2007 1.4 hdi Anti Pollution fault - faulty common rail pressure sensor

Hi Guys,
Really hope someone can help as I can see from reading posts on here you guys know your stuff and I like this car- despite the problems!
I recently bought a 2007 1.4 HDI C3 . REG NO: WF57 FBZ from ebay, and whilst I have had good cars from ebay before, this time I appear to have a more problematic one!

Within a day of buying the car and having been on a few drives the car was coming up with "anti pollution fault" on the dash. This didn't immediately cause the car to stop and so I carried on driving fine. However a few days later after an hours drive to the coast and the day spent there the car cut out on the return journey- after about ten minutes driving. It didnt go into limp mode just lost power and came up with the fault again. I attempted to start the engine after a while but it would only ever briefly start and then when reved just sound lumpy and cut out. It did seem like a little time improved this, but minimally.
I gave up in the end and called the AA. The chap who came was very good and plugged in his machine, stating that the fuel pressure sensor was reading 1700 and this was not even possible as the max was 1000. He said a new part is normally about 60 quid.

So next I took the car to the local mechanic, who changed the fuel filter and air filters and charged me £180. Is that a reasonable charge? He said the filters were very clogged up and this was the first step. The car then ran for one more day, however the fault returned, luckily outside the house.

I retuned to the garage, and he looked at it again for free and plugged it once again into the code reader.
Apparently the fuel pressure sensor on the fuel rail is indeed faulty , as they diagnosed it was either that or the pressure regulator, however they tested the pressure sensor individually and it was found to be faulty. The mechanic said that the sensor was probably failing when it got hot and that the other fault codes tripped were due to them being triggered in a series by the faulty pressure sensor. These codes are found below.

The Issue then comes that apparently rather than having a standard pressure sensor which unscrews (27mm?) and can be individually replaced this one is hard mounted to the rail and so the rail must also be replaced- Apparently at a parts cost of £400 + vat. This seems steep to me for a part that apparently isn't that complicated?

To that end I am attempting to source the part myself though the search via websites is proving quite tricky, so far I have found no new ones to compare the price- I wouldn't be surprised if this is my ignorance. I have however found what I believe to be two second hand rails on ebay for £30 each, which it appears would then also need the sensor purchased and I pressume screwed in- however I am uncertain as to the compatibility of all this! due to the seemingly unusual fuel rail/sensor attachment.

Im not sure if its relevant but I thought I might as well add all information: It seems as though the guy I bought this car off knew the mot guy very well as after a few days it became apparent that the new mot had somehow failed to pickup the two front suspension arms as advisories/fails, one of which started knocking after a while - they were present on a previous 2020 mot- then the car was off the road for 15 months before this recent mot, meaning the diesel was sitting in the tank. I also found an empty bottle of diesel particulate filter cleaner stashed in the back under the spare tyre- I pressume the fault had copme up before but he got the mot guy to wipe the fault off for the mot. Also not sure if the sepcific engine I picked on my profile is correct as m ore advanced details like that seem hard to find. But it is a 1.4 HDI 2007 C3 8v

I would greatly appreciate any advice, particularly regarding sourcing the correct parts for my car as well as any advice on the feasibility of repairing this myself. It would laos be usefull to have some opinions on how much this repair should realistically cost at a garage both with them sourcing the parts and me providing them. I normally get assistance from a mechanic friend with these matters however have just moved and so this is all a bit new to me! Sods law to now end up with this car! however a good opportunity to learn. Many thanks!

The picture of the garage codes, Fuel rail ebay links as well as the Ebay vehicle search identification are found below:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255118740598 ... R8SAiIvOYg

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265335460340 ... R6zokovOYg

Hi

The common rail and its pressure sensor are only sold by Citroen as a complete unit. This doesn't mean they can't be separated. But because of the very high pressures in the common rail Citroen won't allow their techs to replace individually.

This could be why you are finding it difficult to source just the sensor?

If you want the sensor, its here on eBay

It is possible to get just the sensor and fit it yourself, but if Citroen won't allow that outside of the factory, I wouldn't expect a safe DIY job. Just get the rail with its sensor complete. Its difficult to get them apart anyway and its easier to keep then as one.

The used common rail (often with the sensor fitted) as a used part is here on eBay. The same part is used on many of the similar engines.


DPF cleaner won't hep your car, its the wrong stuff. There is no FAP/DPF in the 2007 1.4 HDi 8v.

Many thanks for your reply and the link to the part very useful.

I get the distinct feeling the mechanic is trying to rip me off after my visit today:

He now claims just the labour for changing the fuel rail will be £400 with me supplying the part and that it will take all day.

They previously said they could not change the sensor but now he sais if its just the sensor to change it will be £240. - I have seen the video of this being done and whilst I see some things must be removed- this price seems totally unreasonable to me considering how fast a mechanic could do this.

Am I getting something wrong here?!

I have ordered the Haynes manual as I need to change the two front lower suspension bars.
I think I will ring some other garages and get some quotes on the fuel rail to clarify the situation here. Something doesn't seem right and what I'm being told is all inconsistent.

Many thanks