My oil pressure gauge has gone wacky. It goes all the way to 80 when i start the engine then kind of just bounces all over the place.
I have read that its common for the oil pressure sensor or sender to go bad. After searching for a new one I have only found replacements for $40-50, but I have found new mechanical gauges for around $15.

Would i be better off just replacing it with a mechanical gauge or should I replace the sensor? Are there other systems that use the info from the sensor?
If it would be better to replace the sensor, does anyone know of a cheaper place to buy one?

 

How was yours running before? Did it just start or been acting up for a while? Mine just pegged the guage and I got same queestion as you.Get a new guage or sending unit.

 

Mine runs fine currently and always has.
Just watching that gauge bounce around annoys me

 

dang guys i just bought my jeep im not sure if it been bad but i noticed today it stay peged on or off never moves

 

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...mString=search
24.99 at autozone
Mine was all whacky and now sits at 60

 

I vote the sensor. My gauge was acting exactly the same and I just replaced the OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT/SWITCH and now it reads as it should.

 

Both.

 

Thats for a 96, the 90-96 are cheaper, once you get to 1997 it jumps up like $30. His is '99.

This.

 

will the one for a 96 work?

 

I don't think so, but don't quote me.

I paid $50 for mine from Advance Auto and it's about the size of a lighter. Expensive but at least I know I have oil pressure now

 

No

 

mine does the same thing sometimes after i change my filter because i moved the wires around on the connector. Your connector may be on the fritz as well. Try jiggling the wires around - the gauge should act normal again.

 

Ok.. I picked up a cheap mechanical gauge and hooked it up really quick to just check pressure.

At idle its around 30psi, peaks around 60psi at 4k rpm.
Should the oil pressure fluctuate that much?

 

It can, mine can go anywhere from 35psi up to 70psi when flooring it.

 

yup it's normal