heinrich

So I was smelling oil driving around yesterday. Stopped at a store and checked under the car ... in stead of oil (was from another car) I noticed what I thought was an alternator wire hanging down, and went straight home. Upon investigation, I discovered that the WK post had completely broken off, leaving the connector and wire hanging down. Very interesting, because oil pressure was normal. Took a couple of hours to replace on the spot, and the car got an impromptu oil change since the filter was in the way, and I learnt that I need to buy a stubby 1 1/16th" wrench. Tried to heat bend one, but no such luck.

Very interesting ... is the WK the emergency low oil warning, or what?

JHowell37

Actually it requires a 24mm wrench and I agree that it's easiest to remove the oil filter to gain access. I think I used a vice grip to remove the old sender. Did you remove the thing the sender screws into to clean it out. A lot of crap gets built up inside it.

Landseer

So the needle wasn't pegged when the wire was off the sender? In other words, what do you mean by normal --- varying on the gauge with engine speed? I thought it would fail "pegged". Interesting that the terminal failed.

Alan

H - WK is for the low pressure switch....

Alan

heinrich

It fluctuated with engine temp and conditions as normal. The wire was completely disconnected, the other one was connected. I had a spare unit, so I wasn't interested in lying under the car trying to fit (and keep clean) a plunger, needle, springs and other paraphernalia. It was important to me to separate the two units, the aluminium piece with the mechanical stuff that sits on the engine, and the sender that attaches to it. It was surprisingly difficult fitting two wrenches into that gap given the space provided. The whole assembly kept trying to come out. Had to tighten the aluminium unit well first, and use penetrating oil between the two units.

heinrich

Allan thanks ... so that means that the other one sends the pressure level, the one that was broken off sends the low pressure "emergency" signal. Makes sense. So ... if not connected, you'll neven know you have a problem, unless you watch the oil pressure gauge (which I do religiously anyway). I know it used to work, as I've personally tested it when I installed the engine.

IndyMatt

Is the oil sender the cylinder that sits next to the alternator? I think it is, I had to repair a connection it as well because of a broken wire. If it is, it didn't cause any problems with the gauge within the car.

heinrich

Matt yes it is behind it, bolts vertically into the engine from below against the left side of the block.

SharkSkin

H, haven't seen you in a while... I was afraid that maybe Mothra had taken down Godzilla...

IndyMatt

Yeah then that was it, like I said it didn't effect the gauge at all. Although it is possible that it broke while I am doing my TB/WP.

jpitman2

I have had one of those switches **** itself and spew oil everywhere, like half the oil in home->work distance...messy .
jp 83 Euro S AT 52k

heinrich

Hi Dave, how are you? I've been busy ... not a lot of energy to Rennlist much

SharkSkin

Been doing good... pretty busy myself. Busy is good... With the economy the way it is, I'm not wishing for too much free time.