Updated: 27/11/2025
If you’re seeing P2290 Injector Control Pressure Too Low on your Discovery 3 (2.7L TDV6), especially under high load, high torque, lower RPM, and boost, this guide should help you avoid chasing ghosts.
This fault usually points to the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) — Siemens / Continental VDO units from factory — but the root cause isn’t always straightforward.
Condition That Triggered P2290
- High engine load
- Boost applied
- Lower RPM / high torque zone
At the same time, you might see other random warnings (suspension, stability, coolant). But in my case, the consistent and recurring ECM code was always P2290-00.
Even after replacing:
- Low-pressure fuel pump (LPFP)
- High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) (both aftermarket units from China)
P2290 continued under boost, despite looking fine on live data at idle.
Two Replacement HPFPs, Same Failure
Here’s what happened:
- $2,800 “VDO Reman” pump from LR Parts (eBay) – good rebuild, excellent customer service, but could not hold rail pressure under load.
- $750 non-VDO rebuilt pump from Shandong Huayihe Import & Export Co., Ltd – through aliexpress – looked fine physically but exhibited the exact same symptoms.
Both pumps behaved similarly:
- Could build some pressure but could not maintain target rail pressure under load
- Volume control valve (%) climbed excessively
- Triggered P2290 – Injector Control Pressure Too Low
Eventually, installing a known-good second-hand pump solved the problem immediately:
- Fuel rail pressure climbed cleanly (~155,000 kPa under load)
- Volume control valve stayed below ~40%
- No P2290, no limp mode, smooth fueling
This confirmed that the problem was in the HPFP itself, likely in the volume control valve or pressure control valve.
We can’t know exactly how the ECU controls things internally — if anyone has technical insight or can contribute, please let me know.
Fuel Temperature Sensor Note (Optional)
The fuel temperature sensor is not the root cause in my case. However, it can influence ECU behavior:
- If unplugged, the ECU enters closed-loop mode.
- This will throw a fuel temperature sensor fault, but won’t enter limp mode — unless the HPFP is really failing.
- This is useful if you want to continue testing without triggering limp mode unnecessarily.
HPFP Tips — OEM vs Aftermarket
Forums often insist you must use OEM Siemens / Continental VDO pumps. My experience:
- Quality and confidence in the manufacturer matter more than the brand label
- Replace both volume and pressure control valves when installing a pump
- Always verify live fuel pressure under load after installation
After this process, a well-built aftermarket HPFP can work perfectly. The key is testing under real-world conditions.
Normal Discovery 3 Fuel Rail Pressure
On a healthy 2.7 TDV6 system:
- Max pressure under load: ~165,000 kPa
- Idle pressure: ~25,000–29,000 kPa
If values drop below this under load, suspect:
- Weak or faulty HPFP
- Defective control valves
- Low supply pressure (LPFP)
- Incorrect sensor inputs
Key Takeaways
- Don’t assume P2290 always means a bad HPFP — but it usually is related to the pump’s internal valves.
- Use live data under load to confirm rail pressure.
- Aftermarket pumps can work if properly built and tested.
- Replacing the valves is essential on a rebuild.
- Fuel temp sensor can be unplugged for testing — it will throw a code but prevent limp mode, giving you more time to diagnose.
Final Thoughts
Fuel system faults on the Discovery 3 TDV6 are tricky. A single HPFP valve failing internally can mimic ECU or sensor issues, causing misleading P2290 codes.
Two aftermarket pumps in a row failed for me — it wasn’t my diagnosis. Installing a known-good pump immediately fixed the system.
Disclaimer
- Values can vary depending on ECU version, scan tool accuracy, and ambient conditions.
- If you’ve found a different fix or have technical insight on ECU control logic, please share — it helps keep these vehicles on the road.
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