Sight Gauge

What would cause the oil pressure gauge to max out?

My GF has a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the pressure gauge maxed out, and she said smoke started coming from the hood. I haven't wanted to start it and risk causing further damage until i know what's wrong. There is oil in the vehicle, and i turned the key enough for gauges to work and it the oil gauge goes to max.

Public Comments

1. is the oil gauge electrical or capillary? If it's electrical it could be the instrument voltage regulator. do any other gauges do the same? Has the "gf" over filled it with oil recently? They do that you know! Check the oil level ON FLAT ground
2. to much oil? idkthats all i can think of, or the guage is f*cked
3. That would be the wire going to the sensor being shorted to ground or a shorted sensor. Just unplug the wire from the oil pressure sensor to tell. If the gauge drops to zero, replace the sensor. If it stays at max the wire is shorted.