How to Locate the Oil Pressure Sensor in an 88 Accord

In 1976, Honda added a larger vehicle to compliment its compact Civic model -- the Accord. The Accord gave consumers a roomy alternative to inefficient American-built, V-8 powered vehicles. The third generation for the Accord -- 1986 through 1989 -- introduced an even larger and more stylish body for Honda's mid-sized vehicle. The 1988 Accord had two engine options: The standard engine was a 2.0-liter, carbureted engine that produced 98 horsepower, and the option was a 120-horsepower, fuel-injected 2.0-liter engine. Both engines used an oil pressure switch to measure the oil pressure and illuminate a light on the dashboard if the pressure dropped below the Accords specifications.

Instructions

Locating the Oil Pressure Switch

1

Raise the front of the Accord, using a floor jack. Position floor jacks under the Accord's frame rails and lower the Accord onto the jack stands.

2

Crawl beneath the Accord and locate the oil filter on the engine block -- near the rear of the engine compartment.

3

Look at the oil filter-mounting base and locate the electrical sensor on the mounting base -- this is the oil pressure switch.

Removing and Replacing the Oil Pressure Switch

4

Raise the front of the Accord, using a floor jack. Position floor jacks under the Accord's frame rails and lower the Accord onto the jack stands.

5

Position a drain pan under the drain plug on the engine oil pan. Loosen the drain plug with a combination wrench and remove the plug, by hand. Allow the oil to drain from the oil pan until only slow drips of oil come from the pan.

6

Remove the washer from the drain plug and wipe the drain plug off with a clean, lint-free cloth. Place a new washer on the drain plug and hand-tighten the drain plug into the oil pan. Tighten the drain plug to 32 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

7

Slide toward the rear of the Accord and position the drain pan under the oil filter. Loosen the oil filter, using an oil filter wrench. Allow all of the oil to drain from the oil filter. Remove the filter, by hand, and place it in the drain pan.

8

Unplug the wiring harness from the oil pressure switch by pulling it away from the switch. Remove the oil pressure switch from the oil filter-mounting base, using a ratchet and socket.

9

Apply a thin coat of liquid thread sealer onto the threads on the base of the new oil pressure switch. Allow the thread sealer to cure for the amount of time specified on the sealer's instructions. Hand-tighten the oil pressure switch into the oil filter mating base. Tighten the oil pressure switch to 13 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket. Plug the wiring harness into the oil pressure switch.

10

Apply a thin coat of new engine oil onto the O-ring on the base of a new oil filter. Tighten the oil filter onto the engine until the O-ring contacts the oil filter-mating surface. Tighten the oil filter an additional 3/4-turn after the O-ring touches the oil filter-mating surface.

11

Raise the Accord off the jack stands, using a floor jack, and remove the jack stands. Lower the Accord to the ground.

12

Open the Accord's hood and remove the oil filler cap. Insert a funnel into the oil filler cap and pour 3.75 quarts of 10W-30 or 10W-40 engine oil into the engine.

13

Wait about two minutes, remove the oil dipstick from the engine and wipe it off with a clean, lint-free cloth. Reinsert the dipstick into the engine and remove it again. Check that the oil is at least between the two dots on the base of the dipstick. Add more oil, if needed.

14

Remove the funnel from the engine, tighten the oil filler cap onto the engine and reinsert the dipstick into the engine.

15

Start the Accord's engine and allow it to run for about two minutes. Shut the engine down and let it set for about three minutes. Remove the engine oil dipstick from the engine and wipe it off with a clean, lint-free cloth. Reinsert the dipstick and check that the fluid is between the two dots at the base of the dipstick. Add more oil, as needed.

16

Close the Accord's hood.