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Instrument cluster fault?

1031 Views 17 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Lyricalruby
Was looking at Forscan earlier and just generically looking at random PIDs and noticed that in the Instrument Cluster module, it said <pid> OILPRESS - FAULT


??? No CELs or codes.

No oil light flashing or anything. And it does light up when cranking the car/accessory mode, so the lights not burnt out...
Is there anything I should be looking for?
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If there's no symptom, there's nothing to diagnose or worry about.
So it saying -FAULT- Isn't an issue?
Does it say fault when KOEO or KOER or both?
Does it say fault when KOEO or KOER or both?
Gooooood question! I'll grab the laptop in a moment and find out! Oh and I do periodically get an odd B1901-20 can 2 communication bus fault - receive error
So it saying -FAULT- Isn't an issue?
If it's not detectable other than with a scantool, it's not significant. Some vehicles (not many Fords, but most Land Rovers & Jaguars) drive around with dozens of fault codes stored. If it were important, it would turn on the CEL, or you'd see/hear/smell/feel a symptom. Sometimes, it's the scantool that's causing the code, or misreading a code that's not actually there.
The title of the device is "Oil Pressure Switch" Does the car have an oil pressure switch versus an oil pressure sensor. I wonder if the car doesn't have one then it sees it as a fault.
Ford hasn't used oil pressure senders since '87. Always a 6psi switch.

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The title of the device is "Oil Pressure Switch" Does the car have an oil pressure switch versus an oil pressure sensor. I wonder if the car doesn't have one then it sees it as a fault.
During KOEO, the IC lights up the oil pressure symbol.

Highly likely the OP is simply seeing the IC PID reflecting that, not an actual fault.

That's why I asked OP if it said fault in KOEO, KOER or both. I suspect reply will be KOEO only
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Sorry for the late reply. When the vehicle is in KOEO it shows LOW for the value. When in KOER it shows FAULT.
Sorry for the late reply. When the vehicle is in KOEO it shows LOW for the value. When in KOER it shows FAULT.
That's normal, there's no oil pressure when the engine is off, so the switch shows its fault state.
Let me rephrase, with the engine off, the value shows as "LOW". When the engine is running, the value is showing as "FAULT".
Let me rephrase, with the engine off, the value shows as "LOW". When the engine is running, the value is showing as "FAULT".
From the workshop manual:

"The instrument cluster is hardwired to the oil pressure switch. When there is low (under 41 kPa [6 psi]) or no oil pressure, the oil pressure switch remains closed, removing the ground to the instrument cluster. When sufficient oil pressure exists, the oil pressure switch opens, providing a ground signal to the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster monitors the oil pressure ground signal and commands the low oil pressure warning indicator on or off according to engine oil pressure."

Also, an oil pressure switch failure would supposedly set a C1284 code.

Your IC light appears to be working correctly. The oil pressure switch seems to be working correctly. And Forscan says "Low" when the oil pressure is Low.

Forscan also says something different than "Low" when the oil pressure is not Low. So it is picking up the changed state. Unfortunately, it seems the programmers chose to use the word "Fault" rather than "OK" to describe the changed state.

Unfortunately, I don't have a Taurus anymore to check if Forscan says the same on mine.
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From the workshop manual:

"The instrument cluster is hardwired to the oil pressure switch. When there is low (under 41 kPa [6 psi]) or no oil pressure, the oil pressure switch remains closed, removing the ground to the instrument cluster. When sufficient oil pressure exists, the oil pressure switch opens, providing a ground signal to the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster monitors the oil pressure ground signal and commands the low oil pressure warning indicator on or off according to engine oil pressure."

Also, an oil pressure switch failure would supposedly set a C1284 code.

Your IC light appears to be working correctly. The oil pressure switch seems to be working correctly. And Forscan says "Low" when the oil pressure is Low.

Forscan also says something different than "Low" when the oil pressure is not Low. So it is picking up the changed state. Unfortunately, it seems the programmers chose to use the word "Fault" rather than "OK" to describe the changed state.

Unfortunately, I don't have a Taurus anymore to check if Forscan says the same on mine.
Thank you! That's very interesting. You can understand why it would seem concerning since they used fault instead of ok.
I have a few undiagnosed issues with the car, so I've been skimming through Forscan data looking for anything "out of place". Well something telling me it's a "fault" definitely seemed out of place! I don't think I've had a C1284 code, just a B1901 code that comes back almost daily. You wouldn't happen to have anything on that in your manual would you?
Thank you! That's very interesting. You can understand why it would seem concerning since they used fault instead of ok.
I have a few undiagnosed issues with the car, so I've been skimming through Forscan data looking for anything "out of place". Well something telling me it's a "fault" definitely seemed out of place! I don't think I've had a C1284 code, just a B1901 code that comes back almost daily. You wouldn't happen to have anything on that in your manual would you?
Yes if Forscan says there is a fault on an oil pressure light that is working then it is understandable that you want to know why.

Note that the above is the only conclusion I could come to that made logical sense. It presumes that you have not noticed any actual oil pressure issue.

Also, ideally, someone else would confirm they see the same "Fault" on that PID while KOER.

I did look for B1901 and did not find anything. Google search seems to suggest airbag related?
I did look for B1901 and did not find anything. Google search seems to suggest airbag related?
"ford b1901" returns "Crash Sensor #1 circuit fault/short to ground"
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Interesting. These are the 3 I get regularly.
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Edit: these code definitions are from Forscan and the modules listed in Forscan. I should probably cross reference them to see if the listed descriptions match.
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