Oil switch location/ broke down on side of road

[rdsrds123]

Hi, I hit a bump and my oil light came on. 2007, 2.3. Might be a false reading. All else is good. Could this be a symptom of a bad switch? I see the switch near the oil filter. I there another one some other place? Thanks!

 

[RonD]

Have you checked the dip stick to make sure you have oil?

Does the engine valve train sound louder, "ticking" noises, that means low oil pressure.

Yes, by oil filter would be the pressure switch.

And is it an oil PRESSURE light?

There could be an oil LEVEL light as well, which is why you check the dip stick

 

[rdsrds123]

Yes, all else is well. Oil level good and no engine noises. I hit a bump and the light came on. Couldn't risk driving, so it was towed to a shop. They are looking at it now. I saw a switch near the filter, looked good, but is exposed to water and salt. Advanced Auto has few replacements in stock. Searched 5 or 10 stores and only one available 10 miles away, so I towed it. This is my only vehicle. Makes me want to get a second.

 

[rdsrds123]

Got a call from the shop. They say I have good pressure, but there is a short in the dash cluster. Two hours to remove it and probably then needs to be replaced.

I think I should install an under dash pressure gauge of some kind, but then I would not have a light. What should I do?

 

[RonD]

Many like to have both a REAL oil pressure gauge, and a warning light.

The current oil switch is threaded into the Main Oil passage
Oil pressure is Back Pressure, it is the oil the engine can NOT use at any given time, the oil that can't fit thru bearing gaps and valve train holes.

To can add a "T" fitting to the threaded hole and connect oil pressure SWITCH on one port of the "T" and an oil pressure sender(PS60) to the other port.
It is measuring Back pressure so will work fine.

Then run a wire, just 1 wire, from the sender(PS60) to a real oil pressure gauge in the cab

I doubt there is a short in the dash, most likely the "bump" loosened a connector on the back of the instrument cluster but you could probably find an '07 Ranger instrument cluster at a wrecking yard

 

[rdsrds123]

Don't see why it couldn't still be a stuck switch, but the say they did troubleshoot it. I've found some switches that sound warnings for low pressure with a fudge. I'd have to run several wires though. For now Ill do nothing.

 

[rdsrds123]

Not fudge, gauge!

 

[Doofy]

I'd rather have Fudge!

 

[adsm08]

I'd rather have Fudge!

I think we need to work on designing a fudge gauge.