OIL PRESSURE LIGHT

Replace the oil pressure sensor ASAP. If the warning light no longer comes on, rest easy in the knowledge that you had a defective oil pressure sensor.

However, if the warning light continues to illuminate, get the car to a repair shop immediately and have it checked out -- the oil pressure probably really

*is* low, and continuing to drive it in that condition will ruin the engine in short order.

You *have* checked the oil level, haven't you?

The oil levels are fine.

Where is the oil pressure sensor located?

Thanks.

Len

The oil levels are fine.

Where is the oil pressure sensor located?

Thanks.

Len

Don't know -- what engine do you have?

Doug:

I have a 95 SL1. I need to know where the oil pressure sensor is located and the obvious next question would be, does it take any special tools to replace it, and do you have any idea what they cost?

TIA

Len

I'm not sure exactly where it would be on that engine, and there isn't really any "typical" location to look in. On some of my vehicles, it's been low on the side of the block... OTOH, on my Dodge truck, it's all the way at the

*top* of the block.

Anyway, according to my Saturn wiring diagrams, you're looking for a tan wire with a black tracer that goes to something like this:

It would appear that the only tool needed is a wrench or socket of the appropriate size. Certainly, that's all I've ever needed, the four times I've ever needed to change an oil pressure sensor (on three Dodges and one Fiat).

I believe that the oil pressure sender is located on the rear side of the engine block, facing the firewall, and between the alternator and the knock sensor. It may be different on your '95, but this is where I recall seeing it on a '96.

I believe that you can test the resistance of the sender (center conductor to the engine ground) and it should vary 15-80 ohms with higher resistance for higher oil pressures (rev the engine).

If you unscrew the sender unit, then you can directly screw in a good old mechanical oil pressure gauge and see the actual pressure. I'd recommend you do this before deciding to replace the sender. By the way, these are known to occasionally fail and are the usual cause of the idiot light illuminating. That said, given the serious consequences of low oil pressure, it does not pay to guess so you should really check it using a real mechanical gauge.

Good luck and post the results.

Bob

Yep, that's where it is. No special tools really needed. If you google my name with oil sender saturn you will find that I had about 5 of these things leak on me. They are about $10 at NAPA, $35 at the dealer. Since they kept failing quickly, all were replaced under the warranty. I finally installed a oil pressure gauge (electric sending unit) thinking that I had high oil pressure. Pressure was normal and it does not leak, so that is what I use now.

-David