Hard Judder then Engine Died. Timing Belt?

[dave3lions]

Hi all,

Having done a bit of research on here I think I may have a timing belt issue. I had just embarked on the return journey of a 40 minute round trip when I felt/heard quite a bit of violent judder through the steering wheel. The Engine Management bulb came on (the one that looks like a coil) and the engine died straight away so I had to coast to a stop on a very fast A road - hazards on. I tried to restart a few times and whilst it would turn over it, wouldn't fire. Eventually it did so I limped to a safe location and ran a diagnostic via Carista. I've pasted the diagnostic below so I'm hoping someone on here can interpret the read-out and chime in.

Basic OBD2:
P0087 (Pending) - Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low
P0335 (Pending) - Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit

Engine:
P008700 - Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low
Freeze frame :
Priority: 2
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 255
Odometer reading: 146469.6 miles
Engine rpm: 332.25 RPM
Normed load value: 0 %
Vehicle speed: 28.6 mph
Coolant temperature: 76 °C
Intake air temperature: 24 °C
Ambient air pressure: 14.5 PSI
Voltage terminal 30: 12.093 V

P033500 - Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit
Freeze frame :
Priority: 2
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 255
Odometer reading: 146469.6 miles
Engine rpm: 1050.25 RPM
Normed load value: 0 %
Vehicle speed: 32.3 mph
Coolant temperature: 76 °C
Intake air temperature: 22 °C
Ambient air pressure: 14.5 PSI
Voltage terminal 30: 12.57 V

P033500 - Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit
Freeze frame :
Priority: 2
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 255
Odometer reading: 146469.6 miles
Engine rpm: 1085.75 RPM
Normed load value: 0 %
Vehicle speed: 0 mph
Coolant temperature: 71 °C
Intake air temperature: 26 °C
Ambient air pressure: 14.5 PSI
Voltage terminal 30: 11.648 V


ABS:
C102DF0 - Tire pressure warning: Pressure loss
Freeze frame :
Priority: 3
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 251
Odometer reading: 146452.8 miles


Infotainment system:
U101400 - Control module coded incorrectly
Freeze frame :
Priority: 4
Malfunction frequency counter: 1
Unlearning counter: 251
Odometer reading: 146452.8 miles


Headlight aiming:
C103415 - Left front level control system sensor: Open circuit/short circuit to B+
Freeze frame :
Priority: 2
Malfunction frequency counter: 10
Unlearning counter: 252
Odometer reading: 146452.8 miles



Obtained with Carista 9.0 for iOS.
Download app: ‎Carista OBD2
Facebook: Carista

A little bit of history as some of this may or may not be relevant. On Wednesday last week I took it out for the first time since I had it serviced. I was very low on fuel and I had zero range left when I got to the garage. I filled up half a tank and for the first time in my ownership the DPF light came on. Now, I've had the van since August last year, only to find that at some point in its life it has possibly had the AdBlue coded out (that's a whole other story as ideally I want it reversing). Anyway, the DPF light went off eventually, but later that day I came off the bypass and slowed to about 30mph. The Engine Management bulb came on and I had a slight judder. I switched the engine off and restarted it about 30 mins later - all good as the light is no longer on and the engine is smooth, quiet and fast. It did the same thing again yesterday and then today's occurrence.

My amateur diagnosis is it's a timing belt issue so I'm not moving it from now on until I've had it looked at. I'm just looking for your input please.

Thanks,
David

 

[Dundee_Kev]

As a general rule, if it were timing belt issue then it wouldn't restart. I'd also expect to see a camshaft code as top end would be out of sync.

Crank sensor looks likely, but I'm also thinking partially blocked fuel filter. The fact you had a low tank and blasted fresh diesel in, it may have thrown rubbish up from the tank base and made it's way to the filter now.

 

[manfrotto]

Sounds fuel related to me. Either as Kev says, or maybe a bad batch of fuel if it has just started happening after you refueled.

 

[drinfinity]

My T5 used to do that, and kept coming up with crankshaft sensor. I had the sensor replaced, no change. Months later it randomly stopped again, and AA got it going straight away with Easy Start, which strongly suggested fuel rather than anything else. Never did get to the bottom of it though.

 

[Sasquatch]

When a timing belt let's go it's instant, like someone has switched off then ignition.

It'll likely be fuel related but won't be shite from the tank - plastic tanks don't rust, and in any case the fuel pickup is an inch or so from the bottom so even if the debris fairies broke into your tank and left some crud in there it won't be ingested.

Diesel has a relatively high water content (still miniscule in the grand scheme, but high compared to petrol) and fuel filter acts as a "separator' and keeps the worst of it from getting to the engine. It could be that it's faulty or needs replacement and is choking off the supply, but there are many things it could equally be so it needs some proper attention and not merely Internet guesswork and a few random blasts from the parts cannon.

Let us know how it goes. Best of luck.

 

[dave3lions]

Thank you all for pitching in. I'd much rather it was fuel issue than the timing belt tbh. It does seem a bit of a coincidence that this is happening just after I had it serviced.
On checking the invoice I've had a new oil filter, air filter, fuel filter and cabin filter as well as new oil and a sump plug.

The garage has offered to have it back tomorrow to check their work and they've ordered a new fuel filter in the meantime.

I'll keep you posted!

 

[drinfinity]

New fuel filter - possibly air in the fuel line?

 

[DaveD]

I'm hoping (for your sake) that it's an air lock in the fuel system that they created when changing the fuel filter and not bleeding it through properly.

 

[DaveD]

New fuel filter - possibly air in the fuel line?

You obviously type quicker than my one finger!