Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 21:50:26 EDT
Reply-To: Taobythesea@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: James Benthall <Taobythesea@AOL.COM>
Subject: Oil Pressure Light went On...Abort Trip?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Hello fellow Vanagonauts,
Sorry to bother ya'll with another problem, but this one is serious. We
were all packed and heading to
Minnesota (moving my wife...long story) when we got 25 miles out of Houston
and my freakin oil pressure
light starts flashing! [This is very upsetting to me since I constantly
have to listen to non-Vanagonauts
question my sanity for putting so much money in "such an old car"]. Anyway,
I pull over immediately
to the side of highway and turn off engine..step out of van and go check the
oil. Oil seems fine. Plenty
of it. Ok, what to do? Since we were getting such a late start anyway, and
it is already hot as a hades
here in Texas, I decide to turn around and head back home. Made it all the
25 miles back home without
another incident. Checked oil upon my return. All is a-ok.
Background:
I had this VERY THING happen about 6 months ago. Oil light would flash and
scare the bejabbers out
of me. Pull over and check. All is a-ok. Took to my mechanic and he
checked. All seems fine, so we
put in new oil pressure switch to be safe. Been all this time and no
problems.
Questions:
How do you check to see if oil pump is going out? Would the van had made it
back the 25 miles if
the oil pump was out or going out? I had the oil changed last week, and
someone said on another
thread that lightweight oil could be the problem, does this seem likely? We
use 10w30 down here
since it is so hot. If the oil or oil filter is the problem can I continue
to drive it and ignore the warning?
I appreciate anyones input on this problem. I really need to get on the
road ASAP, and I REALLY hate
the thought of having to rent a car. Thanks all.
James in Houston
87 Westy (The Phoenix)
ps
I almost forgot...I have a "hybrid" type van with the wiring harness of an
84 (I know, terrible situation but
it has been running fine for almost a year now). Do ya'll think it could be
a wiring mix up or something?
And if so, would it hurt it to go ahead and drive it?
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