Oil Pressure Gauge

[Ozzy_UK]

Oil Pressure Gauge needle jumps to max as soon as i put the key in and turn ignition on (before even starting engine)...
Replaced the sender less than 2 months ago. anyone got any idea?
also battery is draining in about 2 days if left off trickle charger...

being an electrical numpty, how do i track down what is causing these?

(in laymans terms please, and i dont have a multi-meter or anything like that)

Oz.

[P.O.D.]

Hi Ozzy_uk

I dont know why your oil gauge jumps to max when you turn on the ignition..Im sure some one will be along soon to help in this area..
My battery use to do the same within 2 days flat as a pancake , after a lot of trial and error found out the main cause was the alarm and a short in the central locking on the drivers door.
So if I leave the car for more than a 5 of days I disconnect the battery by a special cut off switch I had installed ( no place suitable to run a trickle charger to the car).
hope this helps.

P.O.D.

[garyexcel]

Hi Ozzy

Most likely to be cable fallen off sender if not a bad connection some where but the circuit is open somwhere. Hope this helps.

Gary

[alanmoss]

I agree = check the cable from the sender. If it comes off the gauge defaults to maximum.

[Tanz]

My Battery used to go flat because the drivers door switch used to stick on leaving the red door light on all the time - worth checking. Boot light?

[Ozzy_UK]

My Battery used to go flat because the drivers door switch used to stick on leaving the red door light on all the time - worth checking. Boot light?

had this issue, took the light bulbs out the door ends, also took out boot light bulb

[Ozzy_UK]

I agree = check the cable from the sender. If it comes off the gauge defaults to maximum.

Cable is still attached (have checked, it started whilst driving along, bounced up to max, then back to correct pressure a few times, then just shot to max and has stayed there since...)

[Ozzy_UK]

Hi Ozzy_uk

I dont know why your oil gauge jumps to max when you turn on the ignition..Im sure some one will be along soon to help in this area..
My battery use to do the same within 2 days flat as a pancake , after a lot of trial and error found out the main cause was the alarm and a short in the central locking on the drivers door.
So if I leave the car for more than a 5 of days I disconnect the battery by a special cut off switch I had installed ( no place suitable to run a trickle charger to the car).
hope this helps.

P.O.D.

I think my car has an alarm, no fob or anything like that tho... something black and horn like cabled in in the engine bay...
Also does my May '87 car have central locking? (non-SE LC-Engine)...
Thanks!
Oz

[Sooty]

Oz
A couple of thoughts.
We all assume that the sender end connection is the problem disconnecting, or high resistance connection. If the gauge end connection/s go the same this could also manifest itself in the same way with the needle going east. Might be worth a look.

As for the battery going flat, I used a "dumb" trickle charger which did not monitor the battery condition and just kept charging. This eventuall boiled the battery dry, so it no longer held a charge for more than a couple of days, if lucky. Cost, a new battery and an intelligent trickle charger. Are you able to check the electrolyte levels of your battery? It could be dry.
Hope this may help.
Wayne

[Ozzy_UK]

Oz
A couple of thoughts.
We all assume that the sender end connection is the problem disconnecting, or high resistance connection. If the gauge end connection/s go the same this could also manifest itself in the same way with the needle going east. Might be worth a look.

As for the battery going flat, I used a "dumb" trickle charger which did not monitor the battery condition and just kept charging. This eventuall boiled the battery dry, so it no longer held a charge for more than a couple of days, if lucky. Cost, a new battery and an intelligent trickle charger. Are you able to check the electrolyte levels of your battery? It could be dry.
Hope this may help.
Wayne

battery was new a year ago, sealed jobbie, with intelligent trickle charger... might have to invest in a multi-meter or something and do some testing... any suggestions for makes/where to buy?
Oz.

[Pete Boole]

might have to invest in a multi-meter or something and do some testing... any suggestions for makes/where to buy?
Oz.

I bought mine from Maplins - they have a good range and mine's been faultless so far (had it ~ 10yrs ).

Pete

[timtenor]

I'll bet a pint that even though you replaced the sender only 2 months ago it's gone west again
Nothing else makes any sense. If it worked perfectly after fitting the new sender 2 months ago and all the connections are in order, yet another new sender should solve the problem. I've just fixed exactly the same problem by buying a sender from ETB instruments. I recommend them www.etbinstruments.com
Just one more thought - did you seal the thread by using ptf tape or plumbers wool? If so the sender won't earth and the result will be exactly the problem that you're experiencing. Only use a little bit of Hermetite thread sealant.
Good luck
Timtenor