Should I expect and plan for the worst?

[JHarris1385]

I don't even want to think about it....but....

My oil pressure light has been coming on and going off intermittently the past couple of days. It never really stays lit for any extended period of time, just flashes, and fades away. But it does this off and on throughout the drive.

Oil level looked fine. I plan to change the oil here soon too, probably in the next day or two and see if new oil does anything to it.

Has anyone with a major oil type breakdown had this symptom prior to?

[evillecutter]

there is either a leak somewhere or a worn crank, rods, bearings - if not cared for low oil pressure could be catastrophic to an engine

[VxSport]

On the simple side.... it also could be a failing oil presure sensor on the lower engine.
I had this problem with a 93 amigo years ago.

[JHarris1385]

I dont see any leaking or at leaking bad enough to drip any oil on the ground.

Is there a way to test the oil pressure sensor? Cheap? Or should I just replace with next oil change?

[VxSport]

Not a cheap check that i know of. The sensor itself is around $10the at any auto parts store. Simple project. I have aftermarket oil P gauge on my pillar also, so i have both sensors running all the time.


I dont see any leaking or at leaking bad enough to drip any oil on the ground.

Is there a way to test the oil pressure sensor? Cheap? Or should I just replace with next oil change?

[JHarris1385]

What pressure is normal? Something my scanguage should be able to monitor right?

[tom4bren]

Something my scanguage should be able to monitor right?

Unfortunately it's not that simple. The Scanguage is reporting what the potentially bad sensor is telling the computer.

[JHarris1385]

Hopefully it is is the sensor!

No knocking, thus far.

[tom4bren]

It looks like a sensor is cheaper than an aftermarket pressure guage:

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/search/?Ntt=Oil+Pressure+Switch

The guages seem to start in the $40 range & go up into the $ hundreds.

[evillecutter]

ive replaced about a dozen different sensors on my vx apparently after 13 years or so they start to go bad - wouldnt be surprised if i get this one next

[Y33TREKker]

One simple check would be to disconnect the electrical connector on the sensor, clean the sensor contact, apply some dielectric grease, then put the connector back on. The contact tabs on sensors can sometimes simply start to corrode and cause intermittent connection.