2000s 2000 Eldo Oil Sensor Pigtail

[Mike Shawgo]

Hi Everyone,

A while back I got a message "Oil Pressure Low Stop Engine" with the dinging. Very alarming, but I checked on-line and found that this is usually a faulty oil pressure sensor. I cleared the code and continued driving with no problems and no further message, however I ordered a new GM oil pressure sensor and just had it installed today when I had my oil changed.  After driving the car for a while, the "Oil Pressure Low Stop Engine" message appeared again, but this time it was very brief, made two dings and then the message disappeared. When I checked the error codes, it hadn't even registered a code. To me this sounds like a short in the connector or pigtail. I'm not going to tackle changing out the pigtail, is this a big job that is going to cost a fortune in labor, or is it no big deal? Do you agree that this sounds like a short? If the message didn't even stay on long enough to trigger an error code, I can't think it could be anything but a short.

Mike Shawgo
#25545

[James Landi]

You likely have stored trouble codes that may provide you with guidance. I think you're correct Mike.  As you well know, modern cars are wired with mostly #16 and #18 gauge wire looms, and shorts to ground created by wear that can sometimes occur with metal parts  create havoc. Additionally, oxidation  at connections downstream of the sensor can have built up oxidation and can cause intermittent challenges.  James

[TJ Hopland]

Does the 'internet' say the pigtail is a common problem?  If not I don't think I would just try replacing it.  There could be a dozen other connectors and places for damage to a wire between that sensor and the module that is reading it so replacing the pigtail may just be adding another splice/connection in the wire.

You would have to read about this circuit and code to see how fast it responds and notifies the issue to know if you can just poke at things and have it ding or if you would need some sort of scan tool to monitor the sensor directly and ignore any other logic that is happening to decide if and when to ding.  Monitoring it directly should let you poke at things and flex things to see if anything causes it to act up.