robn Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I need someone to sanity check my logic, my R300 oil pressure gauge bounces around then stops, then stabilises, then bounces, sometimes drops off at staionary tickover sometimes doesnt etc etc seems worse when it's hot. The car is not loosing oil and has done about 1000 miles with these symptons at all sorts of speeds (happened on holiday). So I've check connections, and would conclude either sender or gauge? any words of advice? regards Rob R300YEEEEEEEEEEESS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclefester Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 If it helps, I've just fitted oil temp and pressure guages to an Elise, and NEITHER of them works! The supplier has been very nice about it and is sending 2 new guages and new senders, plus new wires as the originals were 18" too short the way I wired it.....I was beginning to wonder if the car was jinxed and a remote stat I fitted is causing the water temp to jump up & down from 79° to 90° and back.....so I'm changing that, too. ☹️ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds..ooooh hooo hooo!!... 😬 😬Abbey Road Time-Machine *eek* Edited by - Unclefester on 6 Aug 2007 18:33:40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil.cavanagh Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Robn, sounds like standard CC oil pressure sender behaviour as it starts to die. They are useless!!! I've had about 3 now, and the last one gave up after about 1 month of use. So I've gone for a SPA dual oil temp and pressure gauge in the hope that it will prove reliable. Frankly the standard CC sender/gauge combo is worse then useless. What is the point of having a gauge if you can never believe it's readings due to regular failures?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irrelevant Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 What is the point of having a gauge if you can never believe it's readings due to regular failures?? Indeed - you need reliable gauges to stop the car overheating don't you Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Biddle Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Unfortunately we are living in an age where nobody can think beyond electonic solutions. Thats why I have capillary tube guages in my car, I don't trust electronics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I reply to every thread Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Could well be a loose earth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil.cavanagh Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 my money is still on the sender being dead.... the bouncing around behaviour is exactly how my last 2 have failed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Carmichael Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 I don't trust electronics. A somewhat metaphysical critique of a rather well established engineering discipline. Surely it would be less disingenuous to state something along the lines of: "sh1t components break quickly" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclefester Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 ...and really sh1t ones are broken even before fitting....BOTH my Smiths oil temp /pressure guages failed to work from fitting. They are now both being replaced with new guages and senders, with luck I may be able to get one of each pair to work.... Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds..ooooh hooo hooo!!... 😬 😬Abbey Road Time-Machine *eek* Edited by - Unclefester on 8 Aug 2007 13:36:50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robn Posted August 20, 2007 Author Share Posted August 20, 2007 SUCCESS! Bought a used sender from Darren E, fitted it and all sorted. Bizzarelly the temp guage now seems to be reading a bit low - do these fall to bits too? regards Rob R300YEEEEEEEEEEESS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 20, 2007 Share Posted August 20, 2007 Pull the connector off the sender and touch it on the engine to ground it. With the ignition on, the gauge should read full scale. I had the twitching gauge when hot and idling. Just replaced the sender today too ! There's a lot of it about. ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. new link to photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTD Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 I'm with Neil on this - the CC gauges are useless! My Spa ones are wonderfully (oil and water) reassuring pieces of kit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old captain slow Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Another vote for the Neil route! There is nothing worse in my view than driving a car "knowing" there isn't a problem because you "know" the gauge is wonky. C7 CDW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Both the oil and water gauges are unreliable. I'm with Peter on this, distrust poor quality bits more than established physical principles. After all my house lighting relies on electronics and I never have any doubt about the lights coming on when I flick the switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robn Posted August 23, 2007 Author Share Posted August 23, 2007 sorry, dumbass time again, the sender top of the radiator has 2 connectors, touch them together the fan comes on, which one to the engine to check teh gauge etc??? regards Rob R300YEEEEEEEEEEESS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 The water temp gauge sender on my K 1.8 is in the water rail beside the engine, towards the rear of the engine. Single wire to it ! Don't ground the wrong one ! ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. new link to photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 After 10 years my sender has started to muck about - dropping off on constant rpm to around 2 bar. Change of RPM sorts it out and then it slips down again. It is not the pressure reg valve as I have an oil pressure switch / light that is 35psi and that never comes on except when I expect it too (before start up and if you nearly stall it). Fitting a pressure switch is a must IMO as it is a much quicker warning to oil pressure problems and they are reliable (touch wood). Got mine from Think Automotive. Get a nice big in your face lamp to ensure you see it. Hants (north) / Berkshire club here Area meeting pics here My Racing here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Biddle Posted August 24, 2007 Share Posted August 24, 2007 Peter, you are correct of course, and I do in fact have electronic systems in my car, Stack sensors and stack instrument, never any problems yet, but still I prefer mechanical gauges and thats why I have those fitted as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 25, 2007 Share Posted August 25, 2007 Having replaced my OP sender last weekend, finally got to drive the car in the sunset tonight - to fill it up. OP on start up 6 bar, normal running and hot with revs 4.5 bar, at idle and hot 2.5 bar. All much more reassuring ****************** And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking... And racing around to come up behind you again. new link to photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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