'99 Oil Pressure

[cdnfenix]

Ive had a few times now when I start the truck the oil pressure gauge wont show any pressure. Obviously the first time this happened I checked the oil, its full. If I shut it off and restart a few time the gauge will come up to normal pressure. Im just curious if its just the pressure sensor going bad or possibly a more serious problem.

Thanks
Jeff

 

[Earl43P]

That symptom is virtually always the sender (8 psi pressure switch).

They are cheap and sold everywhere.

If it were a more serious problem, you'd hear clacking.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

This seems to be a common problem with rangers. Mine does it too. I just hit the gas real fast an it jumps right up. However your gauge is a dummy gauge it read right in the middle everytime no matter what the pressure it. as long as the unit is sending its in the middle. A mechanical gauge and a true sending unit will give you the correct pressure.

 

[AllanD]

IF you go to the auto parts store and buy a sending unit for an
'83-88 ranger NON-Tach, they had a REAL oil pressure guage and sender
that will operate your guage correctly.

You MAY need to go to a local hardware store/plumbing supply/home center
an get yourself a short (1-1/2 or 2" long) 1/4"NPT pipe nipple and a 45degree
Elbow (both preferably in brass) to mount it without interference from the
motor mount bracket.

I'd also recommend using some sort of paste pipe dope rather than teflon tape
because the sender is grounded through the pipe threads
and I've had occasional issues with intermittent guage readings because of the extra resistance

I don't know how it's done on the Gen4 and later trucks but I can assure you
that on a Gen2 or Gen3 Ranger the stock "sending unit" is a pressure switch
with a built-in resistor.

So that if one of those senders is inadvertantly installed in a Gen1 with a tach
it lights the idiot light "dim" when there's oil pressure.

AD

 

[Bob Ayers]

IF you go to the auto parts store and buy a sending unit for an
'83-88 ranger NON-Tach, they had a REAL oil pressure guage and sender
that will operate your guage correctly.

You MAY need to go to a local hardware store/plumbing supply/home center
an get yourself a short (1-1/2 or 2" long) 1/4"NPT pipe nipple and a 45degree
Elbow (both preferably in brass) to mount it without interference from the
motor mount bracket.

I'd also recommend using some sort of paste pipe dope rather than teflon tape
because the sender is grounded through the pipe threads
and I've had occasional issues with intermittent guage readings because of the extra resistance

I don't know how it's done on the Gen4 and later trucks but I can assure you
that on a Gen2 or Gen3 Ranger the stock "sending unit" is a pressure switch
with a built-in resistor.

So that if one of those senders is inadvertantly installed in a Gen1 with a tach
it lights the idiot light "dim" when there's oil pressure.

AD

There is a 2K OHM resistor on the back of the instrument panel that sets the current so the gauge reads half-scale when the oil pressure switch closes.
When converting to the analog type of sending unit, you should short out this resistor.