Fuel rail pressure too low on Vauxhall — 1.7/2.0 CDTi lift pump failure and HP pump wear.
Vauxhall P0087 — Fuel rail pressure too low on Vauxhall — 1.7/2.0 CDTi lift pump failure and HP pump wear. Typical UK independent garage cost: £180–£1600.
What actually causes P0087 on a Vauxhall
Vauxhall CDTi P0087 — start at the in-tank lift pump (often the cheap fix), then HP pump if supply is healthy.
Vauxhall engines that log P0087
- 1.7 CDTi Z17DTH (Astra/Meriva)
- 2.0 CDTi A20DTH (Insignia/Zafira)
How we diagnose P0087 on a Vauxhall
- Lift pump pressure test
- Filter swarf check
- Live rail pressure
- Bosch reman pump if confirmed
The common misdiagnosis to avoid
Lift pump £140 vs HP pump £900 — never skip the supply pressure test.
Vauxhall P0087 repair cost in the UK
Expect £180–£1600 including parts and labour at an independent garage. Main-dealer quotes on Vauxhall are usually higher for the same job, and the spread exists because the cheap cause and the expensive cause throw the same code — pay for the diagnosis before you pay for parts.
Bob's workshop tip
Insignia 2.0 CDTi P0087 in cold weather = supply pressure test + diesel additive. Half the time it's that simple.
Codes usually seen alongside P0087 on Vauxhall
- P0088
- P0089
Symptoms drivers report with P0087
- Sudden loss of power on the motorway — car drops into limp mode at exactly 2,500 RPM
- Restarts fine after a key-cycle, then relimps under load 20 minutes later
- Hard cold-starting: cranks for 4–6 seconds before catching
- Uneven idle with a diesel-knock 'nail' from cold
- MPG drops 3–7 mpg before the light even comes on
- Metal glitter in the fuel filter housing = CP4 pump has already grenaded
Repairs that clear P0087
- Replace fuel filter first (cheap, fast)
- Test rail pressure with scan tool
- Injector leak-off test (diesel)
- Replace HPFP only if proven by pressure test
For the generic, all-makes explanation of this code — meaning, every known cause and UK cost bands — see our P0087 guide.