Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:46:28 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: 88 Vanagon - oil pressure alarm
In-Reply-To: <194423170801101251m62e13f30w69328d4460e74b6a@mail.gmail.com>
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John,
I have an 88 GL and have had the same problem. It was a problem with the
connection at the switch.
There is an oil pressure switch right by the crankshaft pulley at the
rear of the engine. It's kinda hard to get at, but you need to find it
and then make sure of the integrity of the wire and the connector to the
switch. Be sure the wire is in good shape, the connector on the end of
the wire is solid and there is no corrosion. Be sure the pressure switch
connection is tight. If this is secure, andyou still get the oil warning
alarm, then you either have a bad switch or the problem is elsewhere -
up front most likely.
As for flickering oil light, start by installing a Mahle or Mann oil
filter, then put in a Dino oil of 20W50 wt, or Mobil One 15W50 which is
what I use. If you are inside the Arctic Circle or near it in winter you
might want something a little thinner.
If that doesn't work, you need a pressure test of your oil pressure once
the engine is warmed up.
Good Luck,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Chelsea, AL
John Graham wrote:
> 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
>
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