Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: Random Oil Buzzer
From:John Rodgers
Date:Sat, 3 Apr 2004 09:51:40 -0600

Eric, I have an 88 GL and had a similar problem.

I was driving when all of a sudden the buzzer went off AND the oil light
came on. Stopped the van to take a look. Found my AC belt had broken and
had knocked the connector to the high pressure switch off the sensor. I
simply slipped it back on and it worked fine.

Also, I bought a new engine, and it came with a new sensor. I drove it
home after installation, and got the buzzer and light practically in my
own drive way. Discovered the new sensor was bad. I changed it out in my
driveway. You do not have to remove anything but a belt or two to get to
the sensor. It can be changed simply by loosening it and unscrewing it
from the case, and a new one screwed in and tightened. Care not to over
- torque the thing. Remember what I said about Phinazee's Rule ---- if
you don't know the torque value then tighten finger tight and 1/4 turn.
This is especially true on small things lke that sensor.

Good luck.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

eric unrau wrote:

>Hi All.
>
>I have had a few oil pressure warnings on my '89 Westy
>lately.  The first time it happened I shut off the
>ignition, coasted into a parking spot and checked the
>oil.  Everything looked OK so I started the engine,
>the buzzer came on immediately - below 2000RPM and
>above 2000RPM the buzzer sounded steadily - so I shut
>the engine off for a few minutes and tried again.
>This time there was no buzzing or lights flashing so I
>turned around and drove home - about 10km - and
>changed the oil and filter that night.
>
>The next time I used the van, a few days later, I went
>for a 50km drive without incident and thought that
>somehow the oil or filter change had solved the
>problem.  A few more drives without incident made me
>believe that the problem had disappeared, until a
>rainy night last week when the buzzer turner on and
>off repeatedly.  It was then that I remembered that
>every buzzer incident occurred on a damp or rainy day,
>so I had a look at the wires that run to the oil
>pressure sensors and sure enough there are a couple of
>spots where the insulation is very worn.  I'm guessing
>that the sensor wire isn't worn enough to ground out
>on the engine all the time, but when it gets wet the
>circuit closes.  Does this seem like a resonable
>diagnosis?
>
>Either way, I'd like to replace these wires.  How do
>you get at the high pressure sensor?  Do you have to
>remove the water pump pulley?
>
>Eric
>
>'89 Westy
>Vancouver, BC
>
>
>______________________________________________________________________
>Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
>
>
>