Domus Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Standard OPG reading nil, new gauge ready for fitting. How do I test the wiring? Do I have my meter on Volts or resistance? What readings should I get with ignition on and engine running? Much better with nuts and bolts, electrickery is a bit like Black Magic to me. Sigma 150 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Simple test is to connect up the gauge and pull the connector off the sender at the engine end. With ignition on, ground this connector onto a part of the engine. Gauge should go to full scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Boy Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Just thought I'd ask...is it definitely the gauge? Senders are known culprits too. Shame you already have the new gauge as after having two failures I decided it was time to switch to a mechanical OPG and would always recommend the same to anyone. Must say I feel exactly the same about electrickery! Cheers David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Can't beat the security of a mechanical OPG. Whole set up costs little more than one electrical sender Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted July 30, 2011 Author Share Posted July 30, 2011 It was reading nil, switched off, pulled the gauge through the dash to check the plug connection was OK, switched on, little flicker then smoke from the gauge. Switched off (very quickly) removed gauge. Engine started - no smoke from wires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadsport06 Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 God's way of telling you to fit a MOPG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 New gauge fitted, no difference. Removed the sender unit- what a faff . It is a Danfoss unit, we used Danfoss stuff on air compresssors back in the day when I worked, and they always seemed reliable. The one now showing on the Caterham website is a Caerbont unit. I will let you know what happens. Should make it to Woodvale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 For the price of a gauge and a sender, you could probably have bought two mechanical OPG set ups !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 I'm expecting this to be covered by warranty. Car only been on the road since November. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lotus Boy Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Quoting Domus: Car only been on the road since November. Just goes to show how hopeless the electrical senders and gauges can be. I appreciate that there are probably people on here who have been driving Sevens for years and years without problems but re your warranty, perhaps you could ask for a contribution to cost of a Mech set up rather than a replacement? Cheers David Edited by - Lotus Boy on 1 Aug 2011 12:48:55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted August 1, 2011 Area Representative Share Posted August 1, 2011 Domus For the benefit of others reading this post, I think it's worth mentioning that your car is a Sigma engined car and as such the oil pressure sender is nothing like a K series. It is in a less vulnerable location and is a totally different type of sender with 3 connection wires. It's similar to this I'd like to think that it is better quality than the K series senders which are susceptible to water ingress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share Posted August 2, 2011 New sender unit arrived today, will fit tomorrow. It is a Danfoss unit - MBS1350. A quick Google shows that it is a "Robust and reliable unit" It also shows it operates as a sender AND a switch. So why don't Caterham put in a low pressure light when the switch is already fitted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 ££ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share Posted August 3, 2011 New unit fitted, original gauge re-fitted. All back to normal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jradley Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 Quoting Domus: ....., little flicker then smoke from the gauge. Switched off (very quickly) removed gauge. Did you establish what caused the smoke ? If it was from the gauge itself then I would be wary of putting it back in the car, as a general rule components which have released some or all of tehir magic smoke don't tend to be too reliable afterwards. If it just that you shorted a connection to ground then the gauge should be ok - if that was the case you were lucky not to blow a fuse bt probably no permanent damage anywhere (assuning the fuse is correctly rated and would blow before the insulation on the wiring melted). Cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 4, 2011 Author Share Posted August 4, 2011 Thinking logically over the weekend I came to the conclusion that I had a live wire touching the Carbon dash when the gauge was pulled through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 Just had a call from Caterham refunding my purchases. Very good service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Resurrecting this thread, during a short blat yesterday I noticed the OPG now reads max pressure all the time. Gauge connections sound, sender unit connections sound. Disconnected sender unit and gauge behaves normally ie ignition on, needle flicks up to zero. Perhaps it is time to go mechanical. "Oh bother " I said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richy Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Quoting Domus: New sender unit arrived today, will fit tomorrow. It is a Danfoss unit - MBS1350. A quick Google shows that it is a "Robust and reliable unit" It also shows it operates as a sender AND a switch. So why don't Caterham put in a low pressure light when the switch is already fitted? Anyone done this mod? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Nothing's robust and reliable when it's in the position it is on a K-series Caterham We've all gone MOPG! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 Ah, but this is a Sigma, tucked away under the inlet manifold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Caterham are sending out a replacement sender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Paul Richards Posted February 20, 2012 Area Representative Share Posted February 20, 2012 Quoting Domus: Caterham are sending out a replacement sender. All you've got now is the easy job of fitting it 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hughes Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Peter I'm pretty sure if the sensor has a 22mm "nut" then a Lambda socket would be just the job to remove it without having to remove the manifold etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domus Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Cheers John, when it arrives I will try one, as you say should make it easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now