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Date:         Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:42:35 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: 88 Vanagon - oil pressure alarm
Comments: To: John Graham <theklube@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <194423170801101251m62e13f30w69328d4460e74b6a@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

John, There is only one proper thing to do first. That's to check the actual oil pressure with an oil pressure gauge. You would read that at the sender that's on the left underside of the engine.... Between the push rod tubes. Need to remove that cover first , but that's the normal oil pressure switch, and I'd first see what oil pressure warmed up and at 3,000 rpm is, And if that's ok, then it'd pursue the electrical.

It's common to have the problem you're having btw, you just need to be certain it's an electrical thing first on not real low oil pressure.

The other sender is by the crankshaft pulley. That one reads the high rpm oil pressure. If someone knows or thinks that's a better place to connect a gauge for testing ........please say.

I'll tell you an ultra easy test to test the hi rpm sender by the crank pulley. Take the wire off it and ground it. This sender is 'happy' when it sees ground about a certain rpm, which the DOPS ( dynamic oil pressure system ) knows from the tach signal. If you ground it, it will make the circuit happy, and if all your warning stops, you could conclude that sender is giving a false indication , IF you test oil pressure first with a gauge so you know it's not the problem. It isn't common for those senders to ever be problem, tho, to me. Dash area weirdness, is more likely. Just need to know the real oil pressure in psi first though. Scott www.turbovans.com

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of John Graham Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 12:52 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: 88 Vanagon - oil pressure alarm

I have recently began to get an intermittent oil pressure alarm. First time it went off, it scared the heck out of me. I quickly stopped, checked for leaks, oil level etc. Started back up and it was fine, so I assumed it had a sensing problem of some sort. All other indicators are good.

I checked with my local shop which really knows Vanagons and works on problems that I don't want to deal with and the tech that I talked to said that this is not an uncommon problem with Vanagons of this age (160Kmiles), said could be a problem with the board on the back of the instrument panel or a wiring or sensor problem. But basically left me feeling that I didn't have an emergency on my hands.

The 'malfunction' has grown more frequent over the past few days. As I drive, it will sometimes just flicker on and then back off. Does not seem more likely to come on if the revs are low. If it stays on too long, I can just turn off the ignition and then back on again and it 'resets' to normal. But it is one annoying noise even though it's not particularly loud.

Have others experienced such oil pressure behavior?

My next step is to locate the pressure sensors (I understand there are two of them) and make sure the connections are secure and surrounding wiring looks good.

John Graham 88 Westy - Hathaway Charlotte, NC

-- This e-mail is a natural product made from recycled electrons. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.


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