83 zx n/a oil pressure gauge
 

I have a question. All gauges work, except the oil pressure.
The idiot lite works but the needle does not. I dont think there is one fuse just for that.
Where is the oil pressure sending unit on the engine block. I think i have a detached wire.

Also how hard is it to change from digital dash to analog and maybe how pricey.I have a little gremlin living in there and cant go traceing.
Thanks Mark

the oil pressure sending unit is located to the right of the oil filter.. its a 2: dia cylinder with 2 wires couning out from it...

thanks for the quick reply
Mark

It is probably not the sending unit. Mine does the same thing, and it is the gauge itself not the sending unit. Sometimes it works when it is cold or i use the a/c. But now the a/c is broke so it rarely works. Just figured I would let you know.

From my experience I would say that the sending units are what go bad over and over again while the gauge rarely has problems.

I think mine is the gauge because it tends to only work when it is cold or the a/c is on. But i have not figured it out yet so i don't know. The sending unit is $45 in motorsport. Anybody know where you can get it cheaper?

Napa Auto Parts.

When the sending unit goes bad, it sends strange signals to the guage. The reading changes with A/C, rpm, ect. They vary by what they do when they are going bad too. They don't just go out completely.

I had the same problem with my 83 ZX. The sending unit is what craps out. I ignored it because I didn't want to spend the money too. The sending unit finally completely failed, my fuel pump shut down, and I was left on the side of the road in Boise. Replace the sending unit, it only takes a few minutes, a 14mm wrench, and about 30 to 45 dollars. Beats a tow bill or the embarrassment of sitting on the shoulder watching the rubberneckers gawk at you.

I've only had to replace two gauges over the last twenty years, and over two hundred sending units.

I'm not saying it isn't the gauge, but start with the sending unit...its easy to check with a ohm meter as the resistance changes with the increased pressure as you raise the RPM's.

Second step is harder, you need to disconnect, clean and protect the various connectors that carry the wire for that circuit. Actually it would be easier the do all the connectors since the car is getting a tad older now.

I just completed all the connectors on my '82 and was surprised how much better the car runs and everything works like it should, a HUGE difference!

Replacing a digital dash for a analog unit isn't hard or expensive if you have all the harnesses and parts from a wrecked ZX, just make sure its from the same series or you'll never get the speedometer the read correctly

As far as the speedometer, do you mean you should get one from a 1980+ because those are the 85mph speedos?

but as far as gear ratios go, I thought you could just swap the little cable cog in the side of the transmission.

The Speedometer heads are actually different, look for the numbers on the dial to determine series.