I took my '01 4Runner to the dealer to get an oil change. I went out to watch what was going on (could see in the bay from the parking lot) and I knew something wasn't right, they were spending too much time underneath my truck. When I went to pay the service guy tells me that they broke the oil pressure sending unit while doing the oil change but the parts dept. had one in stock so they replaced it. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? Is the oil pressure sending unit close to the filter and at great risk of being broken? Anything else I should be worried about? Thanks in advance!

 

Yes the oil filter is close to the oil pressure sender and no, if they fixed it, you don't have anything to worry about. I've never gotten close to breaking mine, but I suppose it would be possible if the oil filter was stuck and the tech used leverage and slipped......which is likely what happened.

 

At least they fixed it and told you, they could have said it was already broken and then tried charging you to fix it.

 

hmmm, sounds exactly like what i did....haha, ya no worries, you could drive around with it broken if it ever happened in your driveway and you needed to go get a new one.....not sure how i know that..baha

 

It always helps to keep an eye on them.

 

It also helps to do your own oil changes

 

The oil filter is not in the easiest place. The sending unit is there and there is a wireharness too. Hard not to use them as leverage.

 

yep broke mine a few months ago! didnt know i could drive without it without it maybe damaging something. i got pissed at my filter and used something with leverage and snap! pretty easy to do, they are fragile. 30 dollar mistake.

 

Yup. Seems like an honest dealership. This is why you should never take your car to a shady oil change joint. cough*jiffylube*cough.

 

BTW I have a good sending unit from a 01 Tacoma V6 if someone else breaks one. $10 plus shipping

 

Guys, get a set of oil filter pliers and you won't need to worry about snapping off the oil pressure sender anymore while doing and oil and filter change. They are cheap, work awesome and they even carry them at Wallyworld.

 

thats what broke mine!! hahaha. no kiddin'.. its better to use the cup looking ones and go through front driver side wheel well and use a long socket and get it loose enough to do the rest by hand.. imo

 

i use the cup looking one, it was like 6 bucks at autozone... havent looked back, its a pain in the @$$ to get it tight enough and loosen it up by hand, esp after 5000 miles!!! just turn the wheel all the way to the left, youve got plenty of room to get in there with a 3/4" drive and then its a cake walk!! why pay someone to do an oil change when for half as much, or as much if you use mobil 1 you can do it yourself and use better oil and know its done right?!?!?!?

 

edit...bad posting on my part, they need to bring back the 'delete' post option

 

Hmm... I can usually just get it with my hands. If not, I use duct tape. Hasn't failed me yet. If you're yanking like crazy trying to get these things off with an oil filter wrench, YOU'RE PUTTING THEM ON TOO TIGHT!!!

 

In my case it's not that it's too tight. It hard to get a good grip with out resting ur arm on anything that will break (sending unit, wire harness). I use the pliers too.

 

What?! How the heck did you do that?

I usually end up crushing the filter a bit when I get mine off, but the pliers have never failed me yet.

 

Cup like socket on a 1/2 to 3/8 drive extension works just fine. Like pnut said
if you need a wrench to take it off you are over tightning the filter.