CAT Engine 2754 Fault Code: Right Turbo Inlet Pressure short to ground
Also called Right Turbo Inlet Pressure Short to Ground, Right Turbocharge Inlet Pressure Sensor : Voltage Below Normal, Right Turbocharger Inlet Pressure Sensor : Voltage Below Normal, Turbo In Right Press Signal Shorted to Ground, Turbo Inlet Right Pressure Signal Shorted to Ground
Right Turbo Inlet Pressure short to ground · ai-assisted, editor-reviewed · Last updated 2026-07-13
TL;DR
CAT code 2754 means the ECM sees the right turbocharger compressor inlet pressure signal reading too low, a short to ground condition, for a set time after power-up. The ECM flags the reading as invalid, substitutes a default pressure value, and derates engine power. Applies to C11, C13, and C27 engines.
High severity. The engine keeps running but power is derated, in some versions by up to 20 percent, and filter restriction data becomes unreliable. Not an immediate stop-engine event, but it should be diagnosed promptly since it affects power and fuel delivery.
What does CAT Engine error code 2754 mean?
Code 2754 relates to the Right Turbo Compressor Inlet Pressure Sensor. This sensor works together with the Atmospheric Pressure sensor so the ECM can tell whether the engine's air filters are restricted or something else is blocking air intake to the turbocharger compressor inlet. When the ECM sees this signal drop too low, it treats it as a short to ground and stops trusting the reading.
Once the ECM flags the signal as invalid, it substitutes a default pressure value (45 kPa, about 6.5 to 7 psi depending on the version) and derates engine power because it can no longer verify actual inlet conditions. In one version of this fault, the derate can go as high as 20 percent, and the filter restriction lamp or check engine lamp may also come on.
This sensor is powered by the ECM's shared 5-volt analog sensor supply, with a separate return (ground) line and a dedicated signal wire. Any short, open, or wiring fault on this circuit affects only this sensor's signal in isolation, though the same supply and return lines are shared with other analog sensors on the engine.
What triggers a CAT Engine 2754 code?
The ECM sets this code when it reads a right turbo compressor inlet pressure signal voltage below about 1.7 volts to 1.72 volts (short to ground condition) for at least 0.24 seconds in one version, or below 0.2 volts for one second or two seconds in other versions, depending on the specific ECM software. This must occur after the ECM has been powered up for at least two seconds to three seconds. In some versions, the code will not set if related supply-circuit codes (5-volt sensor supply short to battery or short to ground) are already active.
Common causes of 2754
- Damaged, corroded, or loose connectors and wiring on the sensor circuit
- Leaks in a vacuum hose or intake hose feeding the sensor's sensing point
- Internal leak or failure inside the Turbo Compressor Inlet Pressure Sensor itself
- A problem in the wiring harness, including chafing or pinched wires
- Low resistance (short) between two or more wires in the harness
- An open circuit somewhere in the sensor's supply, return, or signal wiring
- An incorrect sensor installed on the engine
- A faulty return (ground) wire for the sensor
- A defective ECM (less common, should be the last suspect checked)
How to troubleshoot CAT Engine 2754: first checks
- Inspect the sensor connector and engine harness connectors for corrosion, moisture, bent pins, or loose terminals
- Check the wiring for chafing, pinched sections, or damage along its length, especially near turbo and engine mounting points
- Look for vacuum or hose leaks anywhere in the line running to the turbo compressor inlet pressure sensor
- Verify the 5-volt analog sensor supply and return lines are within spec at the ECM connector and at the sensor
- Check for low resistance or shorts between the signal wire and ground, and between adjacent sensor wires
- Confirm the correct sensor part is installed and matches the application
- If wiring and connectors check out, swap or test the sensor itself before condemning the ECM
How the code clears
No separate clearing step is listed beyond fixing the root cause. Once the wiring, connector, hose, or sensor fault is repaired and the signal voltage returns to a normal operating range (the sensor's normal output runs between 1.722 volts and 4.8 volts, corresponding to a pressure range of 4.7 kPa to 111.5 kPa, or 0.7 psi to 16.1 psi), the code should stop being active. Note that pressure sensors are automatically calibrated by the ECM during the first five seconds after the keyswitch is turned on, provided the engine is not cranked during that window. If the engine is cranked before five seconds elapse, the ECM uses the previous calibration data instead. After a sensor or ECM replacement, allow this calibration window to complete without cranking the engine.
Affected models and serial ranges
2754 appears in our records across 3 CAT Engine models. Match your machine by model and serial number.
| Model | Serial ranges |
|---|---|
| C11 | Serial range not listed in source records |
| C13 | Serial range not listed in source records |
| C27 | Serial range not listed in source records |
Frequently asked questions
What does CAT fault code 2754 mean?
It means the ECM has detected that the right turbocharger compressor inlet pressure sensor signal is reading too low, consistent with a short to ground. The ECM can no longer trust that pressure reading, so it substitutes a default value and derates engine power.
Will code 2754 cause a loss of engine power?
Yes. Because the ECM treats the sensor data as invalid, it limits fuel delivery and engine response. Depending on the specific fault version, the derate can be as much as 20 percent, and the filter restriction or check engine lamp may also activate.
Can I keep operating the machine with this code active?
The engine will typically keep running, but with reduced power and unreliable air filter restriction monitoring. It is best treated as a High severity issue that should be diagnosed as soon as practical rather than ignored.
What usually causes code 2754?
Most cases trace back to damaged or corroded wiring and connectors, a vacuum or hose leak near the sensor, an internal sensor fault, or occasionally a wiring harness short. A faulty ECM is possible but far less common.
Where does the turbo inlet pressure sensor get its power?
It runs on the ECM's shared 5-volt analog sensor supply line, with a common return (ground) line, and its own dedicated signal wire back to the ECM. These supply and return lines are shared with other analog sensors on the engine.
Does this code affect other sensors or codes?
The code will not set if related 5-volt sensor supply diagnostic codes (short to battery or short to ground on the shared supply) are already active, since those upstream faults are diagnosed separately first.
How is the sensor calibrated after repair?
The ECM automatically calibrates pressure sensors during the first five seconds after the keyswitch is turned on, as long as the engine is not cranked during that time. If the engine is cranked too soon, the ECM falls back to the last stored calibration value.