Today I replaced my Oil Pressure Sensor on the C5 Corvette. I recommend drilling the hole at the beginning and not at the end like I did, it will really help you out. Just be patient and you can pull this off.
I finished the sensor relocation on my 2003 C5 today. I did this job about 2 years ago but I didn't install the extender. So, here we are again. (I bought the extender hose with fittings on Amazon for $99). I didn't want to disturb more than necessary and I didn't want to drill any holes. I did not remove anything except the plastic engine cover. Although it was a royal pain in the butt, I was able to disconnect the old sensor and pull it out. For me, the hardest part was threading the extender hose into the engine. I could not get the threads lined up while rotating the hose. Now, my oil pressure gage no longer acts like a windshield wiper. It was continuously slamming full scale and back to zero. Now it sits rock steady at 42 PSI at cold idle. If (when?) this new sensor fails, it will be very easy to replace it.
I was aware some liked this solution, I chose to do it in the conventional remove the manifold way, which allowed me to clean all the parts I removed, both my throttle body and air flow sensor were dirty. I even cleaned the manifold , which hardly was dirty, and cleaned down under the manifold, which was dirty from the miles on my ,purchased used, car. I then I installed a relocation hose for the oil pressure sensor from parts suggested online. Kits are available which include a dial pressure gauge in the line, but I didn't want to spend the money just to be deluxe. Although the in line gauge in the commercial kit would allow me to know if the fault was in the sending unit or in the dash, and looked kind of trick. I had ordered a new manifold gasket set, just to be safe, and found it was unneeded, but had two sponge blocks that surprised me, because they were missing on each end of my manifold when I took it off, which probably were supposed to keep contaminates out of the valley where the knock sensors live. If I ever remove the manifold again, I will probably install one of the available pre cut heat shields, once I investigate why they are not smog legal.
Very cool. I probably would have drilled the hole to begin with and plugged it with a rubber grommet. You have a great ability to think outside the box. I enjoyed the video.
Why didn't you just buy a rubber plug for the hole? Next time you just pop the plug and you're ready to go, pop it back on again when you're done... Just food for thought... Stay safe... Rico
You only need to drill a hole that is slightly larger than the diameter of the extension you are using. I’m going to drill a hole the size of a rust proofing hole then use a plug like the rust proofing people do to plug the hole. If you need to replace the sending unit again just pop the plug out to put your extension down through.
That's something I need to get to some day, but drilling a hole above it that's just pure genius, great idea and you can always plug it Now that is a great video 😎👍👍👍
Curious, wouldn’t it have been better to remove the fiberglass layer rather than drilling a hole in it? I am guessing that is how this sensor was installed in the factory? No? Also, thanks again for the great video.
That piece is not removable, it looks like the top part of the firewall. The sensors are all installed on the engine before the chassis is mounted to the body at the factory.
I did this a long time ago. I drilled a hole, but never patched it up, because I know I will be back in there in the future. There are a lot of companies making these sensors, and most of them seem very flimsy. I picked out the most sturdily built sensor I could find. new sensor has lasted a long time now, but just in case it ever fails, my hole is there and ready to be used again. The top cowl piece should deflect most water anyways.
