fuel pressure regulator and recall

[faiz_23]

so my girlfriend has a 2001 mercury cougar and has issues with the car sputtering and feeling like it is about to die. so we checked the internet and sure enough there was a recall for it. we changed the fuel pump for free and then paid 30 bucks for the fuel filter just to be safe. after we picked up the car we had the check engine light still on and expected it to be reset after we replace those part since the code was "p0193" and that is what autozone said was bad either fuel filter or pump. so we drove it for a week and it was still doing the same thing and we figured maybe the dealership didnt replace the part properly to screwed up.

we took it back and they told us that now the fuel rail pressure regulator is going bad and that is what is causing the car to sputter and seem like it is stalling. i am not sure if that is the issue or not and they are quoting me lik $350. $105.84 for the part it self and on rockauto's website it is $35. is the labor really that much even at $105 dollars they are wanting 250 for the labor. at 65 dollar and hour that is like almost 4 hours to change a regulator. i figured it would be easuily accessible in the engine bay by the fuel rail.

can some one give me directions or a guide on how to replace it or should i let the pros do it. what do you guys think is the real problem. heck it is 4 years old but only has 29,000 miles on it. i would figure the fuel pressure regulator would last longer than 30,000 miles. is the problem becuase of a bad fuel pump and caused the sensor to go bad. please help us we are a bunch of broke college students.

[wadespencer99]

Um....I thought a 2001 (or any returnless Cougar) didn't have a fuel pressure regulator? :confused:

[mond12345]

Yeah. Should be return has a fuel pressure regulator thats vacuum operated and the fuel pump, pumps its max all the time. With return-less the pump is control by the ECU/computer and tell it how much to pump.

[B3NN3TT]

There is what is called an "Injector Pressure Sensor", which is bolted onto the fuel rail in teh same spot as the return models' FPR. Perhaps this is what they are talking about.

[faiz_23]

i think that is what it is the guy said exactly "fuel rail pressure sensor" everyone i talked to said it was a fuel pressure regulator. so i am guessing the are just confused. i have been told it is about 2 hours in labor and the part from the dealership is 45 for the fuel pressure regulator and 65 for the sensor. i dont know what the problem is and the code i got was "p0193" so i am not sure what to do. i dont even trust the dealership anymore becuase i expected the problem to be fixed with the replacement of the pump, but it was never the pump to begin with. since i am having the exact same issue and the same problem code. please tell me what to do and what part it could be.

thanks for the quick replies

[B3NN3TT]

i think that is what it is the guy said exactly "fuel rail pressure sensor" everyone i talked to said it was a fuel pressure regulator. so i am guessing the are just confused. i have been told it is about 2 hours in labor and the part from the dealership is 45 for the fuel pressure regulator and 65 for the sensor. i dont know what the problem is and the code i got was "p0193" so i am not sure what to do. i dont even trust the dealership anymore becuase i expected the problem to be fixed with the replacement of the pump, but it was never the pump to begin with. since i am having the exact same issue and the same problem code. please tell me what to do and what part it could be.

thanks for the quick replies


I have replaced my fuel injector pressure sensor. It is about a 20-minute job with the right tools. I think I paid $79 for the part.

You do not have both - you either have a FPR or an Injector Pressure Sensor. The two are mutually exclusive.

[LostRacer]

"P0193 Injector Pressure sensor circuit high input"
Straight out of the Newbie section...;)

[B3NN3TT]

"P0193 Injector Pressure sensor circuit high input"
Straight out of the Newbie section...;)

:rofl: hey, Ty - why isn't your username Bold like everyone else's?

[faiz_23]

update:

yeah i read that on the cougar faq. but i was confused when the autozone guy pulled the code and said that it was either a fuel pump or filter. that is why we replaced both

but i talked to the dealership and they said that it is the "fuel pressure sensor" on the fuel rail it self toward the end of it and tells the ecu how much gas to send to the engine.

is there any directions or any guide on how to do it, i would like to see if i can tackle it. i hate messing with gas stuff since i am afraid i could kill my self. i have replaced my blower motor in my acura vigor which was a pain. the whole dash and seats and center console come off it is located behind the dash. the dealership quoted about 1600. it wasnt impossible but it was very time consuming. i am just worried about the flamibility part of it. also do you know where is the best place for parts and warrranty to purchase the part, dealership charges 65.00


thanks

[Fett]

Don't be afraid, it is a fairly easy job...even for a novice.


However, STOP listening to "Auto Zone guys". There is a reason they work at Auto Zone....and that is not meant as a good thing. People need to understand that DTCs are NOT the answer. They are designed to give the tech a starting point for diagnosing problems. The code(s) will give you an idea where to start looking, but they do not answer all the questions. I see people waste more money, throwing parts at their cars because some random jackass at AutoZone or Pep Boys pulled their codes.

[faiz_23]

so fett since i hear you are pretty good at this stuff. with the code p0193 is it the fuel pressure sensor. i have dropped it off to a mechanic and they will diagnose it for sure and tell me if that is the issue or not. i think i could possibly fix it my self since i dont need to get under the car. i was a car audio installation tech and have a lot of tools needed. can you please guide me to the right direction to get the instructions. what else in the fuel system could be defective.


thanks. you guys are awesome

[faiz_23]

took it to the mechanic for a free diagnostic and he said he can do it for $175.00 parts and labor and it would have a 2yr/24000 mile warranty. i would like to get some instructions on how hard it would be and maybe have a guide or some pages of the manual. if you guys have it handy that would be awesome. he also said my ph for my coolant was to high or low and could create corrosion in the engine and said i should get a air intake and fuel system cleaning. he said a 100 for the coolant, 135 for the cleaning and 30 for the oil change, plus the sensor for 175. to a grand total of 422. being a college student could even affor half of that so i think i will try to tackle the fuel pressure sensor my self


thanks

[jrak123]

Yes, you can do it yourself, it is very easy. Just follow where the fuel line connects to the fuel rail(you will have to remove the zip tube for the air cleaner. It will be a little black box bolted to the fuel rail about 1"X2" with a connector with 2 wires on it. make sure the car has been sitting for a while to bleed of pressure in the rail then remove the little black cap on the rail and with a small screwdriver press down the schrader valve to release the residual pressure(put a rag in the general area to catch the fuel that is going to come out both from the schrader valve and where you take the sensor off at. Should take you about 30 to 45 minutes. If you want PM me and I will give you my number and I will talk you through the procedure.

[mond12345]

UIM/LIM How-to (http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=v6maint&Number=931756&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=186&fpart=1)

That How-To is for cleaning the manifolds but i figured you could use it to take them off to aid you. One thing though, that car in the pics is a return fuel type style so thats why you see two fuel lines instead of only one in your case.

[faiz_23]

i see the guide an i can now locate the schrader valve and just like the kid i will have to remove the engine cover and air intake to get to the schrader valve. i just cant find the actual sensor it self. where is it under or close to. i see on the guide where the fuel pressure regulator is but i dont have that. is there a picture of one i could see or see just what the things looks like. but now i am in the right vicinity i am pretty sure that removing the air intake and getting to the schrader valve isnt too bad. my girlfriend is worried that since i am messing with the gas that it could explode, i tried to tell her that once i relieve the pressure like a coke can there is nothing to worry about. is there actual gas lines connected to the sensor or is it just vacuum lines.

thanks

[jrak123]

Well the sensor is going to be an actual part of the fuel rail and when it is removed some residual fuel will leak out, that is why I said relieve the majority of pressure by depressing the valve core in the schrader valve. If you do this when the engine is cold you have nothing to worry about.

[topcat0399]

People need to understand that DTCs are NOT the answer. They are designed to give the tech a starting point for diagnosing problems. The code(s) will give you an idea where to start looking, but they do not answer all the questions. I see people waste more money, throwing parts at their cars

what he said. alot of people around here (including mods)advise people to just throw parts at it. drives me nuts.

[XplosivePlushToy]

Does anyone have the part number for the fuel pressure sensor? I ordered a regulator accidentally :disgust: for my 01. The sensor has gone bad in mine. If not, I'll just call up the dealership and see if they have any in stock.