The oil pressure sender on my '90 W126 420SEL only lasted 2 years. (2 years ago I installed a replacement and just needed to do so again???)

When it goes bad, the symptoms are no oil pressure sometimes and then while driving it will suddenly jump up to 3! Then suddenly go to 0 again.

Replace oil pressure sender, then it works fine again.

I am of course QUITE happy it is just the sender and not the oil pump and not a wiring problem! But I would expect it to last longer than 2 years.

Anyone else have these problems?

Elektri, are the replacements genuine MB parts? Aftermarket parts may be problematic, as is likely your case.

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Fred Hoelzle

I use VDO for replacements, they are about $60 and work great. Probably OEM supplied.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I had this problem a year ago on my 350SDL.

I disconnected and cleaned the sensor thoroughly and it continues to work to this day. I have had the car five years and never saw replacement among the PO's bills, so assume it is original.

Another good reason to change oil and filter on time, preventing goobers from settling in some spots...

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I had trouble with an 84 126 diesel and had to pull the wire and repair the plug to the sending unit with solder. My needle jumped around a bit but it wasn't 'dodgy,' it was more of a vibration or wiggle.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic

VDO had some bad senders a few years ago. Some may still be in the aftermarket parts stream. We were getting 200-300 hours of operation before failure.

I should probably add, my gauges worked fine... just the sender itself was leaking.

__________________
I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I had the same problem with a VDO sender. See this thread:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/369025-photos-inside-oil-pressure-sender.html