Oil light on every time before start

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:48 pm

so basically like title says. my oil light comes on every time for my first start of the day like when i go to turn it on for the first time in the day. then i have to turn it off and turn it back on. ( thats what it says to do )

but why would my oil light becoming on everytime during start. ?

i check oil level and its fine.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:56 pm

Not sure I understand what you're getting at.
If it goes off once it's running, that's what's supposed to happen.
It comes on when keyed on to verify the bulb/sender is working. Once running it should go out. If you are having to shut it off and re start it to get it to go out, then either the senser is dying, or your oil pump.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:58 pm

occasional demons wrote:
Not sure I understand what you're getting at.
If it goes off once it's running, that's what's supposed to happen.
It comes on when keyed on to verify the bulb/sender is working. Once running it should go out. If you are having to shut it off and re start it to get it to go out, then either the senser is dying, or your oil pump.

well what im trying to say is i turn it completly on and drive down the block its still on so i turn it off and then start it again and it goes away.

silverneontuner · Post by **silverneontuner** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:14 pm

check your oil prssure sending unit, or perhaps you are low on oil. if its only coming on the for like 2.5 seconds when staarting the vehicle it is just doing a bulb check.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:22 pm

no its not the buld check thing cause it stays on when i turn the car on even after 5 minutes. but ill check the oil later when i go out.

[DJ]Tomski · Post by **[DJ]Tomski** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:41 pm

my car does the same thing but usually only during winter months. the oil light stays on after the initial start up. then i would just shut the car off and turn it back on and no lights would be on.
is there any other way to check if the oil sensor or pump is dying? btw, oil level is fine.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 3:20 pm

Other than removing the sender and installing an aftermarket oil pressure guage (mechanical can be had for cheap) to do an actual test of the pressure, there is really no other way to know what the pressure is actually doing. Unfortunately there isn't a conveinient test port. There may just be some grit blocking the orfice in the sender, but it will still need to be removed to check. Most likely the contacts are sticking in the sender. For it to be consistent after a restart is odd tho.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 3:33 pm

i was thinking about getting a aftermarket oil pressure just to make sure im getting the correct levels but man its like $45 and i dont have any money rite now.

silverneontuner · Post by **silverneontuner** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 6:42 pm

take it to a mechanic before you starve the engine of oil.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:11 pm

silverneontuner wrote:take it to a mechanic before you starve the engine of oil.

cause u made any sense really.

TheRandom1 · Post by **TheRandom1** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:18 pm

Taking the car to a mechanic to be diagnosed before you continue driving a car that may have an oil pump that is failing doesn't make sense?

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 8:31 pm

fresh04neon wrote:cause u made any sense really.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 8:34 pm

You can get a cheap piece of crap oil pressure gauge that will leak eventually from Wal mart for $10. But it will work fine as a test instument to give you the piece of mind that the oil pressure is coming up the first time. A shop would prolly charge $100 to do the same thing. Just hook it up, and leave it under the hood and start the engine. If all is good, get a replacement sender or install the OP gauge of your choice. the Wally World gauge should have the right sized adapter for the 2.0. 3/8 npt IIRC

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:25 pm

occasional demons wrote:You can get a cheap piece of crap oil pressure gauge that will leak eventually from Wal mart for $10. But it will work fine as a test instument to give you the piece of mind that the oil pressure is coming up the first time. A shop would prolly charge $100 to do the same thing. Just hook it up, and leave it under the hood and start the engine. If all is good, get a replacement sender or install the OP gauge of your choice. the Wally World gauge should have the right sized adapter for the 2.0. 3/8 npt IIRC

thats not a bad idea. thanks. i might just do that tomorrow.

silverneontuner · Post by **silverneontuner** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:47 pm

In the future dont ask for help if you are going to be a jerk over the answer's you recieve. Taking a car with an oil pressure problem to a pro mechanic is never a bad idea.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:55 pm

silverneontuner wrote:In the future dont ask for help if you are going to be a jerk over the answer's you recieve. Taking a car with an oil pressure problem to a pro mechanic is never a bad idea.

yeah its a good idea but give me a name of a good mechanic oh yeah there isnt. i mean the only way i would have my car checked out from a mechanic is to take it to the dealership but they wont help me as i have done stuff to it they wont even give me a simple oil change.. and to take it to a shop here in my town well they will charge you a whoole lot for nothing.

and i mean i dont like taking it to a mechanic/ car shop cause somehow something else always turns up bad when thats not even what u took it in for.

i didnt mean to sound shitty guess i should of explained my self.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:47 pm

I had a customer that complained about the same problem last week. If they started the car and drove quickly, the oil light would stay on. Shut the car off and re-start it, the oil light would go off.

I suggested it may be the sender. However, the engine had been pulled to do some work to it (did not find out what was done) so I thought it could be a wiring issue as well (i.e. intermittent ground)

silverneontuner · Post by **silverneontuner** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:53 pm

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:42 pm

occasional demons wrote:You can get a cheap piece of crap oil pressure gauge that will leak eventually from Wal mart for $10. But it will work fine as a test instument to give you the piece of mind that the oil pressure is coming up the first time. A shop would prolly charge $100 to do the same thing. Just hook it up, and leave it under the hood and start the engine. If all is good, get a replacement sender or install the OP gauge of your choice. the Wally World gauge should have the right sized adapter for the 2.0. 3/8 npt IIRC

Well scrap that, the Wal Mart in my area quit carrying the gauges and code scanners.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:07 am

well i might try changin the sensor out first then work from there since it dont cost alot. but man its cold as hell here and i wont be driving my car for a few days until roads clear ( of snow ) so yeah ill keep it updated to see what i get.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 5:14 pm

What type of oil filter are you using?

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:03 am

jonnymopar wrote:What type of oil filter are you using?

let me think ummm dang its the same as my oil i just cant think of it rite now.... oh yeah after ten minutes its a Penzoil filter.

whats the best oil filter to go with ? i mean im in need of an oil change but just havent gotten around to it but i might just do that tomorrow.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:14 am

well im inbetween oil changes rite now so i went with the same brand for my oil wich is penzoil then i used not a penzoil filter but i went with the good stuff and i bought me a K&N performance gold oil filter.

hopefully thatll do the job on the oil light and if it doesnt well i needed an oil change anyways so its all good.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:21 pm

Unless you have a lot of sludge breaking loose, I don't think your filter would cause your problem. I have never had an oil filter issue with blockage, on the filter's part. If it does cure the problem, cut it open, and take pics of what you find. I still would bet on the sender. If you do the "key dance" you may even have a code for the sender. But there should be a CEL for that. Never hurts to check tho.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:32 pm

alriet ill check my old filter out here in a few and let u know if i find anyhting worth telling. but yeah like i turned it on earlier after the oul change and it acted like it was going to stay on but it went away within 2 seconds now the real test is in the morning cause it used to do it at first start in the mornings.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:55 am

well i tried ti check the engine oil level earlier when it was cold but i couldnt get a reading. i dont think the oil is settling down at the bottom of the pan at night... so what could be the problem about that ?

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:02 pm

My guess is you are low. If it hasn't drained back after sitting all night you would have seized the motor long ago. When it's cold it will be a bit lower on the stick. Add some or do the change and see how much you get out of it. It should hold 4.5 quarts with the normal oil filter.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 4:00 pm

occasional demons wrote:My guess is you are low. If it hasn't drained back after sitting all night you would have seized the motor long ago. When it's cold it will be a bit lower on the stick. Add some or do the change and see how much you get out of it. It should hold 4.5 quarts with the normal oil filter.

yeah thats what i added but like i pull the stick out back in to check it then when it comes out its like all over the stick like when u try to read it when its hot it dont read correctly.

what do u mean by seized the motor long ago ?

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:45 pm

If all the oil was stuck in the head, the engine would be like a 2.7 in an Intrepid. Junk.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:09 pm

occasional demons wrote:If all the oil was stuck in the head, the engine would be like a 2.7 in an Intrepid. Junk.

???