So i recently changed the engine in my 2003 nissan 350 z and the oil pressure and voltage gauge arent working. When I turn the key the hands climb until they are out of site then drop back to zero....same thing happens when I start the car but when they go back to 0 they stay there and dont move or fluctuate at all. I checked the oil pressure and I have pressure and the voltage is also good on the car. Just wondering if anyone has had this problem.

 

They were working fine before your oil change? It's odd because this problem would be in no way related to an oil change, or should not be at least. Is the third gauge on the center dash working or is it not working either?

 

The digital gauge is working ...the analog ones seem to be getting power on startup but dont move from 0...it was an engine swap not an oil change though

 

Error on my part. My mind starting reading what it wanted to.

The tachometer doesn't move from 0 either?

There is a small, white plastic box behind your AC controls called the AC amplifier. Despite its name it also controls the gauges. Pull it out and ensure all of the connections are secure and it is not damaged

 

Yeah we checked that and it looked good. What should be the voltage reading down at the sensor plug. And would you know if the sensor is N/O or N/C on that sensor.
and yes tach is working that side of the gauges is good just the two center gauges

 

Is there anyone else who might have some input on this issue as well. I will take any advice. Thanks guys

 

From an engineering perspective, change any one variable and see what happens. It seams like the gauges are working but for whatever reason they are not getting the right signal or no signal at all. Considering you just had the engine out I would do some basic trouble shooting, try going over the harness and see if there is any grounding points that got forgotten ( our cars have so many obscure grounding spots ). Check to make sure there is no damage to the harness. The oil pressure sensor is a 3 wire sensor so it has power(+5V), signal output and ground, if you have the know how and a volt meter that has a continuity function you can test the ground of the sensor and the supply voltage of the sensor from the connector with the ignition power on but the engine off. Hope that helps but without any additional info i cant really think of any other advice to give you

since this was an engine swap did you reuse the sensor from your old engine or did the replacement engine already have one?

 

The witing harness and oil sensor on the engine we bought was different we used the wiring harness on our car sonic had to change the oil sensor from the old engine to the one we replaced it with. I was thinking it might be a ground I missed but would it be grounded to the body do you think or is the ground running through the harness?
it apparent it's getting power for the arms to move in the key on and start position.

 

Also keeping in mind the voltage gauge does the same thing as the oil gauge but the digital gauge seems to be working ...or it lights up but there is no reading for tire pressure and whatnot on it

 

I would think the sensor being a 3 wire sensor that the ground either pairs with other grounds and connects to either the chassis/engine or grounds to signal ground of the ECU I’m not sure perhaps someone with a little more knowledge of our electrical system could chime in

 

Just checked something and when I turn the key on oil light in the dashed blinked so fast you could barely see the symbol also when I unplugged the sensor, with the key in the on position, the oil light didnt come on in the dash. Wondering if this was normal?

also curios would the connection in the oil sensor somehow be associated with the voltage gauge. There is only one plug on the gauge cluster and seems the plug only goes to the oil sensor. Am I wrong here?

 

Hey guys so I had another z in the garage and decided to take the cluster out and when I connected it to the other car found my problem the cluster is my issue...
thanks for all the advice I'm sure I'll be back ...cheers

 

Glad you figured the problem out