Hello!

2018 Ford Focus. I live in Tucson (very hot) and a few weeks ago I drove it to the top of a mountain (like 6000 ft) and at the top, the gas pedal started falling out from under my foot like I was out of gas - but intermittently. Let it sit for two hours and it drove home fine. Took it to a mechanic and they said it was throwing a code P008A but they checked the fuel pressure - fine - and the connection w the gas pedal - fine. They couldn’t figure it out. So I just kept driving it.

A week later, it was very low on gas on a hot night and I drove it to the station, filled it up, and after it was full, wouldn’t restart without feathering the gas. Afterwards I noticed the idle seemed rough but otherwise I haven’t been having any issues.

Took it back to the shop and they said the last problem means I need to replace the valve canister, but that that still wouldn’t explain the P008A code (low fuel pressure). It seems tho like the EVAP system having issues could cause engine performance issues, maybe even confusing the car into thinking it had low fuel pressure? Or cause a vacuum in the tank that could actually cause fuel pressure issues?

I gotta drive across the country next week and really don’t wanna be stuck on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. What do yall think? Could a bad canister be causing all those issues? Should I have them replace the EVAP valves too?

Or does it seem too unlikely that the P008A code and the vapor canister are connected and I need to keep looking into the fuel system? And if so, if they tested the fuel pressure and it looked fine, where would you start?

Thank You!!

 

I do not believe the canister is the problem here.

Fuel from the tank has to get to the fuel volume solenoid on the hi press pump.
I would start with verifying fuel filter being unrestricted and just changing the filter.