VW Tiguan Fuel Rail Sensor Issues & Fixes Revealed

Similar issue occurred on my VW Golf 2.0 TDI from 2012. As someone with moderate experience working on diesel engines, I can share my troubleshooting journey. The symptoms matched exactly, check engine light, poor engine performance, and unusual stalling. The fuel pressure sensor on the high-pressure fuel rail was sending incorrect sensor signals to the ECU, causing these issues. After initial attempts to clean the sensor connections, the workshop confirmed the fuel rail pressure sensor had failed completely. They replaced the sensor and performed a full system diagnostic to ensure proper calibration. Total repair cost was 240€, including parts and labor. The fix completely resolved all symptoms. Engine performance returned to normal, no more stalling, and the check engine light hasn't returned. To provide more specific advice about your case, could you share: Current mileage, When was the last fuel filter change, Any other warning lights present, Whether symptoms occur more during cold starts or warm engine, If fuel consumption has increased This information would help determine if your issue is isolated to the pressure sensor or possibly related to other fuel system components.

Last service was 2 months ago and everything was fine until last week. The fuel consumption jumped from 6.8L to around 8.2L per 100km. The check engine warning appears mostly during cold starts, and yes, I noticed these symptoms are worse before the engine warms up. The fuel injection system also makes unusual clicking sounds at idle after reaching normal operating temperature. After reading your experience with the pressure sensor issue, it does sound very similar. I will have the fuel rail pressure sensor checked. The service center quoted roughly 280€ for diagnostics and potential sensor replacement.

Thanks for providing those additional details, the symptoms do closely match what I experienced with my Golf TDI, especially the increased fuel consumption and cold start issues. The clicking sounds from the fuel injection system, combined with the cold start problems and higher fuel consumption, strongly suggest a failing fuel rail pressure sensor. When mine failed, the engine would rely on default fuel pressure values, causing similar symptoms and inefficient fuel delivery. The 280€ quote seems reasonable based on my experience. The diagnostic process typically involves: Verifying fuel pressure readings across different operating conditions, Testing the fuel rail pressure sensor signal output, Checking for any fuel system leaks that could affect pressure One suggestion: ask them to inspect the entire fuel rail while they are working on it. In my case, they found minor carbon buildup in the fuel injection system that was contributing to the rough idle. A fuel system cleaning service might be worth considering if they find similar deposits. The good news is that if the fuel rail pressure sensor is the culprit, replacing it should resolve all these issues, just as it did in my case. The repair itself is relatively straightforward and the engine management system usually adapts quickly to the new sensor.

Thanks for the detailed response about the pressure sensor. My mileage is currently at 186,000 km. The fuel filter was changed during the service 2 months ago, and no other warning lights are showing besides the check engine light. These symptoms definitely affect cold starts more severely, the engine barely stays running for the first minute or two. Once warmed up, it runs a bit better but still not normal. My fuel consumption has indeed increased noticeably, from 6.8L to around 8.2L per 100km. The fuel injection system also makes unusual clicking sounds at idle after reaching normal operating temperature. After reading your experience with the pressure sensor issue, it does sound very similar. I will have the fuel rail pressure sensor checked. The service center quoted roughly 280€ for diagnostics and potential sensor replacement. I appreciate the recommendation about checking the entire fuel rail. I will definitely ask them to inspect for carbon buildup while they are working on it. Hoping this fixes all the issues like it did in your case.