Stupid question... and no I am not female ;)

[izibecoz]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo9H8RulfFg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTQJnznDVAA

[campbell]

Nice repair, Izi. Take a breath now, and don't get wound up by this recurring fault. It's a flickery light. No-one has died (yet!) and there WILL be a way to diagnose it further.

(2 valium for Mr Izi over here? - thanks waiter!)

[izibecoz]

Did the Video work Campbell?

If it did then you will see what i mean... surely these switches/lights shoudl be either... 1 or 0.. ie ON.. or OFF... nod fade in, and out, flicker etc.

Really peeved now - as i love the car, but am driving like a scared new driver in case it goes pop or bang..... preffer to be b@lls out

C

[Rich H]

Welcome to Lotus ownership?

Switches should be 1 or 0 but the real world doesn't 'do' digital, it's all analogue!

[campbell]

Yep videos are fine. Does the light behave the same when the engine is off (but ignition fully enabled)?

If you've changed connectors at the sensor end...are you sure if the connectors at the Stack (dash) end are OK?

The flickering really gives the impression of a vibration.

[izibecoz]

I only replaced the actual pressure switch - dont think it happens when just on the ignition.

Aslo only started after a full service - not blaming the garage - but thought they might have knocked something.

Is it easy to get into the stack??

[campbell]

The SELOC Tech Wiki is your friend...

http://wiki.seloc.org/a/Stack#Stack_Uni ... oving_unit

However before barrelling in there you probably want to hear from more experienced people on how likely a loose connection is back there...if all the feeds come in some multiplug thing, it could be unlikely. But if oil pressure feed is wired independently, then you never know.

Beware - I am not an authority on this, and my problem-solving techniques are more trial and error than logical deduction But just trying to offer some further steps to keep you busy and moving forwards!

[izibecoz]

Ok so cleaned, waxed the car and put on new side protectors... Then as sun was out went for a blast.

Newtonhill-Stonehaven - over netherly- dee side road and back.... Giving full beans..... And not even a slight flicker!?!,

I am confuzzed!!!!

[CubanGav]

In your first video the light goes off when you rev the engine. You have been driving with a load of throttle and the lights not on. Dunno if that means anything but if revs are stopping it turning on it may point to something.

[robin]

Take the undertray off and store it somewhere.

Now wait until the problem happens, pull over and disconnect the oil pressure switch.

If you do this with the engine running beware that the alternator belt and crank pulley are not far from your head/hair/arms and will do serious damage if you get caught up in them.

Now if the light still flickers then you have a wiring fault.

If it only flickers when connected to the switch then we cannot be 100% sure of the fault.

To be 100% sure that it is low oil pressure (which is the only other possibility) you need to invest in a multimeter that has a beeping continuity mode (in this mode when you touch the probes of the meter together the meter will make a beeping sound). Maplins sell these for less than £20.

Turn the engine off and wait a moment.

Disconnect the plug from the oil pressure switch.

Touch one probe to the metal part of the switch.

Touch the other probe to the terminal inside the switch.

The meter should beep because the oil pressure is low.

Now reconnect the plug, run the engine and wait for the fault to happen.

When it happens, whip off the plug and connect up the probes like before. If it goes beep from time to time then you have genuine low oil pressure.

Cheers,
Robin

[izibecoz]

Thanks Robin - i will do the above as soon as i can - prob sunday now.

It is a very weird one - as all last nights fun, blasting about etc not a peep... even left it on idle for 15 mins - and no light ( ie low rev )

Took the car into work today - 10 mile journey - not even 1 mile in... light was "almost" on very very dul for about 5 seconds - then never cam on again.!!!

I am thinking it has to be a wiring issue - but to be honest when i was replacing the switch wiggling the loom etc - it all seemed hunky dorey

anyway - will ge the meter and see what i can come up with......

Or should i just get the car to a garage and get them to investigate/fix on the warrenty?

[robin]

You need to work out what scenarios encourage the light to come on.

If it is low oil pressure then a hot engine is normally the most likely scenario (oil is thinnest so harder to maintain pressure).

It could be a fault in the oil pressure regulation mechanism in the oil pump, though, and this might just be random.

If it happens often enough then taking to a garage might be a good course of action. It's pretty normal for intermittent faults to hide whenever near a garage, though!

Cheers,
Robin

[campbell]

Yep, the more you can "narrow down" an intermittent, the more chance the garage has of finding and fixing first time. You have the car a lot more of the time than they do so your chances are actually higher than theirs!

Interesting theory from Robin about possiblity of genuine probs with oil pressure...which that light is clearly intended to warn of, helpfully

[Kelvin]

I had the this problem in a Golf and it turned out to be a bunged up oil filter.

[campbell]

Now THAT is an easy check / remedy