I have a 1999 AU Fairmont with 64K on the clock. It is regularly serviced.
With the engine hot and the engine idling the oil pressure gauge
sits on the bottom graduation on the gauge. Sometimes it drops into the red and signals a low oil alarm. At normal speed the gauge reads on the middle graduation.
The oil level is normal ie full and the engine idle speed is normal.
Sender unit may be at fault?? Your battery terminals o/k,good earths? May pay to check presure with another presure guage,a temp mechanical type.Just under bonnet while hot to double check...
My mum's 1995 EF Fairmont also has the same problem. She only has 112,000km and the car has been looked after very well. If you idle for a little amount of time, you get the stupid thing beeping and flashing! I say it's faulty but get it checked out if you have the money, ford likes charging $70 for replacing a bulb for the odometer let alone to check something like that, but good luck mate, hope it's just a fault
It seems only to happen with the headlights on. Must be an electrical problem with the oil pressure sender. The other gauges are not affected, the voltmeter still reads normal.
I was having trouble with oil gauge variation in the TE. Spoke to the guys at Strapp Ford and they seemed quite aware of a problem with bad earthing with the oil sender. Ran an extra earth wire (under warranty) and all is fine now.
I was having trouble with oil gauge variation in the TE. Spoke to the guys at Strapp Ford and they seemed quite aware of a problem with bad earthing with the oil sender. Ran an extra earth wire (under warranty) and all is fine now.
I found that the earth between the Block and body was shythouse on advice from ford service dept. in Newcastle. (The one time they ever got anything right.). This might be a little of the track however my one of my XFs did the same thing. Turns out that the bottom end bearings were shot. If you have high oil pressure at startup (cold) and at idle the pressure gradualy decreases to a problem area then bearings. To test for the electrical falut, get hold of a multimeter measuring DC and messure for a potential difference (a voltage) between shell and block. Now try with headlights on. If this proves to provide a voltage of anything more than would be an acceptable level, make a decent guage earth strap from block to body.
Yep, pretty damn sure its that earth strap. I made one up from some 4AG power cable from Jaycar electronics. Along with a couple of luggs and a bit of crimping and bolting, the problem was fixed. It was my bosses car. Very neglected car, before I got hold of it, no fluid in break resivour - just a couple of dead oil soaked leaves in it. Whole job cost about $20.00. Bolded onto the block on one of the idler bracket bolts and the other end to the body.
Yep, pretty damn sure its that earth strap. I made one up from some 4AG power cable from Jaycar electronics. Along with a couple of luggs and a bit of crimping and bolting, the problem was fixed. It was my bosses car. Very neglected car, before I got hold of it, no fluid in break resivour - just a couple of dead oil soaked leaves in it. Whole job cost about $20.00. Bolded onto the block on one of the idler bracket bolts and the other end to the body.
Yep, I got an auto-elec to make me an earhting cable ($20), I fitted it in 10 minutes from the block to engine bay panel. So easy! Thanks for all the help guys....
To be exact this issue (of earthing) effects AU1 and 2 series cars. XF's had a similar but different issue.
Under certain conditions at engine idle the engine oil pressure gauge may read lower than expected and the audible warning alarm may sound. The cause of the concern is not the actual engine oil pressure but insufficient earthing in the engine bay wiring.
The Test:
To see if earthing is the cause of the problem:
1. With the engine hot note the engine oil pressure reading on the gauge.
2. Stop the engine and attach a 5mm or larger jumper wire from the battery negative terminal to a good engine earth.
3. Restart the engine and record the oil pressure gauge reading. If the gauge now reads about 1 segment higher then use the fix below.
The Fix:
Use a suitable length of 5mm wire and 2 eyelet terminals to install a permanent ground cable
between the battery negative terminal and one of the alternator mounting bolts. Make sure the wiring is protected from rubbing and is of sufficient length to allow for engine movement.
To be exact this issue (of earthing) effects AU1 and 2 series cars. XF's had a similar but different issue.
Under certain conditions at engine idle the engine oil pressure gauge may read lower than expected and the audible warning alarm may sound. The cause of the concern is not the actual engine oil pressure but insufficient earthing in the engine bay wiring.
The Test:
To see if earthing is the cause of the problem:
1. With the engine hot note the engine oil pressure reading on the gauge.
2. Stop the engine and attach a 5mm or larger jumper wire from the battery negative terminal to a good engine earth.
3. Restart the engine and record the oil pressure gauge reading. If the gauge now reads about 1 segment higher then use the fix below.
The Fix:
Use a suitable length of 5mm wire and 2 eyelet terminals to install a permanent ground cable
between the battery negative terminal and one of the alternator mounting bolts. Make sure the wiring is protected from rubbing and is of sufficient length to allow for engine movement.
Sounds great. I have exact problem with mine. I will try this fix. Does anybody have any pics they can show of the done job to help those who arent too electrical minded.
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