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Topic: Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently (Read 1835 times) previous topic - next topic

Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently

I've got the digital dash in my 5.0 and it's been pretty spiffy, but lately the oil pressure gauge will drop to empty for a while, and give the annoying beep. Then as randomly as it starts, it will go back up to normal pressure. It's doing it more and more frequently, and I want to know how to fix it (without a workaround such as disconnecting the beeper).

The gauge only ever reads either dead center or zero. There's never an in between. If I turn the engine off, after a second it will go from middle to 0. I've also seen the red Check Oil light come on, which does seem to be accurate, and when that's on, the digital pressure gauge might still read normal.

What do you think can be the problem and how would I go about fixing this?
 

Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently

Reply #2 –
First change the sender at the engine. They go bad .  And it sounds like yours is intermittent.
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently

Reply #3 –
Agreed.  They're cheap enough.  Start thinking about a manual oil pressure test anyway, just in case.  Some of these senders are "happy gauges" a switch rather than a sending unit, so be sure you're getting the right one.  If you DO get the right one, it will indicate as a gauge more or less (there is some debate on the subject) but with the wrong one, its all or nothing. Also, make sure to not remove the resistor that's in the wire right before the push connector. The gauge will indicate an error without it. I went through all of this with my all digital cluster.

Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently

Reply #4 –
I think you want the bigger one, as more of a "gauge" reading.
Mike

Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently

Reply #5 –
There must be two of them though, right? One for the digital that's on the fritz and the one for the red light that still functions.

Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently

Reply #6 –
The red light is the level switch. The gauge is on the front cover, driver's side. The there is a big one, but it won't fit. There are 2 small ones you can get, one is a gauge, and the other is a switch, but they look the same.

Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently

Reply #7 –
If it's doing it randomly while going down the road, it's probably the sender. If it does it mostly while idling (especially idling in gear, foot on brake), it probably is actual low oil pressure.
CoogarXR : 1985 Cougar XR-7

Oil gauge reading zip and annoying beep, intermittently

Reply #8 –
I've noticed something. It's much less likely to do it when I have an electrical load, such as turning the headlights on or the blower on high. While sometimes it still goes off while the lights or blower is on, I can usually toggle the blower and make the gauge read or not. So do you still think this is the sender or could it be a connection problem or issue with the electronics in the dash?