mike.gamble

I've got a problem with my oil pressure gauge and it's something I'd like to get sorted out asap as I'd prefer to know if there were any oil pressure problems occurring whilst driving!

When I turn the ignition on, I get a full scale deflection with the needle to just above the 5 on the gauge and it then says there with no fluctuations, regardless of what the car is doing. When I turn the ignition off the needle usually drops down but, sometimes I have to tap the dash to get the needle to drop down.

I have tested the switch and everything seems fine so I'm guessing that it is a dash/gauge problem, especially due to the occasional tap needed to get the needle to drop. Is this a common fault and if so, how easy/time consuming to fix myself?

dillon410021

I believe the gauge itself is bad. I had a temp gauge that would stick and you had to tap the glass. if the gauge is bouncing bad or not working at all, it could be the oil pressure sending unit

mike.gamble

I'd thought of that so I'd disconnected the wires from the switch and it still did it. Surely it's got to be the gauge?

doabarrelroll

It's very possible that if you touched the oil pressure sender unit, you may have crossed the wires. When you do that, it makes the oil pressure gauge peg to 5 bar +.

gtroth

It would be good to measure the sensor's output voltage with a dvm.
Anyone know what that should measure for say 5 and 3 bar?

mike.gamble

What I may do then is change the wires over and see if that makes any difference but, having to knock the dash........

Sam Minnitti

Do you need to disconnect the battery before switching the wires?

Techno Duck

Nope, you can even do it with the car running if your brave enough .

gtroth

You don't have to guess. You might have to clean it some to see it, but he oil pressure sender is stamped (WK & G), and the wires are color coded (BL & BL/WT):

Sam Minnitti

Very helpful, thank you