Oil light problems! Oil pressure!? Help!

Spookcorleone · 07-24-2005, 12:00 AM

Ok, so I am riding around today, just another day in my DSM... yeah.

I pull up to a stop-light and my oil life flashes on... so I start to get worried. I start moving and watch my oil pressure, it seemed ok. (Was low, but wasn't having 'no pressure') so I get moving the and the light goes off (no enige light what so ever, just oil.) and I come up to the next light, as soon as I hit the brakes, and start to slow down / stop the oil light comes back on... (25mph zone.) so I start to pump the brakes... the oil light flickers ON AND OFF while I do this (I am at a complete stop!)... either way its a oil light, a important light... so I pull over when I can and I check my oil - which is right where it should be. Nothing blown, nothing in the coolant, nothing leaking... I let the car sit for abit, made sure the battary was tight, and all the other smaller connections, figuring HEY its a DSM... just check...

So after letting it sit for about 5 minutes, I get back in and start to drive.

The oil pressure seems abit low - I was thinking maybe my ECU is getting old and is about to die(130K on engine, didnt replace compasitors yet.), or my oil pump is about to hit the fan. Either way, the pressure gauge in my car seems to read low (Just about the low mark in the operating specs. - the first notch - not the starting notch.) and when I am at idle it drops down it doesn't go to the L point, it sits about 1/4" away from it.... in my 2G I noticed that gauge always seemed to be low anyways, and I just got the car on the road 4 days ago - not sure if thats how this acts...

My back right brake makes ALOT of noise on braking, which I will be looking into tomorrow... (only makes noise when I am coming to a stop, and I am braking at a medium pace... when I brake aggressively it makes no sound, just stops... and very lightl the noise is rather light.) Most likely just the pad I guess. Loud clunks come from the area...

Either way wondering the following...
Anyone ever have this problem?

Why me? (Don't say its a DSM!) Was it the ECU? Loose connection? Something else!?

I bought compasitors off the internet awhile ago for my ECU - but I am worried about replacing them! Anyone have addition information on this? (bought 3... came in a 'kit')

Whats up with my brakes? (The right rear one only makes ALOT of noise on meduim braking ONCE hits HOT / Been runing for awhile.)

Thanks guys... as always.

Didn't spell check... forgive me.

bloc · 07-24-2005, 12:21 AM

i would troubleshoot the oil dummy light sender on the oil filter housing, to start. there should be 2 senders sticking off the oil filter housing, and the dummy light sender is the smaller of the 2. try unplugging the wire at the sender and see if the light comes on, then ground the wire good and see if it goes off (even when you hit the brakes).
if it isnt related to the actual movement of the car in any way, it could be a crossed wire..

or even somehow the wrong bulb in the gauge cluster getting power. you could probably eliminate this possibility by topping up the brake master reservoir.

at least you stopped and checked your oil level, obviously that should be the first step. wish i could be more help.

Defiant · 07-24-2005, 01:04 AM

Sender and/or its connection.

Spookcorleone · 07-24-2005, 09:59 AM

Took the highway home today - I simply enjoy the breeze cars make as they go by while I'm broke down, heh, and well the light showed no sign of coming on today (As little brakes were needed.) Checked the cars brake fluid, needs some - I've yet to check the sender, I will be shortly once the sun decides to take a break... and the engine cooled - along with checking the rear brake setup. Is my pressure at the normal area for these cars? (Today it was abit different, under heavy operating - such as the highway - it was JUST past the low notch, and under idle maybe 1/4" away from the low operating notch...)
I fear high oil pressure, but I fear low oil pressure even more...

Anyways - I was also wondering about the compassitors that I want to swap in on my ECU before it takes a crap. I hear they open up around 130K miles and spill fluid all over the ECU destroying it...

Anyways, didn't even think of checking the sender guys - thanks for sparking my brain.

I'll have updates.

Spookcorleone · 07-24-2005, 04:33 PM

Unplug'd - replug'd. Not giving me any problems.

Tops off my brake fluid - disassembled, and reassembled the right rear brake, inspected it and so forth... didn't find anything wrong with it - cleaned and regreased it and now its nice a quiet like it should be (for now...) brakes working fine, car runing fine, didnt oil change - problems seems to be... well, I don't want to say it...

Either way - my pressure gauge still seems to read rather 'low'
Ok either way I am a artist... (... sure.) So below is the oil pressure gauge and about where mine sits during operation... is it normal?

Low Pres. Reg Pressure High Pressure Notch
---|______|________|___|
____{|}
My pressure sits around here at idle,
_________{|}
And it peaks right here under pressure. (high-way, back-roads, even pushing the car hard thats as far as it goes)

dsm laser · 07-28-2005, 12:00 AM

I just wanted to add that I'm experiencing the same simptoms as you with your oil pressure gauge, almost to the "T"... I hope someone can shead some light on this situation.

Defiant · 07-28-2005, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsm laser

I just wanted to add that I'm experiencing the same simptoms as you with your oil pressure gauge, almost to the "T"... I hope someone can shead some light on this situation.

Well, there was Post #3. Have you tested your sensors, connectors and wiring?

Cheks_Talon_TSi · 07-28-2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spookcorleone

Low Pres. Reg Pressure High Pressure Notch
---|______|________|___|
____{|}
My pressure sits around here at idle,
_________{|}
And it peaks right here under pressure.

Well, my car seems to work in the same range (more less) than your car do... like this:
Low Pres. Reg Pressure High Pressure Notch
---|______|________|___|
____{|}
My pressure sits around here at idle,
___________{|}
it peaks right here under NORMAL use (in the city streets).
________________{|}
And it peaks right here at heavy loads (when I am runing at high revs 5500+Rpms)

I will suggest you to replace the sender of the dummy light... I have replaced two times

If that doesn't work and still failing, maybe the oil pump is passing away

...
Try this: let your car at idle and take off the oil cap, you must see oil drops going out from the valve cover (plenty of drops)... If your oil pressure is really low you wont see any oil drop coming out... If that happen, it may be time to change your oil pump

But I bet the problem is in the sender of the dummy light... you can buy it at pep boys or autozone for $10 or less... change it any way... that will help

ViChives · 08-13-2005, 05:43 PM

I'm kind of having the same problem. My oil light would come on only if I drove on the highway with the A/C on and then idle with A/C on, this just started about two weeks ago. On the highway it is about 70-75 PSI, City 40-50 PSI, Idle A/C off 12-18 PSI with A/C on a little under 10-13, start-up 80-over 100. I just got a new oil pump so I don't think that's the problem. Could the it be overheating? I don't have an oil cooler. If the oil squirters are stuck open would that cause the low pressure? Could the pressure relief valve be failing and is there a way to check it? I just changed the oil and the light hasn't be flickering on at idle. Maybe it was just old oil, but the oil had less than 2500 miles on it.

Cheks_Talon_TSi · 08-20-2005, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViChives

I'm kind of having the same problem. My oil light would come on only if I drove on the highway with the A/C on and then idle with A/C on, this just started about two weeks ago. On the highway it is about 70-75 PSI, City 40-50 PSI, Idle A/C off 12-18 PSI with A/C on a little under 10-13, start-up 80-over 100. I just got a new oil pump so I don't think that's the problem. Could the it be overheating? I don't have an oil cooler. If the oil squirters are stuck open would that cause the low pressure? Could the pressure relief valve be failing and is there a way to check it? I just changed the oil and the light hasn't be flickering on at idle. Maybe it was just old oil, but the oil had less than 2500 miles on it.

I believe your problem can be the oil you were using... maybe it was too thin... what kind of oil are you using???

Or maybe the strainer (little filter) of the oil pump is dirty... do you replace it?? do you change the strainer??, do you clean the oil carter after replacing the pump???

those are the only clues I got!!!

Good Luck!
Sergio G.

ViChives · 08-20-2005, 10:44 PM

I use Mobil 10w-30 Synthetic Blend. I just changed the oil and drove for 2 hours with the A/C on and the light didn't coming on. I think I may have over worked the oil. It started doing it a couple of days after I went autocrossing on a very hot day. That probably cause it to break down faster than normal. If it happens again after next weeks autocross then I know I have to get an oil cooler for sure.

97BlackGST · 08-20-2005, 11:08 PM

if you look in your manual for your car, it gives the range for normal oil pressure. i have a 97 GST and the manual says from l____*_____l________*l___l (where the stars are) is normal oil pressure, and of course when your at idle your oil pressure will drop. i have an after market mechanical oil pressure gauge and at idle I'm at about 25 psi. normal highway driving 80-85psi or so. so i would HIGHLY recommend that you get an aftermarket oil pressure gauge! from like AutoZone or some where i think they are like 20 something dollars, not to bad (if you don't want to spend a lot of money on one) this will tell you if you have a problem or not. my stock oil psi gauge stopped working and it scared me to death lol b/c it showed i had no oil pressure but the light wasn't on. the aftermarket gauge saved me from having an oil pump installed! probably one of the best things i have put on my car! lol then again maybe not lol

gsnoturbo90 · 08-21-2005, 09:02 AM

Alright i dont know if this is going to help or not but i have a 90 gs and i put royal purple in the car and the levels are fine and when i am driving the gauge says i am where i should be but when i am at a stop it says i am running low. I just assumed it was how the oil acted, i am sure this didnt help, just wanted you to know your not alone

urcnjoe · 08-21-2005, 10:19 AM

From the information that you have given us so far your oil pressure seems to be within normal specification. Remember that these are low compression motors. Do a compression test and that will give you better peace of mind about you engines condition.
As far as the oil light coming on, please do as Defiant said and check you sensors and connections. More than likely that is your problem. If your not sure of the procedures get yourself a Chilton's or Haynes manual (you'll need it anyways) and it will show you step by step what to do.