Oil Pressure Sensor gone bad: Remove intake plenum or no?

[JT 07LTZ]

So after just doing a bunch of work to my Tahoe, now my Oil Pressure Sensor is bad. Check engine light is on and no readout on the oil pressure gauge. After doing some research, I see a lot of conflicting info about if you have to remove the whole intake plenum to replace it or not.

Has anyone dealt with this before?

 

[Da90]

So after just doing a bunch of work to my Tahoe, now my Oil Pressure Sensor is bad. Check engine light is on and no readout on the oil pressure gauge. After doing some research, I see a lot of conflicting info about if you have to remove the whole intake plenum to replace it or not.

Has anyone dealt with this before?

I just replaced mine without removing anything but the sensor.


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[JT 07LTZ]

I just replaced mine without removing anything but the sensor.


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Any tips you can give me?

 

[Da90]

You are basically doing it blind. Familiarize your self with the area and take your time.


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[JT 07LTZ]

Thanks man. I guess a climb up in the engine bay is in my future

 

[mals]

Thanks man. I guess a climb up in the engine bay is in my future

I can't imagine it is much different then my '05 6L that I did a few months ago.

I watched a few youtube videos, and then literally laid a drop cloth over the engine and climbed up and in, chest down and arms between the engine and firewall. I did pop the connection on the solid fuel line to make room for my hand. As said above, you are basically working blind. I used my cellphone to take a few pictures so I could see what orientation the wiring clip was on the sensor which made it easier to feel how to pop it off. Make sure you have a deep 1-1/16 socket on hand with a few universal socket joints and various extension lengths. If I remember correctly, I think I ended up wrapping my universal joints in few wraps of electrical tape, so they were flexible but not floppy.

Other than that, take your time, it will take a few attempts, but it is doable.

 

[JT 07LTZ]

I appreciate the advice. I'm not looking forward to this but It beats paying a shop hundreds to do it though. I asked about it and they are convinced that the intake manifold has to come off to get to the sensor.

 

[Parthery]

My shop was able to replace the sensor on my 08 5.3 without removing the intake.

One trick is to deflate the front tires...the couple inches that the vehicle is lowered and tilted forward makes it easier to get in there and see what you are doing.

 

[Russ]

There is nothing horrible about removing and replacing the plenum to access the oil pressure sensor. I have big hands and would much rather to that than dig blindly at the sensor. It is also a good idea to pull the screen out because it will eventually plug up and you will be doing the job all over again.

 

[Jagsta]

I tried to do it blind - after an hour of trying I ended up dropping an extension and socket down to where I couldn't get it. In the end I pulled the plenum, it wasn't that bad. Plus that allowed me to torque the sensor to proper spec. It can be done without removing the intake but I think it's much easier to just pull the intake...

 

[JT 07LTZ]

Thanks for all the advice.

I have big hands too so it sounds like I'm going to be taking the plenum off. Itll probably be good to clean it out and thoroughly clean the throttle body etc. I'm pretty sure there will be some oil in there.

 

[Jagsta]

Thanks for all the advice.

I have big hands too so it sounds like I'm going to be taking the plenum off. Itll probably be good to clean it out and thoroughly clean the throttle body etc. I'm pretty sure there will be some oil in there.

Yeah I think it's the smart thing to do. My intake was full of oil and filthy. I cleaned everything up really good, I also put new o-ring on my injectors since my Denali had 130k. Pretty easy, cheap to do, and good preventative maintenance!

 

[Hebdog]

There is no sense in trying to do it with out taking the intake off. Can it be done, sure. Why would you want to make your life hell. It literally takes 20 minutes TOPS to pull the intake.

 

[JT 07LTZ]

OK so I got the sensor replaced and cleaned the filter under it. Took the intake manifold off but there really wasn't much oil it it. It and the throttle body were just dirty.

 

[Mrhug3]

I just replaced mine a couple weeks ago. I'm sure it would have been leaps and bounds easier had I taken the intake off, but where's the fun in that? The worst part was the stupid clip on the connection. Almost broke my nail off....