A intermittent fuel rail pressure problem was driving me nuts and I couldn't figure out the problem. So I ordered this AutoMeter fuel rail pressure gauge to help me diagnose the problem. It wires in directly to the wire harness connector on the fuel rail pressure sensor.
Two wires go to the sensor.
A long purple wire connects to the sensor signal wire, middle wire on the connector.
A long black wire connects to the sensor ground, yellow with brown stripe wire on the connector.
The shorter black wire goes to a good ground along with the black wire from the gauge bulb.
The shorter red wire goes to a fused key-on terminal. I chose the radio fuse.
The white wire from the gauge bulb can go to any key-on terminal but chose to connect it to the fuse for the instrument cluster lights.
During the process of figuring out the best way to wire in the gauge I discovered a intermittent open circuit in the fuel rail pressure sensor. So I replaced that connector which seems to have cured all my problems.
The connector is pretty common on many makes on models. I got mine from a local Chevy dealer. A Chevy duramax uses the same sensor a our CRD. Online prices are about 20-30 dollars.
When wiring in the gauge it is best to solder your connections at the sensor and seal with shrink tube. A loose or corroded connection can cause you some serious problems down the road.
Glowshift offers a similar gauge that has both analog and digital displays. Available on Amazon for about $100.
This gauge is not really a necessity for every day driving but can be a great tool for diagnosing fuel rail pressure problems.
Comparing the pressure gauge to rail pressure readings on the TorquePro android app:
When using TorquePro, the displayed rail pressure is what is demanded from the ECM and correlates to the position of the fuel rail pressure solenoid.
The AutoMeter gauge displays actual rail pressure from the sensor.
The AutoMeter gauge reading can be 500-2000 psi greater than what is displayed on TorquePro and is a more accurate representation of how well the injection pump is working.
Remember, there are two ways the ECM regulates fuel rail pressure.
1. The pressure control valve (PCV) solenoid on the fuel rail.
2. The fuel quantity solenoid (MPROP) on the CP3 injection pump.
With a fully warmed up engine. At idle, fuel rail pressure readings are:
Gauge- about 5400 psi.
TorquePro- about 4900 psi