205 gti oil pressure and warning lights!

[richygti]

I have a 1987 1.9 205 gti. Recently bought it at a good price, low milage etc. engine has recently been redone too! when i start it up from cold, its all fine, runs very smooth etc. when the engine temp gets about half way on the dial, the oil pressure gets high (near the red), also when the engine idles, the warning lights come on (flicker) then i drive off again, they go off!? its got plenty of oil/water too! any help?? cheers

[Pumaracing]

If there's one thing that physics is fairly certain about it's that oil pressure doesn't go up when the oil gets hot and thin. I suspect the pressure gauge has been tampered with to take a feed from the temperature sender to mask the fact that the engine is knackered and has no oil pressure. That's also why the warning light comes on at idle.

I'm afraid that what's been "done up" is not the engine but you.

[The Excession]

Alternatively, it is French and has electrical wiring in it - not a good mix in my experience.

Maybe have a really good look at all the connectors and wiring and see if you can spot any problems

[BazT]

The oil temp. sensor is in the sump, so not really an easy one to get mixed up. Does the STOP light work?

The oil pressure rises with revs, but gets lower as the engine gets upto temp.

They're just an earth basically, so quite plausible that it's gone tits up...

[richygti]

I haven't been 'done up' at all mate! I bought the car off my mate who took great care of it as he loves his 205's. He spent a lot on the engine a few years ago and told me its been doing the same thing since he can remember. Before him, two lady's owned the car; its only done 70k! I'm just really picky and want everything sorted.

Where are these connectors?

The oil pressure gauge doesn't really move with revs either, just stays where it is!?

Yea the 'STOP' light comes on, along with 2 others at the same time, but only when the engine temp gauge gets to half way! But this only happens when I'm not driving along!?

Cheers

[Pumaracing]

I don't think you're listening. The oil pressure gauge "should" drop at idle and go back up as the revs rise. If it just stays in the same place all the time it's not working properly. Also obviously the warning lights will tend to come on at idle and go back off again when you drive off and the revs rise and the oil pressure goes back up. Those are exactly the symptoms of a knackered engine.

If you want to know what your oil pressure really is then fit a capilliary gauge. If it's below about 15 psi at idle then the engine's on the way out. Warning lights tend to come on at about 7 psi on most engines. A good engine should have at least 20 to 30 psi at idle and 50 psi at higher revs.

[richygti]

How do u go about getting one fitted? Costly? Another thing is that when I turn the heater on 'hot' the engine temp goes down slightly below half way, then the warning lights don't come on at idle!?

IF the engine is on its way out, and the lights have been coming on like this since the engine work has been done, surely the engine would have gone already?

[Pumaracing]

richygti said:

How do u go about getting one fitted? Costly? Another thing is that when I turn the heater on 'hot' the engine temp goes down slightly below half way, then the warning lights don't come on at idle!?

Well duh! The engine cools down, the oil cools down, thickens up and the oil pressure rises again so the lights go off.

richygti said:

IF the engine is on its way out, and the lights have been coming on like this since the engine work has been done, surely the engine would have gone already?

Engines can soldier on for a while with marginal oil pressure. I ran an old Fiesta for a couple of years where the oil pressure warning light came on at idle and round slow corners but I treated it gently and it was sure as hell knackered when it finally came out and got stripped down to check.

You seem to be convinced that the engine is fine but all the warning lights that say it isn't must be broken. Occam's Razor says it's more likely to be the other way round.

Edited by Pumaracing on Thursday 29th July 09:40

[richygti]

"Well duh!" C'mon mate, grow up! I'm tryin to get advice here!

How would I go about getting it looked at then?

I'm not convinced, its just that the engine has been redone recently, and the low mileage makes me think that it can't be

[chard]

richygti said:

"Well duh!" C'mon mate, grow up! I'm tryin to get advice here!

How would I go about getting it looked at then?

I'm not convinced, its just that the engine has been redone recently, and the low mileage makes me think that it can't be

I've had low mileage engines with problems and high mileage engines that were bob-on

Also depends on what has been redone and by whom. Sounds like you ought to take it to a garage maybe? Do you haye any local Peugeot specialists you can rely on for an opinion?

Edited by chard on Thursday 29th July 17:41

[richygti]

Yea there's a peugeot dealer near me ill take it to. Cheers

[chard]

Try and avoid main dealers but find a specialist. No smart receptionists with nice coffee. But you do get to speak to a knowledgeable guy who works on your car.

[richygti]

Ok, there's a place I took it too last week to get the exhaust done, they seem good. Got a bad feeling its going to be an expensive one!

[Pumaracing]

richygti said:

"Well duh!" C'mon mate, grow up! I'm tryin to get advice here!

Well since you're asking probably the foremost 205 Gti tuning expert in the country maybe you'll listen to the advice you're being given instead of arguing about it. My tuning guide to that engine is the bible on it.

http://www.pumaracing.co.uk/PUG2058V.htm

Check that the oil pressure gauge is wired up properly. Find out exactly which warning lights are coming on at idle and why. Then maybe we can advise you more. A compression test would be a sensible idea too.

I'm also somewhat suspicious about why such a supposedly low mileage engine needed rebuilding in the first place and my experience of rebuilds is they often cause more problems than they solve given the incompetence of most engine builders.

[richygti]

Ok cheers mate. Ill have a look through! The warning lights that come on are, the 'stop' light, the oil pressure light, and the engine temp light!? (Bottom right) even though that's fine!

Worst case scenario?

[Pumaracing]

richygti said:

Ok cheers mate. Ill have a look through! The warning lights that come on are, the 'stop' light, the oil pressure light, and the engine temp light!? (Bottom right) even though that's fine!

Worst case scenario?

Firstly sonny Jim I'm not your "mate". I'm no doubt old enough to be your father and quite probably grandfather and I answer to Sir, your Majesty, Dave, Oi you, (well not often that one), Mr Baker or Maestro (well only when I'm conducting opera). Should I insert a smiley? Nah, sod it.

Anyhoo young feller me lad. I have no idea why the engine temp light comes on at idle unless the engine temp is actually too high! but until you find out whether these lights are connected properly and giving the right readings we're all just guessing here. However it certainly sounds like the oil pressure is dropping too low at idle and that means the crank bearings are probably shagged.

The 205 tends to run its big end bearings because Peugeot fitted very hard abrasive ones which are not tolerant of crappy oil and poor servicing. I use special ones in my own rebuilds to overcome this.

[richygti]

I wasn't expecting that. You could be jesus christ for all I know! I'm probably older than u think. Anyway, your majesty, ill take it down to a garage when I can and tell them to look at the things u mentioned. A good service is needed too I think!

Ok my lord, I appreciate all the advice you have given me, and have learned a lot! If I ever have any other probs, ill be sure to contact you; If that's ok with you of course!?

[russell_ram]

Before you take it anywhere for a (potentially) expensive diagnosis change the oil filter. This is a common Peugeot issue, the filter collapses and causes the EXACT issues you are describing. Google search will bring up many instances of this.

Russ

Although I've just re-read your post and you say it's an '87 - not sure if that has the same filter arrangement as the later models that suffer this issue.

Edited by russell_ram on Friday 30th July 12:52

[BazT]

Pumaracing said:

Well since you're asking probably the foremost 205 Gti tuning expert in the country...

Err... that's a matter of opinion isn't it Dave?

What the hell is your problem? As ever your posts are brash, rude and just generally arrogant and therefore although if you read between the lines a little helpful maybe, just seem like you gritting your teeth and really can't be bothered, as if it was a chore to even bother turning your computer on.

Here's a much more useful link for you Richy where you'll get less narcy replies, especially considering Dave's banned there...;

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/

[richygti]

Nice one baz! My first forum question, so didn't know what to expect with it all. He was a tad rude, sarcastic, arrogant wasn't he!

I did try that website, and signed up, but whenever I tried to put the question on there, it said there was an error and wouldn't allow it!? That's why I used piston heads. Ill try again when I can though.....cheers. If I have any other Q's about my 205, ill just put it on herE?