Oil pressure gauge, tempremental? or worse??
Discussion
have just got back from taking my son back to redditch. I noticed that my oil pressure gauge was very active, sometime, usually while accelerating, it dropped to way beyod 0!!! , other times, its OK on 30 PSI. This didn't happen all the time, but enough times to worry me. Does anyone know what could be causing the sudden drops, only to go back to normal again?
As I said, it happened whilst accelerating, if I took my foot off the pedal, it went back up again!!!
I stopped at a garage, checked the oil level, all fine, and all the other gauges seem to be working OK, nor were there any odd sounds from the engine, it sounds as normal!
Do you think it's a dodgy reading, or is something more sinister afoot?? Bloody hope not!!!
Cheers
Chris
As I said, it happened whilst accelerating, if I took my foot off the pedal, it went back up again!!!
I stopped at a garage, checked the oil level, all fine, and all the other gauges seem to be working OK, nor were there any odd sounds from the engine, it sounds as normal!
Do you think it's a dodgy reading, or is something more sinister afoot?? Bloody hope not!!!
Cheers
Chris
I've noticed recently that after switching off, my gauge still reads 15! It will gradually sink over night, or drop if I tap the glass. On cold start up it goes to about 65, normal running between 30-40 and about 15 on idle. BUT it does vary and jumps around a bit, especially if I tap on the glass. I guess the needle sticks, they are known to be tempremental things!
Most likley the sender but it could be an oil pump fault of something like that. Broken pickup in the sump can also cause this problem. Get it checked as you could find you have a bill for several thousands compared to one for £50 for a sender!
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Thanks for the input guys, and reading through my awful spelling last night!!
I guess I'll get it checked out as soon as possible to err on the side of caution.
I will have to read carefully your book Steve, what's the sender?
It is strange that when I lift off the pedal, the gauge goes back up to normal, then when accelerating, it sometimes dropped to it's lowest position, IE- when the ignition's turned off!!!
Mind you, I have had the Chim since last October, and it has been as good as gold, only costing me petrol, nothing else!
Chris
I guess I'll get it checked out as soon as possible to err on the side of caution.
I will have to read carefully your book Steve, what's the sender?
It is strange that when I lift off the pedal, the gauge goes back up to normal, then when accelerating, it sometimes dropped to it's lowest position, IE- when the ignition's turned off!!!
Mind you, I have had the Chim since last October, and it has been as good as gold, only costing me petrol, nothing else!
Chris
Chris
My car also had the same symptoms, it appears that under acceleration the torque of the engine was creating a short in the sensor system, this was fixed by changing the spade commector on the wire going to the pressure sensor on the bottom of the engine, easy to get to when the car is jacked up.
This is a cheap and quick fix that resolved my problem, a big relief as I had visions of a serious engine gremlin.
I hope it is as easy a fix on yours
Cheers
Space
My car also had the same symptoms, it appears that under acceleration the torque of the engine was creating a short in the sensor system, this was fixed by changing the spade commector on the wire going to the pressure sensor on the bottom of the engine, easy to get to when the car is jacked up.
This is a cheap and quick fix that resolved my problem, a big relief as I had visions of a serious engine gremlin.
I hope it is as easy a fix on yours
Cheers
Space
I had the oil gauge show very low pressure, then about 10 mins later the car packed up.
Not an oil fault at all but the fuse link, I know I suggest this on every thread
third one in a week!!
Came to the conclusion that the gauges are un- stabilised, so when the battery was dying, as it was not being charged by the alternator, all the gauges showed low, although you tend to only notice the Oil pressure one.
Sounds like it is some kind of electrical gremlin.
Lee.
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th May 20:34
Not an oil fault at all but the fuse link, I know I suggest this on every thread
third one in a week!! Came to the conclusion that the gauges are un- stabilised, so when the battery was dying, as it was not being charged by the alternator, all the gauges showed low, although you tend to only notice the Oil pressure one.
Sounds like it is some kind of electrical gremlin.
Lee.
>> Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th May 20:34
Thanks very much for the comments guys, I don't feel as bad now, knowing it probably is an electrical fault. Not that I am going to be complacent about it. I do not intend driving the Chim until I have booked it in to get checked over.
Does anyone know who could check my Chim in the Gloucester area? If not, I will have to have a 30 mile drive to David Gerald.
Chris
Does anyone know who could check my Chim in the Gloucester area? If not, I will have to have a 30 mile drive to David Gerald.
Chris
Sorry if I'm hijacking your thread Chris, but I have a a similar problem in as much as the oil pressure guage is reading nothing when starting from cold. Then as the engine warms up it reads higher and higher until normal at 45psi. This only happens if the vehicle is left outside overnight, not if it is garaged. It also doesn't happen again during the day i.e. when starting to drive home after work.
Sender unit knackered??
Sender unit knackered??
Not hijacking the tread at all yiw! It is comforting to know, if that's the right phrase!! that there are many others out there who have the same 'niggles' with their Chim, and there always seems to be great people who genuinely know what they're talking about to help aleviate fears, or not!
Until I get it checked out, it's horrible not knowing whether I am damaging my engine, or it's simply nothing more than an electrical glitch.
The trouble with these cars is that we cannot just take them to the nearest garage to get a decent diagnosis!
Chris
Until I get it checked out, it's horrible not knowing whether I am damaging my engine, or it's simply nothing more than an electrical glitch.
The trouble with these cars is that we cannot just take them to the nearest garage to get a decent diagnosis!
Chris
Probably a knackered sender unit but and this is a big but... it might not be and it could be the first sign of a dead or dying engine.
It is like people ignoring the temp gauge because they "are inaccurate anyway" and "all TVRs overheat" so it is nothing and then find that a head gasket has gone and warped the heads and they are £3-4000 lighter in the pocket region. Instruments and warning lights are there to help prevent big bills. They should be taken as accurate unless proven otherwise. Ignore at your peril!
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
It is like people ignoring the temp gauge because they "are inaccurate anyway" and "all TVRs overheat" so it is nothing and then find that a head gasket has gone and warped the heads and they are £3-4000 lighter in the pocket region. Instruments and warning lights are there to help prevent big bills. They should be taken as accurate unless proven otherwise. Ignore at your peril!
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
I totally agree Steve, which is why I am not driving my car until I get it booked in to get looked at. I have read through your book regarding the oil pressure,and I concluded that me diagnosing the fault is beyond my non exsistent mechanical/electrical know how!
the only thing I have done on my car is top up oil regularly and clean the stepper motor!
Chris
the only thing I have done on my car is top up oil regularly and clean the stepper motor!
Chris
Have rang up Natton Garage in Tewkesbury. They have ordered a sender unit and will ring me to take the Chim down when it arrives. The guy said that they'll change that first and I can then monitor the gauge. If it still plays up after that, he said the oil pump will need taking off and looking at. Should be able to tell you the conclusions whithin the next couple of days. (Hope it's done by Sunday, was hoping to go to the local TVR meet!!!)
Chris
Chris
spaceman said: Chris
My car also had the same symptoms, it appears that under acceleration the torque of the engine was creating a short in the sensor system, this was fixed by changing the spade commector on the wire going to the pressure sensor on the bottom of the engine, easy to get to when the car is jacked up.
This is a cheap and quick fix that resolved my problem, a big relief as I had visions of a serious engine gremlin.
I hope it is as easy a fix on yours
Cheers
Space
I can confirm Spaceman's experiences with my own. I had exactly the same symptons as you describe. The sender unit has spade connectors, but the lead from it can be quite tightly attached to the chassis. Some oil had contaminated the spades, and with the torque of the engine under acceleration it pulled at the connector and broke the circuit. It was a very simple and zero cost task to crawl under the car and clean and tighten the spades. Pressure gauge immediately returned to normal behaviour. Worth trying in the first instance.
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