oil pressure gauge problem?

[bagged74]

i cant seem to get the oil pressure gauge to work in my 86. it wasnt hooked up when i bought it because there was no sender installed in the engine. I installed a new sender, but when i hooked up what i think is the sender wire (blue) it blows the gauge power fuse. I first thought maybe the gauge was bad, but i installed a spare cluster that i had, with the same result..blown fuse. any ideas?

[54Caddy]

you should trace that blue wire back and see if maybe its shorted out some where, a wiring diagram will help you out alot.

[bagged74]

doesnt appear to be shorted anywhere. seems like it would blow the fuse regardless of the sender if it were shorted. it only blows when i hook the wire to the sender

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by bagged74

doesnt appear to be shorted anywhere. seems like it would blow the fuse regardless of the sender if it were shorted. it only blows when i hook the wire to the sender

got a spare gauge???
run a wire from the sender ON THE ENGINE to the LEFT HAND SIDE STUD
THEN run 12 V WIRE from the battery to the RIGHT HAND STUD
THEN run a ground wire from the chassis or -12 FROM NEG ON the battery
to the bottom stud
the rear of the gauge should be facing you
all this can be done in your engine bay

the pic below is a sample pic and is not a oil gauge but will be wired the same way once you know that the gauge is fine and works then you can start looking for for a fault in the wiring
oh you can put a inline fuse if you want to see if it blows!!!

[dropd80s]

Im pretty sure the oil pressure sending unit wire is tan. Should have a big rubber seal around the terminal that is offset to one side, if the OE terminal is still there. I would start tracing your wires to make sure you got the right one.

[nlped]

I just replace the oil sending unit in my '87 and like dropd80s said, my wire was tan.

[78-5.3]

Originally Posted by bagged74

i cant seem to get the oil pressure gauge to work in my 86. it wasnt hooked up when i bought it because there was no sender installed in the engine. I installed a new sender, but when i hooked up what i think is the sender wire (blue) it blows the gauge power fuse. I first thought maybe the gauge was bad, but i installed a spare cluster that i had, with the same result..blown fuse. any ideas?

my 78 oil pressure wire is also dark blue it was a diesel !

[bagged74]

hmm..i dont see a tan wire anywhere. the only one i seem to have thats not already connected to something is the blue one.