Low Oil Pressure Indicator

My 06 Impala with 3.5L keeps throwing the 'Low Engine Oil Pressure, SHut Engine Off' message on the display. The car was brought to the dealer and the computer has not logged any codes. It does not stay on and the dealer has not been able to capture/re-create this issue.

It is un-nerving because my previous car shown no indications of any trouble prior to bursting into flames (02 Impala). I just cannot deal with another possible big issue.

Any suggestions or anyone have this issue? The 1st time to dealer shown the crankcase was overfilled at last oil change. Then last time shown 1.5 qts low. No leaks on the block. The car has 125k miles.

It is my wife's car and she does not want to drive it after what happened to my car.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Isn't there an oil pressure indicator lite on the dash? Does it come on? There is an oil pressure sensor, appears to be right above the oil filter. The sensor sends a signal to the pcm, the pcm sends a datastream message for the oil pressure.

If the dealer can't find an issue, not sure what to tell you? I know that doesn't help much.

when the oil pressure warning came on did the engine make any ticking or pecking noise if not it is probably just a bad sending unit the dealer can hook up a mechanical gauge to the sending unit port on the engine to make sure it is getting pressure

The car computer did not pick up any codes from the message. They dealer ran diagnotic codes to the sensor and it did not respond all the times tested. They dealer did replace the sensor and I have not had a chance to run it yet.

When the notification came on the dashboard, the car did not run differently. It ran same, no noise - nothing. The prior service, the inspected the oil pump and seal/cap and it was good.

Belive me, if it comes back it will go back and unload, as it would be the 4th attempt.

Regards and Thanks for all responses. Will update when I run car a few to see if the message comes back.

some things to do to get to the problem.

check oil level on level ground every week with a cold engine after sitting for a few hours.

check wiring that goes to the sensor. replacing the oil pressure sensor and using a pressure guage to confirm that you do have good oil pressure.

the dealership is not doing their job to correct this. the PCM will not show anything about this. they must use pressure measuring equipment to check the oil pressure.

if you loose oil pressure the engine will make ticking sounds. if it runs quiet this would be electrical/pcm/dash/wiring issue..

if this is the case . the dealership is not the place to repair this..these people are not good at these type of problems.

"if this is the case . the dealership is not the place to repair this..these people are not good at these type of problems. "

Since when? If a GM dealership can't fix their own cars, there is something wrong here.....When you go back to a dealership, with the same problem, you ask for their best guy...if he can't fix it, it's a reflection on their dealership, and you let the SM know about it......and you let GM Customer Service know about it too.....

"if this is the case . the dealership is not the place to repair this..these people are not good at these type of problems. "

Since when? If a GM dealership can't fix their own cars, there is something wrong here.....When you go back to a dealership, with the same problem, you ask for their best guy...if he can't fix it, it's a reflection on their dealership, and you let the SM know about it......and you let GM Customer Service know about it too.....

I like your positive dealership thinking. in the real world this is would not get you anywhere. I have seen when the vehicle was under warrantee screw ups. then they pass their mistakes on YOU !

Thats when you have to pay big bucks to get your vehicle back.

With a vehicle like this 2005 . IN THEIR MINDS THIS GUY SHOULD BUY A NEW VEHICLE .

"if this is the case . the dealership is not the place to repair this..these people are not good at these type of problems. "

Since when? If a GM dealership can't fix their own cars, there is something wrong here.....When you go back to a dealership, with the same problem, you ask for their best guy...if he can't fix it, it's a reflection on their dealership, and you let the SM know about it......and you let GM Customer Service know about it too.....

The new SM said it was a bad sensor when I brought it back. They had a senior tech plug the computer in and check the sensor manully running commands. This is how they detected it. Sometimes, it does take experience to resolve an issue. Maybe sometimes, they just want to plug into the computer and have it tell them the issue.

The new SM said it was a bad sensor when I brought it back. They had a senior tech plug the computer in and check the sensor manully running commands. This is how they detected it. Sometimes, it does take experience to resolve an issue. Maybe sometimes, they just want to plug into the computer and have it tell them the issue.

If this is truely the oil pressure sensor as defective even I cannot believe that a dealership tech has no idea how to solve this.

so now this is the 4th time and hopefully you will have this fixed.

I was thinking a wiring issue because they could not figure it out.

just the sensor , and they had no clue on what was the problem , is saying , what I have seen , the many years dealing with these people.

Obviously, you've had a bad dealership experience......all dealer techs are no good......either are lawyers.....doctors.....plumbers....whatever.....

But that guy down the street who has a lower labor rate, and wil replace part after part until he gets it right, if he does, is aces.......either way, I'll eventually get his screw ups and fix it....

Amen, Tech II. Amen.

Obviously, you've had a bad dealership experience...
....


as I had explained earlier these dealerships have big issues with repairing electrical problems.

most have had many dealership horror stories over many years with GM vehicles. my first experience was back in 1970.

I was also against the bail out of GM. this is because they failed to protect the customer / tax payer by hiding vehicle failures and defects. owners are only notified when NHTSA forces it.

dealership techs get payed by the job. that could take alot of time troubleshooting an intermittent problem. this is part of the problem.

the techs do know how to do the job , problem is they don't do the job , to the customers expectation ..

j cAT, I think you would agree, that there is a big difference between a car built in 1970, and in 2011.....

The days of the DIY'er are just about over, if not for websites like this, and guys who volunteer their knowledge to help, most people couldn't work on their own cars today.....

The average guy can't afford a $3000 scan tool and all the other special tools......in fact, techs are at the point where they can only work on their own vehicles.....if I had bought a GM from a Ford dealer, I certainly wouldn't bring it back to the Ford dealer to work on it, unless it was under warranty....and the same holds true if I bought a Ford from a GM dealer.....

When it comes to basic stuff like a tuneup, exhaust work, brakes, tires, etc., yeah, the guy down the road can probably do it.....but driveability, electrical, leaks, noises, that a whole different ball game......

The cars are just too damn complicated today....one of my pet peeves....see engines a lot more complicated and harder to fix.....yet where is the increase in gas mileage from these engineers......you have 6 cylinder engines in autos that are getting approximately the same gas mileage as those from the early 90's, yet the design is much more complicated and harder to fix(double cams, variable valve timing, direct injection, 6 speed transmissions)...engines and transmissions haven't increased mileage....weight loss and aerodynamics have.....

Ah, but don't get me started....

yes the vehicles today are very complicated . the internal design of the engines, transmissions, and all those sensors/wiring.

the diy people try to locate electrical problems using test lights .

these forums along with the internet has made this complicated engineering a little less difficult to sort out what is going on, what is the common defect with a vehicle of a certain year ,model ,manufacturer.

I was an electronic technician. these circuits and controls are no big deal. also working on larger vehicles with speed sensors and ABS / traction controls back and the 1970's.

the scan tools are expensive because the info required to build one requires the manufacturer to give details on the circuits. If this was done GM and the others would loose repair income from this. this is why ABS components are so expensive. thanks to internet techs that cracked these components repairs can be had for a reasonable cost.

things that GM dealerships do that make me know , what I know about their operation. anything electrical/electronic is sent out of the dealership for repair. basicly if its an electrical problem the techs just replace black boxes , because thats what the computer said was the problem.

many auto dealership techs use forums like this , to find out whats going on , when the TSB [top secret bulletin ] is lacking .

computer diagnostics are a great tool ..the one I had to troubleshoot these large vehicles was very detailed in where the problem was.

however what was found after the usual testing with the use of standard test equipment revealed a variety of causes with the computers indiction of the vehicles improper operation.

dealerships provide in most cases lousey feedback to the customer.
asking the service manager about your vehicles odd operation these forums/internet are the place to research this first. then armed with detailed info ask those questions..

four times to the dealership for the oil pressure sensor is just bad for any dealership ...they are the so called experts..

@ jcat. You are out of your frickin mind. So much BS in your post its not even funny. You might want to go back and edit your post.

@ jcat. You are out of your frickin mind. So much BS in your post its not even funny. You might want to go back and edit your post.

ya your right on that , with the dealership being the so called experts .

Yea,no more than you are.

Sent from my Droid X. Typos probable.

I like your positive dealership thinking. in the real world this is would not get you anywhere. I have seen when the vehicle was under warrantee screw ups. then they pass their mistakes on YOU ! I agree with you

Thats when you have to pay big bucks to get your vehicle back.

With a vehicle like this 2005 . IN THEIR MINDS THIS GUY SHOULD BUY A NEW VEHICLE . Agree with you completley and that is how it works