Volvo 760GLE. 1985. Oil warning light

The light comes on intermittently. There is plenty of oil. Could it be that with a car this old, it is the sender or sensor, rather than something more serious?

 

The senders on that engine are notorious for failing. It's a really
dumb design that allows a certain amount of oil past a spring loaded
plunger. Also this bypassed oil has to be able to drain back into the
oil pan freely.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

How many miles? When does the light come on? At idle? on the overrun? at
high revs?
It *could* be the sender/sensor, could just be general wear, tell us
more details as above, it may help diagnosis. If it comes on at idle on
a hot engine on a car that has covered a zillion miles, don't worry, the
oil pump is tired, just as you would expect on such a car. If it comes
on at any other time you need to investigate quickly!
Regards,
MadNurseGaz

 

Sometimes the biodegradable insulation from the sender unit falls off,
allowing the sender wire to get grounded intermittently. This will flicker
your oil light.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs http://www3.sympatico.ca/borism/

 

Check the wire at the sending unit. The insulation cracks and falls off
causing it to short to the alternator.

that with a car this old, it is the sender or sensor, rather than something
more serious?