugs for me (under the VW recall, fortunately) and replaced them.
On the way home from the dealer, it still ran roughly and had a shudder that felt exactly like an imminent prop shaft failure. The traction control light even illuminated and wouldn't turn off. I guessed at it being a fuel filter issue for the rough running, and ordered a new center bearing so I could rebuild my original driveshaft.
I replaced the fuel filters tonight, and what a difference! This is the fourth time I have changed them, and I have never seen them this filthy. They were BLACK with grime when I removed them. After cleaning the housing and reassembly, it ran like new again. No shudder from anything underneath, either. I still can't believe so many problems could happen from just dirty filters. I am pretty sure I know where my dirty fuel fill up was, never going back there again.
On the way home from the dealer, it still ran roughly and had a shudder that felt exactly like an imminent prop shaft failure. The traction control light even illuminated and wouldn't turn off. I guessed at it being a fuel filter issue for the rough running, and ordered a new center bearing so I could rebuild my original driveshaft.
I replaced the fuel filters tonight, and what a difference! This is the fourth time I have changed them, and I have never seen them this filthy. They were BLACK with grime when I removed them. After cleaning the housing and reassembly, it ran like new again. No shudder from anything underneath, either. I still can't believe so many problems could happen from just dirty filters. I am pretty sure I know where my dirty fuel fill up was, never going back there again.
