Oil Level Sensor: Disconnect it???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2018
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From: Question Government
Oil Level Sensor: Disconnect it???
I've been getting a "Low Oil" warning light at start-up for no apparent reason lately. It will stay on the entire first trip of the day. I know I have adequate oil level and pressure. The engine temp is fine as well. Therefore, I was wondering if it would be safe to disconnect the wiring leading to this oil level sensor which is located on the side of the oil pan, approx an inch or so above the flat bottom of the pan? Does this sensor do anything else besides detect oil level, such as oil temp? If not, I'd luv to disconnect it and not have to see the false Low Oil warning light. I'll just check engine oil the ol' fashioned way...with the dip stick.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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There's a particular set of circumstances that control the 'LOW OIL' function. If you have the FSM do the diagnostics. If diagnostics indicate a bad sensor I'd say you buy and replace the sensor.
Do you have the FSM?
Do you have the FSM?
Racer
Joined: May 2018
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I’m not sure if just unplugging it will make the light go away, but I’m in the same boat as you and may unplug it to find out. I’ve just been living with the intermittent low oil light for now. I’m going to replace it next time I do an oil change, but figured no sense wasting good oil so that’s why I’m not messing with it until I have to drain the oil anyway.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: LeClaire Iowa
I’m not sure if just unplugging it will make the light go away, but I’m in the same boat as you and may unplug it to find out. I’ve just been living with the intermittent low oil light for now. I’m going to replace it next time I do an oil change, but figured no sense wasting good oil so that’s why I’m not messing with it until I have to drain the oil anyway.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
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From: St. Charles MO
Mine came from the previous owner unplugged. My aftermarket pan doesn't have a fitting for a level sensor at all. I have no "low oil level" light illuminated. I just went into Jet DST tables to look, and there is a switch in the tables for that indicator light. Mine is unchecked, but it was also unchecked on the OE table I saved from a replacement PCM I bought two years ago. I would have thought it would checked for the OE calibration, and that checking that box enables the light to come on when the sensor thinks the oil level is too low. So I'm a bit confused. Addendum: see explanation in WVZR-1's and my posts below.
All that said, if you unplug the oil level sensor and it illuminates the light constantly, the fix would be to have it turned off in the PCM calibration. This ***-umes your car is a 94-96 with the "flashable" PCMs. If you have a 94-95, you can do this with fairly inexpensive Tunercat software. If you have a 96 like I do, your only option is the expensive (~$400) Jet DST software and cable package. Addendum: this is not accurate, see next posts below.
Now, with all THAT said, if you have no plans to use an aftermarket pan or change the tuning calibrations on your car, I bet it will be cheaper to just replace the sensor the next time you change the oil.
All that said, if you unplug the oil level sensor and it illuminates the light constantly, the fix would be to have it turned off in the PCM calibration. This ***-umes your car is a 94-96 with the "flashable" PCMs. If you have a 94-95, you can do this with fairly inexpensive Tunercat software. If you have a 96 like I do, your only option is the expensive (~$400) Jet DST software and cable package. Addendum: this is not accurate, see next posts below.
Now, with all THAT said, if you have no plans to use an aftermarket pan or change the tuning calibrations on your car, I bet it will be cheaper to just replace the sensor the next time you change the oil.
Last edited by MatthewMiller; Jul 23, 2018 at 10:32 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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Mine came from the previous owner unplugged. My aftermarket pan doesn't have a fitting for a level sensor at all. I have no "low oil level" light illuminated. I just went into Jet DST tables to look, and there is a switch in the tables for that indicator light. Mine is unchecked, but it was also unchecked on the OE table I saved from a replacement PCM I bought two years ago. I would have thought it would checked for the OE calibration, and that checking that box enables the light to come on when the sensor thinks the oil level is too low. So I'm a bit confused.
All that said, if you unplug the oil level sensor and it illuminates the light constantly, the fix would be to have it turned off in the PCM calibration. This ***-umes your car is a 94-96 with the "flashable" PCMs. If you have a 94-95, you can do this with fairly inexpensive Tunercat software. If you have a 96 like I do, your only option is the expensive (~$400) Jet DST software and cable package.
Now, with all THAT said, if you have no plans to use an aftermarket pan or change the tuning calibrations on your car, I bet it will be cheaper to just replace the sensor the next time you change the oil.
All that said, if you unplug the oil level sensor and it illuminates the light constantly, the fix would be to have it turned off in the PCM calibration. This ***-umes your car is a 94-96 with the "flashable" PCMs. If you have a 94-95, you can do this with fairly inexpensive Tunercat software. If you have a 96 like I do, your only option is the expensive (~$400) Jet DST software and cable package.
Now, with all THAT said, if you have no plans to use an aftermarket pan or change the tuning calibrations on your car, I bet it will be cheaper to just replace the sensor the next time you change the oil.
** '96 appears to be similar see 8A-51-4 for reference.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Jul 23, 2018 at 10:16 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
Most year C4 FSM show the 'LOW OIL' as a CCM function and I'd think that all PCM tuning programs would be somewhat 'universal' - NOT all GMs that used PCM had a CCM to go along with it. It's actually an interesting read in the FSM as to what sequence of events 'triggers' LOW OIL.I didn't look but 'year' might natter.
** '96 appears to be similar see 8A-51-4 for reference.
** '96 appears to be similar see 8A-51-4 for reference.
The circuit is normally closed, which tells the CCM not to illuminate the warning light. When the oil level goes low, the circuit is opened by the sensor and the CCM then illuminates the warning light. All of that leads me to wonder why I don't have a constantly lit warning light? I've seen the connector just hanging there - I don't think the previous owner did anything to short it, so it should still show an open circuit to the CCM. Strange.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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Hmmm. That's interesting. I looked up the page you referenced and you're right: the CCM appears to get its input directly from the oil level sensor in the pan. So yeah, I guess the switch in the Jet DST or Tunercat software is not used on the C4, which explains why it isn't checked in the OEM calibration.
The circuit is normally closed, which tells the CCM not to illuminate the warning light. When the oil level goes low, the circuit is opened by the sensor and the CCM then illuminates the warning light. All of that leads me to wonder why I don't have a constantly lit warning light? I've seen the connector just hanging there - I don't think the previous owner did anything to short it, so it should still show an open circuit to the CCM. Strange.
The circuit is normally closed, which tells the CCM not to illuminate the warning light. When the oil level goes low, the circuit is opened by the sensor and the CCM then illuminates the warning light. All of that leads me to wonder why I don't have a constantly lit warning light? I've seen the connector just hanging there - I don't think the previous owner did anything to short it, so it should still show an open circuit to the CCM. Strange.