I was thinking about something just now and I thought I'd post about it. When did troubleshooting fuel pumps as P-number become a common thing? Other than my 2017 Mustang which I bought when it was brand new, I've always driven around older cars. My BMW was a '94 and still OBDI. If I had to guess, I'd say the first ones to do that were the German luxury brands.
can you rephrase the question?
I was completely unaware of the P0087 code until someone asked about it earlier. When did that become a common thing? As far as I knew, the car would just die if the fuel pressure wasn't correct, with no check engine light. My father-in-law's utility van is a 2000 E-350 and its fuel pump went out without tripping a CEL as well. That was a few years ago.
As far as I knew, the car would just die if the fuel pressure wasn't correct, with no check engine light.
At some point manufacturers added fuel pressure sensors. I don't know when (all my cars are too old for that) or why (possibly needed for tighter emission control?).
@chucktobias I wonder if my Mustang has this "hidden to me" feature. I tried Googling a possible answer last night and I didn't get anywhere.
I'd think you would see it in live data if there is a fuel pressure sensor.
@chucktobias I only have a scan tool that has ABS capability. I bought it 3 years ago when it was on sale. I bought it for $75. It may not be a high enough level scan tool. I'll have to see.
This product site has a section listing "Supported SAE PIDs" partway down the page. They include the IDs for fuel pressure related items. With that info you may be able to check if your scan tool supports reading fuel pressure data. (This is for informational purposes and not meant as an endorsement of the company or its products.)
https://www.obdlink.com/obd-apps/obdwiz-app/
Are you asking since when do fuel pumps have their own trouble codes? Did I understand it right?
@g-t Yeah, basically.
When did troubleshooting fuel pumps as P-number become a common thing?
P0087 is a low pressure code. It doesn't necessarily indicate a failed pump. It could be a dirty filter, leaky lines, fault EVAP etc.
I was completely unaware of the P0087 code until someone asked about it earlier. When did that become a common thing?
from obd-codes.com (P0087):
Some vehicles are equipped with a returnless fuel supply, this means that the fuel pump is pulse width modulated and can vary in pump speed to deliver fuel to the rail at a variable rate instead of constantly running the fuel pump and regulating the pressure with a pressure regulator, returning fuel back to the tank.
There is a sensor on the fuel rail that monitors fuel pressure at the rail to determine fuel pressure and vary the pump speed accordingly. The PCM (powertrain control module) or ECM (engine control module) has detected that fuel pressure is below specification for the supply commanded to the fuel pump driver module or fuel pump assembly.
Without a pressure regulator on the fuel rail, you need some way to regulate pressure, so PCM control was a natural evolution like most things (eg voltage regulation). I think we've had returnless fuel supplies since around the late 90's.
On top of that we've had Flex-fuel vehicles which need to adjust fuel pressure to the fuel composition. Those have been around since the 2000's. My 2013 van (which has a dedicated fuel pump control module) gives a fuel pressure read-out. My 2000 van did not.
My first OBD tool which was a Scanguage could read fuel pressures since the early 2000's.
These days with direct injection, you have TWO fuel pumps, and pressures have to be even more tightly regulated.
So, not that uncommon.
@imperator Interesting. My '99 Ranger is Flex-Fuel capable, though it wasn't advertised on the vehicle's exterior. When you open up the gas door, it says unleaded or ethanol fuel only. The VIN also identifies it as a flex-fuel. There is no fuel return line, either. I changed the fuel filter when I first got the truck because it was cheap, and you can get to the filter without dropping the gas tank. I wonder if the Ranger has fuel pressure sensors. I've used live data when messing around with the truck and I never saw a fuel pressure reading, but my scan tool is relatively primitive. I can only get into the vehicle's ABS system.
I could be wrong on the flex fuel thing now that I think about it. Fuel mixture can also be increased with injector pulse time. I do know that the FF vans have special high volume injectors.
@imperator Perhaps Scotty may chime in on this one via video if it sparks his interest. I guess there isn't really as firm of a cut-off point as I thought.
Definitely not. I wouldn't be surprised if there are still Ladas and Daihatsus being sold with mechanical fuel regulators today.