P2288: Injector Control Pressure Too High

P2288 reports that the injector control pressure itself, not just its reading, has climbed above the allowed maximum while the engine runs. Ford's 6.0L Power Stroke summaries put the limit at 27.5 MPa in the 2003 edition and 29.5 MPa in 2004, sustained for more than 3 s. For comparison, Ford's high-pressure oil pump normally works between about 3 and 25 MPa on that engine. Excessive pressure means the injection pressure regulator fails to release enough oil to drain, because it sticks, its coil is driven wrongly or the control signal is stuck; a sensor reading high but still within circuit limits can also mislead. The PCM limits fuelling to protect the injectors and oil system. P2290 is the too-low case; P2289 the same check with the engine off.

Medium severity. Can I keep driving?Drive as little as possible and go to a repair shop. If you smell fuel or the engine is shaking badly, do not keep driving.

Symptoms

Reduced power with fuel limit active
Loud injection noise or knocking
MIL on

Most likely causes

Injection pressure regulator valve stuck or contaminated
Fault in the regulator drive circuit holding it at high duty
ICP sensor reading higher than the actual pressure

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

Check the connector and wiring of the injector indicated
Check the sensor's ground and make sure the signal wire is not receiving voltage from another circuit.
Measure the resistance and compare it with the manufacturer's specification
Check the control signal with an oscilloscope; on direct injection or diesel engines, leave this to a repair shop because of the high voltages
On diesels, check the per-cylinder injection corrections

Good to know

Repair difficulty: hard
It can trigger limp mode.
It affects emissions.

What each character of P2288 means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
2: Generic code: same on every make
2: Fuel injection
88: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P2288?

Drive as little as possible and go to a repair shop. If you smell fuel or the engine is shaking badly, do not keep driving.

What causes code P2288?

The most common causes are: injection pressure regulator valve stuck or contaminated; fault in the regulator drive circuit holding it at high duty; iCP sensor reading higher than the actual pressure.

Related codes

Sources

Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.