Fuel and air

P0253 — Injection Pump Fuel Metering Control "A" Circuit Low

Severity: medium Drive with care, to a shop

What P0253 means

The ECM monitors the electrical circuit of the actuator that meters fuel inside the high-pressure injection pump on a diesel or other electronically controlled system. P0253 sets when the voltage or signal in circuit "A" is lower than expected. The ECM then cannot accurately control how much fuel is delivered to the engine.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Reduced power and sluggish acceleration
  • Rough idle or hesitation
  • Hard starting or no start
  • Higher fuel consumption or black smoke
  • Stalling
  • Misfire-like rough running

Possible causes

  1. Faulty fuel metering solenoid or actuator in the injection pump
  2. Damaged wiring or a poor connector contact in the metering circuit
  3. Short to ground in the control circuit
  4. Mechanical failure of the injection pump
  5. Poor ground or low system voltage
  6. ECM failure (uncommon)

How to diagnose

  1. Read all codes and freeze-frame data and look for other fuel or voltage codes
  2. Test battery voltage and charging output, and check terminals and grounds
  3. Inspect the pump harness and connector for chafing, corrosion, moisture and oil
  4. Test the control circuit for opens and shorts to ground and to power
  5. Measure the metering solenoid resistance and compare it with the manufacturer spec
  6. Check fuel pressure and compare actual to commanded values on the scan tool
  7. Review fuel trim data and cylinder balance
  8. If wiring and solenoid are good, evaluate the pump, and only then suspect the ECM

Common fixes

  • Repair damaged wiring or replace the connector
  • Replace the fuel metering solenoid or actuator
  • Fix poor grounds or charging system problems
  • Repair or replace the injection pump if it has failed mechanically
  • Replace or reprogram the ECM if a fault is confirmed

Questions and answers

What does P0253 mean?

The ECM detected a low signal in the injection pump fuel metering control "A" circuit. The usual culprits are the metering solenoid, wiring or a connector.

Can I drive with code P0253?

Only a short distance to a shop. The engine may lose power, stall or not start, so don't put off the repair.

What should I check first for P0253?

Start with battery voltage, grounds, and the pump harness and connector. Then measure the metering solenoid resistance and check fuel pressure.

This is general information about the code. The meaning can differ between makes and models: a scan tool and the repair manual for your car will show the exact cause.