Help with chin scratcher

Iggmann88

New member
Hello everybody. Been a lurker on this forum for a while, and enjoy it almost as I enjoy the car.. Thought it was time for my first post. :) Please excuse the story leading up to the question. (or just skip to bottom)

I've had the car almost 3 years now and I recently rediscovered something that kind of gave me pause when I first bought the car. When I found the car listed I immediately fell in love. Called to schedule a drive that day. The drive was great, no noticeable issues, sounded amazing, all the little things worked. But me being the "there is always a catch" kinda guy I gave the car a good visual inspection, and upon opening the hood I immediately noticed a broken wire in the area right next to the oil filter housing, well, on it specifically. (this is on a 35si) The dealership was great and immediately took it to the shop to fix the wire, while they verified with my bank. They brought the car back from the shop and I checked it again and they fixed the wire in question. At this point I was excited and anxious for many reasons, (it was a rough week anyway, and was in a big city, got lost on the way to the dealership, not looking forward to drive home) so didn't look THAT close as to what the wire went to. Been happy with the car all this time, no issues other than dead battery that was original with the car back in 2011.

Now flash forward three years. My brother-in-law pasted away last year, and has always done my oil change for me. (I've always been panicky under a car, but with the Z4 more so, as it sits so low.) Anyway, I found a set of ramps that the Z4 can actually drive up and that I feel comfortable to get under, I hate jacks. Well, when I got to the oil filter I noticed and remembered the wire. Curious I looked a little closer to see where and what it goes to. It appears to go to some sensor, possibly oil pressure? Now what puzzles me is that almost every sensor I have ever seen has at least two wire leads to it, possibly more. Upon closer inspection the back of the connector looks to have had the spot for two wires, but there is no evidence there was ever a second wire that had broken off, nor did I find any broken wire further back in the engine bay. And even more strangely thinking back on it, if it was indeed oil related there was never a check engine or oil light during my 30min+ test drive when I first bought the car, so it must not be critically important.

Does anyone know what specifically this is for? Is it / has always been a single wire? Is it grounded through the engine some how?

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I would assume a generic connector has been used, but in this case the circuit is completed by earthing through the body?
 
if I understand the drawing correctly (I'm not qualified), the sensor opens the circuit when conditions are met, and then the connecting transistor emits an ON signal

the open circuit thingy doesn't need ground, I guess
 
enuff_zed said:
I would assume a generic connector has been used, but in this case the circuit is completed by earthing through the body?
+1
This would be my interpretation aswell
 
The sender earth's through the engine block and it's earthing connections.
Turn on the ignition and power is supplied through DME, warning light etc to the sender where the contacts are closed making a circuit and the oil pressure warning light will be illuminated.
Start the engine and oil under pressure enters the sensor, opens the contacts and the light goes out.
Basically it's an on/off switch for the oil pressure light.
 
Here we go - back to school physics. It doesn't matter if the switch is before or after the lamp the circuit still works.

In this example the power goes from the + volts (positive) side of the battery; through the lamp; then to the sensor then to the engine which is the 0 volts (negative) side of the circuit and is connected back to the 0 volts terminal of the battery. With no oil pressure the switch is closed and the lamps lights. Start the engine the oil pressure pushes the switch, the circuit is broken and the lamp goes out. Saves a lot of wires when the engine/ bodywork act as the return leg!
 
There are a lot of people violently agreeing on this thread :D

Must be bringing us all back to 'earth'. :exitright:
 
enuff_zed said:
There are a lot of people violently agreeing on this thread :D

Must be bringing us all back to 'earth'. :exitright:

:lol: Someone get me a shovel.

Welcome to the forum OP, hope we havn't scared you off just yet. :D
 
enuff_zed said:
There are a lot of people violently agreeing on this thread :D

Must be bringing us all back to 'earth'. :exitright:

I see what you there - nice little electric pun to get us all connected.
 
Crazy Harry said:
enuff_zed said:
There are a lot of people violently agreeing on this thread :D

Must be bringing us all back to 'earth'. :exitright:

I see what you there - nice little electric pun to get us all connected.

I thought he was a little short :?
Rob
 
enuff_zed said:
Smartbear said:
Crazy Harry said:
I see what you there - nice little electric pun to get us all connected.




I thought he was a little short :?
Rob

Watt?
Sorry but a I just can,t can't Resist a reply to that one. I think that is Ample for now. :D :exitright:

Ohm my lord there must be a law against this kind of stuff. :P
 
buzyg said:
Smartbear said:
buzyg said:
Sorry but a I just can,t can't Resist a reply to that one. I think that is Ample for now. :D :exitright:

Ohm my lord there must be a law against this kind of stuff. :P

I think it’s megga :P
Rob
Joule have to do better than that Rob. :D

Not sure I’ve got the capacitance for that John :?
Rob
 
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