Problem with my xf- brought M4 to a halt!

[Keefster14]

Hi, looking for some help guys...desperately. 

61 xf 3.0d , last night on M4, pulled out to overtake at about 75-80, red triangle, engine system warning message. Car died,didn't even go to limp mode..managed to get to inside lane, couldn't get to hard shoulder cos it was barriered off! Traffic officers , police, very dangerous situation. ...

Anyway traffic guys stopped all traffic,told me to get in and he'd push it 50 yards to hard shoulder, however, warning light had gone off, car started and drove it to safety of hardshoulder. Awaited recovery, had orange engine icon on dash but no red triangle. Ten minutes later, turned ignition on, engine icon had also gone off, car starts,sounds OK,  no warnings.  Got it recovered home. 

Ideas gents? Bit of trawling on the net has me leaning towards fuel filter. ...With no warning lights on, will it have logged a fault if I have the codes read.?

Car was serviced in past month, not dealer,  also had a mass air flow valve replaced just before Xmas. 

70k on the clock

Thanks in advance 

[Old_Growler]

23 hours ago, Keefster14 said:

Hi, looking for some help guys...desperately. 

61 xf 3.0d , last night on M4, pulled out to overtake at about 75-80, red triangle, engine system warning message. Car died,didn't even go to limp mode..managed to get to inside lane, couldn't get to hard shoulder cos it was barriered off! Traffic officers , police, very dangerous situation. ...

Anyway traffic guys stopped all traffic,told me to get in and he'd push it 50 yards to hard shoulder, however, warning light had gone off, car started and drove it to safety of hardshoulder. Awaited recovery, had orange engine icon on dash but no red triangle. Ten minutes later, turned ignition on, engine icon had also gone off, car starts,sounds OK,  no warnings.  Got it recovered home. 

Ideas gents? Bit of trawling on the net has me leaning towards fuel filter. ...With no warning lights on, will it have logged a fault if I have the codes read.?

Car was serviced in past month, not dealer,  also had a mass air flow valve replaced just before Xmas. 

70k on the clock

Thanks in advance 

Might be the pump wiring connector under the O/S of the rear seat swab..Disconnect the battery (DON'T close the boot otherwise you have to use the emergency key blade to open again) Under the front of the rear seat each side are 2 sprung clips..Lift one side and place something under it and the same with the other side..lift the seat swab up and prop up with something under it.. You will see a connector might have gaffa tape holding to the floor pan..Pull the connector apart and squirt some WD40 as these connectors are know to be problematic..The only other ideas I have are like you said filter or pump relay.

[Keefster14]

Hi, thank you. I'll go and  have a look. ..does it make a difference that my rear seat doesn't fold?

[Keefster14]

Hi, had the rear seat up and been underneath the swab, just looms, no connectors at all...wonder if Im looking I  the right place?

[Old_Growler]

3 hours ago, Keefster14 said:

Hi, had the rear seat up and been underneath the swab, just looms, no connectors at all...wonder if Im looking I  the right place?

Try lifting up the plastic o/s/r inner sill trim it just pulls up on clips there be a flat connector under the back end of that  + pull the round black cover off there's also a connector on the pump as shown in the photo

[Keefster14]

Hi Paul, thank  you for that, will check it  again and might just do it as preventive maintenance.  However...it's fixed! 

New fuel filter did the trick. Took it very gently at 40 to a friends garage, then when I was about 200  yds away , floored the throttle, sure enough both warning lights back on. Stuck a new filter in anyway, and then put the diagnostic on it...P0087- fuel rail low pressure. Cleared the warning, test  drive...perfect. Took it  right up the Rev range...no  problems.

If there's one bit of advice I can give to fellow members....change the fuel filter...for £35 it's worth every penny and  its a piece of cake.  Sitting stranded on the inside lane of a motorway is damn scary and could cost you your life!!

Paul- thank you for  your advice and help, I wonder if I picked up some poor fuel, might stick some Redex in the tank,just to make sure it's not got through to the injectors. Can't do any harm can it? Used to use it on my Accord religiously, haven't so far with the xf... anyone else use it as a matter of course?

[Old_Growler]

1 hour ago, Keefster14 said:

Hi Paul, thank  you for that, will check it  again and might just do it as preventive maintenance.  However...it's fixed! 

New fuel filter did the trick. Took it very gently at 40 to a friends garage, then when I was about 200  yds away , floored the throttle, sure enough both warning lights back on. Stuck a new filter in anyway, and then put the diagnostic on it...P0087- fuel rail low pressure. Cleared the warning, test  drive...perfect. Took it  right up the Rev range...no  problems.

If there's one bit of advice I can give to fellow members....change the fuel filter...for £35 it's worth every penny and  its a piece of cake.  Sitting stranded on the inside lane of a motorway is damn scary and could cost you your life!!

Paul- thank you for  your advice and help, I wonder if I picked up some poor fuel, might stick some Redex in the tank,just to make sure it's not got through to the injectors. Can't do any harm can it? Used to use it on my Accord religiously, haven't so far with the xf... anyone else use it as a matter of course?

Glad to hear it was easy to sort out..I think low pressure causes the pump relay to de-energize, Hence no warning! Try using Millers diesel fuel additive plus purchase a good branded diesel not some supermarket brands as these have a high bio content (Bio content should? be shown on the pump) As this blocks filters.

[Old Peter]

Hi Keith,

I would also give your car a Terraclean service.  It cleans out the fuel system and is well worth the £114 I paid for it two years ago.  Better performance and better mpg,

I was also told that if you have a performance engine us the best fuel.  Having said that, many members have had no problems with standard fuel from Sainsbury's etc.

I use Shell V power and it is noticeable when I fill up with standard fuel,

Regards,

Peter.