Oil pressure sending unit broken?

[ed124]

Hi,

The oil pressure gauge on my '77 Spider did not seem to work properly, so I replaced it with another gauge. Unfortunately the problem remains: no or near zero pressure indication and occasionally flickering/ticking of red warning light when running idle (especially for traffic lights when the car leans backwards).

Do you guys think this is due to a faulty sending unit, or could it be something else? And is it hard to replace?

Ed

[124cso]

Sure it's not an oil pressure (or lack of same) problem ?

Go to a general parts place and buy a stock oil pressure switch of correct thread and swap it over where your gauge sender screws in. They are fairly general service and about $5 to $10. Find a small 12v bulb & holder (say 5to 8 watt). Run a wire feed from battery to bulb and then to sender unit terminal to complete circuit as earth. Bulb should be illuminated. is it ?
Start engine and bulb should go out within a few seconds.
If it does go out, you have oil pressure and your gauge sender is wonky, if not .... Oh dear !!

[Spiderinmlnj]

The pressure guage and light are controlled by separate senders i believe.


Geoff

[ed124]

I think the oil pressure should be fine. Oil level is normal, no oil leakage and engine is running fine also during a two hour drive.
I'll have a look if there's one, or two meters.

Thanks for your answers,
Eddy

[ed124]

Hi
I did some more checks and then checked with my local garage.
He thinks the oil pump does not work properly after all.
I'll open a new topic on this in the Engine area, where this topic fits better.
Thanks,
Ed