Hey guys! Im having a issue with my girlfriends 1997 Pontiac Sunfire. I bought her the car for 250 bucks, so im not really stressing about it. First off, i had to put a fender, lower control arm, and a strut on the pass side, a new crank position sensor, and a drivers side window (someone broke into it when it was in his garage). Did all that, and the car still neds a few more things to be 100% which aint much. But recently, whiles shes driving it, and comes to a stop, the oil light comes on, and as soon as she hits the gas, its gone. Now, from all the posts i have read, everyone is seeming to say its either the pump, or the sensor. Now, changing either aint a issue. But, i just wanna know thoughts, or opinions. She has 123-125,000 miles on the motor, or at least thats what the dash says. So any help will be great. Also, anyone know where the sensor for this is at? And if i had too, how hard is it to replace the oil pump? Thanks guys!!!!!
Do you still have the manual in the glove box? If not go here and get a new one
CAVALIER OWNERS MAUNALS
Look on page 2-76 (of the owners manual) or page 134 of the .pdf. It says that when coming to a stop that the light may blink on for a second and that if sitting at a stop sign at idle the light may come on. I believe what you're experiencing is perfectly natural.
Did you check the oil? If it's low when you stop the light will come on!
ok, no i dont have the owners manual. But even tho it says that, it does not just blink, it stays on, till she hits the gas and it stops. Also something i forgot to add, this is not a every time she drives occurence. It seems to happen after driving for a little bit, and the engine is warmed up. Im not sure if that will help, or maybe guide a little more.
Quote:
Did you check the oil? If it's low when you stop the light will come on!
Yes, i checked the oil, and its fine. I just did the oil change on it not even two weeks ago, and used 10W30 in her. So i know thats not the issue, well as far as the oil level itself. That was the first thing I checked. This isnt my first J but it is my first 2.2 OHV motor. Im more use to the Ecotec that i had in my first J. This motor is pretty simple to work on. Im guessing that ill try the switch first, then go from there. Anymore ideas?? Thanks to the ppl who have tried so far, but its not really helping me, but i do appreciate it.
sounds like the oil pump is on its way out. i think the light will come on when the oil pressure is to low!
WiGM-Tuners member.
Yeah i figured as much. Now the real question. Has anyone done this, and if so, on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being very easy, 10 being stupid hard) what would you rate its dificulty. I know alot about cars, i just have noever done this before. Im sure it cant be that damn hard. But still, i dont know. Any help with this would be great! Thanks again guys!!!
Well as my new post says i put a new switch and my new oil pump in her, and still the same problem. I forgot abt this post lol. Anymore ideas, im completly out of them!
Install a oil pressure gauge and monitor that instead of a light. Even temp install it and go for a drive and observe. Only way to further diagnose the problem. One cause could be oil sludge in the passages from someone not changing oil often enough. The only fix for that is to change oil several times. You could remove valve cover to confirm this.
Good luck
Does your 2.2 have the oil level sensor in the oil pan? If so, unplug it and see if the light stops coming on.
Roadking: I think the oil sludge was the issue. I took the car to a buddies house, and he cleaned the hell outta the throttle body, and then sprayed a ton on carb cleaner through the motor, it smoked for about 20 min afterwards, and we then ran the car for about 2 hours, and about 45 min was with the car in drive with the E brake on, and nothing. so im thinking whatever was in the motor was cleaned out, bc the oil light has yet to come back on. But thanks for all the ideas to what it could have been. I tried to put a stand alone oil pressure guage on it, and when we did the damn brass bushing broke off in the block, and after 2 hours of messing with it, we got it out, so we were a little leary to try again. But we will see what happens if i take the car again on a long drive.
Dave: On the 97's and im not sure abt the rest of them, but there is no oil level sensor on them. There is only a oil pressure sensor on the back of the block near the firewall, and the actual oil pump. I put the new pump in and b4 that i put a new sensor on it. We shall see what happens with it now. But again, thanks for the help!
