Oil Level Sensor issues

hi raven i'm thinkin that your safe for the moment. an oil light will always freak anybody out. you say it comes on when a bump or maybe a hard turn? i'm thinkin the harness that hooks up to the sensor in the pan is floppin around. maybe try locating sensor "left side mid ship on pan" run motor and jiggle wires that plug in there. have somebody inside to confirm light is on off on off. there is alot of heat there and wires become brittle. that could be the problem. for staters thats a good place to start. hope this helps i'm sure some other van ratz will come back with something for you. as a side note the pan sensor is oil temp-pressure and level all in one...if i remember correctly. good luck and tell us what you find out.

Hi joe, thanks for the location. It actually goes off when said events occur. I think that sensor should be replaced. and you're right it freaks me out when I see it go on.
I'm pretty sure many of my wires are brittle. I'll test out the wire and see if the on off thing gives me any indication.

R

I have an 85. Radiators for 84-85 are not the same as 86 and up, and I have not been able to find a new one for years.

:whs:

There's an 85' sitting in Tumwater pick n pull, if you really need that radiator you would have to pull it and see if it can be recored, that might be you best bet, unless your Tech finds the right one. And if he does please post a part number cause I'm sure there's some other members that'll want it too!!:wnk:

Good luck :thmbup:

Sorry for jumping ahead... Maybe see if yours is a good candidate for a recore first:thmbup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by raven

Hi Van folks,

I have an 84 with 276k on it. She's aged pretty gracefully but there are some issues that have come up.
1) The oil light comes on when the engine has been running for a while, even though the dipstick reads full. The light doesn't stay on consistently, it'll go off when I hit a bump or go around a corner. I'm thinking it's my oil sensor, but have yet to locate where that is...?

2) Found a crack in my radiator after beginning the process of flushing the system and replacing some of the hoses. (As I was replacing the thermostat which was beyond toast) The heat wasn't working in the front at all and the back was minimal. After the flush something broke loose and it started working. But when I was replacing the hoses under the passenger seat I noticed how much debri was in the line... ick! And that's when I found the hairline crack at the top of the radiator.
I've been tracking down a new or slightly used radiator... not an easy thing but my friendly Napa guy found one he says, new $110...I haven't confirmed it's in fact the right radiator. Anyone have any knowledge on where to get the proper unit and how much it should cost?
I intend on replacing all the hoses in the system thanks to your handy pictorial.

---

I had the same issue with my 89. Turns out it was the levelsensor in the oil pan. It is basically a float switch. The float part of minewas broken and in pieces in the pan. I noticed it when changing the oil pangasket. A new sensor is $$$. I was lucky enough to discover an 89 van during mysalvaging missions. Pulled the sensor (4) 10mm/Philips fasteners hold it in thepan. When removing it pretend you’re playing that old school game operation andmake sure you do not damage the sensor components when extracting it from thepan. It’s not hard to remove/install, I did mine during my last oil change andhave not had an issue since. the picture was found/used from this site
Best regards,
Blake



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/...e3ff573d_b.jpg

I just wanted to point out there are 2 oil lights on some vans. There's the red idiot light that tells you when oil pressure is low (for vans without oil pressure gauges), then there's the oil level light (pictured above) that's the yellow one that tells you when your crank case is getting low on oil. If you're having an issue with the red idiot light on the cluster, then that's a whole different sensor. If that's the case, assuming you're running 10w30, my 1st recommendation would be switching to 10w40. Tim

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timsrv

I just wanted to point out there are 2 oil lights on some vans. There's the red idiot light that tells you when oil pressure is low (for vans without oil pressure gauges), then there's the oil level light (pictured above) that's the yellow one that tells you when your crank case is getting low on oil. If you're having an issue with the red idiot light on the cluster, then that's a whole different sensor. If that's the case, assuming you're running 10w30, my 1st recommendation would be switching to 10w40. Tim

---

Thanks Tim. Are you then refering to the oil pressure sensor below the oil filter?

http://www.joetlc.com/images/8353087705.jpg

I also did switch to Mobil1 10w40 during my last oil change, not sure if thats what changed the issue. The sensor float was broken and inop though.

Best regards,
Blake

Yes, although that one pictured is a bit different in appearance from the van's pressure sensor/sender. Based on what the original poster said, I do believe your post on the level sensor is correct (at least for him). I just wanted to minimize potential confusion for future readers by pointing out there are 2 different oil warning lights (at least on some vans). Tim

BTW, thanks for helping out with your good advice :thmbup:

Tim, thanks understood. When I aquired my 89 le van late 2015, it was an angy oil consuming/burning machine with check engine light. Now its a happy healthy runner with good smog report and no service lights:clap:.

Best regards,
Blake

I know this is an old thread but instead of starting a new thread I'm gonna ask a ? here . Has anyone unplugged the oil level sensor and just left it unplugged ? I'm wanting to just put a plate and seal it where the sensor mounts on the oil pan but wasn't sure if the oil light would stay on when not having the sensor plugged in ???? My van is down for maintenance right now or I would unplug it and see for myself . Thanks for any input !!!!

I can't speak to the 2nd gen vans, but I can tell you that on my '85, the wire to the oil level sensor broke (unbeknownst to me) and the dash light did not go on ... until the oil pressure became inadequate. :pissed:

Gwen

Thanks for searching and posting you question here. I never really got to know this system and I've never had a van with a functional light. The 86 I'm driving now (I've owned since 1998), has this and it's never functioned right (on-off-on-off). I never really saw the point of the system since I check my fluids at regular intervals (I just ignore it). Unless you have a leak here, I'd just unplug it from the harness and leave the sensor there as a plug. There's actually an o-ring like seal inside there and it might be hard to seal it with a plate. Tim

Thanks guys , I would leave the plug their but the plug is actually broken and leaking oil through the plug .

When you do the job, take a few pics and let us know how it all works out :wave1:. Tim

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by timsrv

When you do the job, take a few pics and let us know how it all works out :wave1:. Tim

---

I'm thinking of just welding in a plate over the hole .

You could also consider sourcing an '84 oil pan (no oil level sensor, and no port for it).

Gwen

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by llamavan

You could also consider sourcing an '84 oil pan (no oil level sensor, and no port for it).

Gwen

---

Thanks a lot , that's exactly what I was wondering !!!!

So I am assuming my level sensor is on the fritz... is there a way to bypass it to make the oil light go off?

EDIT: Think I found it. In the FSM it shows a test for the level sending unit. If the float is down (low level) there should be no continuity. And if up (at proper level) terminals 1 & 2 should have continuity across them.

My spider sense tells me to tie the 2 wires together so the oil level computer senses a level that is adequate from the pan and should turn the light out on the dash.

Will experiment and report back later gator.

That's how one of my vans was when I bought it. There is a small white plug for the harness by the + box. Its bundled into the alternator harness. Just plug in your favorite flavor of appropriately insulated jumper wire and your good to go. Saves the inevitability greasy contortionist show to get to the plug on the sensor. And don't forget to check your oil. Speaking from experience, you never know when a massive oil leak can strike.