AdBlue System Fault Diagnosed and Repaired

This Audi Q2 came into us with warning lights showing on the dashboard. The customer wasn’t sure what the issue was, but the lights indicated a fault within the emissions system. As with many modern diesels, problems with the AdBlue system can quickly lead to further warnings or even restricted vehicle performance if left unresolved.

Our Diagnosis


We started with a full diagnostic scan, which flagged a fault with the AdBlue heater system. This system uses two heaters to keep the AdBlue fluid at the correct temperature. After further testing, we identified two separate issues: a faulty AdBlue heater relay and a broken wire in the circuit supplying power to heater number two.

During testing, we fitted a new relay, but noticed heater two still wasn’t receiving power. Using the diagnostic tool, we confirmed the issue by temporarily introducing a good wire into the circuit, which immediately triggered the system as expected. This confirmed a wiring fault rather than a component failure alone.

The Fix


We replaced the faulty relay unit and carried out a proper repair to the damaged wiring. Once completed, we re-tested the system to ensure both heaters were working correctly and all warning lights were cleared.

The Audi is now running exactly as it should, with the AdBlue system fully operational and no faults present.

We know, we know. There are a hundred things you would rather spend your hard-earned money on than some meaningless service.

But a regular service plan actually helps you save in the long run.

Having a professional technician check your car regularly is the best way to stop small problems developing into expensive ones.

Regular servicing can also boost your car’s fuel efficiency and improve its resale value.

It’s a worthwhile investment, but there are still ways that you can keep costs down with servicing. Here’s our top tips.

Use an independent garage

The first rule to saving money is to go independent. Research shows that independent garages are, on average, 18% cheaper than main franchised dealers.

Who Can Fix My Car found that independents were slightly cheaper for MOTs and servicing.

But they also found that if an MOT or service leads to more significant ‘off-the-menu’ work like a cam belt replacement, then franchised dealer costs can spiral.

Franchised dealers are more popular with newer car owners, but you aren’t obligated to get your car serviced with the dealer that you bought it from.

No matter what the dealer says, there’s nothing stopping you using an independent instead.

Separate research also found that independent garages enjoy higher customer satisfaction ratings compared with franchised dealers.

Stick to a maintenance schedule

You can also save on servicing if you stick to a maintenance schedule and only get a service when your car needs it.

While ensuring your car is serviced every year is a good rule of thumb, you should really check the manufacturer’s service schedule for a more accurate outlook.

If your car is newish, it will probably have a built-in servicing reminder system to tell you exactly when it’s time to service your car.

If you don’t have service reminders built into your dashboard, you’ll have to go by what the owner’s manual says.

The recommended service schedule may be slightly different if you drive in ‘severe’ conditions.

This includes if you do primarily short trips (five miles or less), drive in city centre stop and go traffic or regularly tow a trailer.

If you do any of these, you may have to get your car serviced a little more frequently.

Your manual should also tell you when replaceable parts may need changing and how often maintenance tasks like changing the oil should be carried out.

Think about an intermittent service

An intermittent service is a slightly smaller treatment that you can use to save money if you are a certain kind of driver.

Most manufacturers say you should get your car serviced every 12,000 miles. But if you do more than 20,000 miles each year, this could be overkill.

If you drive long miles for work, then an intermittent service will check all of the necessities and wearables for any damage, while leaving some more durable parts alone.

Avoid cowboy service shops (and national chains)

We know that mechanics have a bad reputation. We always try extra hard to please our customers and make sure they don’t feel ripped off.

But we know there are some bad apples out there. And it’s important that you try and avoid them.

When it comes to servicing, one common trick is to identify problems that don’t exist or exaggerate minor problems to get customers to agree to unnecessary repairs.

We’re sorry to say that, in our experience, it’s the big national chains and franchised dealers that are most guilty of this type of behaviour.

Fortunately, it’s now easier than ever to check on a garage’s reputation before you visit – just check their online reviews.

Duffy Motors is one of the top reviewed Manchester garages on the Good Garage Scheme. We also have a sparkling set of reviews on Google.

Shop around

If you are looking to get the best price on your car service, you may want to shop around.

Reputable garages will usually be transparent about their pricing and should be able to give you a quote over the phone.

Be warned though, if a price looks too good to be true then it probably is. These bargain basement garages will try to recoup their costs elsewhere.

If you are worried about getting ripped off, then you can clearly spell out what you want the garage to do. Ask them to contact you before they carry out any additional work and ask for a detailed breakdown of all the costs so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.

Most reputable garages will be happy to do all of this for you.

Want to learn more about our servicing. Speak to a member of the team today. Call: 0161 834 4168.

To keep your car safe on the road, the general advice to vehicle owners is to get your car serviced every year or every 12,000 miles – whichever comes first.

As well as preventing breakdowns and improving safety, fuel economy and your vehicle’s life expectancy, regular servicing can also increase the value of your car when you come to sell it.

Buyers are often willing to pay a higher price when they see a fully stamped service book.

But if you are covering a lot of miles, then getting a full service every time your clock hits a multiple of 12,000 can be a real drag. And it isn’t always necessary.

If you drive long miles for work and cover more than 20,000 each year, then you might only need an interim service.

As well as how you use your car, the frequency with which you service the car can also depend on recommended mileage in the service handbook and the age of the car.

What is an interim service?

An interim service covers all the major fluids – including brake fluid, screen wash and coolant, as well as major components and components that wear out quickly, like the engine, plugs, filters, battery, lights and tyres.

Browse a full list of what’s typically included in a service here:

At Duffy Motors, we offer different services based on what a client’s car needs. We can either organise an annual servicing schedule or offer basic interim health checks to keep cars in top fighting condition.

[contact-form-7 id=”984″ title=”MOT Test Reminder Form”]

The franchised dealer service myth that could cost you £1,000s

Analysis from What Car reveals that almost 90% of motorists get their car serviced at a franchised dealer in the first year of owning the car, despite franchised dealers being more expensive.

As cars get older, more and more people switch to independent garages. By the time a car is seven years old, almost half of owners get their cars serviced outside a franchised dealership.

Who Can Fix My Car found that independent garages were, on average, 18% cheaper than franchised dealerships. This is particularly true if a service or MOT reveals that more specialist work needs to be carried out.

So why do people still go to franchised dealers?

One common perception persists about new car servicing. Many people think that you can’t take a new car to an independent garage without being penalised by the manufacturer.

This isn’t true. EU competition laws introduced in 2003 stopped car manufacturers from forcing owners to use their franchised dealers for servicing and repair work.

Dealers that warn buyers that their warranty will be void if they use another garage are incorrect and could be acting illegally.

If your vehicle is under warranty (new warranties usually last for three years) then it can still be serviced at an independent garage like Duffy Motors, without invalidating the conditions of the dealership warranty.

As long as the service is carried out to the manufacturers specifications, using approved parts and techniques, then the vehicle’s warranty will remain valid.

Are you looking to have you car serviced by a dependable team? Contact us to arrange an inspection.

In the meantime, please check out all our positive feedback on the Good Garage Scheme. 

It was announced last month that petrol and diesel cars will soon be a thing of the past, with the sale of new fuel powered cars banned from 2040.

At Duffy Motors, we have already started training our staff in how to fix electric vehicles and hope to become Manchester’s repair destination for all electric car drivers. But while petrol and electric vehicles are still with us we want to make sure that all our customers make the most of them.

The RAC claim that boy racers could achieve savings of up to 30% if they used petrol and diesel more efficiently. But even careful drivers could save about £500 each year if they spend £50 per week on fuel.

Here are some top tips for cutting petrol or diesel consumption.

Keep your car properly serviced

A well-maintained car, that is serviced each year, is up to 10% more efficient than one that has been allowed to fester in its old oil.

It’s also less likely to break down, saving you on you on MOT and repair costs.

Avoid rush hour

You might hate traffic jams even more if you knew how much it was costing you in extra fuel. When your car is in first or second gear it is gobbling up fuel, so if you barely get above 20mph before you need to brake again, then you know you are using fuel inefficiently.

Avoid rush hour if you can or think about getting a hybrid car, which is much more efficient around town centres.

Shut your windows

Anything that makes that windy ‘wooshing’ sound when you are driving is not very good for your fuel consumption. Extra drag caused by open windows or sunroof means your car has to work harder to achieve the same speed.

Opening your window at lower speeds won’t have as much impact on your car’s aerodynamics so is preferable to using the air con if you need to cool down.

Switch off the air con

Newer cars perform slightly better, but generally speaking, air conditioning uses an incredible amount of fuel so make sure you only use it when you absolutely need to.

Winding down your windows is preferable at lower speeds, but if you are on the motorway then the air conditioning will only increase your fuel consumption by a few percentage points.

Remove the roof rack

Roof boxes, cycle racks, and anything else that adds extra weight and wind resistance to your car is subtracting from your fuel efficiency.

The RAC estimates that a roof rack can impact on your fuel consumption by as much as 10% while a big roof box can be like having a second car strapped to your roof.

Take out extra weight

You wouldn’t carry a heavy rucksack around town if you didn’t need to, so don’t make your car carry all that extra weight when you aren’t going to use it.

It may seem practical to use your car boot as a hoarders hideaway, but all the extra weight will hit your wallet.

Drive at a constant speed

Driving at a constant speed, in the highest gear you can, is the best way to bring down your bills. Make sure you accelerate and decelerate smoothly and shift up the gears as soon as you can without labouring the engine.

Make sure you drive patiently and don’t bother with speedy overtaking manoeuvres.

Slow down

As well as driving at a constant speed and accelerating and decelerating smoothly, you want to make sure that you are driving at a suitable speed.

The ideal speed is about 50mph, driving at 70mph can be as much as 20% less efficient.

Check your tyre pressure

The lower your tyre pressure, the more fuel you need to make your car move.

Taking five minutes to check your tyre pressure each fortnight could save your lots of money over the course of a year. You can usually find your recommended tyre pressure near the lock inside the driver-side door.

Check petrol prices

Driving several extra miles to get slightly cheaper petrol is obviously not cost-effective, but it pays to know where the cheapest pumps are near your house or place of work.

Go to PetrolPrices.com, enter your postcode and it will tell you the cheapest petrol stations within a five or ten-mile radius. Prices within five miles of Duffy Motors at the time of writing ranged from 110.9p to 122.9p per litre.

Split the cost of your commute

Some ride-sharers can save £1,000 or more per year on fuel, upkeep and parking costs. Find someone at work who lives close by or register your details on Liftshare.com to see if you can find matching commuters.