Flashing oil pressure light during cranking...

[kuypers]

On an 8 valve mark 3 GTi, does anyone know what it means when oil pressure lamp flashes when cranking? Had a look in the handbook and it just says check the level. Did that and it's on the max line. Could it mean too high and mean I have to drain a small amount out?

Bit confused    'cos I topped it up about a couple of weeks ago and had no trouble till now. Any help apprieciated.

cheers,

Darren.

[audiquattro]

Should be ok providing the light goes out when the engine starts 

[kuypers]

###Bit long winded, but please read and suggest!!###

That was the strange thing, my golf always start quickly and easily - no fuss. But on this occasion it kept turning over with 0 signs of ignition. After 2 ish seconds of cranking the oil light would start flashing. It did this about 3 times (between 1st and 2nd time i checked oil - on max).

I changed nothing between 2nd and 3rd time, just waited a few mins, then I tried and it started with no flashing......

I guessed that there was some crap in the oil that had blocked something and therefor the ECU was stopping it starting as protection. Gonna change the oil today just incase.


Any other suggestions from you wise old owls out there?

[redcarboy]

Mines been having the same sort of problem for the last 2 months and i have just stuck a brand new battery on the car and the problem has been solved could be one of them mk3 electrical gremlins that they all suffer from.

[kuypers]

Hmmm, don't think I'll change the battery on mine 'cos its holding it charge fine and cranks over a goodun every time. The time when I had the oil light flashing, it was turning over great. I genuinly think that the ECU thought there was an oil pressure problem and was inhibiting fuel AND/OR spark to stop the car from starting to protect damage due to incorrect oil supply to the engine.

Cheers for the suggestion though, much appreciated.

I may be wrong in my guess-timations, was kinda hoping that someone would come on saying "oh yeah that old one, means X and you fix it by doing Y" - We can but wish.

cheers,

Darren.

[Mr Blue]

give it an oil flush and an oil change and take it from there?

[piggy]

Mines been having the same sort of problem for the last 2 months and i have just stuck a brand new battery on the car and the problem has been solved could be one of them mk3 electrical gremlins that they all suffer from.

Is it running alright now then?

[audiquattro]

It won't be the ECU stopping it starting, as you can start the engine with no oil in it at all.
Does sound like an electrical problem, check the wiring on the oil pressure switches on the oil filter housing.

[kuypers]

Couldn't believe it, yesterday I was already of the opinion " do a flush and change the oil". Went out there to start it and take it round to my garage and it did it again. Turning over fine but won't start and flashing the oil pressure (oil can symbol) light. Turned the key back, waited a min and tryed again and it started fine.

Anyway did the change and all seemed rosy, but this morning with fresh oil and filter, it feckin' did it again. It always seems to start fine if after the initial attempt you leave it a min and try again. Also it never does it during a day, only when its been left 8 hours or so over night.

Will check the wiring to the switch as suggested but it's beginning to p*ss me off!

[free]

its prob because the pressure is low, becast it has to turn over a frw times but as long as it gos out soon as its running, its fine