VW Sharan MPV Plagued by Faulty Intake Sensor

I had a nearly identical issue with my 2012 VW Touran diesel last year. Having some experience with automotive sensor diagnostics, the symptoms you describe match what I encountered, engine performance issues, check light, and poor fuel economy. The initial diagnosis pointed to a manifold sensor failure, but after a thorough inspection, the workshop discovered a significant vacuum leak. The manifold sensor was actually working correctly but was reading unusual values due to the leak. The repair involved replacing several cracked vacuum lines and a thorough system check with specialized diagnostic equipment. Total cost was 235€, which included diagnostic time, parts, and labor. The repair completely resolved all symptoms, and engine performance returned to normal immediately. Before proceeding with any sensor replacement, you should definitely have a complete vacuum system check. Sensor readings can be misleading when there are underlying vacuum issues. Could you share: Current mileage on your Sharan? When did these symptoms first appear? Have you noticed any unusual sounds, particularly a hissing noise near the engine? Any recent work done on the intake system? This information would help determine if your issue matches the vacuum leak pattern rather than a straightforward sensor failure.

Yes, I have 54653km on the odometer. The MAP sensor symptoms started suddenly during normal highway driving. After reading some responses, I checked for vacuum leaks but found nothing obvious. Connecting an OBD reader showed error code P0106 which points directly to a manifold pressure sensor malfunction. I think we can rule out vacuum leaks in my case since there are no unusual sounds. Given the specific error code and symptoms match classic manifold sensor failure, I will likely proceed with sensor replacement unless the diagnostic reveals other issues. Thanks for sharing your repair experience, even though it turned out different in your case, it's helpful to know about checking for vacuum issues before jumping to sensor replacement.

Thanks for the update. Having dealt with a similar situation myself, while my vacuum leak experience turned out different, your case does sound more definitively like a MAP sensor issue. The P0106 code combined with your symptoms is a strong indicator, especially with the sudden onset during highway driving. When replacing our faulty MAP sensor on the Touran after a later, unrelated incident, the repair proved straightforward and cost-effective. The manifold sensor replacement took about an hour, and performance improved immediately after installation. A few quick tips from my experience: Get an OEM MAP sensor rather than aftermarket, Make sure the intake manifold connection points are clean before installing, Have the workshop clear the error codes after replacement, Consider having them check the wiring harness connection while the sensor is out While my initial vacuum leak situation was different, subsequent sensor replacement taught me these specific intake manifold sensor issues are quite common on our VW engines. The repair should resolve your performance issues and bring fuel consumption back to normal. If after sensor replacement you notice any irregularities, have the workshop verify the manifold sensor calibration. Sometimes new sensors need slight adjustments to work optimally with the engine management system.

Thanks for the detailed feedback on MAP sensor replacement. The OEM sensor recommendation makes sense, I will definitely avoid cheaper aftermarket options. Based on your experience and my P0106 error code, I feel more confident about proceeding with the manifold pressure sensor replacement. I called a local workshop that specializes in VW repairs. They quoted 320€ for OEM sensor plus labor, which seems reasonable given the diagnostic work needed. They also mentioned they will check the wiring harness and clean the manifold connection points as you suggested. Have booked the car in for next week. Will update once the automotive sensor replacement is complete, but feeling optimistic this will resolve the performance issues and high fuel consumption. Really helpful to hear from someone who went through both vacuum and sensor failure scenarios, helped me better understand what to expect.