Oil Light is now on (Flickering)

[andrew_wale]

G'day.

My oil light has just come on. Did all the usual thing like check oil etc.
The oil was not low but added some anyway.

Still comes on. However, it comes on and then flickers.
Sounds to me that some sort of switch is faulty.
However, there is a slight tappet noise which I have not heard before.
Looks like a trip to the mechanic.

Has anyone go any ideas ?

[cj!]

Topping it up to the max is fine but don't overfill your oil.

The noise could be the start of your No. 1 timing chain tensioner failing. Does it go away after a certain amount of time or after you reach a certain RPM? The obvious things with respect to the oil light are the oil pressure switch, the oil pump and wiring.

[andrew_wale]

The noise could be the start of your No. 1 timing chain tensioner failing. Does it go away after a certain amount of time or after you reach a certain RPM? The obvious things with respect to the oil light are the oil pressure switch, the oil pump and wiring.

The Tappet noise does not go away. The oil is just below the Full mark on the dip stick.. I think it is the oil pump ???
I would not think the timing chain would affect the oil light or at least I would hope not.

It has done over 180,000 Km.

[andrew_wale]

Well.

My car is cactus.
The timing chain is making some interesting noises.
From what CJ has been saying, the timing chain is a known problem.
So I have to decide what to do ?

Rebuild the engine or install a low millage second had engine.

Bummer.

[cj!]

How many kms on it? The timing chain job normally runs around the $1500 whether it is done by a Dealer or someone else. As I told you on the phone it is a bit over a days work plus parts. Really it comes down to how much life is still left in your engine, what a second hand engine will cost to buy and install and whether it has potential problems too. I know Suzifour (Sydney wreckers) had a 2.5 on ebay this last week for around $500 in need of a reco. There is a wrecker in Campbellfield with a low km 2.7 out of a manual XL-7 Can't remember how much he wants for it but I think it was mid to high $2000's. Mick at Suziworld may also have something.

[gwagensteve]

And you run the risk that it has the same problem.

The only advantage would be you could do the tensioner out of the car, which would reduce the labour (of that job) alot, but you just transfer that cost into swapping motors, which will also be about 1-2days of labour. There (may) be some hidden costs too - normally once the motor is out you will want to put a clutch in the car, the A/C will probably need to be pulled and re-gassed afterwards etc.

My guess - a swap is going to cost upwards of $3k drive in drive out, and that will be for a motor that is likely to already be 1/2 way through it's life, and you will have no idea of it's previous service history.

My 2C - better then devil you know - do the tensioner/chain on your own motor and that's the end of it.

Your motor is far from cactus - it's an isolated problem

Steve.

[andrew_wale]

My 2C - better then devil you know - do the tensioner/chain on your own motor and that's the end of it.

Steve.

Thanks for the advice...
The clutch is new as the spiget bearing ceased...
So it will not need a new clutch...

Sounds like the chain is the best way to go.
However, it still does not tell me or the mechanic why the loss of oil pressure.

ANy ideas

[gwagensteve]

How do you know it's actually lost oil pressure?

IMHO you have two separate issues here. Check you actually have no poor oil pressure. Oil pumps are generally very reliable as they are always in oil, wiring, on the other hand, is less reliable, especially in a car that has been offroad.

If you have lost oil pressure, the engine will fail very quickly, especially at normal road engine speeds (2-3000 rpm). The light only comes on at basically very very low pressure.

Make sure you have oil pressure as a matter of urgency. If you ignore this and do actually have an oil pressure problem, you will destroy the motor and the cheap option (just doing the tensioner) will vanish.

If you do have pressure, then get the tensioner seen to.

Steve.

[andrew_wale]

Well I have decided to take the car to Paul Mac's mechanic.
I had it trucked their this afternoon.

I will find out exactly what the issue is.. From what I am hearing and have been told, it is a timing chain issue.
Anyway, I hopefully should know in a day or so what the noise is and oil pressure issues etc.

If it was an oil pressure problem. the car should have definetly ceased which it has not yet.

They guys at Multimech will fix it.

[andrew_wale]

Well. I called the guys at Multitech.

I can pick it up tomorrow afternoon.
It was the Oil shaft thingy that broke in the timing chain case.

I am sure there is a technical name for it but I do not know what it is called.

Not cheap to fix , but at least it will be back on the road etc.