Oil pressure sensor performance code?

Tiny
DAWNHOOVER
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
I have an oil pressure sensor performance code. When my friend who's a mechanic put his computer on to check the performance it was reading the oil pressure was 149.6 psi. He said there's no way that's right, so the sensor has to be bad. I'm sure that's true. I'm going to explain what is happening. Every now and then my oil light would come on when I start the car. I would turn it off and restart and the light was gone. I drove home from work and the car was ruining perfectly fine parked for the night. Came out in the morning to a crank no start. My question is, could the sensor being bad prevent the PCM from allowing it to actually start? Everything else seems to be fine. It's getting spark, you can hear the fuel pump come on, and there is gas going into the engine because I opened the Shrader valve and gas came out.
Friday, December 30th, 2022 AT 12:24 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,973 POSTS
A bad oil pressure sender on a Chrysler product is almost as common as finding red apples in the grocery store. That said a bad sensor that was showing 0 pressure could keep the car from starting because it would be telling the ECU to stop the engine to prevent damage. However just opening the Shrader doesn't really tell you anything because it takes a certain pressure of the fuel to allow the injectors to operate.
What I would do is change the OP sender, then see if things change. Borrow your friend's oil pressure sender socket and get the materials for an oil change as well. Then jack up the car, drain the oil and remove the filter. Put the drain plug in and then change the sender out. That way you have fresh oil, and the sender should be at its best. Fill it with new oil and start the engine, run it for a couple minutes, check for leaks and if it's okay you are done.
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Friday, December 30th, 2022 AT 2:52 PM
Tiny
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Well, now when you turn the key it will still crank but the check engine light is flashing.
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Friday, December 30th, 2022 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,973 POSTS
That would fit with no oil pressure while you try to start it. It would flash the light as a warning that you shouldn't drive it. I would swap the pressure sender first, then see what it does.
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+1
Friday, December 30th, 2022 AT 5:42 PM
Tiny
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Thank you. I'm going to try to get it replaced ASAP. I have the sensor I just have to get the socket and have someone do it. I can't reach the dang thing, or I'd do it myself.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2022 AT 2:30 PM
Tiny
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Also, when I was checking the plugs for spark, I noticed that the plug wire boot can be wiggled back and forth and isn't sitting tight. If that makes sense. Like I can't just pull a little and it comes out, but the other ones don't have that much play or wiggling.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2022 AT 2:34 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,973 POSTS
Loose plug wire could cause a misfire, but I would work one problem at a time. Keeps you from chasing your tail. I have people who will say "Well I changed the coils, plugs, ECM, crankshaft sensor and a cam sensor and I still have this problem" With the quality of parts these days it's unfortunately rather common to have a bad new part. In the shop I tend to test a lot more so that when I say "This part is bad" I'm 99.9% sure it's bad. However, on here that's a bit hard to do as most folks don't have scan tools and scopes at home. So, I can't say "Well hook a scope to this point and send me the waveform" Or "Use the scan tool to disable the coil on that cylinder to see if it's the problem" However I would take a look at the wire and see if it snaps into place or if there is another problem.

For the pressure sender, they can be a bear on some cars. At least your engine isn't like somewhere they put the parts inside the engine like GM and Ford. It's so much fun when you have to take the engine half apart to change the spark plugs or starter.
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Saturday, December 31st, 2022 AT 5:06 PM

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