Error Code P1233 is defined as Fuel Pump Driver Module Disabled Or Off Line. This means the fuel pump is not starting up correctly, which could be caused by problems with the FPDM (fuel pump driver module).

The fuel pump driver module slows the pump near idle speed to lessen humming from the pump, it would not likely be your problem. Have a dealer run the engine surging pinpoint tests in the factory service manual to see what is going on. Also, if you have a modified engine it may overwork a stock fuel pump driver module and cause the module to overheat. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may need a replacement or an upgraded module equipped to handle higher fuel output. Check out O'Reilly Auto Parts to find the right fuel pump driver module for your car, truck, or SUV. The fuel-pump driver module controls the high-pressure fuel pumps of modern, computer-controlled, fuel-injected engines, including diesels. The module is typically installed on or very close to the fuel pump, and in the early years of the component's use, this practice led to a design fault. 2004 - 2008 Ford F150 - Fuel Pump Driver Module- Check yours!! - Ok, I know this is a fairly well known fact to most but to those that arent aware this is a heads up. Now Ford has built one hell of a truck with the F-150 but we all know they have their quirks and the fuel pump driver module issue is one of them.

This error code is a generic trouble, meaning it applies to all vehicles equipped with OBD-II system, especially vehicles made since 1996 up to present. Specifications on the definition, troubleshooting, and repairs, of course, vary from one make and model to another.

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Definition

Driver

Error Code P1233 is set when the fuel pump is not starting up correctly. This could be caused by two primary reasons that interfere with fuel pump startup – the fuel pump relay, or the inertia switch.

Common Symptoms

Ford Focus Fuel Pump Driver Module

The most common symptom and usually the only symptom for this error code is the activation of the Check Engine light and the registration of the error code.

The PCM (Powertrain Control Module, also known as ECM or engine control module in other vehicles makes) monitors the FPM (Fuel Pump Monitor) circuit from the FDPM (Fuel Pump Driver Module). With the key on, the FDPM sends duty cycle signal to the PCM continuously through FPM circuit. If this fails (the PCM stops receiving the duty signal), then the Error Code P1233 will set.

Possible Causes

As said earlier, this error code could be caused by a lot of factors. Some of the most common possible causes include:

  • IFS (Inertia Fuel Shutoff) switch needs to be reset
  • Faulty IFS (Inertia Fuel Shutoff) switch
  • Faulty FDPM (Fuel Pump Driver Module)
  • Open or shorted FDPM (Fuel Pump Driver Module) harness
  • Poor electrical connection in FDPM (Fuel Pump Driver Module) circuit
  • Faulty PCM (rare)

How to Check

To check for this code, technicians usually start by checking the fuel pump fuse.

Next, they reset the inertia switch manually.

If both things still don’t work, technicians will check for power at the fuel pump connector. If the connector is not getting power, technicians will pull the fuel pump relay (or change I with another relay with the same part number) or jumper the relay contacts to power the pump.

If that doesn’t fix the problem, technicians will now check for power coming into the relay. If there is sufficient power, they will re-jumper the relay contacts and then check for power coming from the fuse box and straight to the pump.

If the problem persists, technicians will now test the wiring crimp connectors. In some cases, faulty factory crimps at the relay box could be causing this issue.

How to Fix

  • Repair or replace faulty fuel pump fuse
  • Reset the inertia switch manually
  • Repair or replace faulty fuel pump connector
  • Repair or replace faulty wirings in the crimp connectors

Faulty PCM is not usually the cause of this error code, but in some occasions, it could because of faulty or outdated PCM.

The fuel pump drive -- or driver -- module is usually referred to by the acronym FPDM. Aftermarket retailers sometimes call the same component a fuel solenoid driver, or FSD. By either name, the module controls the voltage delivered to a vehicle’s fuel pump. By controlling the voltage, the fuel-pump driver module maintains the optimum fuel pressure and fuel delivery to the engine throughout its full operating range.

Purpose

The fuel-pump driver module controls the high-pressure fuel pumps of modern, computer-controlled, fuel-injected engines, including diesels. The module is typically installed on or very close to the fuel pump, and in the early years of the component's use, this practice led to a design fault. Manufacturers, including Ford, initially placed the module inside the vehicle immediately above the fuel pump, typically just beneath the floor pan. That practice had the module mounted under seats or covered by carpet, which led to overheating problems.

Failure

The fuel-pump driver module is the most common part to fail in computerized diesel engines. When first installed in the technologically advanced diesel engines of the mid-1990s, the modules were made from materials that were unable to handle their own high operating temperatures and the extreme vibration they were exposed to when functioning. In some model vehicles, such as General Motors vehicles made between 1995 and 2002, the failure rate has been almost total. Aftermarket units are available that use advanced electronics that create less heat, with an improved heat transfer pad to minimize retention of the heat. Pairing the fuel-pump driver module with the incorrect fuel pump will also promote failure.

Symptoms of Failure

Symptoms of a failing fuel-pump driver module all manifest in the performance of the engine. Difficulty in starting or a smoky start-up, stalling or uneven running while idling, hesitations and misses when driving, and power surges when in reverse can all -- separately or together -- be indicative of a failing module. Failure can normally be diagnosed electronically using a handheld scanner, with the model-specific code displayed that translates to the fuel-pump driver module.

Modified Engines

Vehicles with modified engines that need more fuel than is standard, such as race cars and tuned-up street cars, require modified FPDMs. Running a standard module can result in overheating -- the standard fuel pump asks too much of the module, and its electronics overheat -- so the internal limiter shuts the control process down. Although the module should resume function when it cools to a safe temperature, the sudden cessation of fuel flow to a full-revving engine can have catastrophic effects.

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