The fuel pump assembly of a vehicle contains a rail which has fuel inside of it. The pressure of this fuel is analyzed and calculated by the fuel pressure sensor. This is an electronic component which detects the amount of fuel pressure in the rail and then relays this data back to the engine control unit. The engine control unit is the central computer which manages and communicates with various other electronic sensors and systems of the vehicle. Once it knows the current fuel pressure, the engine control unit will allow the proper amount of fuel to be injected into the engine. This helps maintain fuel efficiency and reduces the number of harmful carbon emissions which get released.
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5 Bad Symptoms
The fuel pressure sensor doesn’t usually go bad, but it can if it’s damaged or too old. Whenever you have a bad fuel pressure sensor, it can cause problems for the entire fuel pump assembly. Suddenly, the engine won’t receive the proper amount of fuel because the engine control unit is receiving the wrong information from the fuel pressure sensor. Be prepared for a lot of bad symptoms once this happens.
Below are the top 5 symptoms of a bad fuel pressure sensor function. If you notice any of these symptoms present in your vehicle, then have your fuel pressure sensor inspected and replaced if necessary.
1) Check Engine Warning Light
The condition of the fuel pressure sensor will ultimately affect the functionality of the engine. So, if you have a bad fuel pressure sensor, then it is going to cause problems for the engine. As a result, the Check Engine warning light will activate on your dashboard once the engine control unit detects this malfunction. This warning light could mean any number of things, but a bad fuel pressure sensor is one of them.
2) Weak Acceleration
If you step on the gas pedal to accelerate but you don’t go too much faster, then one possible reason for this could be a bad fuel pressure sensor. This problem negatively affects the air and fuel mixture because it might result in too much or too little fuel going into the combustion chamber. You need a healthy balance of air and fuel to make the acceleration function properly. Replacing the fuel pressure sensor can help if it has gone bad.
3) Engine Stalling
It can be a horrible experience to have your engine stall out on you as you’re driving on the road. Stalling will likely happen if you initially had trouble starting your engine before it turned on. If you noticed this, then don’t be surprised if your engine does stall out on the road. In any case, check to ensure your fuel pressure sensor isn’t the cause of the problem. If it is, then replace it right away.
4) Difficulty Starting Vehicle
This coincides with the previous symptom listed. If you have difficulty starting your vehicle on a regular basis, then it could mean that your fuel pressure sensor is faulty. This is especially true if stalling occurs afterward. The reason a bad fuel pressure sensor makes it difficult to start the engine is because it sends bad information to the engine control unit. The unit is then unable to send the correct amount of fuel to the engine for the initial combustion.
5) Poor Fuel Efficiency
If your engine is running, despite having a bad fuel pressure sensor, then it is probably not getting the correct amount of fuel it needs to maintain its efficiency. It may start burning more fuel than it normally requires, resulting in poor fuel efficiency and a bigger fuel expense.
