problem with the oil gauge...

[JP tha RoCkeR]

Hi all, I just picked up a 2000 Ford Explorer XLS 4.0l v6 Manual. I have a little issue with the Oil gauge in the instrument cluster... It is somehow underneath the line... When the truck is off the needle drops to its lowest position (I have posted a pic of that). And when the car is on, it goes to the bottom of the lowest position... I was wondering if there was any way to open up the instrument cluster to fix the needle position.

thanks for any help you guys can give me...

 

[Sedition]

What does that button in the picture do? I would try getting a piece of wire and sticking it between the gap of the clear plastic right next to that button and try to "fish" the needle back ontop of it's stopper. Unless you can unscrew that button and get your finger in there.

 

[00meangreenXLT]

The button in the picture is the button to reset the trip odometer.....you can pull the gauge cluster out of the dashboard and open it up and move the needle back where it needs to go, instructions here: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46290

 

[JP tha RoCkeR]

The button in the picture is to reset the trip odometer... I'll try the wire technique... Is the stopper made of plastic or rubber? Idk if I'll be able to pull the needle up thru the stopper if it's made of a hard material...

 

[JP tha RoCkeR]

The button in the picture is the button to reset the trip odometer.....you can pull the gauge cluster out of the dashboard and open it up and move the needle back where it needs to go, instructions here: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46290

Thanks... I'm going to try this over the weekend...

 

[00meangreenXLT]

The button in the picture is to reset the trip odometer... I'll try the wire technique... Is the stopper made of plastic or rubber? Idk if I'll be able to pull the needle up thru the stopper if it's made of a hard material...

Everything inside the gauge cluster is hard plastic, including the little stopper

 

[SoNic67]

It happend to me too. When the oil pressure is low (at iddle), the needle will bounce between the middle and low so fast that sometimes, hitting that stopper when you stop the engine will send it flying over the top on the other side.
I had to remove several screws and panels, till I got access to the face of that clear plastic, stick my hand in there and rotate it with my hand.

Issue will remain with low iddle pressue till you use a thicker oil - I use 5W-40 now.