If you have a car that uses a mechanical oil pressure switch and the warning light is on, you may be facing the need to check and/or replace it. It can be a bummer to get a red warning light, but the good news is that it’s usually just a really quick and easy fix (sometimes you may not even need to replace the switch, but just the gasket inside it). Let’s check out how to check an oil pressure switch with a multimeter to see if it needs replacing.
What Is An Oil Pressure Switch?
An oil pressure switch is an on/off switch for an oil pump. The oil pump is connected to the oil filter housing. The oil pump is turned on by an oil pressure switch. The oil pressure switch is designed to stop the flow of oil when the oil pressure drops below a certain level. It is built into the engine block, valve cover, or oil filter housing. It is opened with a mechanical plunger.
The oil pressure switch is an important part of a vehicle’s engine. The oil pressure switch in most modern cars is an electrical switch that detects the oil pressure to the engine. When the oil pressure drops below a safe level, the oil pressure switch will activate the oil light on the dash to alert the driver.
The oil pressure switch is one of the most important parts of a running car, as it is responsible for sending a signal to the dashboard warning light if engine oil pressure is low. To make sure your oil pressure switch is working correctly, you can test it with a multimeter. The oil pressure switch has a diode inside of it, which means it has a positive and negative pin. If your multimeter has a setting for diodes, use it to test the switch. If your multimeter doesn’t have a diode setting, you’ll need to use the continuity test or the resistance test.
Checking The Oil Pressure Switch
The oil pressure switch on your car is an important tool, especially if you have a car that requires special oil that is hard to find at any local shop. (If you have a Mustang, for example, you probably already know how hard it is to find the right type of oil for it.) To check the oil pressure switch, you will need to purchase a multimeter, which most auto parts stores sell.
Before you begin to check the switch, make sure you have everything you need. First, you will need your multimeter, and it should be one that specifically checks oil pressure switches. This will ensure that your multimeter will be able to check your oil pressure switch accurately. (There are several things that can cause your oil pressure switch to malfunction, but this article will only detail one of those – the oil pressure switch itself.)
The multimeter that is needed has a red lead and a black lead. These are the two most common leads, and they are used to check voltage and current. The multimeter will usually be set to measure volts or ohms. (However, if you are not sure of the settings, you can always switch them
Using the multimeter, you will be able to do a step-by-step job on how to check an oil pressure switch. The steps are as follows:
- Get your multimeter and set its function to ohms.
- Get your oil pressure switch and attach the first lead of your multimeter to the 2 wires on the oil pressure switch.
- Attach the 2nd lead to the negative terminal of your battery.
- When you attach the leads to the pressure switch, your multimeter should give ohms reading.
- If the reading is okay, you may proceed to set your multimeter to volts.
Many times you may find yourself having to check the oil pressure switch on a car or truck for one reason or another. The oil pressure switch is responsible for activating the oil light on your dashboard. If your oil pressure is too low, the switch will activate the light, telling you to stop and check your oil level. You can check the oil pressure switch with a multimeter to determine whether the oil pressure is too low to turn on the oil light in your dashboard.
The oil pressure switch is used to send an alarm to the engine control unit when the oil pressure has dropped below a certain level. It is usually made with a set of contacts in series with a switch, which is used to close the circuit. In principle, the oil pressure switch can be checked with a multimeter, but there are a few things to remember, because incorrect use can damage the switch.
Things To Remember
While checking an oil pressure switch with a multimeter is a great way to confirm it is faulty, it’s also important to remember a few key details:
- Always make sure the multimeter is set to 10v or less when you’re checking the switch to prevent a burn.
- Also remember to disconnect the pressure and return lines before you begin, and double-check your car manual to confirm the switch you’re working on is the correct type.
- If the multimeter shows no voltage running to the oil pressure switch, then it is bad and needs to be replaced.
- If the multimeter shows voltage running to the oil pressure switch, then it is good, and there is a problem somewhere else.
- Check the voltage at the wire going from the oil pressure switch to the gauge; if there is voltage there, then it is good, and there is a problem with the gauge.
As a vehicle owner, you should be familiar with checking oil pressure switches with a multimeter. This is a common practice that every vehicle owner should perform. The reason for checking the oil pressure switch is to make sure that it is operating properly. Oil is used for lubricating an engine, and the oil pressure switch is used to set off an indicator light when the oil is too low.
