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Probably two different problems Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Tue, 4 Jun 2002 10:02:16
In Reply to: Oil and battery light. Oil or electrical problem?, whitney 93 CS, Tue, 4 Jun 2002 09:46:20 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I think the two problems are separate. The systems are separated enough that it's unlikely they are from one cause.
These are very simple systems with no computer inputs. So that wouldn't be it.
The oil light is just a bulb with a switch to ground. That switch is open with oil pressure, closed with low oil pressure. Even running a low voltage won't cause the switch to close at the wrong pressure - the light would just be dimmer.
For the oil light, it could be low oil pressure, or a bad oil pressure switch. Low oil pressure can be cause by a worn oil pump or a faulty oil pressure relief valve. The relief valve has a spring, and if the spring gets tired or breaks, you'll run lower oil pressure.
I would get the oil pressure checked right away. Low oil pressure will cause the engine to destroy itself in very short order. Like minutes. If I were in your position, I would remove the oil pressure sensor, and borrow a car and drive down to an autoparts store. You can buy a standard direct-read oil pressure gauge for a few bucks, and with the pressure sensor in hand, can come up with some fittings to mate the gauge through a hose to the fitting on the block. Start the engine and check the oil pressure. If it's over 20 psi cold (I usually see over 30 psi), then the oil system is OK, then the pressure switch needs replacement. If you see anything less for pressure, you have a low oil pressure problem that needs addressing fast.
If the battery light comes on, that means the alternator isn't putting out current. In the case you describe when the engine almost stalled, the revs dropped so low that the alternator couldn't put out current anymore, and the battery light came on. The voltage you were seeing was the battery voltage, loaded by the electrical load of the car. Since the light didn't go out when you brought the revs back up, that implies a bad voltage regulator. It could also be a bad diode in the alternator. That can be checked by a good automotive electrical shop with the alternator in the car, or you can do it yourself if you have access to an oscilloscope.
But get the oil pressure figured out first. If you've been driving around with low oil pressure, this car may not live long enough to need a new voltage regulator.
posted by 140.157.4...
, Tue, 4 Jun 2002 10:02:16 <-- Viewing This Message
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