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CEL is only related to engine pollution control sensors. Fuel pump is not included. Fuel pump supplies more fuel than engine needs. It recircs and is pressure regulated.
Certain elements in the distributor [not the cap, rotor] are 'sensed' and when they fail, you would get a distributor CEL code.
Check that there are no cracks-splits-leaks-disconnects of all engine plastic/rubber intake hoses
If your mechanic has narrowed it down to either the distributor or the fuel pump and needs more than 30 seconds to take the diagnosis any further, you need to find a new mechanic.
Or maybe somebody should buy this "mechanic" a fuel pressure gauge!
CEL is only related to engine pollution control sensors. Fuel pump is not included. Fuel pump supplies more fuel than engine needs. It recircs and is pressure regulated.
Certain elements in the distributor [not the cap, rotor] are 'sensed' and when they fail, you would get a distributor CEL code.
Check that there are no cracks-splits-leaks-disconnects of all engine plastic/rubber intake hoses
Interesting thank you! I didn't see this reply before i pressed send on my last post, did not know fuel pump can't queue the CEL.
I don't think the CEL will flash when the fuel pump is going out. At least, it didn't for my rig of a similar vintage.
Saying something is impossible is a sure fire way to see it within the next 15 minutes.
But.. Yeah.. It'd be a case for documentation if it happened. Flashing CEL is a misfire condition that's over.. 20% I think.. Likely varies by manufacturer, but basically the flashing is an indication that a cylinder is misfiring badly and continuing to drive risks damage to your cat from unburned fuel.
The part that doesn't make any sense to me on this is that there was 'no code'.. The flashing CEL refutes that pretty much.. There should have been SOMETHING in the P0300-P0308 range.
1st thing you need to do is check the fuel pressure. This should have been done a long time ago.
Have him hook up a fuel pressure gauge inline and go drive it with the fuel gauge visible.
Whats the 1st thing a doctor does when you visit him?.....check your blood pressure.
The part that doesn't make any sense to me on this is that there was 'no code'.. The flashing CEL refutes that pretty much.. There should have been SOMETHING in the P0300-P0308 range.
Usually, it needs to be a sustained misfire for a code to generate, such as when sitting there idling without any load on the engine.
So flashing CEL, but no code tells me the misfire occurs under load, but clears up when load Is removed, so it's not going to generate a code. But a flashing CEL is universally a pretty severe misfire.
Oh, and CEL can display codes for things other than engine emission devices. Some makes have fuel pump monitors, and there can also be automatic transmission codes that display the CEL.
P0087 is the code for "Fuel Rail/System pressure too low". Not all cars can monitor for this though, so don't assume lack of this code means fuel pressure is ok.
Did mechanic put a fuel pressure guage on the car and check to see what the pressure is?
Misfires are one of 3 things. Fuel, Air, and spark.
You said the ignition components are fairly new. On the fuel side, there's pump, fuel pressure regulator, and clogged injectors that could be the cause. On the air side, how dirty is the filter? Is it clogged?
There's so much more potential troubleshooting that could be done here without even needing to drive the car. What has the mechanic done?
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