Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor: Description and Operation

The fuel tank pressure sensor is a three wire sensor much like that of the common Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor. However, this sensor has very different electrical characteristics due to its pressure differential design. The sensor measures the difference between the air pressure (or vacuum) in the fuel tank and the outside air pressure.

The sensor mounts at the top of the fuel tank. A three wire electrical harness connects it to the PCM. The control module supplies a 5-volt reference voltage and ground to the sensor. The sensor sends a voltage between 0.1 and 4.9 volts. When the air pressure in the fuel tank is equal to the outside air pressure, such as when the fuel fill cap is removed, the output voltage of the sensor will measures 1.3 to 1.7 volts.