sid_vicious Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 Hi, Here's another question about the 1997 EJ25 from an Outback wagon that I'm using for a Vanagon swap. I noticed when I pulled the engine out of the Subaru that the wires leading to the oil pressure sender were completely and cleanly severed, almost like they had been deliberately cut. I was surprised by this, and even more surprised that the car was running great with no lights in the dash (I'm certain of this....it's been my car for years). Is the oil pressure sender not a big deal for the engine to run properly? The engine had a total rebuild at a shop about 60,000 miles ago, which included a new oil pressure sender. I'm wondering if the shop may have installed a new sender in one of the other access holes in the block? I haven't looked too closely at it yet, but not knowing a ton about working on engines, I would've thought that the computer would freak if it weren't getting a signal from the oil pressure sender. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setright Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 ECU won't know. The sender is only connnected to the dashboard "dummy" light. It should light up if disconnected :-\ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankosolder2 Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 ECU won't know. The sender is only connnected to the dashboard "dummy" light. It should light up if disconnected :-\ Oil pressure switches are normally closed. (i.e. the connector on the oil pressure switch has continuity to ground when there is no oil pressure, completing the circuit and turning on the dash light. The other lead of the dash light is connected to switched +12.) When oil pressure is present, the switch opens and the circuit is broken (no warning light.) Thus, if the wire to the switch is disconnected, the light will never come on. Best way to check is to turn the key to the "ON" position without starting the car. The light should illuminate, then go off when you start the car and it develops oil pressure. The ECU does not monitor oil pressure in subies. Cheers, Nathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 Hi,Here's another question about the 1997 EJ25 from an Outback wagon that I'm using for a Vanagon swap. I noticed when I pulled the engine out of the Subaru that the wires leading to the oil pressure sender were completely and cleanly severed, almost like they had been deliberately cut. I was surprised by this, and even more surprised that the car was running great with no lights in the dash (I'm certain of this....it's been my car for years). Is the oil pressure sender not a big deal for the engine to run properly? The engine had a total rebuild at a shop about 60,000 miles ago, which included a new oil pressure sender. I'm wondering if the shop may have installed a new sender in one of the other access holes in the block? I haven't looked too closely at it yet, but not knowing a ton about working on engines, I would've thought that the computer would freak if it weren't getting a signal from the oil pressure sender. Any thoughts? well indirectly its a big deal. One would like to know when one has low oil pressure. the ecu really could care less if the engine seizes from lack of oil nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid_vicious Posted July 11, 2006 Author Share Posted July 11, 2006 well indirectly its a big deal. One would like to know when one has low oil pressure. the ecu really could care less if the engine seizes from lack of oil nipper Heck yes. Is there any reason that a mechanic may have cut this wire at some point? I haven't taken it to any shops for quite some time, as I have gotten into working on it myself. I've checked the oil very often and been very careful to look for leaks, so I'm confident that I couldn't have been running with low oil pressure all this time. I did have a problem with some kind of animal chewing up the engine harness once. I guess it's possible that something chomped the wire. My concern is that it appears to be cut so cleanly, as if it were snipped. Weird. I'll just solder it back together and see what happens. Thanks for clearing up the question of why the ECU didn't freak out. It seems nuts to me that the engine computer doesn't monitor oil pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 Heck yes. Is there any reason that a mechanic may have cut this wire at some point? I haven't taken it to any shops for quite some time, as I have gotten into working on it myself. I've checked the oil very often and been very careful to look for leaks, so I'm confident that I couldn't have been running with low oil pressure all this time. I did have a problem with some kind of animal chewing up the engine harness once. I guess it's possible that something chomped the wire. My concern is that it appears to be cut so cleanly, as if it were snipped. Weird. I'll just solder it back together and see what happens. Thanks for clearing up the question of why the ECU didn't freak out. It seems nuts to me that the engine computer doesn't monitor oil pressure. which oil pan are you using? nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burmzie Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 Heck yes. Is there any reason that a mechanic may have cut this wire at some point? I haven't taken it to any shops for quite some time, as I have gotten into working on it myself. I've checked the oil very often and been very careful to look for leaks, so I'm confident that I couldn't have been running with low oil pressure all this time. I did have a problem with some kind of animal chewing up the engine harness once. I guess it's possible that something chomped the wire. My concern is that it appears to be cut so cleanly, as if it were snipped. Weird. I'll just solder it back together and see what happens. Thanks for clearing up the question of why the ECU didn't freak out. It seems nuts to me that the engine computer doesn't monitor oil pressure. Even more nuts that it doesn't tell you when you are low on Windsheild Wiper fluid. Hell, my 84 Nissan Pulsar even had that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid_vicious Posted July 11, 2006 Author Share Posted July 11, 2006 which oil pan are you using? nipper The engine has the stock oil pan on it. Engine is a 1997 EJ25 2.5 DOHC. I plan on shortening the pan for the Vanagon. Where does the type of oil pan come into play for the pressure sender? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 The engine has the stock oil pan on it. Engine is a 1997 EJ25 2.5 DOHC. I plan on shortening the pan for the Vanagon. Where does the type of oil pan come into play for the pressure sender? it doesn but it comes into play some place else. On the vanaroo list they had a bunch of engine failures with the shortened pan. People put in the shortened pan, but never replaced the reduced volume of oil. This loss of volume was resulting in spun bearings. You can do this with a remote oil filter and external oil cooler. Also an oil temp gauge is recomended, nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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