Sometimes a simple part you don’t notice can stop you from repairing your customer’s vehicle. SureTrack community member BRIANRINGS1 had a Lexus IS250 in their shop that wouldn’t start and found that fuel pressure was low, even after replacing the pump twice. They posed the question to the community, and with the help of fellow community member ericsautomotive and others, they were able to resolve the issue.
The following Real Fix summarizes the interaction between them in the community that led to the solution.
Vehicle
2014 Lexus IS 250 2.5L
Title
Won’t run, low fuel pressure, replaced spacer.
Complaint
Customer complains that vehicle won’t run.
Diagnostic Steps Performed/Parts Replaced
Came in on tow truck with a bad battery, customer replaced battery but car won’t run. Found crankshaft position code P0335 Signal A – in permanent codes – replaced sensor, did not fix problem. Spark is now present, crank, no start still. Checked fuel pump in tank, was not running with power and ground applied. Replaced pump with Lexus original OEM pump & strainer. Pump now runs but will only put out 1.2-1.8 psi. For some reason for this year of Lexus, they do not sell a pump for it as an assembly, so you buy it in pieces.
Had pump replaced under warranty, new pump and strainer (2nd time) also ordered regulator that goes with it inside pump just to be safe. The first pump I had produced 1.2 psi and no more, the 2nd now gives me up to 1.8 but not up to spec, 21 psi is spec. Everyone keeps telling me high pressure pump, it is not the high pressure pump, I can’t get sufficient fuel pressure to the engine. Checked everything and then some, spark, voltage, pressure, only thing I haven’t checked is fuel volume, the spec for the car is 21 psi, what am I doing wrong?
Cause
The problem with the fuel pump was a plastic spacer that went between the pump inside the assembly and fuel bowl. It had disintegrated, and the dealer did not tell me I needed a new one. Now I would have replaced the entire pump assembly, but Lexus does not sell an entire fuel pump assembly for this car, you buy it piece by piece. It was literally a small white plastic spacer, that goes before the o – ring on the fuel sender. I was mad, but it started right up after that.
Correction
Replaced fuel pump sender spacer, which goes before the o-ring. Car started right up with no problems after spacer was installed.