Oil buzzer of doom

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Yozza
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Oil buzzer of doom

Post by Yozza »

Took my syncro for it's first big run in a long time. Half an hour in to the journey the oil warning light flashes and buzzes for a few seconds. Clutch in and cruised to a safe parking spot fearing the worst. Had a good look around and under the engine, not a drop of oil. Checked the dipstick, plenty of oil in (as I'd just topped her up recently). Started the engine (2.1) and seems fine again. Continued the journey and again the oil light/buzzer came on intermitently. If I dipped the clutch and gave it a rev this also cleared the problem if it didn't stop of it's own accord. :shock:

As the engine runs fine, not loosing or using oil I am thinking it's an oil pressure switch that could be at fault (open circuit?). Am I right in thinking it's the oil pressure switch on the rear of the engine (under the water pump) which 'report's to the dash or is it the pressure switch under the N/S pushrods?

Any other suggestions as to what might be the issue appreciated.

Cheerz
T25 '90 2.1i 16" Doka
JCB 3C MkII
Thwaites 6000

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itchyfeet
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by itchyfeet »

Yes rear switch if open circuit will trip the buzzer over 2000rpm, don't rule out a real low pressure fault but first check connections, wires with brown over engine to yellow in loom.
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
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Yozza
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by Yozza »

Thanks, I noticed there a few different switches available on BW site. Do you know what colour (pressure) is the rear swtich on the engine?

Cheerz
T25 '90 2.1i 16" Doka
JCB 3C MkII
Thwaites 6000

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itchyfeet
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by itchyfeet »

mine is grey

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... -grey.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

Simon Baxter
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by Simon Baxter »

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/b ... -switches/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
'86 VW T3 syncro panel
'89 VW T3 Westy Atlantic
'81 Porsche 924
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Yozza
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by Yozza »

Thanks fellas :ok
T25 '90 2.1i 16" Doka
JCB 3C MkII
Thwaites 6000

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tee3peeo
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by tee3peeo »

I have a similar problem and I posted to technical>mechanical - some really good info here
http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=139778

and a similar discussion at another place
http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/oil-w ... 81480.html

cheers
Zeb

1.9 DG 14” syncro
1985 14" DG Syncro

Simon Baxter
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by Simon Baxter »

I'm not sure all that information is correct, that's an American manual that has been posted.
'86 VW T3 syncro panel
'89 VW T3 Westy Atlantic
'81 Porsche 924
SJ Baxter LTD/Brickwerks

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Yozza
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by Yozza »

I think I'll use this opportunity to bling the dash and add an oil pressure gauge. I'll need a sender, gauge and some sort of adaptor to fit both the sender and pressure switch into the one oil port at the rear of the engine?

Am I right to think the adaptor (Tee) will need to be M10x1 male and two M10x1 female threads? If so, is this a fleabay item?

Cheerz
T25 '90 2.1i 16" Doka
JCB 3C MkII
Thwaites 6000

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itchyfeet
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by itchyfeet »

T piece has tge same male and female thread on each end so you can refit the same sender that came out, thats m10x1
the extra hole you can specify, that depends on your sender or pipe if wet guage.
Mine is a cheapo and 1/8 npt as shown in this thread below

As far as I can see a short t piece won't fit so a remote one is needed as on the thread.

http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.p ... e#p8053293" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


yep get em on ebay search for remote t piece, the jjc one looks better in brass but is the same as the others.
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
1989 DJ digijet WBX Holdsworth Villa 3 Pop Top
itchylinks

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Yozza
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by Yozza »

I was up for placing an order for all the bits required, however, I'm still not clear as to which sensor is required for my '90 DJ.
I've read the topics and BW info (much appreciated), however, I'm now stuck here...
"Then from '88 model year to 1992 [H,J,K,L,M,N] there is a choice of either white or grey."

Regardless of what is currently fitted (as it could be wrong, and either way, grey/white could be the same colour)
The Grey opens at 0.9bar and the White at 1.8bar, obviously I don't want to fit the wrong one.

Is there a way to determine what should be fitted to my Syncro?

Cheerz
T25 '90 2.1i 16" Doka
JCB 3C MkII
Thwaites 6000

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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by silverbullet »

The grey pressure switch cannot be mistaken for the white, its closer to slate than dove grey.

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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by ghost123uk »

Tis odd that on this thread and for all but one line on that thread on BW, no one has mentioned the obvious, that is that the oil pressure may be low. In fact on the BW thread the OP says he has come up with three possibilities, wrong oil, faulty switch, faulty oil pump. Of course number one on his list should be low oil pressure, that is what the light is indicating. Low oil pressure is usually caused by worn out bearings on the crankshaft. So, the very first thing to do is get it checked. Any half decent garage can do this easily. From the BW info page = "engine oil at 80°c, engine speed 2000rpm, oil pressure for all engines [except the 1.6TD “JX” engine] should be at least 2bar (or 30psi)" Only if that is OK should one start looking at other culprits. If it is found to be genuinely low, the first thing to check / replace is the oil pump as that is not a big job. Also a change to a mineral 20/50 oil will likely cure your symptoms for xx amount of months or more. E D I T = in your case, the flush might have caused some muck to be holding the pressure release valve open a bit, a long shot but easy to check / clean it.

Oh and also wish to point out (jfyi) that when you say =
Yozza wrote:not loosing or using oil, I am thinking it's an oil pressure switch
One should note that loosing or using oil has absolutely nowt to do with the oil pressure. The switch is measuring the oil pressure, not the quantity.

.
Got a new van, but it's a 165bhp T4 [shock horror] Accurate LPG Station map here

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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by silverbullet »

Its the same old sticking plaster approach.

"I dont want to even consider that my engine is knackered after 30 years hard work and abuse, it must be a faulty switch"

what2do
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Re: Oil buzzer of doom

Post by what2do »

I've got a full box of band aid, not needed to open it yet but there is always that worry! It'll be interesting to see the types of posts in another decade where even more wbx's have been subjected to the wrong coolant, etc.
Why would the glass be anything other than half full?

'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.

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