The injector control pressure sensor is an engine management component that is commonly found on diesel engines. As its name implies, it is an electronic sensor that monitors the fuel pressure going to the injectors. Diesel engines require an especially fine tuned fuel mixture, as they rely on pressure and temperature to ignite the fuel mixture, instead of a spark. The injector control pressure sensor detects the pressure of the fuel feeding the injectors, and sends that signal to the computer so that it can make the adjustments for optimum performance and efficiency. When there is an issue with this sensor, the signal can be compromised, which can lead to performance issues with the vehicle.
1. Starting issues
One of the first symptoms of a possible issue with the injector control pressure sensor is issues starting the engine. Diesel engines do not have spark ignition systems, and therefore require a finely tuned fuel mixture for proper ignition. If the control pressure sensor has any issues, the computer signal to the injectors can be thrown off, which may lead to issues when starting the engine. The engine may require more cranks than normal, or several turns of the key before it starts.
2. Engine misfires and decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel economy
Another symptom of a possible issue with the injector control pressure sensor is engine performance issues. A faulty sensor can throw off the fuel mixture and cause the engine to experience misfires, a loss in power and acceleration, a loss in fuel economy, and in some cases even stalling. Similar symptoms can also be produced by other issues, so a proper diagnosis is recommended to be sure of the issue.
3. Check Engine Light comes on
An illuminated Check Engine Light is another symptom of a potential issue with the vehicle’s injector control pressure sensor. If the computer detects an issue with the injector control pressure sensor or circuit it will set off the Check Engine Light to notify the driver of an issue. An illuminated Check Engine Light can also be set off by a wide variety of other issues, so having the computer scanned for trouble codes is highly recommended.
Injector control pressure sensors are more commonly found on diesel engines, however they can also be found on vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. If you suspect that you may be having an issue with the injector control pressure sensor, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to determine if the sensor should be replaced.
