Oil Light questions

[mygatts57]

My oil idiot light in dashboard gauge is off on my 72 911T when ignition is on and has never lit up. I am assuming that it should light up when ignition is first on but engine not running and then after engine is running and up to pressure it would go off. Is this correct?

Also, wiring diagram shows wiring for oil level, oil temperature and oil pressure. All I have is a single idiot light which I am assuming is oil pressure only and was USA only?, and only the Europeans benefitted from all three measurements. Is this correct?

Thanks for your help

[Early_S_Man]

The warning lamp was part of the standard 'base' gauge package on 911T models throughout the 1968 - 73 model production run. It had nothing to do with USA or ROW status. Most 911Ts that I have seen were ordered with the 'S' instrument package.

The wiring for the 'S' instruments is present in all cars, just folded back and taped up in cars with base instruments. You can buy used gauges and new or used senders to install oil pressure and temperature gauges. The oil tank level sender is a bit tricky, since your tank has a cap plate instead of a sender, and the wiring pigtail is taped up with the right rear tail lamp harness ... you have to be careful not to damage the 35+ year-old wires if you decide to retrofit the gauges. I suggest removing the entire tail lamp housing very carefully, and unplug the five-pole bulkhead connector, then clean the wiring and housing thoroughly. Let sit in the hot sun for a couple of hours before trying to unfold any wiring to clean.

The basic 911E models also suffered the same fate as yours, if the deluxe instruments weren't checked on the order blank!

As far as your current problem goes, it could be a fractured wire under the insulation, corrosion, or a loose Faston connector, or the problem could be at the 14-pin connector to the body wiring harnes at the electrical panel on the left fender wall.

Good luck!

[mygatts57]

Great information! Thanks much