A diagnostic system of a vehicle includes an energy absorber sandwiched between a front bumper fascia and a front bumper reinforcement of the vehicle. A sensing tube is located between a portion of the energy absorber and the front bumper reinforcement. A first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor measure a first pressure of air and a second pressure of air within the sensing tube, respectively. An actuator is configured to actuate and vary a pressure within the sensing tube. A diagnostic module is configured to selectively diagnose the presence of a fault with the sensing tube based on at least one of: a first change in the first pressure in response to actuation of the actuator; and a second change in the second pressure in response to the actuation of the actuator.

A diagnostic system of a vehicle includes an energy absorber sandwiched between a front bumper fascia and a front bumper reinforcement of the vehicle. A sensing tube is located between a portion of the energy absorber and the front bumper reinforcement. A first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor measure a first pressure of air and a second pressure of air within the sensing tube, respectively. An actuator is configured to actuate and vary a pressure within the sensing tube. A diagnostic module is configured to selectively diagnose the presence of a fault with the sensing tube based on at least one of: a first change in the first pressure in response to actuation of the actuator; and a second change in the second pressure in response to the actuation of the actuator.

Described herein are examples of differential pressure sensors designed to work with dynamic, high pressure, hydraulic systems. The sensors have a one piece sensor housing that is durable enough to withstand intense fluid pressures and associated stresses. Additionally, the sensors use foil (rather than, for example, piezoelectric) strain gauges to enable pressure measurement even under the unique stresses imposed by dynamic, high pressure, hydraulic systems. Furthermore, the sensor tubes of the sensor help to isolate the strain gauges from some of the bowing/bending stresses that the main body of the sensor may experience due to the intense fluid pressures.