High-pressure pump shedding metal particles on 2.0 TDI common rail: rough running and no start

Engine / equipment

2.0 TDI common rail (in the US, codes CBEA and CJAA) of the Golf VI and Jetta

Period mentioned

2009–2012 in the US bulletin

Symptoms

Engine warning light, judder or rough running and, in the end, the engine cranks but does not start. Possible codes: P0087 (rail pressure too low), P0088 (too high) or P0191 (rail pressure sensor).

Possible cause described

Volkswagen explains in a US technical bulletin (June 2015) that, if no cause is found after checking everything else, metal particles must be looked for inside the high-pressure pump, by removing the N290 fuel metering valve. The particles come from the pump's internal wear and can reach the rest of the circuit. The bulletin also asks to check the misfuelling guard in the filler neck (so that petrol cannot get in).

Check for the garage

This is garage work: measure the pump's supply pressure, injector leakage and the N276 valve, and only at the end look for particles in the pump. If there are any, the pump usually has to be replaced and whatever received the particles cleaned or replaced.

Cost cited in the source

No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database