Catastrophe!

[margaret]

Dear all

Just about to go for a weekend of camping; got around the corner and the oil pressure light and the low pressure alarm came on

I abandoned ship stright away but any ideas what terrible ailment this could indicate?

It started fine and was running fine a couple of days ago

Thanks anyone
Margaret

[sciroccotune]

Could be a number of things from total oil pump failure to a loose connection or broken sender.

which van do you have and what did the engine sound like before you turned off?

[VWCamperfan]

Oil level possibly? Is it up to the high level mark on the dipstick?
Have you had an oil leak recently?
When was the oil filter last changed?

[margaret]

Thankyou so much for your kind replies; I have a 1.6 td 76100 miles recent oil filter change, running well with good oil level on the dip stick ( high end of the mark)
No odd engine noises.....Also no oil leaks....

[VWCamperfan]

If you had no odd engine noises ie. rattles or knocks when the oil light came on, then I would suspect a possible loose connection on the oil pressure sender. Open up the lid and check all push on connections are clean and secure in the engine bay. Hopefully this will solve the problem.
Come back if it doesn't though!

[margaret]

Thankyou but where do I find the oil pressure sender? Margaret

[jimpainter]

on the back of the cylinder head, on mine i think it is a blue coloured sender. Near the black box for the glow plug relay.
jim

[margaret]

Thankyou Jim

Im going out there now to fiddle with it!

Margaret