Fuel Pressure Sensor: Description and Operation

Fuel Rail Pressure Sensor

Fuel Rail Pressure (FRP) Sensor:

The Fuel Rail Pressure (FRP) sensor is a diaphragm strain gauge device in which resistance changes with pressure. The electrical resistance of a strain gauge increases as pressure increases, and decreases as pressure decreases. The varying resistance affects the voltage drop across the sensor terminals and provides electrical signals to the PCM corresponding to pressure.

Strain gauge type sensors are considered passive sensors. A passive sensor is connected to a voltage divider network so that varying the resistance of the passive sensor causes a variation in total current flow.

Voltage that is dropped across a fixed resistor in series with the sensor resistor determines the voltage signal at the PCM. This voltage signal is equal to the reference voltage minus the voltage drop across the fixed resistor.

The FRP sensor measures the pressure of the fuel near the fuel injectors. This signal is used by the PCM to adjust the fuel injector pulse width and meter fuel to each engine combustion cylinder.

The Fuel Rail Pressure (FRP) sensor senses the pressure difference between the fuel rail and the intake manifold. The return fuel line to the fuel tank has been deleted in this type of fuel system. The differential fuel/intake manifold pressure together with measured fuel temperature provides an indication of the fuel vapors in the fuel rail. Both differential pressure and temperature feedback signals are used to control the speed of the fuel pump. The speed of the fuel pump sustains fuel rail pressure which preserve fuel in its liquid state. The dynamic range of the fuel injectors increase because of the higher rail pressure, which allows the injector pulse width to decrease.

The fuel pressure sensor:
^ sends the powertrain control module a signal indicating fuel pressure.
- The powertrain control module uses the fuel pressure sensor signal and the fuel temperature sensor signal to maintain the fuel liquid pressure in the fuel line which reduces the fuel vapor pressure in the fuel line.
^ sends a signal to the powertrain control module indicating the cylinder head temperature.
- If the temperature exceeds approximately 121°C (250°F), the powertrain control module disables half the fuel injectors at a time. The powertrain control module will alternate which fuel injectors are disabled every 32 engine cycles. The cylinders that are not being fuel injected act as air pumps to aid in cooling the engine.
- If the temperature exceeds approximately 166°C (330°F), the powertrain control module disables all of the fuel injectors until the engine temperature drops below approximately 154°C (310°F).
- The coolant temperature gauge pointer will read fully hot.
- The check gauge warning indicator will illuminate and DTCs are set.