Special socket for oil pressure switch?

We have a 91 Firebird with the 305 v8. We have a bad oil pressure switch. We bought a new one at AutoZone, located the switch but can't get to it replace it. The website and several threads in the forum mention a special socket however the folks at our local store don't know what we're talking about. It is jammed in there so we can't seem to get to it with a wrench and conventional deep sockets aren't deep enough. Any additional descriptions or part numbers would be helpful. We can go to another place I just was hoping not to turn this into an ordeal. :banghead:

Thanks

is it one with a hex so you unscrew it like a nut or bolt?

you may need a crow-foot wrench or obstruction wrench.

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/OilPressureSwitch/Pontiac/TransAm/1AOSU00003/482441

is that the part you have?

I had to buy a special socket to replace my oil pressure switch. Its a HUGE f-ing socket. Really deep...anyways, its called an 'oil pressure switch' socket. Its like a 1 1/4 inch socket. Damn special tools.

is it one with a hex so you unscrew it like a nut or bolt?

you may need a crow-foot wrench or obstruction wrench.

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/OilPressureSwitch/Pontiac/TransAm/1AOSU00003/482441

is that the part you have?

Here is the one we have http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=NIE&MfrPartNumber=OP24481&PartType=417&PTSet=A

longer with the hex near the bottom, needs a wicked long socket but I don't know how it is supposed to fit in that tight spot. Anyway help identifying what wrench I need is most appreciated

i guess you'll need the special socket like poor has.

never seen one like that. oil pressure sensors i've seen are like 1/2" hexs and stick out maybe 3/4" with a wire coming out. you just get a wrench round them and they're off in no time.

i couldn't get the one out of my 305 either, so I just bought a switch for an lt1 and put it behind the intake manifold, the wire harness was able to reach up to the new position.

I thought about cutting the top off with a hacksaw, then I can get a regular socket over the hex head. The only downside I see is that if it turns out to be stubborn I don't think the car will be driveable until we can get it taken out. It will be open. Should I try it? Am I right on that?

you could try a hacksaw or cut off wheel. there's no telling where the oil-filled section begins though. But if you are able to get a socket around it, I dont really see you not being able to get it off. they normally come off relatively easily/as expected. so I dont think you have to worry about it being stuborrn and getting stuck in a corner.

The only other option is to place the new sensor behind the intake (assuming yours is by the oil filter). You'll have to use an extension and 45 degree adapter to make it work.

I thought about cutting the top off with a hacksaw, then I can get a regular socket over the hex head. The only downside I see is that if it turns out to be stubborn I don't think the car will be driveable until we can get it taken out. It will be open. Should I try it? Am I right on that?

I wouldn't do that. It will start spewing oil while the motor is going. Long story, but during my header install, I cracked mine and didn't think much of it, drove a mile to get gas and came back. Went to take it out later that night, and all my oil was in my driveway. And I looked in the street and there was an oil trail all the way up the street and all the way back down. So I leaked oil the whole trip. Luckily I had enough left in the motor to not do any damage.

Just go to autozone and get the oil pressure switch socket and be done with it.

I wouldn't do that. It will start spewing oil while the motor is going. Long story, but during my header install, I cracked mine and didn't think much of it, drove a mile to get gas and came back. Went to take it out later that night, and all my oil was in my driveway. And I looked in the street and there was an oil trail all the way up the street and all the way back down. So I leaked oil the whole trip. Luckily I had enough left in the motor to not do any damage.

Just go to autozone and get the oil pressure switch socket and be done with it.


that's what he was saying about it not being driveable. he's not dumb enough to run the engine with a hole in the oiling system....

I wouldn't do that. It will start spewing oil while the motor is going. Long story, but during my header install, I cracked mine and didn't think much of it, drove a mile to get gas and came back. Went to take it out later that night, and all my oil was in my driveway. And I looked in the street and there was an oil trail all the way up the street and all the way back down. So I leaked oil the whole trip. Luckily I had enough left in the motor to not do any damage.

Just go to autozone and get the oil pressure switch socket and be done with it.

I had a similiar experiance... except my engine locked up. :banghead:

mmm, kay, so we cut up the old unit to get it out, how do we get the new one in? :screwy:

mmm, kay, so we cut up the old unit to get it out, how do we get the new one in? :screwy:

it's pretty obvious if you look at the swtich. you cut the swtich in half (length-wise).... which makes it shorter. the socket then fits over the switch... which is how you remove it. all you do is screw in the new one. :screwy:
:p

I've got the same psi switch on my car... diff. is that it's sticking out of the front of the engine with nothing by it except the oil filter. I take it on/off by hand or vice grips or channel locks or whatever I feel like.