No particulate place to go

My 2005 Volvo S40 diesel has suddenly lost most of its power; due to error "2452 Particle trap pressure sensor faulty signal", according to my local workshop that looks after it and tell me that it needs a new DPF, sensor and fluid.

Apparently this planned obsolescence at 80,000 miles will cost about £740. Do I have any alternatives? The man from Volvo was very helpful and suggested having the sensor checked to see if it's just clogged up but he didn't sound too hopeful. Goodwill from Volvo is probably out due to it being maintained outside of the dealer network since I had it two years ago. Lesson learnt?

Are there alternatives to stumping up the thick end of £800 to keep a seven year-old car on the road? I drive it normally - a bit of pootling at 40-50 in traffic between Milton Keynes and Bicester, a bit of a clear out on the Tingewick bypass when possible to clear out the cobwebs and the occasional blast up the M1 to Leicester should keep the DPF clean I'd have thought. Not so. What's the best way round this, other than dipping into the New Bike Fund?

Asked on 19 September 2011 by CR, Bicester

Answered by Honest John
It's pretty standard with all cars with the Ford/PSA 1.6 diesel. I’ve had plenty of reports of the same on the Focus. But I wonder if all it really needs is a fresh reservoir-full of Eolys regeneration fluid.
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