Possible HPFP Failure? [actually, fuel line just came loose]

[ajfd]

UPDATE:
The source of the problem was a fuel line that worked its way loose. The line is near the rear passenger tire.

ORIGINAL:
2012 TDI SEL, ~22400 miles, 45 fill-ups
I got a call from the misses a few minutes after she left for work this morning. She was approaching a stop sign when the glow plug light came on and the car stalled. After she came to a stop, she pressed the Start button. Car turned over but couldn't start. Very strong smell of diesel. Car had about 5/8th a tank of fuel in it.
I showed up a short time later and pushed the car to a parking lot.
Diesel all over the road.
Hooked up the VCDS while we waited for the tow truck and pulled the following:

3 Faults Found:
5227 - Fuel Rail/System Pressure
P0087 00 [101] - Too Low
Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 36063 km
Date: 2019.14.21
Time: 07:47:40
5231 - Fuel Rail/System Pressure
P0087 00 [101] - Too Low
Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 36063 km
Date: 2019.14.21
Time: 07:47:40
5523 - Engine Start Blocked by Immobilizer
P1570 00 [032] - -
Intermittent - Not Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 36063 km
Date: 2019.14.21
Time: 07:47:40
Readiness: 0 0 0 0 0

It also noted "09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: Malfunction 0010", but no faults codes found.
Dealer won't get to look at the car till tomorrow.

 

[vw_norm]

Did you pop the engine cover to see the source of the fuel leak? Fuel filter? Hoses? I don't think a HPFP failure would necessarily result in fuel all over the place.

 

[compu_85]

The "normal" HPFP failure is internal only. Sounds like something external happened and it spilled fuel all over the place.

Let us know what you find!

-J

 

[tditom]

Yes, if no fuel is getting to the HPFP it will quickly start reading a low pressure
Keep us posted on the fix. I'm voting for something outside the HPFP too.

 

[ajfd]

There was nothing obvious from a quick survey from topside. It was raining (of course) so I didn't want to go digging around.

Dunno if I feel better about it being the HPFP or some other fuel element blowing out. The devil you know...

I'll post when I get more information, which probably won't be until tomorrow at earliest.

 

[bassman5066]

Watching this to see where all that diesel came from. I wish you the best of luck with the dealer.

Sent from my Bosch Motronic ECM via VCDS Version 1.9LVE

 

[ajfd]

Just heard from the dealer.

It's not the pump. A fuel line fitting apparently came undone. They reconnected it and the car works fine now, though they want to take it on a few test drives to see if there is any movement.

I am waiting for a picture of the fitting to understand where it actually is.

They've been the only ones to work on the car (10k and 20K checkups) and I walked the road for a few hundred feet and didn't see anything that could have dinged up under the car so I am not sure how this could have happened.

Do I need to be concerned that the car effectively ran out of gas? I was under the impression that this is a big no-no with the high pressure fuel system.

 

[tadawson]

I guess it depends somewhat on which side of the pump the leak was on . . . IE did it really go dry, or was just unable to build pressure?

- Tim

 

[tdiatlast]

Guru question: I thought there was a check valve before the HPFP that would prevent it from ever going dry by shutting down the ECU? Did I just dream that?

 

[MikeS_18]

Do I need to be concerned that the car effectively ran out of gas? I was under the impression that this is a big no-no with the high pressure fuel system.

Glad to hear it's something simple and the cause is found.

Now I'll pull up a chair waiting for some Internet Expert to declare that VW owes you a new car...

 

[tdiatlast]

Sarcasm noted. However, any time the fuel system on these hyper-sensitive cars is compromised, one needs to pay attention.
Interested to learn which fuel line fitting came loose.
As long as this situation is adequately documented by the dealer, clearly detailing the fault codes and the actual cause of the "defueling" episode in this very young car, I should think that VWoA can be held liable if there is a future failure of the fuel system.

 

[ajfd]

I think my wife attracts fuel issues. Early in the life of her previous car (my current car), she filled up at a gas station and unknowingly pumped 15 gallons of water into her tank.

The dealer sent me a picture. The line is located by the rear wheel, passenger side. It appears to be a green line coming down and bending 90 deg and connecting into a small black component. I wonder if that component is something they would have touched when they did their 20k checkup a few weeks ago?

 

[Fixmy59bug]

The only reason the dealer would have gone within 3 feet of that area is to rotate the tires and check the brake pad thickness.

I doubt it was something the dealer did and was probably just a fluke failure.

 

[tdiatlast]

Now...how about asking the moderator to change your thread title? No need for "HPFP failure" to be connected to the NMS Passat!

 

[bibendum]

Demand a new car! A part they didn't work on came loose! You own them now.

 

[bibendum]

In all seriousness, I'm glad it's not your hpfp, drive more, worry less.

 

[Rico567]

Now...how about asking the moderator to change your thread title? No need for "HPFP failure" to be connected to the NMS Passat!

I agree with this.

 

[ajfd]

I feel kinda stupid for thinking it was the HPFP now and for sending it to the dealer instead of just reaching under and pushing the line back in place.

I think this place has made me a little anxious about that pump.

I did send a note to the mod about changing the title.

 

[Nebelwerfer]

I feel kinda stupid for thinking it was the HPFP now and for sending it to the dealer instead of just reaching under and pushing the line back in place.

Better to have the dealership do it, then at least it's documented if anything becomes of it down the road

I think this place has made me a little anxious about that pump.

IIRC, there has only been one known HPFP failure seen so far on any boards/ forums for the NMS. I was leery before I bought the car as well, but that disappeared after a few months in 2012 when there was not a rash of them.

Regards

 

[tdiatlast]

^^^this. Please, let's stop talking about HPFP failures in the NMS Passat section. These cars have ears...
I'm still curious how the fuel line popped off. Not paranoid, just curious. I've not looked to see, is it exposed to road hazards? Was the clamp never secured properly? Could a spike in fuel pressure have caused the failure (okay, a bit paranoid here...)

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Thread title edited at OP's request!