Oil sender failure?

Kevin_GP · Post by **Kevin_GP** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 11:42 pm

Ive had an autometer electric oil gauge for about 2 years now mounted in the block. For whatever reason, it was reading at idle fine, then whenever I reved the engine or started to move it would loose signal. Now when I start the car it no longer works. Do the senders just go bad? Is there anyway to test it? Ive read online that grounding the sender helps, but Ive never had to ground it before, why the change? I really dont want to have to replace the sender, its a pain to get to, but if I have to are the replacment senders cheap? I've read that they should be remotely mounted, but ive seen lots of peoples setups that are similar to mine. Would the vibration really make it just stop working one day?

Any insight would be extermly helpfull as I do not like driving around with no oil psi gauge.

Thank you.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:37 am

Yes, senders can just go bad. I don't know if that's the problem or not. Make sure all the wiring's up to par, and the gauge is functioning correctly before you change it though.

Matt

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 4:30 pm

you can buy the sending units from summit too.

Kevin_GP · Post by **Kevin_GP** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:29 pm

Oh sweet thanks. To bad the replacment is almost as much as I paided for the gauge. If I cant get the sender to work in the car now, I will just buy a machanical gauge with braided line.

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 8:34 pm

4608303AB - $11.93 through me plus shipping...
VERY common item to go bad, most the time customers complain of an oil leak and thats the source of it. This sensor(switch) was used on many 1996+ DCx vehicles...

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 9:17 pm

Uh, he's talking about a sender for an aftermarket oil pressure gauge. Not the oil pressure switch for the idiot light.

Matt

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 7:25 pm

^^^
Sorry my bad

Dark-one · Post by **Dark-one** » Sun Aug 13, 2006 2:50 am

thats why i used a mech oil press gauge cause i heard the senders don't last long

Riddler · Post by **Riddler** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:53 am

Dark-one wrote:thats why i used a mech oil press gauge cause i heard the senders don't last long

Yeah but we don't want hot oil in out passenger compartment.

Riddler

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:14 pm

Why not? Nothing wrong with a PROPERLY INSTALLED mechanical gauge.

Matt

Post by **Diablo0** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 5:58 pm

Worse case senario, what come to mind is if you're in an accident and someone plows into your drivers around the a-pillar area to possibly rupture the line. If the motor continues to run then yeah, I don't think you'd want hot oil possibly spraying everywhere

Post by **jonnymopar** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 6:31 pm

I don't know if it's this particular forum or what, but why are people so scared of a mechanical oil pressure gauge? Install it right, don't kink the nylon line at all, don't run it near anything sharp, and only make it as long as you need, and there will be no problems. They've done this for decades now!

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:21 pm

^^^
Agreed, when it comes to mechaincal gauges this is one of the 2 I recomend, fuel is a different story.....
Ive had numerous cars with the mechaincal oil pressure gauge and all is well...

Kevin_GP · Post by **Kevin_GP** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:55 pm

Thanks guys. I know a mechanical gauge can be dangerous but I planned on using braided line. Ive always hated short sweep gauges and Ive never liked how inaccurate electric gauges are. If I am going to go though the trouble of switching out the senders, I might as well go to a mechanical gauge.