P008A Fuel system pressure low - pressure too low

OBD-II Trouble Code - P008A - Data Sheet

P008a - The pressure in the low pressure fuel system is too low.

Code P008A indicates that the fuel pressure is below the supply specification required to operate the vehicle.

What does DTC P008A mean?

This Generic Powertrain Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) typically applies to all OBD-II vehicles. This may include but is not limited to Hyundai, Ford, Mazda, Dodge, etc.

Low pressure fuel systems are commonly used in diesel systems. The fact that the fuel pump does the hard work is providing diesel engines with the high pressure of fuel they need to properly atomize fuel.

However, the fuel pump still needs to be supplied with fuel. This is where low pressure fuel pumps / systems come into play. It is extremely important that the ECM (Engine Control Module) closely monitor these conditions. The reason is that any entrained air caused by a shortage of the injection pump / nozzle under load can and will cause serious problems. Forced power limitation is usually a kind of mode that a vehicle enters into when it needs to control certain values ​​to prevent further engine damage by the operator. Fuel also has to go through numerous filters, pumps, injectors, lines, connections, etc. to eventually get into the engine, so as you can imagine, there are many possibilities here. Even small fuel leaks will usually cause an odor strong enough to be noticed, so keep that in mind.

By monitoring numerous other systems and sensors, the ECM has detected a low fuel pressure and / or insufficient flow condition. Be aware of local fuel conditions. Repeated refueling with dirty fuel can contaminate not only the fuel tank, but the fuel pump and everything else, to be honest.

P008A Fuel System Pressure Low - Pressure too low code sets when the ECM detects low pressure in the low fuel pressure system.

What is the severity of this DTC?

As explained earlier, low fuel pressure can and will cause problems in the future when it comes to diesel engines. I would say the severity will be set to moderate-high because if you plan on driving your car on a daily basis and it is diesel, you will need to make sure your fuel system is functioning properly.

What are some of the symptoms of a P008A code?

Code P008A is often accompanied by a check engine light and several codes. There may be an oxygen sensor code or codes indicating that the vehicle is running rich or lean. The vehicle may also misfire due to fuel problems, run erratically, or fail to accelerate.

Symptoms of the P008A diagnostic code may include:

• Low power
• Limited exit
• Abnormal throttle response
• Reduce fuel economy
• Increased emissions
• slow
• Engine noise
• Hard start
• Fumes from the engine when starting

What are some of the common causes for the code?

Reasons for this code may include:

• Dirty fuel
• Clogged fuel filter
• Restricted fuel line (e.g. kinked, clogged, etc.)
• The intake of the fuel pump is dirty
• Unstable fuel
• Fuel injector defective
• Weak low pressure fuel pump
• Layered fuels (e.g. old, thick, contaminated)
• The car ran out of fuel before the code appeared
• Faulty fuel pressure sensor on the low pressure side
• Problems with the fuel pump, fuel pump control module, or fuel filter

What are some steps to troubleshoot the P008A?

Basic step # 1

Make sure there are leaks and repair them immediately. This can and will cause lower than desired fuel pressure in any closed system, so make sure the system is properly sealed and not actively leaking anywhere. Rusty lines, fuel filter gaskets, worn o-rings, etc. will cause fuel leaks.

Basic tip # 2

Check the low pressure fuel filter. They can be located on the rail or next to the fuel tank. This should be pretty obvious if the fuel filter was recently replaced or if it looks like it has never changed (or hasn't changed for a while). Replace accordingly. Keep in mind that air ingress in a diesel fuel system can be a tricky issue to troubleshoot, so make sure you follow proper air bleeding and filter replacement procedures. See Specifications and Procedures in the Service Manual.

Basic step # 3

If possible, locate your fuel injector. They are usually fairly easy to find, but sometimes plastic covers and other brackets can get in the way of proper visual inspection. Make sure fuel is not leaking through fittings or connectors. Also around the injector itself (o-ring) is a common leak. Visually check for any signs of physical damage or, for that matter, anything that could cause a reduction in fuel consumption (such as a kinked line on an injector). Particles in the fuel are a real possibility given such small openings. Maintain proper fuel system maintenance (e.g. fuel filters, EVAP, etc.)

How does a mechanic diagnose code P008A?

P008A is diagnosed in several stages:

• The technician must be sure that the car did not run out of gas at the time the code was created.
• They will use the scanner to capture freeze frame data and all associated codes.
• They will check the sensor and measure the pressure in the supply lines, indicating that the sensor is faulty.

What repairs can fix code P008A?

The most common repairs used to resolve code P008A are:

• Checking the diagnostic data and freeze frame to make sure there is no P1250 code, which would indicate that the problem was low or no fuel, and not a sensor malfunction.
• Replacement fuel pressure sensor on the low pressure side and clearing fault codes. Running diagnostics again is necessary to determine if the code has disappeared.
• It is important to delay diagnosing or replacing other fuel system components, such as fuel filter, pump control module or fuel pump, before diagnosing the sensor on the low pressure side.

Ford Taurus P008A = Low Pressure Fuel Pump

Need more help with the P008A code?

If you still need help regarding DTC P008A, post a question in the comments below this article.

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