2002 S4 916 Tachometer Does Not Work Red Oil light On..Help?

[scurry916]

I purchased a 2002 Monster S4 and the Tachometer doesn't work but when you turn the key all the gauges will jump all the way to the right and back like they should. Also the red oil light stays  faintly on all the time until you unplug it. I took it to a Ducati specialist and they diagnosed it as a short in the Instrument cluster. I purchased a new cluster and had it programmed with my red key. That cost me $750 and STILL the same thing.  I unplugged the motor sensor cable while it was running and the bike stopped. I plugged it back in and restarted it with no problem. Still no RPM.
I traded the oil sensor plug off of my 996 track bike and the red light is still on. I know the guy I bought it from had it on a cheap charger in his garage for 5 years or so without starting it. It likely could have taken some powers surges in that time.

Can Anyone help me?!?!?

[ducpainter]

The only other thing I know of that controls the tach is the ecu. I don't think it senses off a coil.

Did you try swapping the oil pressure sensor itself?

[scurry916]

Yes, I changed the the oil sensor and the light is still faint red. So do you think I may be looking at a new ECU now? In your opinion, could this likely be the problem with the faint red oil light as well.
Also sometimes one blinker will flash rapidly when you turn off the ignition after a ride.

[ducpainter]

Yes, I changed the the oil sensor and the light is still faint red. So do you think I may be looking at a new ECU now? In your opinion, could this likely be the problem with the faint red oil light as well.
Also sometimes one blinker will flash rapidly when you turn off the ignition after a ride.

I don't think the oil light and the ecu are linked.

It could be a problem in the harness between the sender and the cluster.

The flasher is in the cluster. Was this a brand new cluster?

[scurry916]

Yes it is a brand new cluster. When I got the bike the tach worked but one blinker would flash when the key was turned off after a ride and the oil light was always on. After a few rides and after unplugging and replugging everything the tach soon after went out. Not long after that the green blinker indicator light on the dash did not work. I opened the cluster and I noticed the circuit board had small burn on it. After replacing the console with a brand new one and mating it to the keys the tach still does not work and the oil light stays on. The green blinker on the dash now works and the blinkers don't flash after the key is removed as much as they used to but they still do. There must be an answer. 

[ducpainter]

I'm guessing...

wiring.

[Howie]

Since you can live for a while without a tach worry about the oil light first since it is possible you might have a low oil pressure issue.  The symptom sounds like either corrosion or moisture trapped in the connector.  Dry thoroughly with compressed air, inspect connector, pack with dielectric grease and install.   If the light still glows you need to check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge.  The resistance could also be in the connection to the instrument cluster.  With the key on, ground the wire to the sensor.  If the light goes out everything from the connector at the sensor to the bulb in the cluster is good.

Idle: Cold min. 2.5 bar, hot min. 1.1 bar
3-4K RPM:  4-6 bar

As far as the tach goes, you paid the dealer $750 to diagnose and repair the problem.  They didn't.  Take the bike back.

[zooom]

also...FWIW....check your grounds and make sure there is no corrosion and they are making good contact.

[scurry916]

Thank you so much for all your information. I will try these things today. However, I have doubts about the corrosion theory because the bike doesn't have a spot of corrosion anywhere on it. I have gone through it thoroughly. It has been covered in a garage for many many years and is in showroom condition with almost zero miles.

[zooom]

Thank you so much for all your information. I will try these things today. However, I have doubts about the corrosion theory because the bike doesn't have a spot of corrosion anywhere on it. I have gone through it thoroughly. It has been covered in a garage for many many years and is in showroom condition with almost zero miles.

FWIW, I have seen cables corrode from the inside of the sheathing that is supposed to protect and sheild it....so it never hurts to check em!

[scurry916]

So I changed the oil, filter, crush washer on drain plug(I keep bulk filters and crush washers for my 996 track bike), blasted the wire connection with air and swapped back to the original oil sensor and tightened it snug. Now there is not a hint of a red light while running. Problem solved. i never thought it could be so simple? All this time I nought it was just part of the faulty cluster. The bike was in for its first oil change recently so I overlooked it for that reason as well.

Thank you Ducpianter, Howie and Zooom for all the good advice.

I feel now that the new cluster is fine and will check the harness between the sender and the cluster as suggested by Ducpainter.

Any other thoughts about what could cause the Tach to not get a signal I would appreciate. I know the Tach itself is fine because it and the speedo wave at me when I turn on the key.

[J5]

also...FWIW....check your grounds and make sure there is no corrosion and they are making good contact.

+1 this is where i would go looking first