Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Bad Oil Psi Switch Symptons?

[BDaugherty]

Driving home from work yesterday, my attitude monitor started to chirp at me and flash "oil pressure 0 psi". The gauge on the dash was right in the middle (40 psi). After 5-10 seconds, my attitude monitor read 99 psi. 20 minutes later, it started working normally... reading about 60-65psi at cruising speed. When I got home, I checked all of the preliminary stuff. Oil level was 2 hairs below full, connection to oil psi sensor clean, dry, and secure. This morning, when I started the truck, the attitude showed 0 psi for the first 20 seconds and then went back to 99 psi. About a mile from the end of my 33 mile commute, it started to read normally again. After work today, I started my truck and it went straight to 99 psi. I had a buddy watch the attitude monitor while I wiggled the sensor wiring and even unplugged it. The attitude read 99 psi the whole time. I really feel like it's a bad sensor, but the cheapest one I've found is $175 @ RockAuto and I just don't have the money to throw parts it it. If I can be 100% certain that the sensor is bad, I'll order one right away. I haven't had any MIL lights and the gauge in the dash seems to function sort of normally... but it's really hard to tell since the ECM limits the functionality of the gauge in the dash.

Does anyone have any advice or input on what I should do? I might be able to swap sensors with a buddy's truck this weekend, but I'm not 100% that his sensor is good.

 

[bmoeller]

Buy a mechanical gauge to verify the PSI. There is an extra plug on top of the oil filter housing to tap into to get pressure.

More than likely the sending unit puked.

 

[Joe Mc]

This is a cut and paste from an old post I made when my pressure went to "0".



When I found out the part (P/N 4076930, "switch, pressure" $11. 37, also required was, P/N 3164755 "cable, electrical" $12. 68) that I bought from Cummins would turn the gage into an idiot light, and only after I had to "re-program" per the instructions. I returned it and called the order in using the part number (4921511 "sensor, pressure) I found on TDR and had it shipped to my house - took about 4 - 5 days well worth the wait. And, to keep the dealer out of my truck - priceless!!!!



Some other info as well, "Bin Location 614/004" in case someone says "They can't find it so it's not available". The guy at my Cummins parts is a good guy and knows his stuff, but when it comes to locating the part on the computer he looks for the "superseded by" number and that's that. Kind of a bummer . . .

 

[BDaugherty]

Good info so far. I feel very confident that I have normal oil psi, I just want the gauge to read right. When it reads, oil psi is normal... but when it acts up it's real sudden and goes straight to 0 and then after a few seconds to 99.

 

[JLandry]

The sender when purchased from Cummins (4921511) should cost less than $100.



I've had to replace mine twice in 104,000 miles.



Good luck,



John L.

 

[BDaugherty]

The sender when purchased from Cummins (4921511) should cost less than $100.



I've had to replace mine twice in 104,000 miles.



Good luck,



John L.

I called Cummins South in Atlanta and they said they had 7 of the part number you gave me on hand and quoted me $84 each. I'll buy one sometime in the next week or so and post up the results.

 

[Joe Mc]

Yeah, I think it was about that much and much, much better than a gage that gets turned into an idiot light . . . which is what the switch + wire + reprogram accomplishes - duh! Wonder who stayed up all night trying to figure out something they could sell as an upgrade that was less reliable and cost us more money?