Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 16:45:15 -0600
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject: Re: that Minneapolis guy again..
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Jeremy Speer wrote:
>
> Folks,
>
> Sorry to sound like nervous new parent... but that's sort of what i am, eh?
>
> So i managed to free my van from the snow and actually drive it today.
> Drives like dream... i'd even go so far as to describe it as "peppy."
>
> Two things: That oil LED i just replaced... it goes off at start up, then
> comes on at highway speed (above 2000 RPM actually). Once it's on, flashing
> away, it stays that way until i shut the vehicle off. Upon restart all is
> fine until i go above 2000 RPM again.
>
> I think i now know why it might have been removed in the first place ;-)
> Should i assume the high pressure oil sensor is flakey?
>
> I spoke with a mechanic here and he asked what oil i had in it. According to
> the PO it's Mobil 1 5/50. The mechanic said the oil light at speed is normal
> with synthetic oil. He suggested 20/50 once summer hits to keep engine happy
> and oil LED off. Anybody heard this before?
>
Your high pressure sensor may be bad or the wire or connector may be
broken. BTDT Another possibility is that it has been replaced by a
sensor with the wrong pressure rating. The fiche at the dealers
apparently calls for a 1.8 bar when it should be .9 bar (again BTDT).
Locate the sensor near the oil pump, below and left of the pulley on
the crank. Follow the wire until you find the connector near the left
front corner of the engine. With a VOM you can check if it is
functioning. If you disconnect it, you can measure its resistance to
ground. With the engine off, the resistance should be very high
(infinite or at least in the thousands) because it is an open circuit
with no pressure. With the engine running at 3000 rpm or so the sensor
switch should close, giving a low resistance (less than 10 ohms). If
this doesn't happen, the sensor or the wire or the connector is bad. (or
you have no oil pressure :-( }
If you suspect the wire, you can connect a wire with alligator clip
directly to the terminal of the sensor and repeat the test. The wire
must be positioned carefully to keep it from an unpleasant encounter
with the belt and pulley.
Have fun,
Larry A.
91 with no more flashing or buzzing
new wire, new connector, correct sensor, and Mobil 1 15-W50
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