94 9C1 Low Oil Level Light

[xxskullxx]

I've got a '94 9C1 with 223,XXX miles on it. It's been giving me hell since about the time it turned over 220k... anyways. The problem I'm having is after driving for a while, maybe 15 miles or so, the low oil level light comes on and the car quits. The dipstick measures that oil is full, oil pressure is fine. If i let the car sit for 5-10 mins it starts back up and runs as normal. I had a pretty good oil leak recently out of the water pump driveshaft seal and was hoping that fixing the leak would solve my problem, but it didn't.
I've recently replaced the following: Water pump, distributor, water pump driveshaft seal, distributor drive shaft seal, camshaft front cover seal. It did sit for a while as I was having issues trying to locate my oil leak. Do I go for the oil level sensor, or ???? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by xxskullxx

I've got a '94 9C1 with 223,XXX miles on it. It's been giving me hell since about the time it turned over 220k... anyways. The problem I'm having is after driving for a while, maybe 15 miles or so, the low oil level light comes on and the car quits. The dipstick measures that oil is full, oil pressure is fine. If i let the car sit for 5-10 mins it starts back up and runs as normal. I had a pretty good oil leak recently out of the water pump driveshaft seal and was hoping that fixing the leak would solve my problem, but it didn't.
I've recently replaced the following: Water pump, distributor, water pump driveshaft seal, distributor drive shaft seal, camshaft front cover seal. It did sit for a while as I was having issues trying to locate my oil leak. Do I go for the oil level sensor, or ???? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

i would remove sensor clean and make sure connections good, see if it works... if not then replace..

[463]

Originally Posted by j cAT

i would remove sensor clean and make sure connections good, see if it works... if not then replace..

My vote goes to replace the low oil sensor unless you find a wire problem when you go in to the sensor.

[xxskullxx]

I did replace it last night, for 20 bucks there was no reason not to just put a new one in. I let the car idle in my driveway when I was done, and after a while a small puddle of oil formed... roughly the size of the bottom of a pop can. Then the low oil level light came on and the car quit. I may not have tightened it quite enough as the new sensor is nylon and I didn't want to wreck it.

My question though, is if oil is slipping out past the sensor, would that trip it?

Thanks

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by xxskullxx

I did replace it last night, for 20 bucks there was no reason not to just put a new one in. I let the car idle in my driveway when I was done, and after a while a small puddle of oil formed... roughly the size of the bottom of a pop can. Then the low oil level light came on and the car quit. I may not have tightened it quite enough as the new sensor is nylon and I didn't want to wreck it.

My question though, is if oil is slipping out past the sensor, would that trip it?

Thanks

this sensor is simply a switch, did you measure switch for resistance...? if you have oil in pan the switch is closed.... if wires going from switch to ecm/pcm are open/bad coonection etc..... this is probably the cause.

reset computer!


as to the sensor leak when installing switch clean oil pan in the sensor area with a degreasing solvent apply some RTV sealant and install sensor switch....the reason its leaking is the pan is rusted...if rusted badly where switch seats pan surface sand area smooth........

[xxskullxx]

Alright... I parked my car for a while as I became quite frustrated with it... but now I'm back at it. I still have the same issue... I tried bypassing the sensor by jumpering the connector and nothing changed. There are no shorts in the circuit.

I read somewhere that the coolant temp changes can cause the computer to check the oil level through the oil level sensor, so i checked the coolant temp circuit and that is fine as well.

My oil pressure seems to be fine, but could this be caused by a problematic pressure sending unit?

Anything else that may cause the computer to freak out and shut the car off and display the 'Low Oil Level' light at the same time?

I'm running out of ideas / patience.

Thanks everyone

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by xxskullxx

Alright... I parked my car for a while as I became quite frustrated with it... but now I'm back at it. I still have the same issue... I tried bypassing the sensor by jumpering the connector and nothing changed. There are no shorts in the circuit.

I read somewhere that the coolant temp changes can cause the computer to check the oil level through the oil level sensor, so i checked the coolant temp circuit and that is fine as well.

My oil pressure seems to be fine, but could this be caused by a problematic pressure sending unit?

Anything else that may cause the computer to freak out and shut the car off and display the 'Low Oil Level' light at the same time?

I'm running out of ideas / patience.

Thanks everyone

just for the hell of it check the large electrical connector lug next to the underhood passenger side fuse box...this has caused sudden engine shutdown....obviously a bad pcm/wiring could be the problem....


when the engine fails to run if you have a good volt ohm meter you should be able to narrow down where its messed up....

[a36mob]

im haveing the same problem ill be driveing then it will shut off and it will say low oil level give it 15 and it will turn over then ilde for about 5 mins then cut off