Missing sensor connections

First of all, hello gents, just picked up a Mk1 cabby 1.6 K-Jet from my mate for summer while he cruises round in my Volvo. Hoping to get a few things fixed up with it and make it more usable after 6 years off the road.

It's a little slow to start and idles VERY high (2200rpm) but I think I have that in hand and I'm not sure if these are related so I thought I'd ask.

Firstly, on the front of the block, what appears to be the oil pump? or just the filter and cooler takeoff, there were two unused connectors


Now the oil light on my dash has been flickering but I wasn't concerned as I was certain the oil system was in good health.  Just as I took this photo, I spotted the female connected just hiding near to the spade connector so I presume this is the oil pressure switch.  What about the front one? I found in a box some gauges including oil pressure and temp, could it be related to those?

Secondly and fairly obviously, there is an unconnected spade on the side of the block. The water temperature gauge works on the dash but I've noticed there is a light in the middle of the gauge that occassionally flickers.  Could it be that?


I've done all the basics like oil & filter, spark plugs, leads, rotor arm and dizzy cap so it's onto the fuel system next, have a play with the mixture and check the various warm up controls are doing their job.

Cheers, for looking, here's a little something I made when messing about at the weekend.

the large blue one on side of the head is the low oil pressure switch, look for a yellow wire spade nearby. the red/yellow is the coolant temp, maybe have a look at the condition of the wires in the spade thats been crimped on (pre-insulated, eewwww)

on the filter housing the large one is the high oil pressure switch 1.8bar, it should be white but it might be an aftermarket one. worth a check to be sure anyway. should have a blue/black wire, I think i can see it at the back hiding away there

the smaller one is for the oil temp gauge in the clocks if it has an MFA cluster or a vdo gauge in the console whichever is fitted, will be a green/black wire for this one. if neither oil temp gauge is there then it wont be needed note you can only run 1 gauge to the sensor so if you have both you'll have to choose or add another sensor

Yes, thank you Jonny!  I've just been and printed the wiring diagrams from your very useful resource, appreciate it fella.

Coolant sender works relatively reliably but would the flickering light also be driven by the same sender.  I'll recrimp if required, what is the proper kind of connector to use?

There is definitely no bits of loom anywhere near that side of the engine for the low oil pressure switch, what does it do?

I do intend on fitting the VDO gauge but it looks like I'll have to chose between or add another sensor.  How easy is it to get hold of a sensor?

Thanks,

Sam

with the temp light its an overheat warning, it can be triggered if the wire is nicked and intermittently shorting out. plus its also low level warning if its a later model with low level sensor and control relay so check for a sensor in the tank. if there is one unscrew it and buff the tips they get all grotty plus obv check level then see how it is.

proper terminals are non-insulated spades with insulation support (i.e. 2 crimp bits on) non-ins are fine really as long as they're crimped properly. I just have wiring OCD so they just wouldn't do on my car

the low pressure switch triggers the warning light at idle if the pressure drops below 0.3bar, on the early cars they only have the 1 pressure switch so this could be why or the wire has disappeared further up into the loom somewhere. If you look at the engine loom behind the fusebox you'll see the yellow wire either to the fusebox or to a separate spade which then plugs to the dash loom depending on age of loom in the car.

with the vdo pressure sensors are tricky to get hold of for cheap, usually expensive on the bay of e just need to be sure you get the right one matched to the gauge. oil temp are easy to get and cheap even from vw you're looking at about £15 for one, again just need to get the right one depending on which VDO gauge you get