faint oil light on new truck
03-18-2007, 12:34 PM
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faint oil light on new truck
hello everybody!
I just bought this 1989 pickup yesterday
it has a 22RE (EFI) with 5spd transmission
but when I started it up on the trailer in the driveway to park it next to the house, after it had been running for a bit the oil light came on faintly (not as bright as the seatbelt light is if the seatbelt light comes on, for instance). I did not notice this at all when I took it for a ~5mile trip before loading it on the trailer and bringing it home.
the engine runs fine and sounds ok, but the oil light comes on every time after 4 or 5 minutes of running (from cold)
when the oil light comes on I shut it off, and then if I start it back up again before it has had time to cool off all the way, the oil pressure light is still on, so I shut it off again.
when the truck is cool again, I can start it up, it runs fine for 5 minutes or so, and then the oil light comes on faintly again (rinse and repeat)
The temperature gauge doesn't work, so I really can't tell if it is happening when the truck gets up to operating temp or not.
I did however find this wire that comes off of a harness that seems to have the connectors for the oil pressure sensor on it (???) and it is unplugged. However I can't find anywhere to plug it in.
At the house I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge I was going to install tomorrow when I get done with my classes, but I'm at work now so I figured I'd see if you toyota experts know anything, as this is my first one.
(sorry about the blurry pics)
Derrick
<edit>
oil level was about 1/2 quart low when I started it the first time and it ran for a while before the light came on.
no oil has leaked out since I topped it off
I just bought this 1989 pickup yesterday
it has a 22RE (EFI) with 5spd transmission but when I started it up on the trailer in the driveway to park it next to the house, after it had been running for a bit the oil light came on faintly (not as bright as the seatbelt light is if the seatbelt light comes on, for instance). I did not notice this at all when I took it for a ~5mile trip before loading it on the trailer and bringing it home.
the engine runs fine and sounds ok, but the oil light comes on every time after 4 or 5 minutes of running (from cold)
when the oil light comes on I shut it off, and then if I start it back up again before it has had time to cool off all the way, the oil pressure light is still on, so I shut it off again.
when the truck is cool again, I can start it up, it runs fine for 5 minutes or so, and then the oil light comes on faintly again (rinse and repeat)
The temperature gauge doesn't work, so I really can't tell if it is happening when the truck gets up to operating temp or not.
I did however find this wire that comes off of a harness that seems to have the connectors for the oil pressure sensor on it (???) and it is unplugged. However I can't find anywhere to plug it in.
At the house I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge I was going to install tomorrow when I get done with my classes, but I'm at work now so I figured I'd see if you toyota experts know anything, as this is my first one.
(sorry about the blurry pics)
Derrick
<edit>
oil level was about 1/2 quart low when I started it the first time and it ran for a while before the light came on.
no oil has leaked out since I topped it off
Last edited by operose; 03-18-2007 at 01:38 PM.
03-18-2007, 12:58 PM
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03-18-2007, 01:48 PM
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i cant tell from your pictures, but the oil pressure sender is located right next to the oil filter. Should have one wire coming off of it with a connector. Im having the same problem, im going to be replacing that sender with a mechanical gauge.
03-18-2007, 06:55 PM
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OK. I have an oil pressure gauge I bought for my car that I will hook up in the truck tomorrow instead. I just bought this truck hopefully the engine isn't junk (it runs ok) 
<edit>
I've been digging through the online 1993 FSM, and I found on pg 3 of engine lubrication - oil pump a "pressure regulator valve" that is a piston that needs to move freely in it's chamber ...
is it possible that this thing is not moving correctly once the engine is warmed up a little, and causing my dummy light to come on once the truck warms up?
<edit>
I've been digging through the online 1993 FSM, and I found on pg 3 of engine lubrication - oil pump a "pressure regulator valve" that is a piston that needs to move freely in it's chamber ...
is it possible that this thing is not moving correctly once the engine is warmed up a little, and causing my dummy light to come on once the truck warms up?
Last edited by operose; 03-18-2007 at 07:05 PM.
03-18-2007, 07:02 PM
#6
Can you get a better picture of that? It doesn't look like your oil sensor plug. The oil sender is located directly behind the pass side mount, under the oil filter. Should be round with a rubber cap over it with a wire sticking out of it.
Check to make sure that is tight.
Once you check pressure with the mechanical gauge, you might look into whether the sensor is faulty.
Check to make sure that is tight.
Once you check pressure with the mechanical gauge, you might look into whether the sensor is faulty.
03-18-2007, 07:07 PM
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Can you get a better picture of that? It doesn't look like your oil sensor plug. The oil sender is located directly behind the pass side mount, under the oil filter. Should be round with a rubber cap over it with a wire sticking out of it.
Check to make sure that is tight.
Once you check pressure with the mechanical gauge, you might look into whether the sensor is faulty.
Check to make sure that is tight.
Once you check pressure with the mechanical gauge, you might look into whether the sensor is faulty.
if I hook up the gauge and the truck has oil pressure but then it drops real low when it warms up I will take the pump apart and check that valve I mentioned before, unless that is dumb
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03-18-2007, 09:05 PM
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from what i can tell from the pic, that hanging connector looks a lot like the one for the temp sensor; would explain your temperature gauge not working. as for the oil pressure, i would replace that $4 sender before i did anything. funny readings like that are often due to faulty sensors. not being scary, but an oil pressure drop when warm is indicative of worn out bearings = excessive oil clearance.
03-19-2007, 08:47 AM
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from what i can tell from the pic, that hanging connector looks a lot like the one for the temp sensor; would explain your temperature gauge not working. as for the oil pressure, i would replace that $4 sender before i did anything. funny readings like that are often due to faulty sensors. not being scary, but an oil pressure drop when warm is indicative of worn out bearings = excessive oil clearance.
I guess now I need to figure out where the temp sensor is so I can figure out if it is plugged in.
03-19-2007, 05:05 PM
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well I completely disconnected the low oil pressure light, and hooked up a gauge today, the oil pressure is fine, but the light was still on (who cares)
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