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Old 05-09-2012   #1
BlackbirdZ07
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 34
Default Low oil light illuminated with full oil

I just finished a bunch of work on my '90 including new injectors, etc. Before I started, the low oil light was on but the oil was full. I replaced the oil pressure sensor AND the oil level switch on the oil filter housing with new GM parts. Also changed the oil.

I've added 9.5 quarts and the dipstick indicates that the oil level is at the full mark. I had to add that much because I also removed the oil pan to replace the gasket, so I got all the oil out of the pan. I used Amsoil 10W30.

After all the work and the oil change, the LOW OIL light still comes on when the car is running, but the oil is full. Any ideas why this light is on?
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Old 05-09-2012   #2
VetteMed
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Orlando, FL
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

oil level sensor is on LH side of the oil pan, not on the filter housing. Filter housing has oil pressure switch, oil pressure sensor, and oil temp sensor.

My guess is either a bad oil level switch or a short in the wiring. It does run fairly close to the exhaust.
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Old 05-09-2012   #3
BlackbirdZ07
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by VetteMed View Post
oil level sensor is on LH side of the oil pan, not on the filter housing. Filter housing has oil pressure switch, oil pressure sensor, and oil temp sensor.

My guess is either a bad oil level switch or a short in the wiring. It does run fairly close to the exhaust.
Ah, thanks for the information... I thought the switch was for oil level but what you said makes perfect sense. I don't remember disconnecting a sensor on the oil pan when I removed the pan, and I'm sure I didn't reconnect one when I reinstalled it. I'll get under there and do some investigation. Thanks!
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Old 05-09-2012   #4
BlackbirdZ07
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

Okay, this is weird. I just got under the car and checked, and my car DOES NOT HAVE an oil level sensor. I can see the boss on the left side of the oil pan where a sensor would go that matches the picture in the FSM (except it shows it on the right side), but there's no hole in the boss for a sensor. No connector or wiring for a sensor either.

So, did some '90s not have oil level sensors?

Either way, I guess I'll solve my problem by removing the light bulb from the DIC. There was no bulb installed when I got the car but I put one in.

Last edited by BlackbirdZ07; 05-09-2012 at 03:18 AM.
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Old 05-09-2012   #5
sammy
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

my 90 doesnt have the sensor either .but my 92 does
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Old 05-09-2012   #6
BlackbirdZ07
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

Thanks. I wonder how many '90s (if any) have the sensor. It's described in the FSM and the manual provides the torque specification.
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Old 05-09-2012   #7
VetteMed
 
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

That's right... some or all 90s did not have the sensor -- so I don't understand how you can be getting a low oil light without the sensor there. Perhaps 90 has the wiring harness connector and you pinched or shorted it while doing the recent work?
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Old 05-09-2012   #8
GOLDCYLON
 
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by VetteMed View Post
That's right... some or all 90s did not have the sensor -- so I don't understand how you can be getting a low oil light without the sensor there. Perhaps 90 has the wiring harness connector and you pinched or shorted it while doing the recent work?

Maybe this 90 light is being fed via the ecm signal generated by one of the sending units on the bottom side of oil filer housing? Its one of the bottom two sending units.
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Old 05-09-2012   #9
XfireZ51
 
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

However, you do have oil pressure correct?
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Old 05-09-2012   #10
VetteMed
 
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Default Re: Low oil light illuminated with full oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON View Post
Maybe this 90 light is being fed via the ecm signal generated by one of the sending units on the bottom side of oil filer housing? Its one of the bottom two sending units.
I suppose it's possible that the low oil pressure switch might trigger the "low oil" light? Come to think of it, there is no low oil pressure warning lamp, so what would that switch trigger otherwise??
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