Fuel Pressure Issue - P0087 and P053F return after changing fuel filter

arjax

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Location
Florida
TDI
2001 allroad TDI BHW swap 6spd code GLX, 2014 Q5 3.0L TDI
Hello...I am trying to determine if I have lift pump or HPFP issue.

Background
A year ago I got a blinking glow plug light with codes P0087 and P053F. I changed the fuel filter and the no issues.

About ten days ago, the problem returned with the same codes. It has been 20k miles since I changed the fuel filter so I changed the filter and the issue went away.

Three days ago, the problem returned.

Code:
5215 - Fuel Rail/System Pressure
          P0087 00 [036] - Too Low
          Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
             Freeze Frame:
                    Fault Status: 00000001
                    Fault Priority: 2
                    Fault Frequency: 1
                    Mileage: 223776 km
                    Date: 2022.06.16
                    Time: 10:54:34

                    Engine RPM: 686.50 /min
                    Normed load value: 49.8 %
                    Vehicle speed: 0 km/h
                    Coolant temperature: 61 °C
                    Intake air temperature: 37 °C
                    Ambient air pressure: 1010 mbar
                    Voltage terminal 30: 14.020 V
                    Unlearning counter according OBD: 78
                    Fuel temperature: 34.4 °C
                    Mean injection quantity: 11.05 mg/stroke
                    Rail pressure regulation: status-Bits 0-7: 5
                    Fuel high-pressure: actual value: 112600 hPa
                    High fuel pressure: specified value: 250000 hPa
                    Pressure control valve adaptation factor: 1.1263
                    Fuel level: 28.00 l

21375 - Fuel Pressure too Low during Cold Start
          P053F 00 [101] - -
          Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
             Freeze Frame:
                    Fault Status: 00000001
                    Fault Priority: 2
                    Fault Frequency: 1
                    Mileage: 223776 km
                    Date: 2022.06.16
                    Time: 10:54:34

                    Engine RPM: 686.50 /min
                    Normed load value: 49.8 %
                    Vehicle speed: 0 km/h
                    Coolant temperature: 61 °C
                    Intake air temperature: 37 °C
                    Ambient air pressure: 1010 mbar
                    Voltage terminal 30: 14.020 V
                    Unlearning counter according OBD: 78
                    Fuel temperature: 34.4 °C
                    Mean injection quantity: 11.05 mg/stroke
                    Rail pressure regulation: status-Bits 0-7: 5
                    Fuel high-pressure: actual value: 112600 hPa
                    High fuel pressure: specified value: 250000 hPa
                    Pressure control valve adaptation factor: 1.1263
                    Fuel level: 28.00 l
Diagnosis Performed So Far
Fuel pressure test (Engine off)
I placed a fuel pressure gauge where the hard line is near the airbox and used VCDS to active the pump. The fuel pressure read 70psi. I noticed that while the gauge was on that the pump would hesitate every so often with the pressure dropping to about 50psi and then right back to 70psi.

Today I did four runs with the pump using a stop watch to record when the pump would cut out. My thought was to see if the cuts happened at the same time or if there was some variability to it.

Run 1
:27, :40, :53, 1:06 (turned off pump after the third time)

Run 2
:33, :46 (turned off pump after it ran for 1 minute)

Run 3
:19, :25, :57 (turned pump off after the third time)

Run 4
1:08, 1:15, 1:22 (turned pump off after the third time)

Fuel Pressure test (Engine on)
When I started the engine this morning, the pressure went to to 65psi and then drops to 55 psi. About 7 seconds into starting the car hesitates and seems like it going to die but recovers and then the glow plug light in the cluster begins blinking. (click here for the video)

Final Thoughts
I am little in the fog as to whether it's the transfer pump or the HPFP after gathering some data. I am hoping someone can shed some light on the issue.

Thanks in advance.
 

Trucker McTuck

New member
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Location
Sumner, WA
TDI
3.0V6 Audi q7
I'm going through something similar. Have you checked your injector seals? I have one injector that is dirty but also found out that my seals are bad on my injectors and I'm getting a ton of blow by.
 

arjax

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2011
Location
Florida
TDI
2001 allroad TDI BHW swap 6spd code GLX, 2014 Q5 3.0L TDI
The problem has gone away. A day or so after I made the post the issue stopped and haven't had any further issues since.
 
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