check oil light

eveytime i start my tbird my check oil light comes on my oil gauge says it is normal. can anyone tell me what is wrong with my car?
thanks


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87 Medium Red, 76,000 miles, K&N on VAM, Gillis boost valve set to 17 psi for now, Reverse indiglo gauges http://members.cardomain.com/87tbird2nv

Originally posted by 87tbirdtc:
eveytime i start my tbird my check oil light comes on my oil gauge says it is normal. can anyone tell me what is wrong with my car?
thanks

What check oil light?

The system sentry works off a float switch in the pan.

Bob Myers

so my check oil light is on because.........

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87 Medium Red, 76,000 miles, K&N on VAM, Gillis boost valve set to 17 psi for now, Reverse indiglo gauges http://members.cardomain.com/87tbird2nv

I'm guessing that your gauge is wrong...

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87 Turbo Coupe, 5-speed, boost at 18 PSI, K&N in finder, tangerine paint, shaved door handles, locks and emblems, painted interior trim(same as exterior), tiger print headliner, visors and door panels, Autometer gauges, 5.6" monitor & Playstation 2, lowered, white pony wheels...did I forget anything?
90 Notchback--Forsale..$1500!

The check oil light on the system sentry comes on when you need to add oil, not because of low oil pressure. If the light comes on, and your car is on level ground, you need to add some oil.

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Mike Walsted - NATO member
1986 5-speed TurboCoupe and 1985 5-speed XR7

Yea, that's good advice!!! [Image: confused.gif]

After I change my oil and put in 5 qts or oil and reset the computer the Check Oil Light is still on!! So what now?!?! So I need to add oil?? I don't think so, guess again.


later,
david

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Looking for the 5.0, airplane, SVO, and GIRL of my dreams!!!
Wings are for planes!!! (I would know I fly them!)

It just sounds like the oil level sensor has bit the dust. That or perhaps the wire has grounded out.

The circuit is pretty simple. There is the sensor, the relay, and the light. There is also a wire that runs from the ignition switch start position to the light for the test. The sensor is in the oil pan, with the connector on the driver's side. My 86 EVTM says the relay is on the engine near the dipstick. The EVTM shows that the switch is OPEN with a normal oil level; a bad connection between the sensor and the relay would act as a good oil level, so I wouldn't suspect that connection.

If you disconnect the connection that goes to the sensor, and the light goes out, that means that the circuit is good up to the sensor. That leaves the sensor or a low oil level. If it doesn't go out when disconnected, I would deduce that the relay is the culprit, assuming a known good ignition switch and plenty of oil.

I don't know if there are differences between my cars and others, but I need to add 5 1/2 quarts after an oil change to get the lights to go out in both cars.

EDIT - After reading the EVTM some more, a couple of other points jumped out. It does the check at start up, and once the low level light is tripped, it stays activated until the ignition is turned off for a couple of minutes. So, if you are parked on a hill where the sensor won't properly detect the oil, the light will stay on until the car is shut off.

Hope this helps.
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Mike Walsted - NATO member
1986 5-speed TurboCoupe and 1985 5-speed XR7

[This message has been edited by Walsted (edited 01-19-2003).]

Actually that makes perfect sense, I remember last time I changed my oil that I looked at that connector for that sensor and rember it was frayed. That's my problem right there!!

later,
david

having said this before i will say it again-the last time i relied on an electrical gauge was 1955.
bob