P0522: Oil pressure sensor/switch low voltage

What P0522 means

The oil pressure sensor sends a voltage that rises with pressure. Low voltage means the ECU sees a value below what should be possible, nearly always an electrical fault: a wire shorting to earth, the connector or the sensor. Even so, genuinely low oil pressure can also cause it.

Most common causes

• Low oil level or genuinely low pressure
• Sensor signal wire shorted to earth
• Oil or moisture inside the sensor connector
• Faulty oil pressure sensor
• Loss of the sensor’s reference supply, sometimes shared with other sensors

Symptoms

• Oil pressure light on
• Oil pressure gauge at zero, if fitted
• Engine warning light on

Can you drive with P0522?

With care If the oil level is correct and the engine sounds normal, it is usually an electrical fault and you can drive carefully to a garage. If the level is low or the engine is noisy, do not carry on.

How to check it

Check the oil level first. Then use the scanner to see whether the sensor pressure or voltage reads zero with the engine running: if it reads the same with the sensor unplugged, the problem is in the wiring or supply.

How to read and clear P0522 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0522 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

With Free you read this code with its short description for nothing, and clear it if the engine stores it over standard OBD. With Pro you get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged (revs, temperature, load) and clearing in every control unit.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

• P0507 Idle speed higher than expected
• P0513 Incorrect immobiliser key
• P0520 Oil pressure sensor/switch circuit malfunction
• P0521 Oil pressure sensor/switch range/performance
• P0523 Oil pressure sensor/switch high voltage
• P0524 Engine oil pressure too low
• P0530 A/C refrigerant pressure sensor: circuit fault
• P0532 A/C refrigerant pressure sensor: low input
• P0500 Vehicle speed sensor malfunction
• P0501 Vehicle speed sensor range/performance
• P0502 Vehicle speed sensor circuit low input
• P0503 Vehicle speed sensor intermittent, erratic or high

P0522 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Citroën, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Renault, Volvo. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.