40th GT said:In the new Nissan Xterras, the oil gauge actually sweeps back and forth according to pressure. If the SUV's have it, why can't we!
Kilgore Trout said:Some people call it a glorified idiot light...
mity2 said:So true. I was told in the past there is something you can do to make it functional - like rewire something behind gauge cluster or something...
Garlic, thanks for the link. After reading it, it seems Autometer is the way to go.sgarlic said:http://www.sfuller.net/projects/cobra/oilgauge/
Here's the kicker (taken from the article)
"For Mid '96 on cars you will need to buy the older gauge. The old (actual) gauge part number is F6ZZ-10850-BA. This is with the white face for the Cobra and is a combined assembly including the voltmeter. There is an error in the microfiche, the -BA part is indeed an older revision than the -BB part. I don't remember the price but I remember I didn't like it, anyway the clear cover needs to be removed from the instrument pod and it just plugs in. (Note: The price for this part was approximately $72. The parts person said that there was a replacement number for F6ZZ-10850-BA, so I'm not sure if this old gauge is even available from a Ford dealer anymore or not.) "

sgarlic said:http://www.sfuller.net/projects/cobra/oilgauge/
Here's the kicker (taken from the article)
"For Mid '96 on cars you will need to buy the older gauge. The old (actual) gauge part number is F6ZZ-10850-BA. This is with the white face for the Cobra and is a combined assembly including the voltmeter. There is an error in the microfiche, the -BA part is indeed an older revision than the -BB part. I don't remember the price but I remember I didn't like it, anyway the clear cover needs to be removed from the instrument pod and it just plugs in. (Note: The price for this part was approximately $72. The parts person said that there was a replacement number for F6ZZ-10850-BA, so I'm not sure if this old gauge is even available from a Ford dealer anymore or not.) "

GT-03 said:If someone could just find a way to access that now internal 20 ohm resistor, we could all have a real functioning oil pressure gauge for about 1/2 hour of work and $5 for the transducer.

Seems to me that the above information proves that the guage indicates whether you have a sufficient LEVEL of oil or not. So 3 of us who voted were correctGT-03 said:It use to be a pretty simple change. Just replace the "on/off" oil pressure sensor to an "analog" oil pressure transducer. And on the back of the instrument cluster, short out the 20 ohm resistor.
An "analog" oil pressure transducer changes electric resistance according to measured oil pressure. When it is around normal pressure, the transducer reads as 20 ohms, and therefore, 20 ohms puts the gauge needle about center of the "normal" zone.
The "on/off" oil pressure sensor is simply 'on' or 'off'. Ford puts a 20 ohm resistor in, so that when the sensor is 'on', the gauge "sees" 20 ohms and puts the needle about center of the "normal" zone (just like with the transducer). When the sensor is 'off', the needle drops to zero. So, in these cars, the needle is at only one of two places; zero or normal. Thus, the nickname of "idiot gauge".
The "Cobra" trick, and this trick is documented for many other Ford vehicles like Explorers and Thunderbirds too, is to find that 20 ohm resistor. Unfortunately, and this is the real catch, Ford has "cost reduced" the instrument cluster on newer Fords, so that the 20 ohm resistor is now inside the gauge itself.
If someone could just find a way to access that now internal 20 ohm resistor, we could all have a real functioning oil pressure gauge for about 1/2 hour of work and $5 for the transducer.
Kilgore Trout said:Seems to me that the above information proves that the guage indicates whether you have a sufficient LEVEL of oil or not. So 3 of us who voted were correct![]()

4u2nv said:Volunteers?
Anyone have a recently wrecked or totaled 99+ we could see this on? This could be interesting.
