Curt

I was just wondering if my timing belt was just slightly loose would that cause slipage on the oil pump at idle speed to possibly cause low oil pressure. I put in a new timing belt some months ago, not sure how many miles i have on it, not more than 2,000. I should check my tension to see if everything is okay. The problem with my oil pressure is that when the oil gets warm and at idle to about 1200 rpm the oil pressure indicator starts to blink. My oil pressure guage stays pegged at 5 bar all the time (except when power is shut down) so i really cant tell what kind of pressure i have. In fact i realy dont know for sure its low oil pressure thats making my indicator blink, however i have ruled out everything else because how it acts, oil gets warm and at low rpm it comes on. but could it be a loose timing belt. If so why wouldnt it do it when oil is cold, probably the oil is thick enough then. Im just throwing this out hoping someone else has had the same problem.

Thanks

Chris

Hi Curt

The pressure sender unit has two wires, one is for oil pressure the other is for the oil pressure warning light. They are independant cicruits.

Being pegged at 5 is classic case of the pressure sender going south, go buy a new one and get more info on what pressure you really have.

IMO the timing belt would have to be real loose to be slipping on the oil pump, however, re-checking the belt tension would be prudent.

Chris

Gretch

I just did my retension check after about 2500 miles. (I used the less expensive tension tool) I needed to turn the tension nut about a quarter of a turn, and the tension indicator was centered in the slot (see tool instructions). It took about an hour and a half for the whole job, and I took my time at it. I think the previous post is dead on...replace the sender and retension the belt.

ViribusUnits

Unless something is screwed up majorly, there is no way the oil pump will slip.

The pulley for the oil pump has teeth in it, same as the cam pullys. If the oil pump slips, the cam pullys wouldn't be far from slipping. If you got enough slip to notice it on the oil pressure, then the cam pullys have almost certainly jumped a tooth. Since you car isn't acting like the valve timeing is off, then your oil pump shouldn't be slipping.

I'd guess that it's your pressure sender. Replace it. Then see. If the gauge side can go bad, so can the idoit light side. Hopefuly, nothing is wrong, excepting the presure sender. I'd do it ASAP, since your got warning lights comeing on.

I've got to replace it myself. Next oil change I think.

DP

I'm not sure it this applies to your problem but when I purchased my car the guage was pegged all the time .I read here that if that happens ,that you need to reverse the wires on the sender. I did that and now it works just fine.

Jay Wellwood

Replace the oil sender. The one you have isn't accurate IMHO.

Check you belt tension. Oder the $59 tool and take 2 hours to check/adjust it - well worth the piece of mind.

hth-

Curt

Okay, last night I changed rear end and transmission oil. That was much easier than expected. All three plugs came out with not much problems. Total job took about an hour.

After that I went after the timing belt check. On my car im able to removed the passenger side tb cover without removing anything else. Using the cheaper tb tool I did a check. sure enough it was a little on the loose side. With a 19mm box end wrench I was able to reach down and tighten the tensioner bolt. A few 1/8th turns and it was back to spec.

Checked timing, at 3000 rpm and with vacuum's unpluged timing was at a perfect 31deg. before tdc. I thought about giving it a bit more advance but im gonna wait a few days before doing that.

Tonight im going to remove the oil pressure sending unit and replace it with a mechanical oil pressure guage so that i can get an accurate reading. I will post an update to inform all of you of my findings. Im wondering after I disconnect the electrical sending unit what will happen with the central warning indicator light. Will it stay lit or will it not come on?? Same with my oil pressure guage. Will it not read or will it stay pegged at 5 bar??

Gretch

Man do I envy you being able to get the cover off without having to pull the fan shroud.....That is about 40% of the work involved in doing mine. I wouldn't be able to manually turn the crank from above without pulling the shroud either.

re your question, pull the wires on the sender and see what happens.........

Chris

Gretch

You can do the timing belt check without removing the fan shroud, you can turn the engine over with a socket and a very small (1"?) extension.

Chris

Gretch

bet your a$$ that I will try it.

Curt

UPDATE: Last night I removed my oil sending unit. One quick note when removing. To save time and headache and a sending unit just drop the alternator down out of your way. I worked for about an hour trying to get the unit out without removing the alternator it took me 15 minutes to drop the alternator down and another 2 minutes to remove the destroyed sending unit. My sending unit was bad anyway. I replaced the sending unit with a oil pressure guage.

When the motor and oil are warm I have 25-30psi at idle, when revved up I have upper of 80psi. That makes me happy. So I dont think I have a low oil pressure problem. Now with both connections unhooked from the sending unit, my low oil pressure light does not come on anymore, but my oil pressure guage still stays pegged at 5 bar. Im hoping when I install a new sending unit it will make the oil pressure guage read correctly. I think it will.

Thats all for now.

Erik - Denmark

Curt,
Congratulation with the result - That sound good!