Chevy 2.2L oil pressure switch

[Dave]

OK…
My oil pressure light was blinking on sporadically at idle – by blinking, I mean it would be on for a few seconds and turn itself off. No, I didn’t have to press the accelerator to make it go off.

So, since no one lends, rents or sell mechanical oil pressure gauges where I live, I resorted to R&R&Pray.

But here’s the thing, when I pulled the connector off of the OEM switch, it was filled with oil – and no sign of an oil trail (leaks, drips, runs or whatever around it) to account for it.

The wire to it, although grimy, wasn’t trailing oil it either.

I have since replaced the switch/sending unit and cleaned the connector and so far, knock on wood (my head), the problem seams to be gone.

Any thoughts?

Topic

[dan]

2.2L Chevy caviler?

how many miles does she have?

i have known these engines too accumulate a lot of miles in there lifetime, but since it is blinking on and off irratically as it is the sensor may be the cause, typically if its a oil pressure issue it would be more consistent like at higher RPMS the light will come off as the oil pump pumps more oil in.

[Dave]

186,000+ miles on her.

When the light came on, I pulled over immediately to check the level and it was fine.

[Bill]

There should be NO oil inside the connector so it’s very possible that the sending switch was the problem.

[college man]

[quote=”wysetech” post=62373]There should be NO oil inside the connector so it’s very possible that the sending switch was the problem.[/quote]

I agree.If oil was on the wire it will interfere with the signal.
If you replaced the oil switch and symptoms are gone. I would say
problem solved.

[Dave]

What I am concerned about is that I just fixed a symptom and not the problem.

The switch itself was covered in oil and like I said above, the inside of the connector was full of oil.

Looking at the switch (http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_engine-oil-pressure-switch-bwd_18970308-p?searchTerm=oil+pressure) , I don’t see how oil could have gotten in there if nothing around it was leaking. Unless, the switch itself was leaking and over time, the oil just worked its way into the connector – I hope.

[spelunkerd]

You’ve related a fairly typical story. As said above, oil in that location is likely to have come from only one source, the internal switch seal. If anything, oil there is partial confirmation that you have made the correct diagnosis. It leaks only when the engine is running, so you may not find any trail of evidence with the engine at rest.

[Author]

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