whats on the side of my oil pan?

[ECU5.0]

alright, so i was changing my o2 sensors today and noticed that the oil pressure sensor or whatever it is on the driverside of the oil pan isnt hooked to anything. its just screwed into the side of the oil pan. also, there is a wire on my driverside o2 sensor harness that isnt connected to anythiing. its just a cut wire. but it doesnt go to the o2 sensor harness because i looked at it really carefully to make sure. any help would be greatly appreciated. also, my oil pressure gauge reads fine, and goes up and down like it should

 

[Michael Yount]

That sensor is an oil level sensor. I believe it's supposed to flash the oil pressure idiot light if the oil level in the pan is too low on start up. Does it have a wire hooked to it? If not, perhaps the missing wire goes there. My level sensor has a 90-degree connector on it.

 

[GREG91GT]

That sensor tells you if your low on oil ever had a low oil light come on,and that little wire you are refering to goes in the side of your oil pan in that sensor.

 

[ECU5.0]

alright, i was starting to think thats what it is. but my low oil light has come on before and only when the car is low on oil...like 2 quarts low

 

[GREG91GT]

it must have got unhooked i would just leave it like that as long as you check your oil reguarly

 

[ECU5.0]

but a few people that i have talked to that have a fox dont have that on their car. and how would my low oil light come on if it wasnt hooked up?

 

[408stroker5.0]

alright, i was starting to think thats what it is. but my low oil light has come on before and only when the car is low on oil...like 2 quarts low

Better check your Oil more regulary man.... Not the greatest on an engine to run it really low on oil..... I'm Sure You Know That Anyhow......
The guy's above are correct, it is a low oil sensor.

 

[ECU5.0]

alright, thanks guys. but im still wondering how my low oil light happens to come on if that sensor isnt hooked up? still kind of boggles my mind. hopefully after i get this tranny put in a rear main seal i wont lose that much oil anymore

 

[408stroker5.0]

It probably on since there is power going through the harness when the car is turned on. Since it's not plugged into the sensor it probably default's to turning the low oil light on.

 

[ECU5.0]

alright, i understand what you are saying. but i check my oil about every week and if its low i add what i need too. but before i checked it all the time it would come on only when the car is low on oil. how would the sensor know to trip the light

 

[The Shape]

I was leaking oil from my low oil level sensor (isn't that ironic?) Anyway pulled it out put a new gasket on there and it leaked worse ! Turns out it wasn't the gasket it was leaking through the sensor and me removing it and reinstalling it only disturbed it and made it worse. Well the local ford dealer didn't have one and I had to have my car running. So I went to the hardware store and bought the right size bolt and washer and sealed it off. The strange thing is I thought when you crank the car the reson all of the idiot light come on is because they are doing a self test and they go off if they are functioning properly and everything is ok. Mine still lights up and goes off just as it always has.