VDO gauge (oil pressure) oddity

[NewArt]

Today my oil pressure gauge started going bananas. It would read fine for a minute then it would go off the chart and stick there. Then it would bounce around, read fine for 5 seconds then max out again. Electronics is not my strong point. Has anyone experienced this type of thing? If you had to guess, would you say sender, gauge , or imminent engine implosion/explosion?

[Dave80GTSi]

While the car is running, remove the sending wire from the back of the gauge. This will peg the gauge, on one end or the other.

Reconnect the above wire, and then remove the ground wire from the back of the gauge. This will peg the gauge, on one end or the other.

From the above, you will then know if the fault is due to an open on that wire or the other.

Thanks - DM

P.S. - Different strokes for different folks, but I thought that the VDO style that you selected was too "busy", and so I picked a different style for mine (below).

[NewArt]

Yes, I like your gauges better too. Is there an oil temperature gauge in that style?

[Dave80GTSi]

Originally Posted by NewArt

Yes, I like your gauges better too. Is there an oil temperature gauge in that style?

I don't believe so. That's why I went with a voltmeter.

Happy hunting: https://www.vdo-gauges.com/instruments-displays-and-clusters/by-type.html

[steved0x]

My guess would be bad ground but the other suggestion with both wires is the way to go, and possibly also checking the sender end of the signal wire, lots of vibration at that end.

[Geof3]

Yeah, that type of behavior suggests a short somewhere. Usually the sender dying would more likely peg it, or it would just not show anything.

[Cunningr]

Maybe you just have a loose connection, or as mentioned bad ground. So I would check the easy stuff first like connections all tight and good ground. Maybe give a visual for a damaged wire as maybe, the erratic behavior makes it seem more like an intermittent connection.

[NewArt]

Yup. Loose connection is the winning answer: spade connector at the sender. All systems go, take her out Mr Sulu!