Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 23:45:56 EST
Reply-To: Gary McEachern <glmce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gary McEachern <glmce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Euro-Elec: 91 Volkswagen Vanagon, idiot lights, oil light
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Richard
I think I can tell you a little bit about how the oil pressure switches tie
into the Dynamic Oil Pressure System in the later year Vanagons.
The 0.3 bar switch located between the pushrod tubes is normally closed (low
resistance). It should open (high resistance) when the pressure is above 0.3
bar at idle. This is the only pressure switch used when the engine is
started and the speed is kept below 2,000 rpm! It sounds like you have the
wrong switch in this location. The proper switch should read less than 10
ohms with the engine off!
The 0.9 bar switch, located beneath the waterpump, is normally open when
there is no or low pressure. The switch closes (low resistance, <10 ohms)
when the pressure is above 0.9 bar. This "high pressure" switch is used by
the Oil Pressure System when the engine revs above 2,000 RPM.
If you question whether the oil pressure is OK, it is best to put a gauge on
it to measure it. If you suspect the Dynamic Oil Pressure system is giving
you false alarms, you can simulate a proper pressure by grounding the 0.9
bar switch wire and leaving the lead to the 0.3 bar switch disconnected. The
oil light and buzzer should stay off at idle and above 2000 rpm. If the oil
light continues to flash you either have a problem with the wiring going up
to the dash or in the dash itself. It can happen!
If the oil light wasn't flickering when the engine was cold but started to
when it got warm I believe you really have low oil pressure. Make sure you
have a quality german oil filter installed. A cheap filter can cause low oil
pressure. I've been there so I know from experience.
Good Luck
Gary
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Richard Meissenheimer (by way of Derek Drew
<drew@interport.net>)" <bonnie_baker@TELUS.NET>
Reply-To: "Richard Meissenheimer (by way of Derek Drew
<drew@interport.net>)" <bonnie_baker@TELUS.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Euro-Elec: 91 Volkswagen Vanagon, idiot lights, oil light
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 09:51:46 -0500
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_______________________________________________________
1991 Volkswagen Vanagon 2.1 L
Trans: Standard
Mileage: 200,000 kilometers
VIN: WV2ZB0256M
Misc Data: Synchro
Affected Item: oil light
Condition: flashing
____________________________________________________________
After installing replacement engine, oil light flashes when
engine is warm and idling. I installed a new grey oil
pressure sensor in the port below the water pump. This did
not change anything. I then found out that there is a
second oil pressure sensor between the push rod tubes on
the left side of the engine. I replaced that one with a
known good grey switch. This did not change anything. I
have not checked the actual pressure because I do not have
the necessary adapters for my oil pressure gauge, and also
because of the inaccessibility of the ports. I measured the
resistance of the switches and found them to be 2.5k with
the engine off and about 400 with the engine running. Can
anyone explain to me how this system works? Things were so
much simpler when VW's used air to cool their engines!
Thank you in advance.
Richard Meissenheimer
bonnie_baker@telus.net
Technician/Shop Foreman
Lakeside Auto Sales
Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
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