Oil pressure gauge not working

Tiny
JKONEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 123,000 MILES
I was driving the car and noticed oil pressure gauge was not in the middle it was all the way down like it wasn't working. Then that check gauges light was on shortly after that I started hearing like a rattling sound. So I stopped, lifted up the hood check the dipstick in her with some oil in there a little bit. Then I got back in the car and figured I'd drive it down the road to get some more oil and the clanking was still going on and it gauge is not working for the oil and it just stopped. I've been turned off and tried to turn the car on again and it won't turn over every gauge works except for the oil gauge.
Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 6:42 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
When you turn the key does the engine try to start but doesn't? Meaning does it crank but not start? If the engine does nothing then the first thing we need to do is put a wrench on the crank pulley and try to turn the engine by hand. If it does not turn by hand either then the engine is most likely locked up.

The low pressure and noise was most likely due to the oil pump not operating or it was so low on oil that it was no longer pumping oil but air. When this happens the engine internal components go metal to metal and make the noise you are hearing.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/high-or-low-engine-oil-pressure

Let's start with checking the oil again, and making sure the oil level is correct.

Then we need to turn the engine by hand with a wrench on the crank pulley bolt. Then we can go from there. Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, October 5th, 2020 AT 6:55 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.