Error code P0522 – low signal level in the sensor or switch circuit of the engine oil pressure

Technical description and interpretation of error P0522

OBD II Trouble Code P0522 is a generic code that is defined as “Engine Oil Pressure Sensor or Switch Circuit Low.” Set when the powertrain control module (PCM) detects an unexpected oil pressure reading. It can also be installed if there is a malfunction in the oil pressure switch or its control circuit.

The oil pressure switch is a simple pressure switch to which the PCM provides a reference voltage. The pressure measuring mechanism in the switch is in direct contact with the oil circulating in the engine.

Changes in oil pressure cause either a decrease or increase in the resistance of the oil pressure switch. The PCM interprets these resistance changes as the actual oil pressure at that moment at that engine speed.

The PCM is programmed to recognize a range of signal voltages that are compared to a reference oil pressure range for a given vehicle. Therefore, when the PCM detects an abnormally low signal voltage, code P0522 is set.

The warning light on the instrument panel may also come on. Which, in turn, complements the error code and may indicate abnormal oil pressure.

Some vehicles use more than one oil pressure switch. One sensor is used to indicate high or normal pressure and the other to indicate low pressure.

How to Troubleshoot or Reset Trouble Code P0522

Some suggested steps to troubleshoot and fix error code P0522:

Read all data and stored error codes using an OBD-II scanner.
Clear the codes and check if the P0522 code appears again.
Check the level and condition of the engine oil. If necessary, replace the oil along with the filter.
Inspect the engine oil pressure sensor and associated wiring.
Check the sensor with a digital multimeter and replace it if necessary.
Pay attention to mechanical wear on the engine. Perform a physical check of the oil pressure using a mechanical pressure gauge.

Symptoms of malfunction

The main driver symptom of P0522 is the MIL (Malfunction Indicator Light) illumination. It is also called Check engine or simply “check light”.

They can also appear as:

The P0522 oil pressure code is considered very serious, so it is recommended to fix this problem as soon as possible. For example, if the oil pressure is too low, it can cause the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings to seize.

Diagnosis and problem solving

Make sure the oil level is at the correct level, that it is not diluted with fuel or coolant, or has a thick, tarry consistency. If necessary, add or change the oil before proceeding with further diagnostics.

Perform a thorough visual inspection of the wiring to look for damaged, burnt, disconnected, shorted or corroded wires and connectors. If necessary, repair, clear the P0522 code and rescan the system to see if the code returns.

Checking wiring with a multimeter

Once no visible damage is found, check resistance, ground, and reference voltage. Compare all readings obtained with the data specified in the manual. Replace wiring as necessary to ensure all readings are within manufacturer specifications.

Be sure to disconnect the oil pressure switch from the PCM while checking resistance and continuity to prevent damage to the controller. You should also check the oil pressure switch as it is part of the control circuit.

Checking oil pressure

It is necessary to ensure that the oil pressure is within the range specified by the manufacturer, this can be done by attaching a pressure gauge to the engine. Using a scanner is not recommended because the scanner uses the same information as the PCM.

The PCM and scan tool may indicate an oil pressure condition that is based on incorrect data.

The pressure gauge may take a few seconds to register a reading, but should stabilize after about ten seconds. Record the reading and compare it with the value stated in the manual.

Allow the engine to warm up while watching the pressure gauge. As it warms up, there may be a slight drop in pressure indicated by the pressure gauge. But the oil pressure should not drop below the minimum specified value when the engine is at operating temperature.

Oil pressure readings that are not within acceptable lower limits indicate excessive wear or other mechanical problems within the engine. In this case, simply replacing the oil pressure switch will not solve the problem of error code P0522.

Reasons for the error

Code P0522 may mean that one or more of the following problems have occurred:

The engine oil pressure sensor is faulty.
Excessive resistance in the oil pressure sensor circuit.
Damaged, burnt, shorted or corroded wiring.
Using the wrong engine oil.
Poor maintenance, such as irregular oil and oil filter changes.
Excessive mechanical wear of the engine.
Mechanical failure of internal engine components such as oil pump, oil pressure relief valve. And also possibly timing chain tensioners or guides.
Sometimes the cause is a faulty PCM.

Trouble P0522 - Engine Oil Pressure Sensor - Voltage Low

When diagnosing this error code, a mechanic will do the following:

Possible reasons for the check function to light up

The “CHECK” signal is located in the very center of the instrument cluster, where the driver can quickly pay attention to it.

Check engine light came on during hard acceleration

This function is responsible for the operation of the engine and if it signals, then there may be problems in the operation of this particular unit. Of course, this is scary for any motorist, because repairing the power unit is complex and expensive. But don’t immediately get scared and panic, the reason may be petty.

So, let’s look at what are the reasons why the “CHECK” function on the Lada Grant came on:

When the “CHECK” function lights up, it indicates that something is wrong with the engine and it is worth carrying out diagnostics before taking other actions.

Elimination methods

Let's consider some options for eliminating the causes of the “CHECK” function fire on the Lada Grant:

Diagnostics of LADA Granta, error codes and methods for eliminating them

One of the differences between the Lada Granta and other domestic vehicle models is the on-board computer that these cars are equipped with. It allows you not only to optimize the engine operation process, but also to identify Lada Granta error codes. It is with its help that you can quickly identify any malfunctions in the operation of the bookmaker.

But how to diagnose the on-board computer “State X1” of the Lada Grant for errors? And how can you decipher the codes after that? You can learn more about these and other issues in this article.

Operating principle of the oil pressure sensor and checking it

Parameters and technical characteristics of the Lada Granta. Lada Granta VAZ 219010. Lada Granta model 219010

The operating principle of the DDM is quite simple - depending on the oil pressure, the measuring membrane inside the sensor bends under the oil pressure and closes and opens the contacts. If the engine oil level drops, the contacts open accordingly and the oil pressure warning light comes on.

Before checking the sensor, make sure that:

If everything is in order with the oil level and filter, you need to check the sensor circuit and itself.

If your vehicle is equipped with an on-board computer, a P0523 (Oil Pressure Sensor High Voltage) error will appear if the ODM malfunctions. This error indicates that the sensor needs to be replaced.

On which cars is this problem most common?

The problem with code P0522 can occur on different machines, but there are always statistics on which brands this error occurs more often. Here is a list of some of them:

Audi
Buick
Cadillac
Chevrolet (Chevrolet Captiva, Silverado)
Chrysler (Chrysler Voyager, Pacifica, PT Cruiser, 300c)
Citroen
Datsun (Datsun on-DO)
Dodge (Dodge Caliber, Caravan, Ram)
GMC
Honda (Honda Pilot, SRV)
Jeep (Jeep Grand Cherokee)
Mercedes
Opel (Opel Antara)
Peugeot (Peugeot 308, 3008)
Volkswagen (Volkswagen Golf, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan)
VAZ
Lada Vesta, Granta, Kalina, Priora

With fault code P0522, you can sometimes encounter other errors. The most common ones are: P0118, P0122, P0123, P0300, P0303, P0335, P0339, P0440, P0508, P0520, P0521, P0523, P0524, P0642, P0700, P1128, P2122, P3401, P3425, P344 1, P3449, C121C.

How to fix error 522 in Google Chrome

Tip #1 - Clear your browser history

Your browser may already be filled with a lot of data from your visits to various web pages. Try clearing your browsing data to fix the error. To do this, follow these steps:

Tip #2 - Uninstall and then reinstall Google Chrome

If clearing browser data does not resolve the issue, you may want to try the next method.

Error 522 again? Which means the error is not fixed.

Tip #3 - Remove unused browser extensions

Error 504 Gateway Time Out - what does it mean, why does it occur and how to fix it?

Tip #4 - Check your internet connection

On the Internet, the faster the connection, the better. You need to check the quality of your Internet connection to make sure that error 522 is not caused by an “intermittent” connection. Follow these steps to check your internet connection.

Tip #5 - IP Address: Presentation and Update

Sometimes connection problems occur when your computer's IP address has expired. To resolve this issue, follow the steps below.

If the error no longer occurs, then you know what error 522 means and how to fix it.

Tip #6 - Check your proxy settings

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VAZ (LADA) errors via OBDI protocol. Self-diagnosis.

Do-it-yourself diagnostics of the Grant fret 1 - Malfunction of the engine control unit.

2 — The voltage in the on-board network is too high.

3 - Malfunction in the electrical circuit of the fuel level sensor.

4 - Malfunction in the electrical circuit of the antifreeze controller.

5 - External temperature controller error.

6 - Engine (power unit) overheating

7 - Emergency engine oil pressure.

8 - The voltage in the vehicle's electrical network is too low.

9 - Low battery level (battery is discharged)

12 - Malfunction in the electrical circuit of the malfunction indicator located on the instrument panel.

13 - No data (loss of communication) from the oxygen sensor (lambda probe)

14 — High signal level of the coolant temperature sensor (antifreeze).

15 - Malfunction in the electrical circuit of the coolant temperature controller.

16 — Increased voltage in the vehicle electrical network

17 - Low voltage in the on-board network

Replacing the sensor yourself

We remove the decorative plastic protection and put it aside so that it does not interfere

Carefully squeeze the clamps and remove the block from the sensor

Using a spanner or open-end wrench set to “21”, unscrew the sensor.

Now we will examine it and diagnose it according to the points that we described above.

We screw in the new sensor, connect the wire block and start the engine. If the oil pressure light goes out, then the problem was in the sensor; if not, then you need to look for the cause further.

Troubleshooting

When a P0500 code appears, it potentially points to several sources of problems. It could be:

the speed sensor itself;
dashboard electronics;
ECU.

The speed sensor on front-wheel drive vehicles is usually located in the wheel bearing. If the drive is rear-wheel drive, the installation location will be a differential or gearbox.

Before you begin diagnostics and repairs, make sure that the problem is not with the speedometer itself. It's easy to do. You just need to do a test drive.

Speed sensor for car

If the diagnostic scanner shows a P0500 error, you need to do the following:

Using diagnostic equipment, check the operation of the speed sensor. Not everyone has special equipment in their garage. Therefore, the easiest way is to connect a known-good controller. If the error does not go away after resetting, continue searching.
Using a multimeter, check the circuit between the input signal and ground, or the power wire, for a short circuit. Due to broken insulation, a short circuit quite often occurs, and the system ceases to function correctly.
Check the connection between the controller and its ground.
If you have a sensor with 4 wires on your car, you should check the integrity of the latter with a multimeter.

Please note that communication with the sensor will be interrupted when the car is stationary. Therefore, in this case, the diagnosis is performed while moving. It can be imitated by hanging the drive wheels.

Next, follow this algorithm:

connect the laptop with diagnostic software to the vehicle diagnostic connector;
turn on the ignition and run the test programs;
select the speed display item;
start driving so that the wheels rotate;
compare the speed readings on the laptop and on the speedometer;
if the parameters match, just reset the error, most likely this is an accident;
if the readings are different, check the voltage in the dashboard;
Next, the contacts and wiring going from the sensor to the ECU are checked;
Since occasionally the speed sensor itself also fails, it should be checked with a multimeter for resistance and voltage.

Practice shows that most often the reason lies in a violation of the integrity of the insulation and short circuits. Or the sensor does not fit tightly enough to the contacts, which causes the accuracy of the transmitted signal to be impaired.

A little about the error

Error P0523, which is displayed by your on-board computer, indicates a malfunction of the engine oil pressure sensor (EOP). Its task is not to miss the moment of pressure drop, and there is hardly any need to explain how serious the consequences can be if your Lada Granta is not repaired in time.

The operation of the device is simple, but extremely useful. Inside it there is a membrane, which bends under the pressure of oil, while closing or opening the contacts. The contacts are connected to a warning light, which will immediately notify the driver if there is a lack of oil in the engine. So, your warning light may be on. The computer reminds you of error P0523. What could have led to this?