Oil pressure gauge not working

[fergusg]

Just rebuilt my dash after having it reveneered. Now the Oil presure Gauge doesn't work. Does anyone know how I can check whether the gauge is broken (perhaps it got a knock when taking it in and out), or whether it is receiving the right electrical signals. I have a multimeter.

There is a black female spade on the gauge which connects to a black cable which I presume is earth and two other connections one male one female. The bible says that the sender is a resistance type unit which increases in resistance as the pressure increases, but between which terminals should I check the resistance?

Any other ideas to diagnose the problem?

Thanks

[fergusg]

Gauge now wandering all over the place!

[V8 Archie]

Loose connection (or short) somewhere I reckon. The fact that the guage is moving probably means it's fine.

[fergusg]

Thanks Nigel, I'll take the top off the dash again at the weekend and investigate. I'm becoming an expert on doing this now!

[crackedfinger]

Might be easier to check the spade connector onto the sender first - it is next to the oil filter, pointing downwards. Mine popped off giving a reading of 0 oil pressure. It is quite worrying until you realise what it is.

[Nuggs]

crackedfinger said:

Might be easier to check the spade connector onto the sender first - it is next to the oil filter, pointing downwards. Mine popped off giving a reading of 0 oil pressure. It is quite worrying until you realise what it is.

If there's no connection, then the gaugue will read zero - that's not the case here.

It sounds like a simple case of your oil pressure sender having popped its clogs (it's just above road level, so it comes in for a fair amount of abuse and should therefore, IMO, be looked at as a consumable).

Give Leven a call - they should be able to help you out with a part (they were the only place that held any in stock when mine died). I think it would be bloody difficult to fit without the aid of a ramp, so you may wish to get your local garage to fit it.

HTH

[V8 Archie]

A loose connection can caused the guage to read very high - mine has spent a large proportion of the last month off the guage at the top.

I take it that it reads random numbers with the electrics on and the engine off - especially when cold.