Intermittent low oil warning light - Mk2 MR2

MrSix · 18 May 2010 at 18:00

Bit of an odd one this - the oil light on my car pops on every now and again, seemingly not related to how I'm driving the car. It's come on while I've been accelerating down sliproads, whilst cruising at 70mph, whilst pootling at 30mph. It comes on for a little while and then turns off again after anything from 5 to 20 seconds.

There's no excess smoke coming from the exhaust and the car runs like a dream, any ideas or ways I can investigate this further? The oil level isn't dropping noticeably either and this has happened shortly after a service too so I knew the oil level was fine then.

sigma · 18 May 2010 at 18:04

Iffy sensor? Dodgy wiring perhaps?

MrSix · 18 May 2010 at 18:08

Yeah I considered that - might be worth chucking a new one on to see if it helps. But I spoke to my mechanic and he said that usually they'll just go altogether rather than be intermittently bad.

[TW]Fox · 18 May 2010 at 18:10

Low oil pressure? Potential catastrophic engine failure?

Firestar_3x · 18 May 2010 at 18:12

Yea, doesn't this mean low oil pressure not level, hows the oilpump driven?

MrSix · 18 May 2010 at 18:13

It's oil level, not oil pressure - two different dash lights.

BigglesPiP · 18 May 2010 at 19:06

Sluuuuuuuudge!

Edit: Ah, level.

Sanity test your dipstick.

Maybe remove the sensor an clean it.

Clarkey · 18 May 2010 at 19:50

MrSix said:
It's oil level, not oil pressure - two different dash lights.

In an SW20 MR2, really?

MrSix · 18 May 2010 at 20:01

BigglesPiP said:
Sluuuuuuuudge!

Edit: Ah, level.

Sanity test your dipstick.

Maybe remove the sensor an clean it.

Dipstick is clean and the oil level is pretty constant.
I think first port of call is to check the sensor - yeah.

Clarkey said:
In an SW20 MR2, really?

Yup.

L0rdMike · 18 May 2010 at 20:03

All MR2s I had only had one oil light.

DRZ · 18 May 2010 at 20:09

My Mk1 MR2 had an oil pressure guage, they removed this from the SW20? For shame!

Lopéz · 18 May 2010 at 20:10

L0rdMike said:
All MR2s only had one oil light.

Not according to this:

http://www.imoc.co.uk/technical/faq/warninglights/warninglights.htm

Dale V · 18 May 2010 at 20:18

uk mk2 mr2's had an oil level sender, located on the side of the sump

jdm cars didnt

L0rdMike · 18 May 2010 at 20:21

Lopéz said:
Not according to this:

http://www.imoc.co.uk/technical/faq/warninglights/warninglights.htm

Corrected my post.

Dureth · 18 May 2010 at 20:37

Yes there are two lights, one for oil level and another for pressure.

The oil level sensor is very expensive, hundreds of pounds expensive. The exposed section on the sump on my car was smashed off when the alternator belt snapped. As has been suggested check for loose wiring/connector first.

If it doesn't help ignore it or permanently connect the two sensor wires to turn the light off. Just remember to check your oil level on the dip stick as a regular thing if you do this.

BigglesPiP · 18 May 2010 at 20:38

MrSix said:
Dipstick is clean

I mean: has the dipstick stretched? Mine is mostly a big long spring, so it's technically possible. It would give a false reading.

MrSix · 18 May 2010 at 20:56

As has been stated, the UK cars have two oil lights and it's 10,000,000% the level light that's coming on.

Dureth thanks for the input, I'll get it checked out and then if it persists I'll continue to ignore it (but won't unplug it and use the light as a reminder to check the oil level).