2003 chevy 1500 5.3L Oil Pressure Problem

[BryanM]

It may be a cluster problem. Gm dealers where authorized too warranty the guages(clusters) I think up to 80000 or 100000 miles. If you are a customer with a chevy dealer I would ask the service manager about it. He will most definately say let us check it out and we will go from their. Probably your best move.

I cant remember if oil pressure comes up on the aftermarket scanners. Depending on years (they change all the time).
I am with you not a oil pressure problem probably. Could be wiring tho, could be guage could be sender. Did you use a aftermarket sender or gm? Did the problem change at all when you installed the sending unit? I know it sounds dumb did you change the correct part with the correct part?

If you do buy a cluster you will have to have someone program the cluster too your vehicle anyway probably a dealership.

If it bugs you my suggest would take it too chevy.

 

[Soundguy]

Don't bet on it being the computer.. I'v had the master wire harness, computer and anti lock brake module replaced on my yukon ( truck shut down on the way home one night in t he rian.. died right in an intersection...blew a fuse and that prevented cranking.. replace fuse and would crank once then blow... took dealer 2 weeks to replace the harness, get a computer, program it and replace the AB module.. gauges still worked odd... ) Luckilly I had an extended warranty that covered MOST of the expenses on that job.

( can't believe i'm actually looking at a used chevy right now )

soundguy

No codes. The only code it has is and EVAP purge solenoid.

I replaced to sending unit. Maybe the computer, but the computer controls many many other things that all seem to be fine. But I guess it is possible??

I'm not sure if I am going to get a mech. guage, or the correct chip for the scanner.

 

[Soundguy]

The instrument cluster in early 2000's GM trucks are garbage. GM had an extended warranty and a well documented fix-as-fail program on them. I have the paperwork in my glove box. Mine is apparently going to work until I have to fix it on my dime.

have you ever had lazy gas gage readings.. or readings higher than it should. IE.. showing 3/4 of a tank.. but stopping and putting in 'half' a tank or more of fuel? Or a gauge that seems to not drop.. say after 3-4 hrs of driving.. then you stop and upon restart.. poof.. you used 3/4 tank of fuel in the parking plot ?

soundguy

 

[LD1]

Did you use a aftermarket sender or gm? Did the problem change at all when you installed the sending unit? I know it sounds dumb did you change the correct part with the correct part?

.

Yes it was the correct part. No it wasn't a GM part it came from autozone or advanced. Nothing at all changed with the new sender. It does exactally the same as before.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes it was the correct part. No it wasn't a GM part it came from autozone or advanced. Nothing at all changed with the new sender. It does exactally the same as before.

I would verify the oil pressure with a hand held gauge or a cheap mechanical oil pressure gauge. It will tell you a lot.

Also have you changed the oil? I would even if not needed. Maybe you have a bad filter that is going to bypass.

Chris

 

[RickB]

have you ever had lazy gas gage readings.. or readings higher than it should. IE.. showing 3/4 of a tank.. but stopping and putting in 'half' a tank or more of fuel? Or a gauge that seems to not drop.. say after 3-4 hrs of driving.. then you stop and upon restart.. poof.. you used 3/4 tank of fuel in the parking plot ?

soundguy

My own instrument panel has been flawless.
But my torque converter is crapping out and will be replaced next week.
On my dime, of course. 2004 Sierra with a 5.3L & 4L60E just rolled over 44,000 miles.

 

[Soundguy]

ouch! wow.. low milage too.

soundguy

 

[LD1]

I may try to get a mechanical guage kit hooked up. But the only port to hook it to is the one the sending unit uses which is a PITA to get to. Way down in behind the manifold.

I don't have the right card for the MAC scanner. All I have is a 98-01 generic OBD II and a 98-01 GM card. I may buy the newer card but can anyone verify if it will read the Oil presure??

I have reciently changed to oil but if memoryserves me correct, that wont have a bearing on it. Most oil filters bypass @ either 12 or 25psi anyway, but they dont bypass back to the pan, they just bypass the filter itself. But I may be way off base here.

But I dtill don't think it is actually a oil pressure problem. If it was I think the lifters would have a fit and collaps and barley even open any valves. Like I said, there are no driveability issues at all.

I am hoping the guage cluster is still covered under warrenty, but I am still hesitant to take it to a dealer. I just don't want pay them a bunch of $$ just to find out the problem is something that isn't covered under warrenty. Or hasel with them replacing every part in the book, trying to charge me for it, and it finally turning out to be a faulty guage.

 

[crankshaft21]

I have a 2000 chevy 1500 z71. The fuel gauage does the some thing on it your oil gauge is doing. I think it`s in the computor. I don`t worry about. A friend of mine had a 1999 z71 and all his gauges would do that. They replaced the hole cluster and it worked for a while then started doing it again. It still was doing it when He traded it off. I also have a 2002 Tahoe and never had a problem with it. All the trucks had the 5.3 liters in them. So you can see it is a comon problem.

 

[LD1]

if it was the speedo of fuel guage or charge guage, I could probabally live with it. But being the oil pressure guage:confused2:

After some extensive googlin I was able to come up with TSB 3639 and TSB 01972. Both relate to the problem, so at least a call to the dealer may be in order here.

I cant get much info on the TSB's because they want you to fork over $$$ for memberships, etc. All I can get is tht they have to do with erratic oil pressure guage readings.