Oil Pressure failure

[Jeromiemead]

Part # 360-004 VDO Oil Pressure Sender is what we bought for the last batch of replacement units. They are available for around $30-$50 dollars online.

[Jeromiemead]

The place I got the last batch from, finally found the invoice and the web address. copy and paste and it will take you right to the exact part. http://www.egauges.com/vdo_indS.asp?...Bar&PN=360-004

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by Jeromiemead

Part # 360-004 VDO Oil Pressure Sender is what we bought for the last batch of replacement units. They are available for around $30-$50 dollars online.

Originally Posted by Jeromiemead

The place I got the last batch from, finally found the invoice and the web address. copy and paste and it will take you right to the exact part. http://www.egauges.com/vdo_indS.asp?...Bar&PN=360-004

Just a heads up...

I think this sensor that Jeromie is refering too would have replaced the (now obsolete) sensor that was being used by Rotax. It was a direct read resistive type sensor. The sensor now supplied on new engines is made by Honeywell and has (I believe) 3 wire connections.

[RGaines]

The sensor is in fact a 3 wire unit and is not a resistive type. My question is why would they substitute a simple resistive $25 part with a complex $400 part that has a potential to fail (12 hrs)?

[DaveLS]

Isn't this covered under warranty?

Does engine does come with a warranty?

Dave

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by RGaines

The sensor is in fact a 3 wire unit and is not a resistive type. My question is why would they substitute a simple resistive $25 part with a complex $400 part that has a potential to fail (12 hrs)?

I think only the Rotax people in Austria can answer that question with any certainty, but I suspect it is related to making the engine ASTM compliant.

The original resistive sensor is too big in diameter to allow a standard AN style hose to be attached to the oil pump inlet.
I am sorry that you have to deal with this frustration but the reality is that the plain jane resistive sensors are actually quite prone to failure.

Because of your certainty that the sensor is bad I have to assume you have verified the wire continuity from the sensor all the way back to the connector at the D180?

[RGaines]

Yes. The wiring from the end of the sensor wire to the D180 works. We put 2 AA batteries in series and got 12 lbs indicated oil pressure on the D180. Called Van's and was told that was the correct reading we should be seeing. All the wiring and pin connections are correct and solid and worked fine until the sensor failed.

I can understand changing if they did it to reach ASTM standards. The local authorized rotax operation still wants $400 for the part and I can apply for warranty payment. Not much of a warranty.

[RGaines]

Talked again to Van's today. They talked to the supplier of their engines who is not planning on supporting warranty claims. No body seems very interested in making this right. Van's is trying to get some information about who we go to. I also talked to the East Coast and West Coast reps. The people who handle warranty and also parts orders were all out of the office in both places.

I hope that this will eventually get figured out. In the mean time my airplane is down because of it.

[RGaines]

Vern,
That is my point exactly. I know I am the point person and I expected to be so (kit #2). What I didn't expect was no mechanism for handling issues like this. If electronic stuff is going to fail it fails rather quickly and it did.

After spending $25000 on the engine/prop you would think that somebody at Rotax would just say "we will send you one". I don't think that is going to happen. Rotax doesn't really have any competition so they probably don't feel the need.

The $400 Rotax part is made my Honeywell. I have found the same part but with crimp connections on the top instead of a wire. It cost $79. Think I am going to do that rather than hassle with these people. It does give a peak at Rotax markup pricing.

Sure has put a dent in my RV grin.

[Jeromiemead]

Could someone post a picture and possibly a rotax part# for the oil pressure sending unit. Even the newest info I have for the 912 shows the single wire unit. I have not purchased a 912 for 13 months and if this part has changed then I will have some problems... thanks