Engine sensor query

[Sl4yer]

Firstly the good news: my Activa passed it's MOT today with no issues!

I noticed this sensor at the weekend (it's the one right in the middle of the picture):



It appears to only have one wire (the red one) attached. The green one appears to be in the plug, but either not connected or maybe cut:



The BOL isn't a great deal of help with this. Is it the oil temperature sensor or a coolant sensor? Or neither? Please can anyone advise if theirs is the same?

Thanks,

James

[XantiaMan]

Think its oil temp sensor. Oil level sensor is at the rear. Its meant to have one wire, but sure does look like one has broken Don't worry thats how it should be, mine is the same, and so was the spare engine loom i had.

[Sl4yer]

That's great. Thanks Gareth!

James

[Deanxm]

Hi gents

Isnt that the oil pressure warning sensor and the oil temp sensor is in the sump? i ask because my TCT engine has a sensor in the front of the sump but no plug in the loom to connect to it any ideas?

D

[CitroJim]

Yes, that is the pressure sensor Dean. The temperature sensor is in the sump with a blue plug on it as far as I recall...

[Deanxm]

Thanks Jim, wonder why mine has the sensor fitted but no plug then? and the plug isnt tucked up somewhere or cut off, its just not on the loom at all.
I would have thought the hole in the sump would be plugged if its not needed rather than having the sensor fitted and not used, is this normal?

D

[KP]

That doesn't look cut in the picture but more like its fractured to me

[CitroJim]

That doesn't look cut in the picture but more like its fractured to me

No, that's normal on MK2 wiring Will I know it seems odd but it crops up all over the place. Your MK1 has a totally different sort of connector here...

[CitroJim]

I would have thought the hole in the sump would be plugged if its not needed rather than having the sensor fitted and not used, is this normal?

I guess Dean it all came down to economics. Most 2.0TCT applications had an oil temperature gauge so the sensor was likly fitted as a standard part of the build. For those that did not use the sensor it may have been more expensive to remove it. I'm surprised it does not have the wiring though. My 2.1TD had the wiring and the sensor but no apparent use as it had no temperature gauge

It should be easy enough to wire it up and make a gauge work on it.

[Deanxm]

Ah so xantia's have a guage then not just a warning light? an Audi coupe ive just got has the 3 dials in the centre consol, oil pressure, oil temp and voltage, i like oil pressure guages would be nice to get a set of guages to go in the spare radio hole in the xm, got to sort out getting the engine in it first though .

D

[CitroJim]

Firstly the good news: my Activa passed it's MOT today with no issues!

Quite an achievement, well done

Mike, I missed that Good work. Excellent!

Activa's, VSX and Exclusive manual Xantias have the oil temperature gauge Dean, as do MK1 VSX/Exclusive autos. MK2 Exclusive autos have a gear position indicator in the hole formerly occupied by the gauge.

I'd prefer a pressure gauge any day but the oil temperature gauge is better than nothing even if it can get a bit paranoia inducing in the V6

What would be interesting is to see if a MK2 V6 still has a sensor and wiring even though it has no gauge...

[Sl4yer]

Quite an achievement, well done

Thank you. Not even an advisory for moist suspension parts this year (last time I saw it on the ramp, there was a drip from the back ram. As the man said, it's not a drop until it drops!). Did get an advisory for the back number plate deteriorating though. Do I care? Not a lot.

Ah so xantia's have a guage

Yes, although it seems to read low a lot of the time on Mk2s. I seem to recall Jim thought it was all down to where the sensor was. It's closely related to coolant temperature (once warm anyway) - I've noticed the oil being a bit hotter than usual now that the aircon is sometimes turned off. The coolant heats up to 90C quite quickly in standing traffic without the aircon running the fans.

James

[Deanxm]

even if it can get a bit paranoia inducing in the V6 Twisted Evil

oil pressure guages do that to me too, i know 1bar at idle hot is good oil pressure, but to see the needle languishing right down at the bottom of the guage irritates me.....mainly because im strange but i have been known to just hold idle up a bit with the throttle in traffic, 3bar is so much more pleasing to the eye

D

[Deanxm]

Did get an advisory for the back number plate deteriorating though

I dont think that counts here as its not technicaly a part of the car

Mind you i would be carefull with what you say, one minute you are telling anyone who will listen that for the last 4 mot's your pride and joy has sailed through with not even an advisory the next your cleaning the cream out of the oil breather and debating whether you should put new valve springs in while its all apart...................dont ask

D

[CitroJim]

Ah so xantia's have a guage

Yes, although it seems to read low a lot of the time on Mk2s. I seem to recall Jim thought it was all down to where the sensor was. It's closely related to coolant temperature (once warm anyway)

I reckon it's to do with the Activa having a nice big alloy sump in the cooling blast of air and having a water/oil oil cooler. The oil runs noticeably cooler in an Activa than in a V6 as it has just a vestigal sump and no oil cooler. The sensor is quite high in the sump as well. I really have to be working my Activa hard for a while before the oil temperature starts to come up. I saw the same effect on my old 205GTi.