3.0 oil pressure needle moving

[00RangerXCab]

Morning. I just noticed the other day at idle if I moved the steering wheel my needle flickered.

Well this morning at idle the needle was not working at all. Then when u gingerly pat the gas it flickers and comes back up to normal.

My oil levels are good and I've always changed the oil with synthetic blend. No other issues are going on.. no noise no hesitation

Thanks in advance

 

[ratdude747]

Bad oil pressure switch. Yes, I said switch. Unless you modded yours to have a real sender (not sure if ones as new as yours are even able to be modded), that needle is a mechanical light driven by a switch. When they go bad, this is what happens.

It's located behind the cylinder head on the passenger's side. 1 1/6" socket, if you have an auto tranny you'l have to nudge (bend) the transmission fill tube a hair (like barely at all) to get the socket to clear, but otherwise it's a straight swap if you're only looking to fix it (as opposed to upgrading to a variable sender, which I'm not sure if newer instrument clusters allow).

 

[enjr44]

Bad oil pressure switch. Yes, I said switch. Unless you modded yours to have a real sender (not sure if ones as new as yours are even able to be modded), that needle is a mechanical light driven by a switch. When they go bad, this is what happens.

It's located behind the cylinder head on the passenger's side. 1 1/6" socket, if you have an auto tranny you'l have to nudge (bend) the transmission fill tube a hair (like barely at all) to get the socket to clear, but otherwise it's a straight swap if you're only looking to fix it (as opposed to upgrading to a variable sender, which I'm not sure if newer instrument clusters allow).

And, or a bad wire to the inst cluster. Pull the wire off the sender. Gauge needle should go either to zero or full range. Ground the wire against the block, the needle should go all the way the other way. If it does go back and forth, best guess in the sender is bad.

And no you cannot mod the late model clusters. Read through this: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164957

 

[RonD]

The moving of the steering wheel and the gas pedal makes me think the cab-engine Ground Strap is loose or has come off.

On the back of the drivers side head there should be a ground strap from head to firewall, this is the main ground for the cab electrics, could be on passenger side as well but usually drivers side.

If there has been any engine work this strap is often left hanging, forgotten to be hooked up.

Turning of the metal steering wheel shaft and moving metal gas pedal cable gives cab temp "good Ground"

Have actually come across throttle cables that were completely dried out of lube from power passing thru them since it was the best ground

 

[ratdude747]

The moving of the steering wheel and the gas pedal makes me think the cab-engine Ground Strap is loose or has come off.

On the back of the drivers side head there should be a ground strap from head to firewall, this is the main ground for the cab electrics, could be on passenger side as well but usually drivers side.

If there has been any engine work this strap is often left hanging, forgotten to be hooked up.

Turning of the metal steering wheel shaft and moving metal gas pedal cable gives cab temp "good Ground"

Have actually come across throttle cables that were completely dried out of lube from power passing thru them since it was the best ground

+1 Good catch. Easy to miss, back in October when I was pulling my motor I almost forgot to undo it (and found that the dude who pulled the motor a few years before didn't get it tight).

 

[00RangerXCab]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Sorry I haven't replied sooner, but for some reason I didn't get the alerts (even tho I checked instant alert lol)

I'll check the ground strap as soon as the light comes up. Not sure if this is the fix BUUUT I have noticed some popping noises coming through my stereo.

I have a rather large system that I have properly installed and never had any sound issues before until recently.

Either way I appreciate all the help and fast replies!
Kcco