warning lights

[ZiggyPA]

How does one check the warning lights? A number of them come on very briefly when I put it on contact, but according to the owners manual I am missing the 'change oil soon', amongst others. Maybe I am missing it because it happens to fast for me to see. Is there some sort of trick to have them all light up at once?
What could be wrong with the 'change oil soon' system? I suppose it is just some sort of timer since it has to be reset manually after an oil change?

[brcidd]

Turn your ignition switch to "RUN" without starting car-- this is your "bulb" test

[ZiggyPA]

That is what I meant with 'contact', the last key position before starting.
Some lights come on but most of them go out within a second or so - too fast for me too see what is happening.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by ZiggyPA

How does one check the warning lights? A number of them come on very briefly when I put it on contact, but according to the owners manual I am missing the 'change oil soon', amongst others. Maybe I am missing it because it happens to fast for me to see. Is there some sort of trick to have them all light up at once?
What could be wrong with the 'change oil soon' system? I suppose it is just some sort of timer since it has to be reset manually after an oil change?

Turn your switch off-on several times while you focus on different lights. The "change oil soon" circuit is quite sophisticated. Click Here for a better understanding of how it works.

[ZiggyPA]

Thanks for the link. I have checked which lights come on:
-service engine soon
-anti lock
-inflatable restraint
-check oil level
-coolant low
-fasten seatbelts
-brake
These are all next to each other, on the right is also:
-security

But no 'change oil' light. How do I get to the bulbs, and which lights am I missing?

Also I was going to change the oil anyhow, the booklet says it needs 10w30 but do I need to get synthetic or half synthetic oil ?

[ZiggyPA]

I pressed the 'oil change' button for 5 seconds, but no light came on as specified in the manual. How do get the top of the dasboard off to get to the warning light bulbs ?

[HotZ28]

Did you see "door ajar" & trunk ajar" on bulb test? I assume you had the ignition on when you went through the reset procedure; if not, no reset & nor light will be lit. Are you sure there was a reset button behind the hole? All PA’s did not come with this option, are you sure that your car has an oil life monitor. The "check oil level" & "change oil soon" both were an option that year (not standard equip). BTW, don't forget to show model, year, engine in your thread.

[ZiggyPA]

There is no 'door ajar' on the bulb test but this warning light works though.
Don't know if 'trunk ajar' also works. Is every light supposed to come on during start up?
There was certainly a button behind the hole, just as specified in the manual. I did this with the engine running.
It is a 91 PA 3800 base model, I did notice a sensor in the oil pan, I assume this is to check the oil level but that bulb works.

[HotZ28]

With ignition ON the "door ajar" light will stay on until all doors are closed. The same applies to the trunk. Look on your spare tire cove for the SPID codes and see if you have code UJ2....(INDICATOR, ENGINE OIL LIFE)

[ZiggyPA]

Thanks for your help. Yes, there is a UJ2 code. I opened up the trunk but the 'trunk ajar' light never comes on.
I checked fuse#20 which has to do with some warning lights but it is ok.
I also remember seeing a sensor in the wiper fluid reservoir, I suppose this has a warning light as well ?

[ZiggyPA]

How do you get the top off the dashboard to service the warning lights?

[HotZ28]

The “change oil soon” light should be to the right of the “door ajar” light and to the right center of the dash. Apparently, your bulb is burned out.

The top black piece has two screws hidden under 1” X 1” removable tabs on each side of the defrost vents. You will need a small screwdriver to pop out the tabs. Once the tabs are removed, you will see a small screw underneath that will need to be removed. Once the two screws are removed, pull straight back on the plastic piece and it will release from the dash.

[ZiggyPA]

Thanks for your help again. The removable tabs were incredibly tight.
I checked the warning lights, unfortunately they were all ok.

As I suspected, there was also a 'low washerfluid' light which doesn't come on at ignition, as well as 'traction'.
There is also a triangular alarm shaped light which doesn't work when I put on the alarm lights.

On the right side of the warning lights, only 'security' lights up when I put the car in ignition. I put the alarm lights on and fiddled a bit with the wiring to see if they light up but that didn't help.

So
'low washerfluid'
'trunk ajar'
'change oil'
'traction'
'hazard'
don't work. Could this somehow be connected, where should I start to check?

[ZiggyPA]

Also checked the 'trunk ajar' option, the light definately doesn't work when the trunk is open in drive. What could be wrong with all these lights?