82 SC Partial Drop - Oil Pressure Switch Replacement

[gazzerr]

Hi Guys,

Quick question. I need to replace my oil pressure switch. If you do a 4 inch partial drop can you reach the switch from the front of the engine under the car?

[tirwin]

Are you talking about the switch in the back at the triangle of death?

You can do it if you take the pope's hat off. Get a deep socket. I think I used a 1/2" 24mm deep socket with a stubby socket wrench and an extension. It is just big enough to fit over the switch.

When you go to put the new one on you need to put some epoxy like JB Weld around the red plastic of the new one. There is a metal lip that crimps over the red plastic. The switch can still leak there, so the epoxy is a preventative measure.

[gazzerr]

Hi Tirwin,

You are correct. I'm talking about the oil pressure switch that drives the idiot light on the dash in the triangle of death. The trick is that the switch assembly is partially obscured by a section of metal air line that's part of the cold start system so it doesn't look like you can get a long socket over it.

I have a long deep "open" socket that's actually a "strut nut socket" that I think I can wiggle in there and make it work. I was just wondering if anyone had actually managed to pull this off on a later SC without a whole motor drop.

Thanks for the JB weld tip. I'll definitely do that.

G.

[tirwin]

I did this -- at least on my car -- using the method I described above. I had not tightened the new switch tightly enough when I reassembled the engine last year. It puked oil from the sender on the first start after reinstalling the engine. Did a partial drop to tighten it.

You might need a swivel joint on the socket extension too but this method worked for me.

[gazzerr]

Cool thanks for that. Yes that's my fear that I won't tighten it enough and it will puke oil . Did you have to go the full 20Nm?

Thanks I'll give it a shot.

[tirwin]

Honestly, I just tightened it by feel. I don't think I could've gotten my 1/2" torque wrench back there and I'm not even sure that torque wrench goes that low. I had to use my 1/2" impact sockets because they were the only ones that I had that were deep enough to go over the switch. 20Nm isn't that much... something like 14 ft lbs?

[gazzerr]

Yeah 14 sounds about right.

Cool thanks Sir.