Club 80-90 Forums

when the oil light comes on, what is that indicative of? (apart form low oil level!)
have a 1985 1.9dg
checked the oil only a few days ago was fine, today just driving along a straight road- oil light comes on
so i stopped turned engine off, then started a few minutes later with no light appearing between there and the 2 miles home
(havent checked level since home, engines still warm)

any ideas?

also means low oil pressure ....could be the pressure switches or switch depending on your model

or the wire is loose/earthing somewhere maybe dodgy dash electrics or water leaking from widscreen into dash pod.

ok, the connections at the dash pod are good
tomorrow i will check the oil pressure

if it is electrics- i guess this is a nightmare to trace...?

if the red light comes on is it a case of stopping immediately?
thanks, joe

j_robi wrote:ok, the connections at the dash pod are good
tomorrow i will check the oil pressure

if it is electrics- i guess this is a nightmare to trace...?

if the red light comes on is it a case of stopping immediately?
thanks, joe

Unless you want your engine to seize then yes!!!!!!!

Stu

Did it come on full brightness (like it does when the engine isn't running) or did it just glow a bit?

My van tries to scare me every now and then by lighting up the oil light half-brightness. I just put it down to ageing electrics and ignore it!

Watch for my post about needing a new engine.

it came on dim, so pulled over, then started after 2 mins and no sign of light

didnt get around to checking oil pressure, will do it tomorrow
have checked electrical connections

anything else to look for?
thnaks
joe

just checked oil switch sender, insulation totally worn, very old wire, seemed extremely loose
imagine problem now solved
thanks

Oils well that ends well!

Remember on an 85 DG there are 2 oil pressure switches.

E D I T = the above may be incorrect, it seems the 2 switch system with the "buzzer of doom" may have come in in 86 onwards models.

The one on the nearside, in between the pushrod tubes is like a normal one, i.e. closed when engine off, opens it's contacts when engine running. ( and of course closes if the oil pressure drops too low, usually at tickover when hot )

The other is harder to find, it is best seen by looking up from under the van, from the nearside, look slightly to the nearside of the water pump. ( trace the brown wire if you need to ) - This one works the opposite to the other and opens when the engine is off or, if the oil pressure goes low at revs above 2000 RPM it also will be opened and activates the low oil pressure "panic" buzzer !!

There are lots of words on here regarding all this - do a search for "buzzer of doom" or look in the technical resource called the "wiki" as shown in the titles at the top of every page

sometimes it is a simple electrical connection at fault ( I guess 25% )
sometimes it is a switch that has gone faulty ( I guess 10% - I have had this )
sometimes it is old oil and old or non VW filter ( I guess another 10 % )
Most often it is a sign of a worn engine

I have my fingers crossed for you.

Mind you if it is worst case scenario, it is not the end of the world.
Fitting second hand engines is not such a big or expensive job as you might think on these vans and even a genuine VW re-con will fit on most peoples credit card !!

thanks for the replies guys. is the 'buzzer of doom' fitted to all models?

havent had any problems whatsoever since finding the loose connection, this time my van has been kind! always damn dodgy connections!

I think the early '85 models didn't have the DOP system fitted. I appear to have only one oil pressure sender in my '85 van.

Maybe the 'buzzer of doom' came in with the fancy blade-type fuseboxes?