Oil Pressure Sender

[Gawernator]

Maybe I am just retarded (likely), but I cannot for the ****ing life of me get this sender replaced, no matter what angle I've tried. At least I can say the last three hours were good education on how the power steering pump goes together!!!

Clark's mentions that on NA's it's possible to replace the sender without touching the PS pump, it wasn't happening for me. I ended up not being able to get the PS pump all the way off, after figuring out all the bolts to remove and that spacer in the rear, because the front pulley also needed to come off to get enough clearance for the forward bolt to back out. I couldn't get any of those three bolts on the front of the pulley to budge, it would spin and I don't know of any safe way to clamp it into place.

I'm seriously considering calling a local dealership to schedule a service appointment...

Maybe there is some special wrench that can fit in at that angle and get the sender off? It's 24 mm, and none of the wrenches in my garage are doing the trick... I also noticed that within the last 1-2 months oil must have started leaking out from where the sender is attached because the sender wires have oil on them and there's oil/gunk that was on all the bolts and nuts/washers on the PS pump, weren't there the first few times I worked on the car.

Any super-awesome tips before I throw in the towel? It's really de-motivating how I can't finish this seemingly simple task

[Dan Himan]

There is a thin wrench you can purchase somewhere not sure where thou. I just used a pipe wrench to get it out and ddestroyed the old one. I made a wrench myself with a thin wrench from a closet door kit, using a 4" grinder and the new one as a guide.

[Gawernator]

I tried to create some elaborate combo device to get it out with vice grips but realized I wouldn't be able to get the new one in properly even if my scheme did work x_x

[kdjones2000]

Harbor Freight sells a set of "Service Wrenches" in metric that are short enough to fit into the tight space for this application, at least for the Turbo cars.

Others have sawn off a normal wrench to make it fit.

The PS pump should come off if you take out the front bushing as well, after removing the securing nut. No need to remove the pulley.

[Gawernator]

I'll have to look for those wrenches. Do you have a picture of the front bushing? All I saw was the rear bolt, through a spacer and then the front stud that had a nut on it. I must be missing it.

P.S. that little spacer was a slight PITA to re-install.

[Gawernator]

This? 15 Piece Metric Service Wrench Set

Says they have narrow heads and I don't have any wrenches larger than 22 mm so that'd be useful

[Bukowski]

off the top of my head, I did this with a whatever mm SK wrench that was shorter than normal (is there a name for this). Notably, I bought this wrench specifically for this job, so there might have been something else to it... but I do not recall moving anything around on the car - the sender was the only thing... oil pressure sender, right? on the oil cooler?

if I think of anything else, I'll shout...

'87 944 na

[Gawernator]

Yes! I think buying those wrenches will do the trick. On the turbo you have to remove some plumbing but I think with the proper wrench I can get it off without touching anything else. I was trying to remove it to get clearance but after all that the wrench's head is too fat to fit around the nut! Rage.

[Bukowski]

FYI, I would emphasize that I bought _one_ wrench for this.

[Gawernator]

From where, my good man?

[Bukowski]

Oh, it's an SK, bought it online a long time ago, no records I think... Sorry not helping here...

[arttrout]

Maybe try a bike shop? I found a nice thin wrench there that I could "adjust" when doing my timing belt.

[Gawernator]

I'll figure it out!

[GreenWater]

Buy a cheap wrench and cut it down and then grind some of the thickness away. That's what I would do. I have already made a wrench like this for removing the speedo/refer. sensor. I cut a wrench to about 2 inches and it fits and works perfectly. I haven't tried removing the oil sender, yet, but it sounds like I will be cutting another wrench when the time comes around.

Good luck, you will figure it out.

[Gawernator]

I'm getting the Harbor Freight set, the 15 pieces have a "lifetime warranty" (we'll see) but check out what I found: "88058583" 20% off

[89-944NA]

If you have the P 9244 belt roller wrench (or aftermarket equivalent), it works PERFECTLY for removing and installing the oil pressure sender.

The offset on the jaws clears all obstacles, and the nice thin jaws slide right under the sender with no problem

[Gawernator]

*smacks self* the one wrench I need but forgot to buy, it's cheap too... think Arnnworx was the way to go, or was it Rennbay's?

[kdjones2000]

Those are the wrenches. The bonus of them for me was that they work on all of the oil cooler lines on the turbo as well. There was no way I would have been able to replace my lines without these things.

The bushing on the PS pump is a ~3/8" thick thing right at the front of that mounting stud. Use a flathead screwdriver to work it out towards the front. Once it's out then the stud comes out through the slot and you can remove the pump.

Good luck, Keith

[Bukowski]

UPDATE:

found it online:

http://www.skhandtool.com/wrenches/88124.aspx

also: shouldn't you torque the sender? I used this wrench when I was in less of a position to use proper torque.

Ok I am in my garage now. It's an SK 88124. Open end at one end, then It has a slight upward bend at the rounded 12-point end.

Hopefully can google that.

But hey so that other wrench, is that for 87 944 na fuel/brake lines too?

[89-944NA]

No need to remove anything but the sender wires with this wrench.