james:

ever actually consider checking the oil pressure?

dan

On Fri, 8 Jul 2005 18:19:36 EDT, James Benthall <Taobythesea@AOL.COM> wrote:

>Hello folks,
>Around xmas of last year my oil pressure light and alarm started going off
>on my
>87 Westy.  Took to mechanic and he changed out the switch (high and  low, I
>believe).
>Drove for several months w/ no problems.  Then just before my big
Minnesota
>trip
>in late May it went off again (literally when the van was packed and we
were
>heading
>out!).  Took the suggestion of those on the list and changed oil out  and
>replaced w/
>20-50W.  Made it all the way to MN and back to Texas w/ no  problem.
Cheapest
>fix I ever had.
>Well, today on my way to a job interview (dressed in a monkey suit in
>95degree temp)
>it went off again!  Stopped to let the engine rest a few minutes, and  then
>started up
>and it went off again within 30 seconds ;-(  Since I was only 1 minute
away
>from the
>place of my interview, I went ahead and drove there (after making sure it
>had oil of course).
> After the interview (I think it went well!) I checked the oil again  and
it
>had plenty.  Started
>it and again the light and buzzer went off!  Called my mechanic and he
said
>to "just
>drive it" and that I would hear the clatter of lifters(?) before it got too
>serious.  Well I made
>it all the way home (a good 25 miles) w/ the light and buzzer signaling the
>whole way ;-)
>So, do ya'll think I just have another bum switch or something?  If  so,
how
>do you disable
>the alarm and light?  (Is there a fuse or something I can pull?)
>I don't want to take a chance of ruining this engine that I have about
>$6,500 in, but this
>thing is my only transportation...if its not a "real problem" I need to
>drive it.  (Btw, I assume
>that if it was a bad oil pump or something I wouldn't have made it  home.
Is
>that logical
>thinking or not?)  Thanks for any and all input!
>
>james benthall
>houston, texas
>87 Westy (the Phoenix)