420A 420a oil pressure light came on

[IIv SHaDoW vII]

Driving to class the other day, my oil light came on... I did a bit of searching for symptoms on here and most point to an oil leak, sensor, pump, or burning oil.. So I got my oil changed immediately after that light came on and the light went away and hasnt returned, any ideas as to why this light came on? I dont think I have any oil leak except for a valve cover gasket which was replaced about 2 months ago, I doubt that would just now trigger the light if it leaked that bad.. I did notice that my car sometimes idles really low, not neccessarily under 500 rpms but it sort of surges between 500 and 700 acting as if it just wants to die.. has never died though.. it does the same thing when slowing down, when it reaches idle it stumbles then comes back as if it wanted to die..

Also, does the light HAVE to mean that my car was low on oil, or could it possibly mean that my oil just needed changed, because it was RIGHT around the time it was due anyways.. Idk maybe im trying to look at the bright side of a potential problem

Sorry maybe i should add that the light flickered at first coming on for about 5 seconds each then finally stayed on for a while and went on and off randomly til I got the oil changed. The car has 130k miles on it..

 

[Defiant]

It's a pressure switch, not a level switch. They wear out, and so do the contact that connects to them. See if yours is loose, and gently crimp it if so. A new switch is on the order of $7.

 

[IIv SHaDoW vII]

Thanks def, so its definitely just a sensor problem? I just didnt understand since right after my oil was changed it went away, I figured it meant my oil was low and the pressure wasnt at normal psi because of that.

 

[Defiant]

I can't tell from email if that's the problem. Don't count on the oil change to have any correlation; it's as likely to be coincidence.
Take a look at that connector, and look for any seepage from the sender.

 

[IIv SHaDoW vII]

K thanks man, I'll check it out. It has been a few weeks with no light so it must be a bad connection somewhere, thanks again, thread closed

 

[hi_psi_dsm07]

Was the oil level low?

 

[Locke]

If the oil level were extremely low to where the pump stopped picking up adequate amounts of oil, the pressure would drop, causing the dummy light to come on.

It could as well be a bad connection.

Did you happen to see how much oil came out during the change?