Audi A1 Fuel Pump Woes: Warning Signs & Solutions

Had a similar fuel pump failure on my 2020 Audi A3 last winter. With some experience working on cars, I initially thought it was just a fuel filter issue, but the symptoms matched what you're describing, rough idle, engine stalling, and increased fuel consumption. The automotive diagnosis revealed it wasn't the pump itself but rather a loose connection in the wiring harness to the fuel pump. The mechanic performed a thorough check of the fuel pressure and electrical system before identifying the actual problem. Cost me 95 Euro for the repair, which was mainly labor to access and fix the cable connection. To rule out other potential causes, could you share: Have you noticed any unusual noises from the fuel tank area? Does the problem occur more when the fuel tank is low? What engine size does your A1 have? Has there been any recent work done on the fuel system? These details would help determine if you're facing the same car performance issues I experienced. Getting the error code read would also be a crucial next step in confirming whether it's a fuel system problem or something else.

Latest service was at 178000km. I actually do hear a whining noise from the tank area when the engine is running, especially noticeable when the tank is below quarter full. Its a 1.0L TFSI engine and no recent work has been done on the fuel system. The auto repair shop just called back and pulled the error code P0087 which confirms low fuel rail pressure. They suggest replacing both the fuel pump and fuel injectors as a complete solution since the car performance has degraded significantly over the last week. Will get a second opinion though as the quoted repair cost seems quite high at 1200 Euro. Anyone know if replacing just the pump alone might solve it?

Based on the symptoms you described with the whining noise and low fuel pressure, I'm quite certain its the fuel pump. When I had my A3 diagnosed, the mechanic explained that the P0087 error code specifically indicates fuel system pressure problems. In my case, while the loose connection was the culprit, once that was fixed, we discovered the pump itself was showing signs of wear. Rather than risk another breakdown, I opted to replace just the fuel pump, not the injectors, for around 450 Euro including parts and labor. The car mechanics confirmed the injectors were still functioning properly through pressure testing. The improvement in engine performance was immediate, no more stalling, rough running resolved completely, and fuel consumption returned to normal. In your case, since the symptoms are nearly identical to what I experienced, I would suggest starting with just the pump replacement. If the injectors are truly faulty, it would typically show different error codes and symptoms. From my auto repair experience with these engines, the fuel pump is often the primary cause when you have that characteristic whining noise combined with the P0087 code. Getting a second opinion is definitely smart, but make sure they do a proper automotive diagnosis including fuel pressure testing before committing to the full injector replacement.

Thanks for the input. After hearing about your similar experience, I feel more confident about my next steps. The whining noise and P0087 code match exactly what you described, and its good to know replacing just the pump solved your issues. I scheduled an appointment with another auto repair shop for next week. They quoted around 500 Euro for a fuel pump replacement including parts and labor, which sounds much more reasonable than the 1200 Euro for pump and injectors. They mentioned theyll do complete fuel system pressure testing first to verify the pump is actually the problem before proceeding with any repairs. Will update once I get the car performance issues sorted. Its reassuring to know others have successfully resolved similar fuel pump problems without needing to replace the injectors. Thanks for sharing your repair experience, it helped me make a more informed decision about how to proceed.