MajorCommonEngine

Honda Edix: K20A i-VTEC Oil Pressure Sensor Failure

K20A i-VTEC Oil Pressure Sensor Failure is a common engine fault on the Honda Edix on the 2004–2009 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $80 to $250 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 9 documented faults on the Honda Edix.

Vehicle: Honda Edix
Engine: K20A
Years: 2004–2009
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Honda Edix as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Edix faults9 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The oil pressure switch on the K20A 2.0 i-VTEC engine is a thermally stressed component that experiences repeated heat soak and cool-down cycles, causing the sensor diaphragm and internal contacts to fatigue and fail. A faulty sensor typically generates false low-pressure warnings even when measured mechanical oil pressure is within specification, but the same warning light can also mask a genuine loss of oil pressure if the driver becomes conditioned to ignoring it.

What you would notice

Oil pressure warning light illuminates at idle or during normal driving with correct oil level on the dipstick
Warning light may flicker intermittently then extinguish at higher engine speeds
Small oil seep visible around the sensor body where it threads into the block

How to check it

Where to look. Engine block on the K20A, located near the oil filter housing at the front-lower section of the engine

Connect a calibrated mechanical oil pressure gauge to verify actual system pressure before condemning the sensor; inspect the sensor's electrical connector for corrosion or broken terminals; check around the sensor threads for oil seepage indicating a failed seal; compare actual pressure to Honda K20A specification (35 psi minimum at idle, warm).

What it costs to put right

$80 to $250 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the oil pressure warning light ever come on, and was actual oil pressure verified with a gauge?”
“When was the oil pressure sensor last replaced?”
“Is there any oil residue around the sensor on the engine block?”

Now check the Honda Edix you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Honda Edix buyer questions

Is k20a i-vtec oil pressure sensor failure serious on a Honda Edix?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Edix. The oil pressure switch on the K20A 2.0 i-VTEC engine is a thermally stressed component that experiences repeated heat soak and cool-down cycles, causing the sensor diaphragm and internal contacts to fatigue and fail. A faulty sensor typically generates false low-pressure warnings even when measured mechanical oil pressure is within specification, but the same warning light can also mask a genuine loss of oil pressure if the driver becomes conditioned to ignoring it.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Edix?

$80 to $250 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Edix years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2004–2009 Honda Edix. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.