VW Transporter 1997 Flasing Oil Light?

[surferden]

Hi everyone, new here and first post, Happy New Year.

I have purchased a 1997 VW Transporter and the oil light keeps flashing, oil level is fine, milage is 58k Help anyone?

Cheers.. Dennis.

[Tumble]

IS it Diesel? and if it is, do the glow plugs still work? I had a similar problem on my Seat Inca van - it was a 1997 too so probably the same motor. Glows wouldn't come on and the oil light flashed. Can't remember what was up with it - think it was the oil pressure sensor. Flashing apparently indicates a high oil pressure, and the low pressure is indicated by a solid oil warning light and a buzzer (according to the manual)

[Neo_VR]

Just be careful...
Does the light come on at any particular RPM, does it flicker randomly etc?

last time i had a intermittent Oil light, it was the big-end bearings loosing too much oil pressure... would only happen at idle.. but it eventually destroyed the engine

[surferden]

Thanks Tumble and Neo,

It is a Diesel and the glow plug light does work ok.

The oil warning light is solid red as normal before starting the engine, then it flashes on and off in a set rhythm (ie:the same as the indicators do when turning)

Is high oil pressure good or bad? I know low is!

Thanks for your replies guys, any further information would be brilliant.

Happy New Year

[Tumble]

High isn't exactly good (although it's likely to be a false indication if it's running fine with no problems), but it's better than low... certainly something to get looked at sooner rather than later tho...

[Konan555]

Had the same on an LT28 van. Fixed with a bit of gaffa tape on the dash in the end.

[surferden]

Thank you guys,

I will run it around to my local garage hopefully tomorrow and ask them to take a look, I'm hoping it is a computerised warning light for cam belt change or the like, but I will post what I find here in the week.

Cheers for you help. Dennis.

[GoNz0]

chance is the oil pressure switch it faulty.

[Konan555]

Originally Posted by surferden

I'm hoping it is a computerised warning light for cam belt change or the like

Ours was part of the immobiliser or something similar.

[Supercharged]

Originally Posted by Konan555

Had the same on an LT28 van. Fixed with a bit of gaffa tape on the dash in the end.

Well done...

As above, the switch is faulty or there is a bad connection to it - on VW's this is usually on top of the filter housing or the gearbox side of the block - worth loccating and cleaning it...

The other thing that happens is the oil pump mesh filter on the pickup can get blocked, usually because of poor quality oil and irregular changes but i've also seen it from gasket sealent etc when someones bodged a leaky sump.

You've not mentioned the last time the oil was changed and what with?

As above it's probably an electrical fault but I wouldn't drive it until it's had a good check over.

[Konan555]

Originally Posted by Supercharged

Well done...

Racked up another 75K a year for 3 years untill someone rammed it into some armco. TBH, if you check the pressure with a guage and there's nothig wrong with it, the dealer can't sort it, gaffa tape IS well done.

[surferden]

Thanks you guys,

Supercharged.. the van had a service three months ago I believe and assume a good quality oil was used, I will check the switch today and post what happens...Dennis

[Supercharged]

How did you et on Dennis?

[slipss]

Yeah I actually have the same problem on my '98 seat inca van right now, I think a VW transporters pretty much the same van. A guy that works in the parts department of a seat and VW garage told me that for some strange reason if one of the curtasy light switches on the doors are gone then that can cause the oil light to come on because of the way the wiring is. Sounded unusual but I changed it anyway, didn't help in my case but he assures me it happens sometimes. I'll be interested to hear what the garage tells you surferden.

While I'm in this thread actually could I just ask something, kind of related. On my Inca there is two oil pressure sensors, one on the block and one on top of the filter housing, like supercharged said. I changed the one at the side of the head but that didn't stop the oil light coming on so I am going to change the one on the filter housing tomorow, it just seems unusual that there is two. Anyone know why there are two fitted?

[surferden]

Hi guys,

Sorry for not replying sooner. There are two sensors and I had them both replaced but unfortunatly has'nt cured the flashing light.

I called the guy I bought the van from and said I had issues with the engine management light, he told me that it was like it when I test drove it, I did'nt see it, he had paper work on the dash in front of the dials! anyway, he had had the van serviced in October and the garage mentioned the light in the paper work and I had missed it. He said they were going to reset the computer as that is all it was.

The van drives lovely and seems perfectly fine, But, on Thursday (17 Jan) I am taking the van to a guy who will reset the computer and will I post any further information then..thanks for all yor help on this issue you guys..Surferden

[GoNz0]

its wednesday 17th of jan today, just incase you got your dates wrong