High oil pressure

[jordan01GTS]

So I purchased my first viper last summer. It had been in an accident and it was a great deal on an '01 sapphire striped gts, I work at a auto restoration shop and have always been obsessed with vipers. I have been working on it slowly and I finally got it up and running last week, what a great day. I was monitoring all gauges and saw that the oil pressure gauge appeared to be pinned at full pressure so I shut her down, is this normal on start up? what are some things I should look into? I appreciate any help. Thank you

 

[dave6666]

Probably either a sending unit issue or other wiring problem, but the gauge should not be fully pegged. I assume it went that way when you started the car the first time? Do you have the manual and wiring diagrams that are in it?

 

[jordan01GTS]

yeah it happened the first time I started it. No I don't have a manual or wiring diagram.

 

[dave6666]

"The book" would certainly be a wise investment. Ebay usually has them as that's where I got mine.

Can you give a little more description to what happened to the car and what was required to return it to running condition? Where it was hit etc?

 

[jordan01GTS]

He hit the end of a guard rail on the drivers side, severing the wiring and destroying the ecu. the damage was all done between the front wheel and door. all has been repaired and replaced

 

[dave6666]

Wow. Was the wiring harness "replaced" or "repaired?"

The reason that's important is it's a pretty big mess of wires there to fix if someone hand repaired the damaged harness. And if the first "test" was you firing the engine you may have just found an issue with that repair. Dunno. Just trying to offer ideas. I'll look at my wiring diagrams here in a bit and see if I can offer any more ideas.

 

[jordan01GTS]

I repaired the harness, I did it wire by wire and traced everything out. you cant even tell it was done. I tested everything else previous to firing it and this has been the only problem. yeah any help would be great, if theres a wire I can trace out or anything. thanks for your help.

 

[JonB]

Almost certainly one of the 2 sending units. (light, guage) $52 MSRP

 

[dave6666]

Wiring diagram. Had to zoom to make it all ledgible. Paste the 3 screen shots together...

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[jordan01GTS]

I havent had time to trace the wires out but something I noticed today is that as soon as the ignition is in run position before started is when the gauge pins at full pressure and never moves.

 

[dansauto]

I think a that when its an open circuit it will read full pressure. So you probably have a broke wire

 

[-FROG-]

So where "should" it be for a GenII? Mine hoovers around 60 whel it's on throttle, or cooler and when it gets hot and sitting at idle, a tad under 40 at times.

 

[dave6666]

So where "should" it be for a GenII? Mine hoovers around 60 whel it's on throttle, or cooler and when it gets hot and sitting at idle, a tad under 40 at times.

I think you are about right on Frogster. Mine is also between 45 to 60 per the same conditions. The gauges are not that accurate as I'm sure neither are the sending units. I would be concerned with idle at 20 though.

Like all of these gauges it's not so much the absolute reading but the changes from the day or week before you should be concerned with. If it's a tad under 40 every day and then one day it's 20...? Bingo.

 

[dun4791]

So I purchased my first viper last summer. It had been in an accident and it was a great deal on an '01 sapphire striped gts, I work at a auto restoration shop and have always been obsessed with vipers. I have been working on it slowly and I finally got it up and running last week, what a great day. I was monitoring all gauges and saw that the oil pressure gauge appeared to be pinned at full pressure so I shut her down, is this normal on start up? what are some things I should look into? I appreciate any help. Thank you

I noticed you live about 5 miles from me. PM sent

 

[jordan01GTS]

Well no that I am getting around to it how can I check if its a wire issue or a sending unit issue? Can I remove the gauge and test the wire? how do the gauges come out?

 

[dave6666]

If you're wanting to do the easiest thing first, put a new sending unit in. If that does not solve it then replacing the gauge might be next on the list. Requires removing the dash. Not quite as fun as sensor removal. If that does not work then before you put the dash back on try stringing a temporary wire from the sensor to the sending unit to see if you have wire problems. Then of course getting that new replacement wire integrated into the OE wire harness? Shiiiiiiii.....

 

[uvbnbit]

Spend an extra $20 (?), and go with a Mopar OEM sensor/sending unit.