car wont start

[pjayy]

on Wednesday last week my car wouldn't start. jump started it and it worked fine. its worked fine thrusday and friday and now today it decided it didn't want to work again, turn the engine put into replaced it rolled back 5-10ft and cut out.

ive been to quick fit bought a new battery and replaced it and the engine will run but wont start.
had green flag send someone they where useless and didn't really know but he put some easy start spray and the car was running then cut out

now ive just had a mobile mechanic who ran a diagnostics test and he think its my fuel filter and he gave me a diagnostics code

p008700 active/static fuel rail/system pressure - too low

has anyone got any advice on what i can do i can't get it to a garage till late next week as its christmas and ive already spent £270 today and all ive got is a code

[Roy_01]

Could be different kind of causes:

- high pressure fuel pump broken
- high pressure fuel rail pressure regulator needle valve broken
- injector problem
- low pressure fuel problem
- pressure sensor problem
- fuel metering valve problem

Its also smart to open up the fuel filter.
Take a look if there are metal shaving in there, this wil be the case of the high pressure fuel pump is damaged.
With vcds you can also prime the fuel system with that you can check if the problem is on the low pressure fuel system or high pressure.

From page 26 you can see how the system works.
http://www.natef.org/natef/media/natefm ... di-ssp.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[pjayy]

Could be different kind of causes:

- high pressure
http://www.natef.org/natef/media/natefm ... di-ssp.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hi, the diagnostics says the system pressure is too low, and they guy who done it says it is more than likely that the filter needs replacing as the car was running, as well as running when the guy from green flag put easy start on it.

I have bought a fuel filter from gsf car parts however being Christmas I can’t pick it up till Tuesday/Wednesday now,
Would the filter be a good place to start?

From what I can see on YouTube replacing the filter seems piss easy, but however it seems it’s not so simple as I need the vcds program to then tell the car it has a new filter.

Any ideas on what to do ?

[Roy_01]

Yes replacing filter is the best way to start.
Then you can also take a look in the filter housing and clean it.
The best is to use vcds to fill up the filter and fuel lines after you change the filter.
But also have seen people just top the filter up with fuel manually.
Trying to start the car with air in the fuel lines damages the high pressure pump.

[pjayy]

Yes replacing filter is the best way to start.
Then you can also take a look in the filter housing and clean it.
The best is to use vcds to fill up the filter and fuel lines after you change the filter.
But also have seen people just top the filter up with fuel manually.
Trying to start the car with air in the fuel lines damages the high pressure pump.

I’ve seen them replace it and top it up. Is that an alternative to using the vcds program ?

[Roy_01]

Yes thats an alternative but i prefer vcds. Because you can't top up the fuel lines.
Don't keep on trying to start it for too long if i doesn't because of air.

[pjayy]

Yes thats an alternative but i prefer vcds. Because you can't top up the fuel lines.
Don't keep on trying to start it for too long if i doesn't because of air.

I shall try and give the fuel filter a go Tuesday or wed whenever the shop is open again

If not i guess it’s going to Volkswagen whenever they can look at it or to the independent Volkswagen garage I usually use for service/mot

[pjayy]

Yes thats an alternative but i prefer vcds. Because you can't top up the fuel lines.
Don't keep on trying to start it for too long if i doesn't because of air.

so i tried the fuel filter, however i topped it up with fresh diesel but it didnt work, i only ran it for like 3-4 seconds, ill try see if the guy i know has the vcds program tomorrow

ive looked at my service log from last november, no mention of fuel filter change however vcds self diagnostics log says,

1 fault found
5231 - fuel rail/system pressure
p0087 00 [096] - too low
intermittent - not confirmed - tested since memory clear
readiness: 0 0 0 0 0


this is also the same fault i got when the guy diagnostic test the car on saturday

[Roy_01]

And did you saw any particles in the fuel filter or in the housing? Was it all perfectly clean?
Ok that's better. If you have gauges you can also measure the fuel pressure coming from the low pressure pumps.
If this is all ok then it will come down to check/replace fuel pressure sensor, pressure regulating needle valve, fuel metering valve, checking injectors and checking the high pressure fuel pump and cam follower.
A lot of components that can cause the problem.

[pjayy]

And did you saw any particles in the fuel filter or in the housing? Was it all perfectly clean?
Ok that's better. If you have gauges you can also measure the fuel pressure coming from the low pressure pumps.
If this is all ok then it will come down to check/replace fuel pressure sensor, pressure regulating needle valve, fuel metering valve, checking injectors and checking the high pressure fuel pump and cam follower.
A lot of components that can cause the problem.

Easiest and most expensive option is to drop it off to Volkswagen tomorrow and hope they can sort something out

[Roy_01]

Yes thats the quickest. Hopefully it's something small and not your high pressure pump.

[pjayy]

Yes thats the quickest. Hopefully it's something small and not your high pressure pump.

fuel pump it is. my brother got his rac to come and check the car.

he tried a new fuse, it blew tried another that blew. said the fuel pump had blown and said he can get a new one and fit for £240, he said its relatively easy to fit

[Roy_01]

You are very lucky! That's the most cheapest part after the sensors.
Glad you sorted it out.
Yes it's not that hard to change, check youtube there are several how-to videos of it.

[pjayy]

You are very lucky! That's the most cheapest part after the sensors.
Glad you sorted it out.
Yes it's not that hard to change, check youtube there are several how-to videos of it.

turns out that didn't fix it either.

we had to put a 40amp fuse in so i could drive it to a garage with the rac following

[JPOC]

Hi pjayy,

Just wondering if you ever got to the bottom of the problem? My partner has a 2L TDI Scirocco which is throwing up a similar intermittent 'P0087 - Low fuel rail pressure' fault which comes into play the minute the car hits 130kmph.

The main dealer has changed the filter and balanced the injectors but it's returned again. It would be good to have an idea of where to look before we start replacing the pump and sensors willy nilly.

Thanks.