Druck Gauge at 0

mattypV50 · 07-17-2018, 06:06 PM

Newbie question. 83SC.

The druck gauge used to work perfectly. No issues at all. I had some work done on the ac - system recharged and some dryer piece behind the steering wheel needed to be replaced.

The gauge now just reads 0 all the time. When I start the car it goes from below 0 (resting) jumps a bit to 0 but never above. Drove the car for about an hour tonight - some highway and stop and go and no bad symptoms at all. Drives exactly the same. No warning lights ect. Gauge just never moves. All other gauges work great. Oil level in the middle when stop on level. Oil temp around 210.

1. Does this just sound like a gauge issue - nothing big to worry about
2. What's the best way to start and diagnose this. I read the if it's the sender unit it usually goes to 5.

Thanks for any help.

Flat6pac · 07-17-2018, 06:41 PM

The sender is about $70, if there is no connection at the sender but wire is good dash guage pegs to the top so going negative would be at the sender.
My thoughts
Bruce

smokintr6 · 07-17-2018, 07:12 PM

Just an FYI when the “druck” gauge reads 0, that’s supposed to be your cue to immediately shut the engine off and sort out the trouble. By driving it for an hour that way you have basically confirmed that the trouble is with the gauge/sender rather than the engine itself. If he problem was isolated to the engine the damage you would have done with 0 pressure would have been devastating. Your engine would be a boat anchor and you would have been stranded. Oil pressure is not a suggestion.

dyerkes · dyerkes's Garage

You might want to start out by removing the gauge from the dash to ensure that there are no wires that have become dislodged. To remove the gauge you can grab the rim and gently rock it side to side while pulling towards yourself. It is only held in place by a band of rubber that encircles the unit - creating a tight fit in the dash cutout.

tdw28210 · tdw28210's Garage

Sounds electrical or wiring related. Trust the stick, not the gauge. Even on their best days, the gauge is only directionally accurate.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

IIRC there's a way to test by grounding the wire with the car off or something along those lines. Do a search and you'll find out how to test. My guess is you lost the sending unit. I think when you ground the gauge should peg and drop back when you remove ground.

mattypV50 · 06:57 AM

Ok I'll check the gauge first by pulling it out and checking to see if anything came loose.

There was no oil light on or anything so that's why I kept driving home. It just seemed like a gauge issue since it doesn't bounce or move all at. It's not like it was at 3 then dropped to 0.

From my understanding it's a sump system. So when I'm stopped and the car is warm my oil level gauge jumps up and reads in the middle which means oil level is good. When I start driving the oil level drops to red which to me means the oil has left and is circulating around the engine which then should make the druck gauge rise.

Am I correct in this or totally wrong.

mattypV50 · 07-18-2018, 05:40 PM

Fixed.

Took the gauge out of the dash - pushed some wires in...started it up and 4 bars on startup. Nice!

So if this helps anyone else in the future as most posts are about the gauge being pegged to 5....

Symptoms:
1. Druck Press Gauge at resting position when car off
2. Turn ignition and gauge comes up the 0 mark and oil light is on
3. Start the car and the gauge doesn't move but oil light off and car is running fine

Solution:
1. Gauge wires in dash were lose / bad connection

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

Good Job.

Consider removing and polishing/tightening those connectors.

Nice when it is simple, huh?

theiceman · 07-19-2018, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokintr6

Just an FYI when the “druck” gauge reads 0, that’s supposed to be your cue to immediately shut the engine off and sort out the trouble. By driving it for an hour that way you have basically confirmed that the trouble is with the gauge/sender rather than the engine itself. If he problem was isolated to the engine the damage you would have done with 0 pressure would have been devastating. Your engine would be a boat anchor and you would have been stranded. Oil pressure is not a suggestion.

Not arguing with you but .... if my oil pressure suddenly was at 0 with the engine running and I had no oil light on I think I might have done as PO did . was obviously a gauge/sender issue as this car has two oil pressure switches. if the light did not come on I would think its the gauge / sender after going to zero.