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Ethanol sensor support page

gm13577379.jpgEthanol sensors report the concentration of ethanol in your fuel. The sensor is typically installed on the return side of the fuel pressure regulator (i.e., between the fuel pressure regulator and the tank).

Due to variations in fuel system setup, the exact details of the physical installation will vary from one car to the next. So this page doesn't spend much time going over all those different options. We cover a few basics with the two most common configurations, but other than that, you'll need to carefully consider the particulars of your specific setup to determine the best option.

This page primarily focuses on the theory and software configuration options supported in ECMLink so that you have a good understanding of how ECMLink works with ethanol sensor data.

Physical installation

First, to help with the installation process, we have collected together various part numbers and such on our Ethanol sensor parts list reference page. That page also includes links to some sample installation examples from various other places on the web including this overview picture show to the right (click to enlarge).

Although there are probably a variety of different ways to run a fuel return system in a DSM, the two most common have either stock rubber hose or AN lines (typically -6AN) running from the fuel pressure regulator to the tank.

If you have a fairly stock return setup, then you should be able to get by without adapters. The factory rubber line is 6mm (1/4“) ID, but a little heat will allow you to slip the hose over the 3/8” sensor barbs.

If you have an AN setup, then you'll need some way to adapt the sensor hardlines to the AN lines. The typical solution is a hard tube push-on fitting like the Russell adapter listed on our Ethanol sensor parts list page. These adapters push onto the ethanol sensor to basically convert the ends to AN fittings.

Once you've determined how to tee into your sensor into the fuel line, you'll need to decide how to wire it to the ECU.

Wiring

sam_0297medium.jpgThe ethanol sensor has three pins: +12v, chassis ground and signal to the ECU. Conveniently, these pins are actually labeled on the sensor itself! Click on the image to the right to see these labels. Very nice. The manufacturer did not have to do that for us as these sensors are typically installed in production vehicles where there's no need for such information.

Our Ethanol sensor parts list page has links to the connector and pins needed to fit to this sensor. At some point, we may provide a simple modification to our SD cable that provides this connection for you. Until then, the easiest option is to simply get the EFI Connection Part # 100-00741 pigtail and just wire it straight up yourself.

The ground connection needs to be run to chassis ground (i.e., do not use sensor ground off the TPS or MAF connector).

The power connection (labeled “Vcc”) needs to run to a +12v source. You can find +12v either straight off the battery (of course) or there's a +12v wire on the MAF connector harness too. This will be a thick red wire on pin 3 of a 1G MAF connector or pin 4 of a 2G/EVO3 MAF connector.

The signal wire (labeled “Out”) needs to run to the ECU's MAF input. This is pin 2 (green with blue stripe) on a 1G MAF connector or pin 3 (blue with yellow stripe) on a 2G/EVO3 MAF connector.

ethanolsupport.1394625676.txt.gz · Last modified: 2014/03/12 08:01 by twdorris