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1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Check oil light?
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huxley
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Jun 13, 2008, 10:19 AM
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1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Check oil light?
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Hey again all,
This is an issue that's been going on for a while and I'm not sure if I should worry or not. I would have appended it to my other thread but it's a separate matter-so for the sake of being clear I'll do a new post.
92 Pontiac Grand Am-34,000 miles-2.3L QUAD OHC engine
My check oil light comes on sometimes while driving. I know damn well that I have enough oil. I change the oil myself every 3000 or so with Mobil 1 5W-30 or 10W-30 when the prior is sold out. The car doesn't burn oil. It doesn't leak a drop. I check it at every fuel fill and it's exactly where it's supposed to be. But this oil light comes on. It doesn't often stay on for any length of time. Usually it's off within a few seconds. Sometimes it stays on for 30 seconds. Every so often it'll flash on for a minute or so and then go off. If it stays on longer than that, I'll pull over and restart the car and then it goes away. Sometimes it gets brighter and dimmer and then goes off. It almost strikes me as some sort of short in the system with the way it acts but I can't put my finger on it. It'll do it on the highway with nothing but flat roads in site. It'll do it on hills sometimes. It'll do it while idling at a stoplight. It doesn't happen all the time. I cannot find any pattern. No rhyme or reason. The manual says the oil pressure light will come on sometimes during driving and will then go off but I am pretty sure the light the manual refers to is a different light. This light is an amber colored CHECK OIL light whilst the oil pressure light is red. That light NEVER comes on. Any ideas on this one? Should I even worry about it? Is it telling me another part is failing somewhere else?
Thanks folks,
Nate
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jayeffel
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Jun 13, 2008, 1:44 PM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Check oil light?
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Just a guess, the sensor involved may be faulty if everything else seems to be okay.
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dave284
Enthusiast
/ Moderator
Jun 13, 2008, 2:02 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Check oil light?
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I never did trust those oil lights, to be on the safe side I would have the oil pressure checked.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 13, 2008, 5:12 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Check oil light?
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As Dave said - don't trust those "check oil" lights but since yours is on and not low I would check oil pressure as Dave said or if this has a light or gauge for oil pressure watch it with key on engine off. When you start the car cold watch how fast light goes out or gauge goes up.
My own old now Ford cars have those and a red "Engine" light which means biz of course. I've purposely filled them 1.5 quarts low at an oil change to see if they work. None of the vintage come on at just one quart low! I've had a bunch of these 5.0 engines in assorted Fords and one did about what you describe and it was a wire messed up to a sensor on the side of the oil pan. Fixed but never, never , NEVER trust that I will be warned by those! I check myself all the time just as you said you do which is a lost thing with folks today. I'll even add the 1/2 qt if seen and make note of it and YES - change even the good stuff (Mobil 1) every 3000 miles and tires get roted every oil change AND all my own vehicles have grease fittings and that gets done every time too or actually everytime I might be under them for any reason.
When comfortable that oil pressure is not a problem I'd see if unplugging a faulty switch was enough to stop it from mis-information. I barely recall one on a car leaked at that sensor and don't recall how that was fixed - with a plug or a new part.
No matter - I do suggest purposely filling 1 qt low with the next oil change ----- you do need to run it and then wait and see if the mark it correct for the "add 1 qt" mark - many are off and it's nice to know.....
T
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huxley
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Jun 15, 2008, 12:40 AM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Check oil light?
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Hey Tom,
That oil pressure light-the red light on the other side-goes out immediately when I start the car and NEVER comes on. I don't have a gauge on that vehicle telling me what the pressure is unfortunately. The only gauges are gas, speed/odometer, and temp. How do I check the oil pressure? Is that an autoshop thing or can I do that at home?
I'll take your advice on filling one quart low next time and seeing where my stick is at. I'm due for a change. Oh-and I think I already asked you but can I do my own tire rotations at home without worrying about re-balancing the tires?
Thanks,
Nate
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 15, 2008, 6:36 AM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: 1992 Pontiac Grand Am-Check oil light?
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Good news here! RED oil light is fairly dependable as a warning device - late with a real failure though. When those go right out upon start up that's a great sign of good engine condition. Note that when you change oil and filter there's a delay while oil pump is filling new oil filter if you haven't (pre-filled) or can't when changing those. Overwhelming chances are the oil pressure is fine with no other noises or problems noted. Check with a separate gauge when you can.
Rotating tires really shouldn't mean a rebalance is called for at all. My suggested routine is to rotate at oil change intervals and with most cars and types of tires go "front to rear" and next time "crossed" meaning FL to RR and so on. If tires have some miles and age and have never been "cross" rotated they can react to that so perhaps best to just do front to rear till the next set.........
T
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