How severe is this DTC?
Any code related to the fuel system should be considered severe and treated with great urgency. Since this is a fuel shut-off code, you probably won’t have a choice.
What are some of the symptoms of the code?
Symptoms of a P213F diagnostic code may include:
- No start condition
- Fuel leaks
- Additional drive and fuel codes
What are some common causes of the code?
Causes
of this P213F code may include:
- Faulty fuel pump
- Clogged fuel filter
- Fuel leak
- Faulty fuel pressure sensor
- Bad fuel pressure/volume regulator
- PCM failure or PCM programming error
What are the diagnostic and troubleshooting steps for P213F?
Tools needed to diagnose a P213F code include:
- A diagnostic scanner
- A digital volt/ohmmeter
- A fuel pressure tester with adapters and fittings
- A reliable vehicle information source
Use your vehicle information source to obtain fuel system specifications and testing procedures for fuel system components. You should also find wiring diagrams, connector face views, connector pinout diagrams, and diagnostic flowcharts that will assist you in your diagnosis.
You’ll need to clear this code before activating the fuel pump and performing a fuel system pressure test or leak check. Connect the scanner to the vehicle’s diagnostic connector and retrieve all stored codes and freeze frame data. Record this information in case you need it later. After that, clear the codes and try to start the engine. If possible, have one person turn the ignition key while another looks for fuel leaks near the fuel supply lines. If a fuel leak is discovered, you’ve likely found the problem. Repair it and drive the vehicle until the PCM enters readiness mode or the P213F resets.
If no fuel system leak is discovered, use the fuel pressure tester and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to perform a manual fuel pressure test. You’ll need to connect the tester near the fuel pump. If the vehicle has an external fuel filter, I would place the fuel pressure test between the fuel pump and the fuel filter for the initial test. If my initial test revealed that fuel pressure met specifications, I would move my fuel pressure tester to the output side of the fuel filter and perform another test. If fuel pressure is too low at the fuel filter output, I would consider it clogged (bad). With fuel pressure test results in hand, perform appropriate repairs and retest the system.
If fuel pressure is excessive, suspect a fuel pressure regulator problem.
If fuel pressure meets specifications and no leaks are present, follow manufacturer recommendations for testing fuel pressure sensors, fuel pressure regulator, and fuel volume regulator.
- If the fuel pump circuit is overloaded after the engine reaches normal operating temperature, suspect the fuel pump is faulty
- High-pressure diesel fuel systems should only be serviced by qualified personnel