Stock oil pressure gauge acting weird

[destrux]

My stock oil pressure gauge is stuck at the max reading all the time, even when the car is off. I realized I had left the 1JZ pressure switch on the engine and I forgot to order the hose adapter from DM to put the 7M sender on. I unplugged the pressure switch and the gauge still stays maxed out anyway (even key off). This was all done with the engine not running.

Does this sound like a bad gauge or will the correct sending unit make the gauge needle go back down to normal?

I have a feeling I killed the gauge by allowing the 1JZ switch to ground the gauge wire... the TSRM says to test the gauge with a 3.4w bulb (I guess so that you don't overload the gauge with a solid ground).... any opinions on that?

 

[hvyman]

Sounds like the gauge fried. Us cars dont like jdm sensors.

 

[destrux]

Crap. I figured that must be it. Thanks.

 

[jetjock]

^This.

A fried gage may or may not fall to zero without power applied. Depends on how the heater element failed and for how long it was powered.

And yes, a constant ground will burn out the element, hence the need to limit current through it with something. The book specifies a lamp simply because that's what most mechanics would have lying around...