Orange oil warning light - what could it mean?

[UKBob]

Just got my car back from a service today, and noticed the oil warning light under the speedo has come on. There doesnt seem to be a lack of oil, which is now clean after the service...

Its probably a stupid question, but what might the light be trying to tell me? I thought oil lights only came on when the oil was low?

Also, got new pads fitted all round, and they squeal like hell! How many miles approx before they bed in and stop squealing?

[gazzab]

I think if light comes on the oil pressure is low. But if oil pressure gauge reads ok then it is prob not an issue. Why is it orange though ? Mine is red ! Could then be an electrical issue..?

[rmaurer]

I had the same with mine. The oil light was coming on (immediately pulled over and checked oil level etc) but the gauge was reading decent pressure. Turned out the oil pressure sensor was faulty.

[r7oky]

I had this same problem, was really worrying about the oil levels, kept checking but all seemed fine, turned out to be the oil sensor, apparently this is some type of resistor that sits towards the back of the block, i was told they do tend to get worn, hence the oil lighht coming on, when this happened to me, there was no problems with oil levels or oil pressure, it was just the oil sensor switch.
Hope that is what it is in your case, cheep fix.
Hope alls well.

[UKBob]

Hmm, Im sure mine was orange not red. It was in the lower left corner, right under the letters MPH under the lowest numbers on the speedo dial (about there). Im sure the oil light is on the same place in all cerberas, maybe it has two settings, orange and red.

I forgot to check the pressure, will have a look tomorrow, check oil levels and under the car for leaks. Assuming the pressure is about half way (iirc its usually about half way, I never look!) then is it safe to assume its just the pressure gague, and I can drive the car all weekend??

[UKBob]

r7oky said:

i was told they do tend to get worn Hope that is what it is in your case, cheep fix. Hope alls well.

Cheers I heard the same. How much should I be looking at for a replacement, and any idea how much labour? Ive just spent £1200 on a minor 6k service today, and been without the car for nearly 3 weeks.

Main concern... if the pressure is ok, then can I drive it

[gazzab]

If oil pressure is at 3/4 ish from cold and just under half way at hot idle then you have good oil pressure

[njw 77]

UKBob said:

[? Ive just spent £1200 on a minor 6k service today, and been without the car for nearly 3 weeks. :

I think you need to find a new service agent Rob. My last major (12k)service, with tappet adjustment and a few extras, was £850 including the dreaded.

>> Edited by njw 77 on Friday 12th May 22:01

[njw 77]

Oh and I had the orange light thingy, was the sensor. Had it disconnected until a new one could be fitted and told just to watch the pressure guage. No problem

[UKBob]

njw 77 said:

UKBob said: [? Ive just spent £1200 on a minor 6k service today, and been without the car for nearly 3 weeks. : I think you need to find a new servive agent Rob?

Was hoping for a cheap service, but had the diff bushes done, uprated brake fluid and bleed, pads all round, disk skim, throttle bodies adjusted, geometry, and electrics gremlins on top of the minor service stuff. Could have been worse I suppose.

[UKBob]

Thanks everyone (including you NJ ) I'll check the pressure tomorrow, and hopefully get my pads worn in. They are SO F***ing loud its embarassing! Any guesses as to how many miles of town driving before they settle down?

[gazzab]

You had disks skimmed? Not heard of that before on a 4.5. Have you got the tuscan drilled disks?

[njw 77]

UKBob said:

hopefully get my pads worn in. They are SO F***ing loud its embarassing! Any guesses as to how many miles of town driving before they settle down?

Reminds me of the time I followed you through EB and you took the piss about my brakes. What goes around etc mate

[byff]

Just another one to settle your mind.

I had the orange light come on aswell and it turned out to be the oil pressure sensor. As long as your oil pressure (as read on the gauge) stays as it has always been, things should be fine.

The sensor itself is quite cheap from memory, but a bit fiddly to fit, so just left it till the next time it got fettled and had it done then.

Of course, if your gauge is reading zero, switch the bugger off immediately.

[UKBob]

gazzab said:

You had disks skimmed? Not heard of that before on a 4.5. Have you got the tuscan drilled disks?

After my brakes caught fire on the last track day dream machines recommended uprated pads, a skim and .5 brake fluid which has a higher boiling point (I also boiled my fluid and lost my brakes 100% whilst on track! Had to fall out the car, run around to the front and stop it with my hands ).

Cant remember their exact words but IIRC they said a skim would help the new pads wear in or provide a little more bite, something like that. So they're just standard non drilled 4.5 disks, im pretty sure.

Drilled disks I assume the sole benefit is to assist in cooling?

njw 77 said:

UKBob said: hopefully get my pads worn in. They are SO F***ing loud its embarassing! Any guesses as to how many miles of town driving before they settle down? Reminds me of the time I followed you through EB and you took the piss about my brakes. What goes around etc mate

Initial thoughts: 'theres a bloody spastic following me!' Ive got a well deserved squeal on that count and its bloody embarrasing. Girlfriend was even holding her hands over her ears when I was braking, car getting thrice the amount of looks it normally does

I cant see any harm in driving along, accelerating, applying a bit of braking pressure for a few miles, to very gently help wear them in... can anyone else?

byff said:

Just another one to settle your mind. I had the orange light come on aswell and it turned out to be the oil pressure sensor. As long as your oil pressure (as read on the gauge) stays as it has always been, things should be fine. The sensor itself is quite cheap from memory, but a bit fiddly to fit, so just left it till the next time it got fettled and had it done then. Of course, if your gauge is reading zero, switch the bugger off immediately.

Second opinion much appreciated Byff! I'll check later, but for interests sake, assuming pressure was zero and someone drove without noticing, what would the likely damage be?

>> Edited by UKBob on Saturday 13th May 11:10

[r7oky]

UKBob said:

r7oky said: i was told they do tend to get worn Hope that is what it is in your case, cheep fix. Hope alls well. Cheers I heard the same. How much should I be looking at for a replacement, and any idea how much labour? Ive just spent £1200 on a minor 6k service today, and been without the car for nearly 3 weeks. Main concern... if the pressure is ok, then can I drive it

If i can remeber i think the part was around £30 as for labour i can not compleatly be sure, but i think all minw was done for around £80-90 i think.
I was told that as long as oil levels and pressure was ok then it would be ok to drive.