Hello,

I have a 2002 MCS JCW with the accessory oil temp gauge and the accessory volt gauge in the lower center console. My oil temp is not working, and I bought the car this way... Any ideas?

Thanks
Tim

 

On my '04 Cooper S at least, the oil temp sensor for this gauge is the oil drain plug. There is a wire coming off the sensor/plug that goes to the gauge. I would bet that this wire has just come loose from the drain plug. Should be easy to find and reconnect (it's just a simple female spade lug on the end of the wire) if you can get under the front of the car. Put it on ramps if you have them, or gently drive one side up on a curb or something.

 

Cool! I'll go have a look right now!

Thanks

 

Ok, the findings are: the plug that is in the oil pan is just a standard oil plug, and there is a 'green' spade connector that was tucked up by the power steering pump and the drive shaft and it is zip tied near the plug location. I did find a brass/copper plug in the glovebox that is a VDO sensor, and it looks like it is the drain plug with the spade connector on it. The question I have now is that the plug looks a little strange, as far as it has very short threads, and a big gap between threads and the top of the bolt. Is there a spacer washer that goes in between? (copper compression washer?)

Thanks,
Tim

 

just swapped the plugs, everything is working as it should...

thanks again!!!!

 

Excellent! Keep an eye on it for oil drips for a few days. I think there should be a sealing washer on the sensor plug, so if yours is missing that might explain why the previous owner swapped back to the standard plug.