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Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light On?

Tiny
TIMOTHY.SILAS
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 TOYOTA COROLLA
Hello my name is Tim and i'm from Alabama I currently have a 1995 Toyota Corolla with 220,000 miles and just recently got it out of the shop. Items that were repaired are: timing chain, waterpump, brand new fuel tank, and driver side door handles(inside&out).I noticed while driving my car the Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light was flickering on and off and there were also long periods at times when it did not flicker untill I hit a bump in the road or stomped my brakes.I stopped and checked the oil several times and it showed to be full on the dip-stick. After doing this I parked my car for a few minutes and as I began to crank my car back up the Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light flickered again briefly but as I traveled down the road it started the flickering again as before. Could this be serious or just a bad bulb or and open circuit in the electrical system?
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Sunday, November 9th, 2008 AT 9:57 PM

42 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the oil pressure sending unit electrical connector -if okay check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge-if normal replace the OPSU-abnormal-could be the oil pump/engine bearings-etc This guide can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/high-or-low-engine-oil-pressure

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Sunday, November 9th, 2008 AT 10:09 PM
Tiny
TIMOTHY.SILAS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
What is a OPSU?
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 1:00 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
OPSU

Oil Pressure Sending Unit-
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 5:31 PM
Tiny
LUCYLAWLESS40
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA
1994 Toyota Corolla

I have a 1994 Toyota Corolla. The check engine and oil light both came on. I would like to know what's wrong with my car?
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
HI there,

Start with a scan to reads the set fault codes that the check engine light are indication, and check the engine oil level and get an oil pressure test don with a mechanical gauge as this will give a true indication of actual oil pressure, this may just be low oil or a faulty switch, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GRUMPYONE
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 1992 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 1.6L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 240,000 MILES
Oil light is on when engine is low rpms.

Removing the oil fill cap while the engine is running results in considerable oil spray so I suspect that the oil pressure switch is failing.

Dipstick is above the low mark.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,758 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2carpros.com

Often times, the oil sending switch will start to leak resulting in lowering the pressure indication. With that in mind, that is the first thing I would check and replace.

Here is a link that discusses oil pressure issues. It discusses different causes including the switch. Take a look through it and let me know if it helps.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/high-or-low-engine-oil-pressure

Also, the oil mist when you removed the oil cap is normal.

Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GRUMPYONE
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Yeah. When I got home and turned the engine off I waited about five minutes to check the oil level and it was fine. My mistake was to take the oil filler cap off prior to restarting the engine. By the time I got out of the car I got sprayed.

Now that I know that it's the sender, I'll let the future owner deal with it. I'll be going back to my old 1982 Honda Civic as soon as I get a carburetor issue solved and be free of things like "check engine" lights etc.

And thank you for the quick reply!
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,758 POSTS
Happy to help. Let us know if you have questions in the future.

Take care,
Joe
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BANNANAMAN34
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 138,000 MILES
My oil prssure warning light has been appearing intermittently for the last 2 months. When the car is warmed up, the light sometimes goes away with accelleration but turns on while braking or just sometimes stays on all together. The light has been more frequent in the last few weeks. All fluids have been checked and are just fine. My car doesn't burn or leak oil. I think i'm dealing with a sensor issue but does this problem jeapordize the actual oil pressure in the engine? What's my fix?
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
If you don't hear any type of engine knocking noises replace the oil pressure switch
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
If you still have a light after replacing sender, replace oil pump.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NEON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1992 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 146,000 MILES
Red oil warning light comes on only when at stop light with low idle.
If I give car just a little gas, the light goes off.
This just started 2 days ago.
I got a new oil filter and oil change today and it made no difference.
Should I just increase the idle speed?
The car is a 1992 toyota corolla with 146,000 miles.
Appreciate any advice. Thanks.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Might be the sensor. The light being on does not mean NO oil pressure just below whatever the sensor THINKS it should be. If in doubt/worry you can actually test pressure with a mechanical gauge. Or just replace sensor or use heavier oil or an additive like LUCAS oil stabilizer. Or IF idle is manually adjustable just crank it up a little till light goes out.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:30 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BOYA21
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 1992 TOYOTA COROLLA
Hi I have a toyota corolla 92, the oil light never comes on even if its low on oil
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:31 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
That would be because that is not what the light is put there for. It's not an oil level light. It's an OIL PRESSURE light. It's an emergency warning to tell you to immediately shut the engine down if you were to lose oil pressure for any reason. You have to manually check your oil level. If that light ever comes on, it's a dire EMERGENCY and the car has to be shut down immediately
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:31 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
On light at all, even with just ignition on? Proberbly a blown globe, the dash need to come out to replace it.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:31 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
It could also be a disconnected oil pressure switch connector or wire.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:31 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CINDEEH
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1991 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 139,799 MILES
My oil light started coming on, when the car is warmed up and in idle. When I accelerate the light goes off. I just had the oil/filter changed and did not correct the problem.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:31 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Replace the oil sender, if problem persists, have oil pressure checked with mechanical gauge, if low it is most likely the oil pump.
These pumps have a pressure release spring, which over time can fail.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 AT 5:31 PM (Merged)

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