Topic: Stupid question... But where is it?

[jfrabat]

OK, I know I have changed this in the past (some 6 or 7 years ago; the time I changed it after that was done by the mechanic, as the Jeep was already in the shop), but I do not recall where the heck the Oil Pressure Sending Unit was located.  I tried looking in the FSM, but I did not find it.  Any ideas where it was?

[sharpxmen]

passenger side between the alternator and the distributor and below the dist level but above the oil pan gasket line, you can't miss it.

[jfrabat]

passenger side between the alternator and the distributor and below the dist level but above the oil pan gasket line, you can't miss it.

Thanks.  I remembered it was on that side, but I could not find it...  I'll look again this weekend.

[sharpxmen]

if you can't find it then it's missing - might explain why is not working

[Jeffy]

if you can't find it then it's missing - might explain why is not working

He'd then be able to spot the location by the fountain of oil squirting out.

[jfrabat]

Oh, I found it...  now if I could only get it out!  Between the engine mount, ac compressor, engine block, and distributor, there is no way to get a wrench in there!  I tried a ratchet set (using the impact drill socket, as the are longer), and it would have worked, but the socjet topped out about an eigth of an inch too short (darn senser is just too long!).  Any ideas on how to get it out?

[Jeffy]

Hmm, I don't remember it ever being on that tight.  I think I ended up unscrewing the brass fitting with the sensor.

[Hunter02]

you can't miss it.

Oh, you can 'miss it'. If it's the same one as on my 2.5L '98 TJ, it doesn't look like any other oil pressure sending unit I've ever seen. It's also the most damned expensive one, too.
Hunter

[jfrabat]

Hmm, I don't remember it ever being on that tight.  I think I ended up unscrewing the brass fitting with the sensor.

The brass fitting is not too tight; I could unscrew it by hand if the sensor was not in the way.  Problem is, with the sensor attached, it will not rotate 360°, so no dice there.

In this pic it does not look too tight, because I have the phone resting on the engine mount (IIRC).  But there is no way to get a wrench in there (not to mention that the only wrench I have that will fit the sensor is the adjustable one, which is not the smallest!).  But you can see the bottom of the compressor in the top of the picture.

[sharpxmen]

use a combination wrench at an angle and another one to get leverage at the other end, that's how I changed mine.
or if you can spare one bend it (get it red hot) and would fit even better.
one of the articulated ratcheting wrenches would work best (although I have no idea if it fits in there.
another thing you can do is to cut a socket (just the hex part) and weld it to a pipe so you have enough inside reach to go over the body. 

as a more ghetto solution you could try and destroy the plastic part to make room for the socket but careful not to break the thread or the elbow in the block.

[jfrabat]

unfortunately, I do not have that size combo wrench...  I think it's time to go to the hardware store!

[Jeffy]

Hmm, did they move the sensor forward on the later YJ's?  I don't remember mine being that far forward.

[sharpxmen]

Hmm, did they move the sensor forward on the later YJ's?  I don't remember mine being that far forward.

always been in the same spot, i think they just added an elbow when the larger sender came with it so it point up rather than to the side.

[Jeffy]

always been in the same spot, i think they just added an elbow when the larger sender came with it so it point up rather than to the side.

Mine's on a elbow as well.  Just didn't think it was that far forward.  I haven't had any issues with mine adter I swapped it back in 2002, I think.  Was pretty easy to remove.

[bootguy]

The elbow on mine wen bad while on a trip lost all oil pressure and had NO tools to work on it.  A plumber pulled over to se if he could help and we took everything out with a set of vice grips.  He had the correct size brass plug to plug where the elbow went.  Would not take a dime and told me to help someone down the road.  Was a pain in the posterior but it worked well enough to get me home.