The car is a 2007 X150 with 16,000 miles done. Yesterday evening, it just died on me at 50 mph. Transmission into neutral, coast to a stop, switch off, switch on again. It would start, the revs would rise to about 300 rpm, then it would die. Check Engine light is on.

This morning, it spins over fine on the starter, but does not fire at all. Check Engine light still on.

The OBD II reader showed fault code P0087 as a stored code - not active. I erased the code, but no change; spins over, no firing up, EML on.

I've never listened for the fuel pump running with the ignition on; should it be audible? I haven't checked the fuel rail pressure, but given the mileage, it seems unlikely to be a blocked filter. That leaves the regulator or the pump.

Any thoughts on which is more likely?

 

with no active codes, the problem is not likely electrical but a quick check for spark makes sense.

I wouldn't rule out the fuel filter either if the problem is fuel system related. An 07 with 16k miles could very well have a gummed up filter. I would start with checking pressure at the rail before diagnosing.

 

Thanks Sean. I doubt it's the fuel filter, though; if it was that, the symptoms would more likely have been a gradual loss in power and performance before it eventually refused to fire up at all. It was running perfectly normally until it stopped.

There is definitely no sound of a fuel pump running with the ignition on.

Where is the connection to check the fuel rail pressure? Unless it's done by removing the electrical switch on the end of the left-hand rail, damned if I can find one...

 

Jeez just put a deposit down on a similar car although considerably more mileage, hope you get top the bottom of the problem.

 

P0087 is fuel pressure too low so a failed pump would fit that nicely.

 

It's going to be either the fuel pump, the pressure regulator or the filter. I'm hoping to narrow it down so I have some idea of how involved it is before I get it repaired.

 

Were you able to resolve this?

 

Sure was. The damn car was out of fuel..... but the gauge still read about half full. I didn't know about that until I rang the seller to ask what he wanted me to do about the problem, because he would be paying for the repair. "Oh, didn't I tell you about that? I'm sorry."

Not nearly as sorry as I was...

 

Yep, I never care how full the tank is, just that empty is empty. I guess if your level display is wrong your miles to empty is too. What a mess.

 

Not a problem now I know about it, but the first time...

 

Maybe a hard-boot would cure that?