Xsara Picasso Cutting Out

[Phil11775]

Hi, I'm new to this site and require some assistance if possible please.

I've recently acquired a 53 reg xsara picasso 2.0 hdi. It ran fine for the first few weeks but has now started to cut out while driving and the engine fault light appears on the display Aswell as the orange engine light. My local mechanic has diagnosed a fault of p0089 or high fuel pressure. On both occasions the fuel gauge has shown 2 blocks and no low level light or buzzer came on. When I put a can of diesel in it will start after a couple of tries. It does seem to be a fuel problem but don't know where to start. Fuel pressure regulator?

Fu pump?

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I like the car but can only see an expensive bill ahead!! On the first occasion the light had gone off after restarting after 20 miles but is now still on but the car will start??

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

A quick internet search suggests P0089 just means the fuel pressure is out of range so could be high or low. First things to check are if the fuel is ok and does not have any petrol or home made diesel in it or bacterial growth from water. Then with the ignition on can you hear the pump in the tank running when the key is first turned. Next is to change the fuel filter since this could be blocked (also check the service record to see when it was last replaced). Then if the problem is still there have a diagnostic check using a Citroen dealer type Lexia before replacing anything expensive.

[Phil11775]

Thanks for your reply.

The pump can be heard in the tank so will get filter looked at then hopefully a better diagnostic.

[qman3428]

Odds on the fuel filter, but it could also be an air leak. The standard test is to put a bit of clear plastic tube in the fuel line (low pressure side) and look for bubbles.

 

You could also try priming the pump next time it happens, that increases the low pressure side and tends to overcome the air bubbles.

[Phil11775]

Had a reply back from the garage. He says the fuel gauge isn't working, which I suspected as both times it cut out it had 2 blocks left on the gauge. He said he will replace the clocks? By this I suppose he means the dash dials? Is there a way of telling if the sender in the tank is working without taking all the dash out?

[paul.h]

Easiest way, you could put some fuel in the tank, probably about 15 litres will be needed to light up the next gauge block. Otherwise you may need to remove the tank sender and move the float up and down whilst measuring the resistance across its terminals. Also check for any damage on the tank which may be stopping the float going to its low level. You could also unplug its connector to see what the gauge shows - probably would go to full or low level but might bring up a fault code.

[Phil11775]

Thanks for all the replies.

After having the car for a week and changing the clocks, the tank sender is now the fault.

With the garage unwilling to go further I'm thinking of changing it myself. Is it an easy job and how do I go about it? Lol

Thanks again.

[paul.h]

I would get a copy of the Haynes manual for your car but the procedure from it is as follows:

 

Replacement of the tank level sender (and the fuel pump which is part of it) involves removing the exhaust, unclip the handbrake cables from the tank, draining the fuel tank (best to start the job with as little fuel in it as possible - the filler hose connects at the side of the tank with a jubillee type of clip so could possibly drain from here or maybe syphon out of the filler neck), disconnecting the hoses and wiring to the tank, place a support under the tank then undo the supporting rod and bolts and lower it to the floor, disconnecting the wiring and hoses to the sender/pump unit on the top of the tank (note where they all fit first and maybe take a photo),  note the unit alignment marks and the locking ring against the tank, unscrew the ring (a tool made from metal bar may be needed or very large water pump pliers to engage the ribs on the ring), lift out the pump/sender unit, remove the seal and replace with a new one. Probably worthwhile swilling the tank out before fitting the new unit and reversing the removal procedure.

 

As an idea of the cost, on the eurocarparts website, a new fuel pump/sender unit is £116 or £174 depending on the make. Used ones will be a lot less but you would need to make sure the pump was ok.

[Phil11775]

Cheers for that, very detailed.

I'm having the crank pulley done first and will let you know how I get on with the sender if I attempt it.

Many thanks for everyone's help and suggestions.

Phil

[flex]

Hi

I'm also having a problem like this, my picasso 2.0 hdi cuts out while im driving. It happens when I accelerate or try to overtake. I can start the engine again while rolling after 3 seconds. The service light comes on and it sets an error in the computer called "diesel fuel pressure maximum exceeded" The car is from 2000 and has run 435.000 km.

 

I'm also a bit afraid of going to the mechanic and letting him change various parts before finding the culprit because this will properly cost a lot :(

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

The message is probably telling you the problem and this would be confirmed by reading the fault code generated when the engine management light came on. Note that a low cost code reader is unlikely to work on your car since diesels only had to be OBD2 compliant from 2004. There will a pressure sensor on the fuel line before the fuel injectors and this may be faulty giving a high reading. According to the Haynes manual, it is located on the underside of the fuel rail feeding the injectors. If it is not the sensor, then it could be the pressure regulator which is part of the fuel pump. A new seal should be used when the sensor is replaced. Your Citroen dealer will provide the correct part if you use your car VIN.

 

You could have the fault code read and the pressures read using the correct diagnostic equipment but to pay for this will cost more than replacing the sensor yourself. If this does not cure the problem and a new fuel pump is needed then this would be expensive.

[flex]

Thank you for the heads up about OBD2 compliant from 2004. I think i'm okay though because the tester I used is not one of the dirt cheap ones. It had Menu entry for "Citroen", "Xsara Picasso", and then "2.0 HDI" and all the other models. And then afterwards we tried testing from another menu item called OBD2. I can't remember the P0000 number though, but i can get it.

 

Looking at all the fault codes listed here in the forum that are so specific, you would think that there would also be a equally specific solution to these errors, but I guess we are not that lucky.

 

I know another mechanic who has a really proff code reader. Its a 14" touch screen computer, designed to work on all brands of cars and i think he even punches in the licensplatenumber to find the specific car model, so it must be connected to an updated database. Maybe this one will tell me what sparepart to change even.

 

So you suggest either the fuel pressure sensor or the fuel pressure regulator (part of the pump)

Are there 2 fuel pumps ? one in the tank and one by the engine ? are they both called "fuel pump" ?

[paul.h]

The pressure sensor is Citroen part no. 1920SZ (or 19207R for an old part) and the seal 19208G but sometimes the seals come with the sensors. These part nos. should be checked using your VIN. There are 2 pumps but it will not be the fuel pump in the tank that is the problem.  The pressure regulator on the high pressure pump (pump located on the engine) might be available with part no. 193338 (check using your VIN) and it was the Haynes manual that says it only comes with the pump so possibly it is wrong.

 

Out of the 2, the pressures that can be read all come from the pressure sensor so you would not know if it was wrong without replacing it or fitting a high pressure gauge (needs to be over 1000 bar so one is not readily available). A quick search suggests the sensor may be around £85 and the regulator about £175 so you may want to try for used parts. Also the sensor is on different Citroen models so does not need to come from a Picasso.