Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Lost Oil Pressure-Bought & Installed Sensor-now intermittent pressure

[Bobcat698]

Customer of mine has a 2000 24V.



Lost oil pressure the other day (at least on the gauge), so they trailered the truck home.

They installed the Cummins part #4921511 sensor as recommended on this forum.



First time they cranked the truck up, they had oil pressure. They let the truck run for 5 minutes and all of a sudden the gauge drops back to zero.



The truck DOES have oil pressure, though the dash gauge only registers it every other start.



Any input?

 

[Cummins724]

Check the plug connector that hooks to the sensor for loose wires going into the plug. I've seen this happen. I've also seen gauge clusters go bad & I've also bought sensors straight from the dealer that were bad. Could be ecm related also.

 

[Bobcat698]

The oil pump is doing its job, he took the feed line off the turbo and oil went everywhere.

Will check connectors.

 

[BPonci]

From what i gather there is a reflash that dodge can do to eliminate the idle check gauge light due to low oil pressure reading on the gauge.

 

[Cummins724]

Did you erase the codes before starting the truck? If the code is still present, it could shut it down.

 

[JLandry]

Bob,



My truck has had similar mysterious oil gauge problems over the years. I've replaced the sending unit twice and thankfully the gauge hasn't acted up in a couple of years. It sure is unnerving when it unexpectedly happens (with the gauge reading zero and the instrument cluster chiming.



Assuming the sending unit is indeed good, then I tend to think the problem is related to the wiring harness or even water getting in or around the sending unit connector. The last time it happened in my truck was when I was driving in heavy rain on a freeway with standing water.



As recommended, carefully check the wiring harness and connector, and even consider smearing some dielectric grease in the connector and sending unit cavity before plugging it in.



Worst case, Dodge has an ECM reflash which causes it to ignore temporary open and shorted signals coming from the sending unit to limit all the driver annoyance. I haven't opted for that because I'd rather not have my oil pressure "dumbed down. "



John L.

 

[WestTN]

I think that ECM flash will also let you run without any oil pressure at all even though the gauge says everything is fine. If so, that is an excellent way to ruin an engine.