Autometer Oil Pressure Sender Failure

[ahess77]

OK, I've had 2 autometer oil sender units fail in the past 2.5 years, PN 2242. I installed the 4327 oil pressure gauge shortly after I got the Marauder and now I'm on the third sender unit. Is it just me? Am I installing it wrong? The first one failed and only showed 0 psi, the last one failed and would always show 100 psi.

To install, I removed the OEM pressure switch & screwed in the sender unit, with adapter, into the same port. No teflon tape, no lock-tite, no RTV, no sealant of any kind. Take it out of the box and screw it in.

The gauge works fine electrically, I checked wire continutity to the gauge, it's good. Put a potentiometer on the gauge, it's full scale reads from about 20 ohms to 200 ohms OK. (BTW, high resistance is low pressure, so if there's an open circuit, the gauge will read 0 PSI.)

Put my 3rd oil sender unit on yesterday and all works again. But for how long I don't know. Anybody else had sender unit problems?

[Todd TCE]

Round, yellow zinc plated elec sender?
I've replaced the one on the Pikes Peak car three times over the years. Now I carry a spare and don't panic when I don't get a reading. Maybe I'll go manual but I hate the idea of the added weight.

[Dennis Reinhart]

OK, I've had 2 autometer oil sender units fail in the past 2.5 years, PN 2242. I installed the 4327 oil pressure gauge shortly after I got the Marauder and now I'm on the third sender unit. Is it just me? Am I installing it wrong? The first one failed and only showed 0 psi, the last one failed and would always show 100 psi.

To install, I removed the OEM pressure switch & screwed in the sender unit, with adapter, into the same port. No teflon tape, no lock-tite, no RTV, no sealant of any kind. Take it out of the box and screw it in.

The gauge works fine electrically, I checked wire continutity to the gauge, it's good. Put a potentiometer on the gauge, it's full scale reads from about 20 ohms to 200 ohms OK. (BTW, high resistance is low pressure, so if there's an open circuit, the gauge will read 0 PSI.)

Put my 3rd oil sender unit on yesterday and all works again. But for how long I don't know. Anybody else had sender unit problems?

We have never had a issue with them and you can send that back and they should replace it for free

[RF Overlord]

No teflon tape, no lock-tite, no RTV, no sealant of any kind. Take it out of the box and screw it in.The installation instructions specifiy to use teflon tape on the threads, I put it on both the sender and the supplied adapter. I don't think this would cause your high failure rate, I'm just stating a fact.

I've had mine installed for over 3 years with no problems.

[Zack]

Ive had 2 go out on me.

[FordNut]

I've aslo had 2 go out and the 3rd is getting flakey.

I tried an OEM sending unit for a Ford vehicle with functional oil pressure gauge ('79 F150) and it didn't work, apparently the resistance range is different. I know the OEM senders will last for years and years (decades even). Too bad it didn't work.

[Dragcity]

I will be putting in my mecahnical S&W gauge this weekend. I used it in my Dragrace days for 7 years without failure. "old reliable"

Electronic failures suck.

[DEFYANT]

I am on sender #2. They replaced it for free. PITA though.

[JohnE]

I've had 2 Sport Comp electric fuel pressure gauges go on my car. Each lasted about 1 1/2 years. The needle just stopped moving while at idle and stuck on 30psi. Just shipped the second failed unit to AutoMeter. The first time they replaced it free of charge.

My boost/vac and oil press gauges are mechanical. I also have a AutoMeter Tach. None of these have had any problems in 3 1/2 years.



When the sensor quit, do they leak oil or just quit producing a functional signal?




John

[jdando]

I have had a sender failure also. It happened on a open track day :eek:, I was on the back straight and glanced down at my gauge and it said 0 psi.

I had to put blue tape over the gauge since I would get distracted everytime I looked at the gauge and saw 0.

jeremy

[FordNut]

When the sensor quit, do they leak oil or just quit producing a functional signal?

John

Both of mine have gotten a jittery needle.

[MENINBLK]

I am on sender #2 also.
My 1st one failed and leaked.

[Krytin]

I was thinking about putting in a functional oil pressure gauge - guess I'll go mechanical!

[Marauderjack]

I have had mine for about 2 years and still fine....I think??:confused:

Marauderjack:burnout:

[RF Overlord]

still fine....I think?You're not sure if it's still working properly? With the key off, the needle should be below 0. Key on/engine not running, the needle should be right on 0. With the engine running you should have approx the following pressures:

Cold start: near 100 lbs
Warm idle in gear: 25 lbs
40 MPH cruise (warm): 50 lbs

These numbers are approximate, but many of us who did this mod years ago got the same readings.