Low Oil Level Sensor Test

Tools Required:

• Rotunda Digital Volt-Ohmmeter 007-00001

Connect positive lead of Rotunda Digital Volt-Ohmmeter 007-00001 or equivalent, to sensor terminal and negative lead to sensor housing. With sensor submerged in oil (engine full), meter should read "open". Resistance should be greater than 1,000 ohms. With sensor out of oil (oil drained), resistance should be less than 1,000 ohms.

NOTE: Sensor must be horizontal when this test is conducted.

It is best to conduct test with sensor in pan with hot oil to ensure that oil properly drains from sensor. If removed from pan, sensor must first be submerged in warm oil to ensure proper positioning of the float before testing. The sensor must be held horizontally during bench testing to ensure that the float remains correctly positioned.

PINPOINT TEST INDEX

SYMPTOM	PINPOINT TEST
Low Oil Level Indicator Stays On After Starting Engine—Oil Not Low	B
Low Oil Level Indicator Does Not Stay On When Low On Oil	C
Low Oil Level Indicator Blinks Intermittently While Driving	D
Low Coolant Level Indicator Inoperative	E

NOTE: Ignition should be turned OFF for five minutes between checks to be sure that the electronic relay has "reset".

PINPOINT TEST B: LOW OIL LEVEL INDICATOR STAYS ON AFTER STARTING ENGINE — OIL NOT LOW

B1 CHECK OIL LEVEL AND RELAY GROUND

• Verify oil level is full then check electronic relay ground by disconnecting wire Circuit 258 (W/PK) from sensor and restart engine.

• Does indicator turn off?

CHECK sensor resistance. If less than 1000 K ohms, REPLACE sensor. If greater than 1000 K ohms—REPLACE electronic relay.

No
GO to B2.

 

B2 CHECK OIL SENSOR CIRCUIT

• Check wiring circuit between electronic relay and terminal 4 of electronic relay.

• Is wire OK?

Yes
REPLACE electronic relay.

No
SERVICE wiring.

 

PINPOINT TEST C: LOW OIL LEVEL INDICATOR DOES NOT STAY ON WHEN LOW ON OIL 1.9 LITERS (TWO QUARTS)

 

C1 CHECK ELECTRONIC RELAY

• Check electronic relay by disconnecting wire Circuit 258 (W/PK) from terminal 4. Wait approximately five minutes. Then short terminal to ground. Start engine.

• Does indicator stay on?

Yes
RECONNECT wire. GO to C2.

No
REPLACE electronic relay.

 

C2 CHECK SENSOR RESISTANCE

• Check sensor resistance between sensor terminal and ground.

• Is resistance greater than 1000K ohms?

Yes
REPLACE sensor.

No
CHECK wiring or connector to sensor for open circuit.

 

PINPOINT TEST D: LOW OIL LEVEL INDICATOR BLINKS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING

 

D1 CHECK CONNECTIONS

• Check for loose connections to relay or bulb.

• Are connections OK?

Yes
REPLACE electronic relay.

No
SERVICE connections.

Low Coolant Level Indicator Wiring Schematic




 

PINPOINT TEST E: LOW COOLANT LEVEL INDICATOR INOPERATIVE

 

E1 VERIFY COOLANT LEVEL

• When the engine is cold observe level of coolant in recovery reservoir.

• Is coolant level below FULL HOT mark?

Yes
GO to E2.

No
GO to E3.

 

E2 VERIFY COOLANT LEVEL

• Fill coolant to the FULL HOT mark on the recovery reservoir.

• Start vehicle and observe CHECK COOLANT indicator.

• Does indicator illuminate then stay off?

Yes
System OK.

No
GO to E3.

 

E3 CHECK INDICATOR

• Turn ignition ON.

• Using a jumper wire, ground Circuit 794 (LB) wire at instrument cluster connector.

• Does indicator turn on?

Yes
GO to E4.

No
REPLACE the CHECK COOLANT indicator or instrument cluster.

 

E4 CHECK RESISTANCE

• Disconnect the instrument cluster.

• Measure resistance from the instrument cluster (LB) wire to the coolant level sensor.

• Is resistance less than 5 ohms?

Yes
GO to E5.

No
SERVICE/REPLACE the (LB) wire.

 

E5 CHECK VOLTAGE TO SENSOR

• Measure voltage on Circuit 640 (R/Y) at coolant level sensor.

• Is voltage at least 10 volts?

Yes
GO to E6.

No
SERVICE/REPLACE Circuit 640 (R/Y) from the 15 amp meter fuse to coolant level sensor.

 

E6 CHECK SENSOR GROUND

• Measure resistance from coolant level sensor wire, Circuit 57 (BK) to ground.

• Is resistance less than 5 ohms?

Yes
GO to E7.

No
SERVICE/REPLACE the (BK) wire to ground.

 

E7 CHECK COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR

• Turn ignition ON.

• Using a jumper wire, jump the coolant level sensor wire Circuit 794 (LB) to ground.

• Does indicator turn on?

Yes
REPLACE coolant level sensor.

No
SERVICE/REPLACE the CHECK COOLANT indicator or instrument cluster.

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