jiar577

iTrader: (2)

The oil pressure gauge is acting up, I just noticed it's topped out. I drove around and at first on a kick down it moved around a bit but as soon as the tranny shifted up the gauge was topped out again, now it just doesn't move at all no matter what. The oil level is ok.

Truck is an '06 5.3 engine

Is there a sensor I should look at? Where?
thanks

blueflamed03

iTrader: (1)

sounds like the first sign of a stepper motor needing replaced. Common issues from 03-06's. I had all mine replaced, new bulbs, and lifetime warranty for $90. Dealer wants $350 to replace ALL stepper motors.

Sc00by

I had a similar problem with mine. My oil pressure guage would go to fully maxxed out to zero (which would give me a heart attack and set off all kinds of alarms in my truck). My oil levels were fine as well. My truck is an 03 with about 175k-185k miles on it when it happend and it turned out to be the oil pressure sending unit on the back of the engine block drivers side. If you feel back there you can feel the wire running into the back of the sensor which is about an inch in dia and about an inch tall installed. You will need an special tool because of its odd cut. It looks like a 1" deep well (exact size ??) but the edges are all rounded off the tool is cheap and its in your box to use later so why not. I cant remember the exact cost but it wasn't to bad and really easy to replace its just a little difficult to get to.

jiar577

iTrader: (2)

Thanks Sc00by, it looks exactly like my problem, the gauge goes all the way from max to zero and back up again. 57k miles on my truck. I also assume it is the sensor as nothing else fails and no check engine light or anything else comes on.

Do you access this sensor from the top of the engine or from under the truck?

Where did you buy this tool?
Thanks

Sc00by

When it first happened to my truck i thought the same thing...."Damn Guage Cluster".....Well thoughs are expensive $300 plus (dealer). The only other thing it could be was the oil pressure sending unit was only $35-40 bux and tool was around $10 or so. I figured its going to fail one day so if it wasn't the issue I was only out $50 and not $300. I think I bought the part and the tool from NAPA.

The part is located and accesed through the top of the engine on the drivers side closest to the firewall. (going by memory) its behind the head/intake and is tough to get to but it can be done.

jiar577

iTrader: (2)

I'm having a hard time finding it; it's tight in there and having large hands doesn't help lol.

Looking from the top I see a couple of cables behind the intake, one is really thin and the other is larger. I assume it's one of those. I'll give it another try later once the engine cools down a bit.

jiar577

iTrader: (2)

Ok, found it but wasn't able to take it out, couldn't find the damn tool anywhere. Took it to a friend's shop and he took care of it.

Everything is normal again. Thanks sc00by, you were really helpful.

Sc00by

No problem. Sorry for no response on your last few posts but things got a little crazy last week. Good to hear your back up an running!