# Oil Pressure Gauge Fluctuating **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mercury, grandmarquis\ **Created:** [August 17, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980 "2017-08-17T03:11:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/21 "2017-08-17T21:09:38Z")
No cleaning the switch won’t fix it but if it is leaking it has a broken seal and is likely the cause for jiggling. If it isn’t leaking it still might be the problem but replacing it is just a cheap and easy guess in hopes of fixing the problem but without the equipment and experience it might be a good shot in the dark for you. ---
**Author:** ![savinimark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@savinimark](https://community.cartalk.com/u/savinimark)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/22 "2017-08-17T22:33:41Z")
It looks like the sensor was a not the problem, leading me to believe it is electrical in nature. The problem becomes markedly worse if I am using devices using electric (ie radio, AC, defroster, etc). ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/23 "2017-08-17T23:09:36Z")
For $10 or so you can get a digital voltmeter that plugs into your cigaret lighter outlet and will allow you to monitor the battery voltage. A cheap precaution. here is one: [https://www.amazon.com/IZTOSS-Universal-Cigarette-Thermometer-Temperature/dp/B014MCRPT0/ref=sr\_1\_2/143-7989284-6776308?ie=UTF8&qid=1503011344&sr=8-2&keywords=auto+battery+voltmeter](https://www.amazon.com/IZTOSS-Universal-Cigarette-Thermometer-Temperature/dp/B014MCRPT0/ref=sr_1_2/143-7989284-6776308?ie=UTF8&qid=1503011344&sr=8-2&keywords=auto+battery+voltmeter) ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/24 "2017-08-17T23:44:47Z")
You have the same problem with a new oil pressure switch? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/25 "2017-08-18T02:39:47Z")
You can probably get the gauge to stop jumping around by disconnecting the oil pressure sensor(sender) entirely. The gauge won’t jump, but it might turn on a dash warning light. And you won’t have any way to monitor the oil pressure. If I had this problem – and the sensor & its connector seemed to look ok, and the battery voltage wasn’t jumping around – I’d take the car to a shop and have them measure the actual engine oil pressure. Shouldn’t cost much, but there will almost surely be a charge for that test. I’d guess the fee would be in the $50-$100 range. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/26 "2017-08-18T02:47:17Z")
How old is your battery? Does the starter occasionally seem to drag when starting the engine? If so I would suggest you replace the battery. ---
**Author:** ![savinimark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@savinimark](https://community.cartalk.com/u/savinimark)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/27 "2017-08-18T13:41:20Z")
I just don’t have a working cigarette lighter ---
**Author:** ![savinimark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@savinimark](https://community.cartalk.com/u/savinimark)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/28 "2017-08-18T13:42:13Z")
The battery is a year or two old. It never really drags while starting, but is something to consider. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![savinimark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@savinimark](https://community.cartalk.com/u/savinimark)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/29 "2017-08-18T13:43:20Z")
I did replace it and was having the same issue ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/30 "2017-08-18T13:54:55Z")
you don’t need a working lighter, just the socket with power. ---
**Author:** ![savinimark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@savinimark](https://community.cartalk.com/u/savinimark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/31 "2017-08-20T15:12:54Z")
I meant that the socket itself does not provide power when anything is plugged into it. not the lighter itself ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/32 "2017-08-20T16:49:08Z")
That sounds like the fuse may be blown I would first verify this with a test light, then I’d look in the owner’s manual, to determine exactly where that blown fuse is located, and the amperage ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/33 "2017-08-21T05:40:25Z")
Do any of the other gauges fluctuate, even at the slightest? If yes, check your alternator. ---
**Author:** ![savinimark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@savinimark](https://community.cartalk.com/u/savinimark)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980/34 "2017-08-25T01:34:05Z")
Sorry, no other gauges fluctuate at all. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-pressure-gauge-fluctuating/106980.md?page=1)