Bad Fuel Pressure Regulator? Find Out How To Fix It Yourself

Automotive Blog

The fuel pressure regulator is there to maintain a specific fuel pressure that your vehicle needs to run smoothly. But, like any other vehicle component, the fuel pressure regulator can fail. The following guide will help you diagnose a bad fuel pressure regulator and show you how to replace it.

Signs Of A Faulty Fuel Pressure Regulator

Look for the following symptoms:

• Remove your spark plugs to see if they are sooty or blackened, as a faulty regulator will cause oil to get on your spark plugs.
• Problematic idling, like sputtering, may occur. The regulator could be the problem, especially if you've just changed your fuel filter.
• Black smoke coming from your tailpipe.
• Your engine oil smells like gasoline.
• A little gasoline drips from your tailpipe.
• Your engine stalls or hesitates when you press on the gas pedal.
• There is gasoline in the vacuum hose attached to your regulator when the car is off.

You can talk to your auto care specialist about the aforementioned symptoms to confirm that your fuel pressure regulator is the problem. If you would like to fix the problem yourself, check out the following.

How to Replace The Fuel Pressure Regulator

What You'll Need:

• A new fuel pressure regulator for your specific car (get this at your local auto parts store)
• Your repair guide/owner's manual
• Wrench and socket set
• O-ring
• Engine oil
• Safety glasses and gloves

Steps:

1. Park your car in a safe and leveled location, and make sure the engine is cool.
2. Let the fuel pressure out by removing the fuel pump relay and opening your fuel cap. Turn your car on, and let it run until it turns off.
3. Close the fuel cap.
4. Put your gloves and safety glasses on.
5. Disconnect the battery, just to be safe.
6. Locate the fuel pressure regulator. You can consult your owner's manual or repair guide. It is usually located on the driver's side by the injectors.
7. Clean off any debris that might be on the regulator before removing it.
8. Carefully disconnect the hose and electrical connector.
9. Remove any bolts that may be keeping the fuel pump regulator in place.
10. Place the new O-ring on your new fuel pressure regulator and lightly lubricate it.
11. Bolt the new regulator in place, and reconnect any cables that were disconnected.
12. Reconnect your fuel pump relay.
13. Reconnect your battery.

Start your vehicle, and hopefully the issue has been solved. Make sure you talk to an auto care specialist at a company like Southside Auto Repair if the issue continues as the problem could lie with your fuel pump itself.

24 March 2015