replacing oil level sensor

[T3rra]

I'm going to replace the oil level sensor above the oil drain. Has anyone done this? Can't find a how 2. I don't really want to drop the oil as it was fresh 300 miles ago and at £ 80 a time.

Can I jack the car up from one side to make most the oil stay in? Do I need to turn or rotate the sender to get it in? Looks like it's going to be like getting an arm chair though a door

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Do it next oil change.
You will wish you had!

 

[tref]

You can, and I have, but you have to have the car a long way over to do so, and mine was on the bottom of the tick when I did so, and was really borderline oil widdling out. I thought it dangled down in it, so the mounting and gasket were above the oil level. It doesn't; it is totally submerged normally. Apart from that it is a simple enough job. One wire to disconnect, three bolts and a gasket. I didn't use any sealant, and have had no further problems. Not knowing which way up (but thinking I knew) I tried fitting it upside down... Sensibly the bolt spacing means it won't fit, although tantalisingly close... As you say, it is a bit of an armchair through a doorway exercise, and it is easy to lose orientation, so if it doesn't just fall together, it is probably the wrong way round.

 

[T3rra]

Warning lights bugging the hell out off me and stopping me driving it so there won't be due an oil change.

How much would I likely lose? 2/3 ltrs or a lot more

 

[edh]

Can't you just drain the oil into a clean container and then re-use it?

 

[colin944]

Are you sure it's the sensor. I would suspect the wiring first and check it then look at the sensor.

 

[944Turbo]

ORIGINAL: edh

Can't you just drain the oil into a clean container and then re-use it?

Exactly what I was going to say!

 

[Cater_Racer]

ORIGINAL: edh

Can't you just drain the oil into a clean container and then re-use it?

What a sensible suggestion, too easy..............

 

[T3rra]

The lights on and off go for a drive it could be on park up come back and it's off. Don't come on during driving it's either on or off, iv removed the wire cleaned which it didn't need and cleaned the ground that's as much checking off the wiring iv done. I brought two filters with the intention off posable re using oil but if I can get a way with just losing a ltr or 2 would rather just re top up. In case any thing gets in oil

 

[zcacogp]

Out of curiosity, what form does the sensor take? I've always guessed it is a float-on-a-stick type thing, like a toilet cistern float, which triggers a switch if it doesn't float to the required level. (I've therefore assumed that they deteriorate and float lower in the oil, meaning they become over-sensitive, giving a 'low' reading when there is sufficient oil in the sump.)

On that basis, such a thing would surely be fairly easy to repair, non?


Oli.

 

[T3rra]

The item is much smaller then it appears in the pics. The float has about 10mm off travel the arm is hollow and has a wire running though which I'm surprised is open to the engine oil it would seem.

Seems simple but not sure how it would stick and give early warning as it's not really got any weight to the float. Iv read it works on a magnetic resonance? I can email pics if anyone would like to see or up load

 

[zcacogp]

I'd love to see pics if you have any - thanks.


Oli.

 

[T3rra]

Will get some pics tmw

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: T3rra

Will get some pics tmw

Thanks.


Oli.

 

[T3rra]

My emails haven't been sending for my phone, so iv not been able to get you pics

Iv fitted the sender. Pretty straight folk wards however the new bolts in the cross over made it hard to get on the nuts to the heat sheild which would off been 30 secs do to the extra length off them getting in the way.

Sender was stuck to block using a flat head and hammer I tried free it up from the inside off old sender unit In the end it needed a good tap on the out side face was able to swap over the sender with the oil running out only lost about 2/3 off ltr

Been unable to turn the car on as I covered the rear balances shaft seal with rtv

However I know suspect the issue was the o ring on the plug, as there was a clear pop when pushing the connection on to the new unit. Maybe this was causing the regular reading?

 

[T3rra]

Well that hasn't worked. Means iv got to try test the wiring now. Not something I'm looking forwards too. As I don't know what I'm doing

 

[T3rra]

Where I am now, iv replaced sensor and bench tested old one. Old was was working as it should.

Which is contact when fully floating at top and as soon as it drops the contact broken light is triggered. So there no 10mm level of travel.

Iv opened the loom just b4 manifold as it looks to have been pinched hear possibly when putting the head on at some point. Wires where fine. Tested them which was brown and white with yellow stripe also in the loom where the wires for the sender which where blue and white with blue stripe.

The wire is yellow at the sender plug so I hope white / yellow is correct.

Iv removed the dash cluster and disconnected and reconnted the plug still no luck. So it looks iv got to chase the wire back from here once I can work out which wire I'm looking for.

Can I run a new wire from the plug over top off old one to the loom where I open it or even to the sensor it self to confirm it'd the right one as it should turn it off if the oil level is indeed correct

 

[T3rra]

So looking at wiring diagram 89 turbo row

It's 4 additional electrics is WH/YE which I think is white and yellow going to pin 8 on dme